Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions, presented by Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) at the Harris Theater on Aug. 23, is a mass catalyst of growth for the organizations’ ten cohort companies— The Chicago Multicultural Dance Company and Hiplet Ballerinas, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, The Era Footwork Collective, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Move Me Soul, Muntu Dance Theatre, NAJWA Dance Corps and Praize Productions Inc. Unbound challenges each company to stretch their imaginations and ask the question, “How does our work fit into the world.” See Chicago Dance spoke with CBDLP co-directors, Mashaune Hardy and Kevin Iega Jeff, about Unbound, their hands-on collaboration with each member of the cohort and on the current state of equity in the Chicago dance landscape.
Unbound asks cohort companies to dream and envision “outside the box” and do something unusual or unexpected. Jeff personally spent time with the companies, giving feedback distinctly tied to each of their missions. They engaged in conversations about how to alter a specific artistic vision, discover new processes of internal growth, or engage with a new choreographer and how that affects the company. The performance, which includes a whopping eight premieres, promises to showcase each company in ways never seen before.
Jeff’s feedback helps companies reimagine a work and understand how to get from it more artistic depth and merit. “Each company has their own approach,” says Jeff. “My role is to give feedback in two ways: one, to make sure what they are doing aligns with the theme of the performance and parameters of timing, scope and technical needs; and two, to give feedback on how [the] work can be enhanced—but not tell them what to do—and to ask questions based on my lived experience that will help them get closer to their vision.” For example, Jeff gave directorial support for “HOUSE IS HOME,” a world premiere by NAJWA Dance Corps. Jeff assisted the dancers with the transition from within the confines of a studio to a much broader performance area. “Harris Theater is a vast stage,” says Jeff, “and I helped dancers understand how to execute movements in a large space, helped [them] understand the markings on stage, and we reviewed the placement of dancers so that the work comes across as clearly as possible.”
With Forward Momentum Chicago (FMC), providers of dance education to children and communities with limited arts access, Jeff’s process was more philosophical. “When the theme was presented to us, Iega mentioned the “Beloved Community” from Dr. King,” says FMC’s director of education & community partnerships, Bradlee Lathon, “and the concept of interconnectedness and complete care with one another.” In a piece titled “No Fear!” Dr. King’s vision of the supportive community intersects with another radical idea from musician Nina Simone, who famously defined “freedom” as having “no fear.” Young dancers were asked to express their fears—from not fitting in and not making friends to gross, scary bugs—and confront those fears through their dancing. “Sometimes as dancers we can be in our head,” says Lathon, “we know the steps and have the movement, but there comes a point where you have to stop thinking about it and be spirit-led and just do it and perform it. Feedback from Iega and Gary [Abbott, co-founder, Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre] helped dancers to really embody what the meaning of ‘no fear’ is.” The result is a work that blends synchronized movements inspired by Sunu dance and rhythm from Mali in West Africa, and culminates in a finale with explosive jumps, ripples, and a journey to “no fear,” smooth, peaceful and radical.
CBDLP has not been without setbacks. Due to actions by the current government administration, NEA and humanities funding has been cut or is dwindling, and federal organizations have been gutted of experienced personnel meant to help companies navigate the complex landscape of funding for cultural programs. “After the racial reckoning sparked by the murder of George Floyd, we seemed to be heading in the right direction of parity and equity,” says Hardy. “Now, the current federal environment is trying to claw back some of those gains and send us in a different direction.” But Hardy is optimistic that the events following Floyd’s murder have bolstered those still committed to diversity, equity and inclusion with a deeper conscience and much louder voice. “The arts got us through,” says Hardy. “The arts always gets us through in tough times. It’s what makes us holistic people.”
Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions is a concrete expression of the value of dance, the value of Black dance and the value of the arts ecosystem for wellness and health. “Each of these companies serves a community that extends beyond themselves,” says Jeff, “and the more we can be in fellowship together and build relationships that can be an example to the communities that we serve, this opens doors to other ways that the communities can engage in collaboration.” As the world shifts right and left, backwards and forwards, CBDLP is firmly set on a path of progress, and they graciously invite one and all to join in on the journey.
Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions is presented by Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project on Aug. 23 at Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph. Showtime is 6pm. Tickets are $40-$63. For tickets and info, visit the event page by clicking HERE.
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