The Righteous Beauty of the Things Never Accounted For explores Black Fugitivity, the ongoing and historical resistance to systems of oppression that Black people face and the ways in which we have sought to escape or evade those systems in order to preserve our autonomy, dignity, and freedom. In Righteous Beauty, J’Sun Howard uses movement as an anchor and source for practicing freedom, allowing us to discover unexpected beauty that’s typically hard to experience in a carceral state. It is an embodied look into existing when the cosmos does not want us to exist.

October 12 and 13, 7:30 PM
Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph St, Chicago

Directed by Mandala Founder Pranita Nayar
Choreographed by Nejla Yatkin and ensemble
Indo-jazz score by acclaimed guitarist Fareed Haque

This evening-length work combines contemporary dance, jazz, ballet, and influences from South Asian dance genres to depict the victory of light over darkness, inspired by the mythological gods of fire, water, wind, and earth prevalent in many world cultures. 

The critically acclaimed adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece, Frankenstein, is a visceral, profoundly emotional tale of life, death, love, and identity. Set to Liebermann’s original sweeping score and immersed within the stunning stage design by world-renowned artist John Macfarlane, this must-see Chicago premiere is one of the most innovative works of ballet today.

For over a century, Black dance has been a vital artistic force in Chicago. From traditional African dance to contemporary choreography, modern jazz to hip-hop ballet, Black dance in Chicago encapsulates a broad spectrum of artistic expression rooted in the Black experience.

Chicago Performs returns to the MCA with new works by local artists Jonas Becker and Irene Hsiao. This annual festival of live arts celebrates the wealth of innovative work being made by Chicagoans today by inviting three to four local artists to share new works of performance.