Editor's note: The Shows Ya Gotta see is a new monthly series highlighting "must-see" performances curated by See Chicago Dance critics.
Ya gotta see Chicago Dance Crash on Oct. 8
The 92nd St. Y in New York City may have an unassuming name, but it is one of the leading venues in the country that produces soul-stirring art—be it poetry, prose, music, or dance. Wait a minute, See Chicago Dance is a Chi-town rag, so why are we talking about NYC? That’s the beauty of the digital age, that a fan in Chicago can see their favorite artists and prodigal performers from 800 miles away.
Editor's note: This preview was commissioned by the JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience and is co-published in English and isiZulu on the JOMBA! festival blog.
For the past 29 years, Dance for Life has been, hands-down, my favorite Chicago dance event, but this year, it is especially so. Not only is the annual gala fundraiser a stellar public showcase for Chicago Dancers United, the not-for-profit parent organization that provides financial aid and health care support for dance industry professionals experiencing health crises or in need of general health care. It also provides a unique opportunity for the entire Chicago dance community to come together artistically and in collective service of the art of dance.
Editor's note: The August 25 "Goshen" preview was cancelled due to weather. The piece will now appear as part of Deeply Rooted's appearance in the "Made in Chicago" dance series at the Auditorium Theatre on Oct. 23. For tickets and details, click the link below.
Presenting live performances outdoors has its complexities. Rain delays, heat and humidity, bugs and city noise are just some of the caveats dance companies deal with by taking their performances outside. But in 2021, indoor concerts have even more logistics to deal with to keep performers, crew and patrons safe. Besides, Chicago summers are devine, and Chicago dance is taking full advantage.
Whoever says that tap dance is a dying art form has not done their due diligence. This month alone, the city boasts a plethora of tap dance programming that is sure to satisfy even the most diehard tap dance fanatic. Check out the amount of tap shows and events appearing in Chicago from one end to the other and everywhere in between.
On July 1, American Ballet Theatre (ABT) rolled out of New York City on an eight-city bus tour of outdoor performances covering 3,100 miles. Chicago is the third stop, where they will perform on the Pritzker Pavilion stage in Millennium Park this Thursday. Presented free to the public by the Auditorium Theatre, where the company usually dances when in town, “ABT Across America” is a “gift to Chicago” and thank you to the Auditorium’s supporters, according to a released statement from CEO Rich Regan.
A week before their annual fundraiser and scheduled 20th anniversary concert, Aerial Dance Chicago (ADC), like the rest of the world, shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic. While those events were cancelled, ADC jumped back into the studio sooner than most and became a leader in safety protocols for the Chicago dance community. With some ups and downs over the past year, they took the time to explore new ideas which will be featured in their upcoming performances of “Searchlight.” The concert includes five premieres which, in part, are inspired by the “experience of being alive.”
Think back to the days of old-school arcade games—every avatar and virtual landscape pixelated and colorful. Now get ready to embrace it in the 21st century. Lucky Plush Productions is bringing a hardcore dose of nostalgia to Chicago on June 25 and 26 with their innovative festival, “The Map of Now.”