“We can dance together; we are humans of the world!” says Cuba’s DanzAbierta resident choreographer Susana Pous, taking a break from her company’s joint rehearsal with Chicago’s Hedwig Dances. Dancing together is exactly what the two companies will be doing in their collaborative concert, “Trade Winds/Aires de Cambio,” (Air of Change) this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 PM, October 9th-11th at the Dance Center of Columbia College. 

When the first installment of Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival (HCCDF) appeared five years ago, it wasn’t clear why Chicago needed another fall dance fest. In 2009, with Dance Chicago in its 15th year at the Atheneum and Chicago Moving Company’s Other Dance Festival strongly embedded in the Fall dance calendar, why would we need an(other) fall dance festival?

Well, why not?!?

It’s fitting that October brings a cornucopia of international connections to Chicago dance stages, coinciding with the national celebration of United Nations Month, which commemorates the signing of the UN Charter, now completing its 68th year.  

With international dance connections ranging from as far away as China and as close to home as Cuba, Chicago audiences have a wonderful opportunity to experience how the cultural traditions, stories, and theatrical conventions of far-away lands enrich and inform our sense of global community. 

“Pay No Mind,” the debut group work of solo artist Anjal Chande’s newly-formed ensemble, Soham Dance Project, has lofty aspirations: the integration of classical Indian bharatanatyam dance and music with contemporary spoken text, music, and movement. What a great idea! 

It began with a dance.

On August 19 at the Humboldt Park Boat House, a young couple stepped onto a makeshift dance floor, performing a short but engaging piece of choreography by independent artist Rocky Quinones. Quinones’ fusion—a blend of traditional Bachata meshed with the urban flare of streetwise hip hop—sparked the dialogue for Audience Architect’s Moving Dialogs: “Nuestros Bailes e Identidades” (“Our Dances and Identities”), a discussion about culture, race and individuality through the lens of Latino folkloric and contemporary dance.

Rebellious Teen Defies Father, Leaves Home; Debutante Engaged to Wealthy Bachelor; Priest Guilty of Sexual Misconduct, Torches Temple--They could be tabloid headlines, but in this case, surprise, they’re abbreviated synopses of Joffrey Ballet’s upcoming “Stories In Motion,” opening this Thursday night, September 18th at the Auditorium Theater and running only through Sunday, September 21st.