Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC), as part of their 2018-2019 “Live in the Momentum” Season, debuts a new, full-company work, "SOUL," by award-winning choreographer Ray Leeper (“So You Think You Can Dance;” “America’s Got Talent”) in a fall engagement at the Harris Theater at Millennium Park. "SOUL" has been created against a musical backdrop of songs made popular byy Gladys Knight and the Pips, Al Green and Tina Turner.
Leeper has established himself as one of the most respected artists in the dance industry. His choreography credits include music videos and live performances for well-known recording artists including Cher, Elton John, IL Divo, Nick Cannon, Snoop Dogg, and others; popular TV shows including “So You Think You Can Dance,” “X-Factor UK,” “America’s Got Talent” and “The Big Bang Theory;” commercials for Gagaville (Lady Gaga/Farmville), Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Comcast, Crystal Light, Levis and Northwest Airlines, as well as concert tours, and so much more. Honors and awards include "Best Choreography Award" for his work on "Common Grounds" in the New York Musical Theater Festival and the prestigious Gold Leo Award for Excellence in Choreography presented at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In addition to "SOUL," the program also includes the following works from the GDC repertoire:
- “Divided Against” (2016). Peter Chu explores the divergent forces within us in this full company work set to original music by Jean-François (Djeff) Houle.
- “JOLT” (2012). This fun, “out of the box” full-company work is infused with rhythm and interplay and features choreography by former GDC assistant artistic director Autumn Eckman, concept and structure by GDC Artistic Director Nan Giordano and an original score by Evan Bivins.
- “Sidecar” (2004) Former Hubbard Street Dance Chicago company member Mark Swanhart created this quirky and whimsical work for 10 dancers.
- “Loose Canon” (2006). Jon Lehrer sets this theatrical, humorous and athletic work on five dancers.
