This weekend, Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) enthusiastically opens its 59th season, celebrating its return to the Harris Theater stage after almost two years. While welcoming six new dancers (now 12 dancers total) to its roster, GDC also says farewell to company dancer Zachary Heller. It will be a bittersweet moment 14 years in the making.
The Seldoms have always taken their time, premiering new works every year or two. But little did artistic director Carrie Hanson know when she started her newest amalgamation, “Grass," in 2020, that she would be forced into a pregnant, pandemic pause.
Mandala South Asian Performing Arts paints with broad strokes, adopting a multi-cultural, multi-genre lens. Rather than narrowly focusing on preservation of a single classical dance form, they say “yes” to pretty much everything. It’s a difference of approach that associate artistic director Ashwaty Chennat says reflects the experience of South Asians living in America.
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.