The month of March is roaring into Chicago with a lion’s share of great dance, both home-grown and visiting companies, in genres ranging from traditional to experimental, jazz, ballet, modern, tap, folk-dance-inspired, interdisciplinary, and multi-media.
Major spring seasons from three beloved Chicago companies are landing in March, including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (the 12th-15th at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance); Giordano Dance Chicago (the 27th-29th, also at the Harris), and River North Dance Chicago (the 28th at the Auditorium Theater). Expect both new and tried and true from each of these superb ensembles.
Hubbard Street features a unique, curated program that focuses on the nature of gender identities and relationships. Crystal Pite’s solo, “A Picture of You Falling,” excerpted from her full evening-length work, “The You Show” (2010) is a Hubbard Street premiere, set to an original score by electronic composer Owen Belton. "The You Show” was sparked by the choreographer’s “fascination with familiar story lines of love, conflict and loss,” she explains, “and the body’s role in providing the illustrative shape of those stories.” Gustavo Ramirez Sansano’s world premiere for Hubbard Street, “I am Mister B” commissioned by the Harris Theater, the See The Dance Consortium, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, is set to Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Suite for Orchestra in G major (op. 55, 1884). Three favorites from company repertoire complete the program with JirÍ Kylián’s all-male “Sarabande” and all-female “Falling Angels,” and Alejandro Cerrudo’s women’s duet, “Cloudless.”
Giordano Dance Chicago
Giordano Dance Chicago premieres company member Joshua Blake Carter’s “the only way around is through,” with concept and structure by company director Nan Giordano. “Creating this piece,” says Giordano, “with its very origins based on personal accounts of those dealing with debilitating disease really changed us all, and we look forward to sharing this extraordinary new work.” The program also includes no fewer than four celebrity choreographers from the commercial dance sphere who have the cross-over chops to create for the concert dance stage as well--Liz Imperio (staging for Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Cher, and Gloria Estefan) reprises her joyous full-company work, “La Belleza de Cuba.” Ray Mercer’s 2015 hit Auditorium Theater premiere, “The Shirt Off My Back,” explores the sacrifices people make as they enter into a relationship. Ray Leeper (America’s Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance) brings his infectious “Feelin’ Good Sweet” back for another fun spin. “Le Grand Futur is Here!” is Emmy winner Mia Michaels (So You Think You Can Dance) techno futuristic look at relationships.
River North dancer Hanna Brictson has created “Beast,” a women’s sextet, for River North Dance Chicago’s 25th anniversary season. In addition, the program, part of the Auditorium’s “Made In Chicago” dance series, includes NY choreographer Adam Baruch’s “the frost that binds,” and a revival of artistic director Frank Chaves’ “Habaneras, The Music of Cuba,” his opus to big band Cuban music.
"Stripped"
Pushing outside of the box are The Cambrians, in tandem with Same Planet, Different World, in “Stripped” March 1st at Links Hall. Thodos Dance Chicago’s “Chicago Inspired” program graces the Harris stage on March 7th, and Mordine and Company brings “Cast By The Sun: Shadow Play in 3 Acts” to Links Hall March 12-14. The Seldoms launch “Power Goes” at the Museum of Contemporary Art March 20-21, and Visceral Dance Chicago presents “Springtwo” at the Harris March 21-22.
Chicago Repertory Ballet premieres artistic director Wade Schaaf’s “Bolero,” along with two other world premieres by Tenley Dorill and Kristina Isabelle March 13-15 at Victory Gardens Biograph Theatre. Lucas Crandall’s “Lullaby” is also on the program.
Chicago Tap Theatre is excited to premiere their newest original story show, "TightWire," for audiences of all ages running March 20-22 and 27-29 at Stage 773. "TightWire" tells a story using tap dance and live music, along with Poetry Slam creator Marc Smith narrating.
Urban Bush Women
Several wonderful touring groups descend on Chicago this March as well. They include Grupo Corpo, the world famous Brazilian troupe, at the Auditorium Theatre February 28-March 1st, Alonzo King LINES Ballet at the Harris, beginning March 4, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, March 6-15 at the Auditorium Theatre. Solo choreographer/dancer Shantala Shivalingappa brings her neo-Indian dance to The Dance Center of Columbia College March 5-7, as does New York’s Urban Bush Women March 19-21.
Emerging Chicago dancers and choreographers comprise programs of new works, beginning with “Winning Works: Choreographers of Color” March 7-8 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, performed by the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company and Trainees. The Ruth Page Civic Ballet travels to Wheeling High School for “Dance For Life: Next Generation” on March 8th. The young dancers, ages 13-18, will perform Victor Alexander’s “Among Us.” Chicago High School for the Performing Arts will perform at the Harris Theater on March 25th.
For details and to purchase tickets for these and a whole calendar full of other inspiring Chicago dance events, go to seechicagodance.com and click on “Upcoming Events.”
--Lynn Colburn Shapiro, editor