Ensemble Español’s “Flamenco Passion 2023” lit up the stage of Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts this past weekend, July 16-18, with precision rhythms, full-body flair, and the vibrant colors and sounds of Spain.

Into the mix was a blend of American jazz, blues, and popular music with movement to match, inspiring choreographic forays into a hybrid of flamenco, contemporary, ballet, jazz and modern dance genres that might by dubbed “flamenco re-imagined.”

This week, "New Dances,” a local incubator for choreographic talent, ends its three-week, intensive process with three performances at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Six brand new works from six emerging choreographers featuring a troupe of 16 dancers in a Chicago dance landmark…what a great way to continue celebrating Chicago Dance Month. And all thanks to two women from Evanston.

A “synesthete” is someone who associates one sensory quality to describe another; For instance, if someone says that the syncopated rhythms of a tap dancer filled the stage with swirling colors and bright lights, that would be a synesthete.

South Chicago Dance Theatre made its Auditorium Theatre debut with the World Premiere of executive artistic director Kia S. Smith’s “Memoirs of Jazz In The Alley,” for a one-night-only performance Saturday night, June 10th. The performance was part of the Auditorium’s “Made In Chicago” series.

Ensemble Español is touted as “the premiere Spanish dance company and center in the U.S.” A title like that is a lot to live up to; fortunately, they’ve got a rich history of performance to back it up.

Fresh off the heels and success of “Soul Remedy,” choreographed by the accomplished Monique Haley, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre continued their Spring Concert Series for the third consecutive weekend with “Identity City.” 

By now, fans of the Chicago dance scene know about South Chicago Dance Theatre. We’ve seen them on some of the biggest stages—The Harris Theater, The Jay Pritzker Pavilion—but one famous stage has thus far eluded the company. No more! SCDT performs “Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley” at the Auditorium Theatre on June 10th at 7:30pm, a milestone for the company and a potential highlight of the summer season of dance.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s summer season, “Facets,” at Chicago’s Harris Theater (May 18-21) opened with Randy Duncan’s "Love Infinite (2022)," setting a breezy tone for the entire evening with a joyful celebration of the power of love to heal the world.

Set to composer Ira Antelis’ music of the same name, with the poetry and spoken words of I sadat's,  "Love Infinite" introduces us to Hubbard Street’s newest roster of dancers under the visionary artistic direction of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell.