Entering its 25th anniversary season, Aerial Dance Chicago offered a unique and intimate experience with their spring premiere of “Mirror,” held on March 22-23. The performance showcased five captivating new pieces as well as a special appearance by the Aerial Dance Chicago’s Youth Dance Ensemble.

Established institutions struggle with how to stay fresh and current without losing their signature identity. New York City Ballet (NYCB) combats outdatedness by hiring celebrated contemporary choreographers while staying true to the philosophy of its founder, George Balanchine, who said: “If you don’t feel challenged, it’s because you’re not doing enough. Ballet should never be comfortable.”

If a dance company receives too many good proposals for new works to fit into one show, what can they do? Why, put on two shows, of course!

Show me another television show or movie about an apocalyptic dystopia full of grey, soulless automatons and I’ll yawn, but put it on stage and performed by a capable dance company… Okay, show me what you got.

Anjal Chande, a multidisciplinary artist, performed a work of solo dance-theater last Friday at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theater. Initially planned as a collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art, the performance was rescheduled due to injury and is now featured as part of the Steppenwolf’s “LookOut Series” highlighting experimental Chicago artists.

The word liaison commonly refers to a person acting as an ambassador, tour guide, or escort—someone who serves to establish a connection between two entities unable to connect due to cultural, linguistic or other barriers.  Not often do we think of an artform serving as this intermediary, but at the Den Theatre three professional, transatlantic tap companies demonstrated how tap dance can transcend human obstacles such as language to create an evening of joy and laughter, married through the celebration of rhythm in motion.  

Imagine a grey plate on a spinning platform being scored by dribbles of paint of different textures and colors—hot pink, orange, Kelly green, royal blue and mustard. Swirling. Combining. Splattered. Rising up? Yes! Nimble dancers emerge with time-altering powers. They dip in and out of the timestream, alive in multiple eras at the same moment. It’s a trip, a fantasy, an illusion… No!

After completing a month-long tour through Japan, the Trinity Irish Dance Company returns to a packed Auditorium Theatre for a one-time matinee performance on March 3rd. The company proves why they are one of the main innovators of progressive Irish dance.

When I hear the word Ouroboros, I imagine myself at the beach. Rotating in the breeze as I carve endless circles in the sand with a stick or my finger. Listening to waves return and go endlessly.

Ouroboros, a word that commands the entire mouth, is an ancient Greek and Egyptian symbol of a serpent eating its own tail. Possessing a meaning as fluid and complex as its pronunciation, it is a fitting title for Nejla Yatkin’s latest theatrical solo performance premiering at Links Hall March 8-10.