The Lyric Opera House lit up with excitement last Thursday, February 15th, as the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago premiered “Studies in Blue,” a collection of three energetic works that test the limits of classical ballet and reflect the shared human experiences of loss, love, friendship and sense of place.

Running and maintaining a professional dance company is no easy feat. Many come and many go. That’s why we celebrate those companies who, through quality of work, dedication and business savvy, have managed to stay in operation against economic hardships, global Pandemics and shifting politics— companies like Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre.

Project Bound Dance put on one heck of a show last year with “If It’s Stuck, Shake It Loose” at the Color Club. This year, the company returns to the same venue but goes a new direction with “Buffering.”

“Buffering” continues through Feb. 18 at Color Club on North Elston.

Survival, magic, and deep roots intertwined on stage with We Are Collective’s performance of “and the sequoia stood tall." The evening of works, which moved audiences this past Thursday and Friday, February 8-9, consisted of three choreographed works including a premier of “and the sequoia stood tall” and one improvisation-based piece.

Complexions Contemporary Ballet returns to Chicago for the first time in 18 years with “Stardust: From Bach to Bowie” at the Auditorium Theater on February 3.

The first half features five works of repertoire by Founding Co-artistic Director and Principal Choreographer, Dwight Rhoden, and Assistant Choreographer and Co-Founder, Desmond Richardson. The performance features recorded soundtracks from or inspired by the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras of Western music, with lighting design by Michael Korsch and Costume design by Christine Darch and DRSquared.

Dancemakers must wear many hats. Choreographer, performer, producer, director, marketer, floor builder (tap dancers know what I’m talking about!) Add filmmaker to the list.

See Chicago Dance doesn’t just help Chicagoans see dance, but helps dancers be seen. Now in its third year, the SCD Dance for Camera (D4C) program returns with the goal of providing the basic tools of filmmaking for aspiring dancers to learn the ins and outs of producing dance on film.

Historically, ballet doesn't have the most shining record for female empowerment and is replete with anti-feminist views. It's no walk in the park being a woman in the world of ballet, with pressure to be slender, beautiful, graceful, and feminine.

Stiff competition for leads and solos gives men, fewer in numbers, an unfair advantage with more prominent casting a higher salary scale.  In fact, the Dance Development Project reports a mere 22.9% of new work of the top 50 biggest ballet companies in the U.S. are by women artists.