On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, The Dance COLEctive (TDC) turns 20. That’s no small feat for any company today with arts resources dwindling and the rise of competition-based, reality dance shows permeating the airwaves. But Margi Cole and her band of loyal, merry women continue to break boundaries by being thoughtful and powering through with a consistent vision, but also being open to an organic evolution to stay alive. “I always try to be proactive and to be open to possibilities to promote sustainability for my organization,” said Cole. “Right now, I want to celebrate and acknowledge everyone that’s been a part of it.
“Revelry is a celebration,” she said. Her dancers, past and present, helped come up with the title for the concert series - ‘Revelry/20 Years’ - running March 10-20 at Links Hall. The performances are comprised of new works, old works, and a combination thereof. A commissioned solo for Cole by Margaret Jenkins, two duets performed by alternating casts, some reworked TDC classics, plus premieres from Cole and current and former company members.
One of Cole’s main focuses has always been mentoring and this is shown perfectly in the collaborative nature of ‘Revelry’ and in the choreographic opportunities she offers her dancers. While she was traveling around the globe teaching, dancers worked on their own to reconstruct duets from her 2001 work ‘Reel to Real’. “I wouldn’t be able to do this without the help of the dancers,” Cole said. “The former dancers are really versed in how I construct things and the kind of feedback I would give, so I don’t have to be in the studio every minute.”
While the anniversary is tied to the company, the celebration is also for Cole herself. “It’s no joke…it’s hard,” she admits, but hard work has its perks. A career highlight is having the solo ‘threadwork’ created on her by San Francisco-based choreographer Jenkins. The work is personal and tackles the idea of change, making discoveries, and shedding the notion of self. “She was the first person I heard talk about a dancer participating in the creative process and making movement vocabulary. It was the first time I thought I could actually be a participant with a brain and that got me excited. I’ve admired her for a long time. I get a little farklempt when I think about it.”
Cole’s new work ‘The Swell’ explores the definitions of bravery and courage, incorporating abstract military formations (look out Beyonce) and deconstructed marching. “When you go into battle, you charge. You barrel forward without knowing the outcome,” she said. “It’s 12 minutes of full-out, balls-to-the-walls dancing.”
In addition to the concert series, TDC kicks off the birthday celebration with a livestream of two performances on the actual anniversary – March 8th - via Periscope (follow @DanceCOLEctive). Lead by two TDC alums, Vernon Hills High School (IL) will dance a revised version of the 2004 work ‘Sinking In’ at 2 PM CST and Girls Preparatory School (Chattanooga, TN) perform a new work ‘Who Are You?’ At 3 PM CST.
“The thing that is most important to me about the 20th celebration is really to celebrate everyone’s collaboration,” Cole said. “Dancers, choreographers, lighting designers, graphic designers, costumers, past board members…none of this would have happened without their support.”
REVELRY/20 Years
The Dance COLECtive, March 11-13 and March 18-20 at 7 PM, Links Hall at Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave. Tickets are $20, student and seniors $15. To purchase tickets, visit linkshall.ticketfly.com or call 773.281.0824. For more information, visit dancecolective.com.