REVIEWS

Ayako Kato/Art Union Humanscape

"Ayako Kato/Art Union Humanscape, "Let Be""

 

By Laura Molzahn "Let Be was performed by three dancers, three musicians, and one projectionist," I could say, and you'd imagine seven individuals carrying out prescribed…
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Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble

"Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, "Touch" and "Mirrors""

 

By Lauren Warnecke "Touch" and "Mirrors", two works presented over two weekends at Defribrillator Gallery by Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble,…
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Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University

"Eifman Ballet, "Rodin""

 

By Laura Molzahn I wasn't having a good night. A miscommunication got me to the theater late, and I missed the first scene of Rodin. When I read the program synopsis at in…
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The Space Movement Project

"The Space Movement Project, "Out of Step in the Same Direction""

 

By Laura Molzahn A lone acoustic guitarist; five pairs of bright socks, each pair a different color; white bedsheets hanging on a line. Humble trappings --- but what they prove, in…
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Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and HDS2: When Classics Come Again

"When Classics Come Again - HSDC at the Art Institute of Chicago"

 

By Sid Smith The linkage of arts is always appealing and ever tricky--just think of the beauties and challenges of adding a score to dance, theater or the movies. But interdisciplinar…
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In here, we are whole

"PREVIEW: "In Here We Are Whole""

 

By Laura Molzahn Most folks in Chicago's dance community know Francesca Bourgault as a lighting designer, a sculptor of the intangible. But for "In Here, We Are Whole" --- the group show she…
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River North Dance Chicago

""Havana Blue""

 

By Lauren Warnecke   There’s no doubt about one thing: River North Dance Chicago has some of the best-trained dancers in this city. With technical prowess rivaling that of…
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Old Town School of Folk Music

"PREVIEW: OTSFM's Global Dance Parties"

 

By Laura Molzahn"I fell in love with the mambo because it's a natural dance," says Chicago native Saladeen Alamin. "It's done on the 2, so you're responding to the music --- it comes fr…
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Delfos Danza Contemporanea

"Delfos Danza Contemporanea, "Resonancias""

 

By Laura MolzahnI think I'm in love. I had my doubts at first, but by the end of Delfos Danza's program of seven works, "Resonancias (Resonances)," I was smitten. If the standing ovatio…
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Giordano Dance Chicago

"Giordano Dance Chicago, "Spring Series""

 

By Laura Molzahn So, you've reached an extraordinary benchmark: 50 years. How do you celebrate? Which way do you look, forward or back? In its spring series, Giordano Dance Chicago…
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Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

"Hubbard Street Dance Chicago & Alonzo King LINES Ballet"

 

By Laura Molzahn Civic pride made me think, What can another troupe really teach Hubbard Street? But I found myself astounded by the dancers of San Francisco-based…
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Luna Negra Dance Theater

"Luna Negra at the Harris"

 

By Sid Smith Turns out Fernando Hernando Magadan's new piece for Luna Negra Dance Theater, "Royal Road," is better than his earlier "Naked…
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Stephen Petronio Company

"Stephen Petronio Company, "Underland""

 

By Laura MolzahnTake a trip to the dark yet oddly comforting world that Stephen Petronio creates in Underland. Dealing with transgression, tribulation, and uncertain redemption…
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Joffrey Ballet, The

"Joffrey Ballet, "American Legends""

 

By Laura Molzahn It’s amazing, the amount of work that goes into making something look easy. On opening night of “American Legends,”…
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Chicago Dance Crash

"Chicago Dance Crash, "Duets for My Valentine""

 

 By Laura MolzahnWhat’s more romantic than an evening of dinner, drinks, and dancing? And if someone else is doing the dancing, you have all the more energy for … l-o-…
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Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

"Miguel Gutierrez and the Powerful People, "And Lose the Name of Action""

 

By Laura MolzahnI don’t think Miguel Gutierrez meant to make my brain hurt. I don’t think he set out to frustrate or annoy; instead that’s a natural byproduct of his p…
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Double Edge Theater

"Double Edge Theatre, "The Grand Parade (of the Twentieth Century)""

 

By Laura MolzahnSome ideas are just flawed. Like covering the entire 20th century in 55 minutes: 100 years of pop culture, war and disease, technological advances, and political and eco…
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Dance COLEctive

"The Dance COLEctive, "free[BOUND]""

 

By Laura MolzahnDemonic experiments on the Dance COLEctive dancers are nothing new to Margi Cole. She’s come up with some pretty ingen…
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Broadway in Chicago

""The Book of Mormon""

 

By Sid Smith "The Book of Mormon," it should be noted, is not particularly a d…
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Kate Corby & Dancers

"Kate Corby & Dancers, "Passing""

 

By Laura MolzahnMortality is a fine subject for dance, which highlights art’s connection to the doomed, evanescent body. But for death to have meaning, life should look a little b…
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