In 1970, Ballet Folklórico de México graced the stage of the Auditorium Theatre for the first time, featuring a troupe of one hundred dancers performing their signature style, baile folklorico, a mixture of ballet, Spanish foot-stamping zapateado and Mexican folk dances from across the diaspora. The creation of dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernández, the company is still delighting Chicago audiences with selections from Hernández’s extensive repertoire.

The collision of bodies, objects, generations and concerns in The Duet Project: Distance is Malleable ranged from gentle to brutal with overlapping tenderness, urgency, and resilience. Admittedly, I walked into The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago on Friday night longing for closeness–for the possibility of touch, whispers of breath, and glimmers of sweat that come with proximity to live performance. It soon became clear however, that I didn’t need to be within reach of the performance to be absorbed into it.

Whatever you think you are going to see at an Eiko Otake performance, forget it. Prepare yourself to be surprised, or startled, or experience unbearable intimacy. Expect a never-ending stream of papers with words like “stone” and “I will not” to be scattered in heaps across the stage. Expect raging gods and monsters, or the ghosts of distant relatives, who live in the brushstrokes of colossal paintings projected against the wall. Anything is possible! If Otake’s long history of work is any indication, expect something special, thought-provoking and deeply personal.

The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie has been, for some time, an alluring oasis for Chicago dance companies adrift in the hustle and bustle of the city—spacious lobby, great backstage facilities, an opulent auditorium (and easy parking!). Chicagoans don’t mind the short trip, either, especially when there is as high a quality of performance as was presented by Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) last Saturday evening.

Red Clay Dance Academy announces the continuation of its exciting African Diaspora Dance Series.

Founded by renowned choreographer, artivist and Red Clay Dance Company Artistic Director Vershawn Sanders-Ward, the February series features a dreamy line-up of both traditional and contemporary African-centered dance styles.

See Chicago Dance is excited to announce our involvement with Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in 2022's #YearofChicagoDance!

This citywide focus on dance is the first-of-its-kind in the U.S. and will address critical issues facing dancers and the Chicago dance industry at large including funding, space and capacity building — not to mention PLENTY of chances to watch the pros and get moving yourself!