In celebration of the Indian holiday of Diwali, Mandala South Asian Performing Arts, which connects audiences and students with the vibrancy, flavors, and colors of the performing arts traditions of South Asia, presents a family-friendly performance program combining dance, music, and the 17th century art of Mewar, a region in India. Diwali: The Story of Ram takes place October 8 at 7.30 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph, Chicago.
Natya looks forward to reviving its seminal work – Shakti Chakra: The Energy Cycle – for this continued celebration connecting our history to our future.
It is said that the world was brought into creation from the single word “OM”. From an infinitely small particle of eternal energy was born this universe of matter. From Creation, Sustenance, and Protection through to Purification and Dissolution, dancers cycle through the energy cycle of life and return again to nothing … and everything.
The stage at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts is transformed into a bomb-blasted battle ground as a haphazard blockade of debris — chairs, lamps, a pink bicycle — are stacked floor to ceiling, framed by a proscenium crafted out of burlap and paper, painted to look like the charred remains of a city blasted to smithereens.
A comprehensive 2019 report by Candid, Sustain Arts and See Chicago Dance, titled “Mapping the Dance Landscape in Chicagoland,” shocked members of the dance community with several startling statistics: From 2002 to 2016, the number of dancemakers in Chicago had increased by 23%, but two-thirds were making less than $15,000 a year, and roughly half were people of color. Furthermore, only three out of eighty-seven nonprofit dance organizations received more than half of all philanthropic funding despite an increase of 46% in institutional philanthropic funding for dance.
Sat in a Boat is a thought-provoking, stimulating, and emotional multimedia modern dance performance that investigates faith and reason through an intersection of movement, originally composed music, animation, singing and spoken word. In a world filled with despair and tragedy, we often feel stuck in a sea of confusion, thrashing and clawing our way to a light at the end of the tunnel. Yet amid the darkness, we are still driven by passion, evidence, hope and an innate knowledge that we are built for more, that salvation may yet be attainable.
Chicago Dance Lovers,
We are thrilled to invite you to See Chicago Dance’s 2022 Community Celebration and Awards Presentation.
On Tuesday, October 11th, we will gather with 250 dance friends and artists to celebrate our dynamic community and honor two very special people, as we do every year.
Dance For Life has been one of the highest-praised and most looked-forward-to day of dance in Chicago since 1992, when founding Directors Keith Elliott and Todd Kiech sought a meaningful way to raise funds for medical care and life assistance for dancers suffering from HIV/AIDS.
With a generous virtual premiere available to online goers for nearly one week July 15-25th, Ballet 5:8’s “Four Seasons of the Soul” opened us to a world ripe with change.
On October 16th, join us from 1:00-4:30pm for 6 FREE classes a collaborative performance by South Chicago Dance Theatre(Contemporary, Horton) and Chicago Dance Crash(Contemporary Hip Hop) as well as an open rehearsal by Deeply Rooted Dance Theater(modern, classical, American, and African-American traditions in dance and storytelling).
Dance with us on the Chicago Riverwalk!
We’re celebrating the Year of Chicago Dance with FREE performances and community workshops on the Riverwalk! Movers, makers, musicians (and perhaps a flash mob or two!) showcase the city’s dynamic dance scene. All are invited to take their turn on the “dance floor” at pre-show classes for all ages and abilities.
We’ll have two opportunities for you to join us on August 13th and September 10th!