Making a return to live performance in April, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre announced 2021 programming Monday, including new works by Monique Haley and artistic director Wilfredo Rivera.
Rivera and Haley will engage in multi-year creative processes in CRDT's 21st season, a new approach for the repertory company that has paid off in spades. Rivera first conceived his newest work, "Identity City," last year as he embarks on a four year exploration about the experiences of queer, transgender and gender non-conforming people. Haley teams up with esteemed local jazz trumpeter Pharez Whitted for "Soul Remedy," a look at Black Americans' influence on arts and culture and the Aesthetics of Cool. Stephanie Martinez will revist her 2016 piece "Shiver," completing the triptych of works from the three River North Dance Chicago alums. "Mood Swing," a series of duets created in response to the pandemic and racial reckoning in America, rounds out CRDT's repertory this spring, with a revival of Rivera's terrific "America/Americans" planned for fall. As usual, all events are accompanied by live music from the CRDT jazz band.
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre's season kick-off takes place April 22 at Epiphany Arts Center with live and at-home options available. Livestreamed sessions of the company's "Inside/Out" series — open studio sessions for a peek inside the choreographic process — take place June 17 and July 18. Hybrid versions will take place August 21 and Sept. 9 at Hyde Park School of Dance and Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, respectively.
"America/Americans" returns Oct. 1-17 with live performances (pending health and safety guidelines) at Studio5 in Evanston, Moraine Valley Community College and Epiphany Arts Center.
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For more information, visit the organization page below or click www.cerquarivera.org.
