CDI/Concert Dance Inc. (CDI) returns to the Ravinia Festival as part of the annual Ruth Page Festival of Dance Thursday, Sept. 7 and Friday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Ravinia’s Bennett Gordon Hall. Ravinia is located at 418 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park and gates to the event open at 6:30 p.m. Regularly commissioned by Ravinia to present new works, the CDI performance marks the world premiere of Artistic Director Venetia Stifler’s critically-acclaimed full-length work originally created in 1985 but reimagined for the 21^st century, The Chicago Project: Future Present. 

If you could revisit one of your first successful projects 30 years later and reinterpret it, would you take the risk? In 1985, Artistic Director and Emmy Award-nominated choreographer, Venetia Stifler, created the critically acclaimed “The Chicago Project.” Her goal in 2017 was to reimagine this favorite dance using today’s technology, and with the eyes of a choreographer who’s creative process and point of view have evolved. The premiere of The Chicago Project: Future Present explores the human kinesthetic and emotional relationship to the form, texture, materials and design of architecture, especially Chicago architecture, including accompanying images created by visual artist Frank Vodvarka.