The Planets Align in Chicago Tap Theatre’s “Saturn Returns”

Chicago Tap Theatre concludes its 2025-26 season with “Saturn Returns,” the company’s second full-length production conceived and directed by company member Molly Smith at The Edge Theater. With a four-piece band directed by pianist Anaiet Soul, the concert draws inspiration from astrology; the program uses tap dance to explore Smith’s personal artistic journey through a cycle of change, acceptance, and rediscovery.

The term “Saturn Return” refers to an astrological transit that occurs when Saturn returns to the exact position it occupied at the time of someone’s birth. This event, which takes approximately twenty-nine point five years to complete, is often associated with periods of transition. Smith, experiencing their Saturn Return, turns to tap to process and navigate this period of change.

The program begins with “Celestial Groove,” choreographed by Smith and performed by the ensemble. The work feels youthful, with dancers grooving through playful, cheeky slides, syncopated rhythms, and expressive faces. A joyful reflection on the energy of emerging adulthood, the piece ends with Smith bathed in a soft moonlit glow, looking forward to life’s next chapter.

“Approach the Threshold,” choreographed by Mark Yonally, performed by Chris Matthews and Greta Sorensen, explores what might be left behind during this time of change. The duo begin in sync before gradually drifting apart, with Matthews adding extra shuffles or discovering offbeats against Sorensen’s own rhythm. This growing asymmetry becomes a playful negotiation, with the dancers ultimately merging their separate rhythms into one shared language, different, but in harmony and accepting of change.

“The Shock of Aging,” choreographed by Sterling Harris and Smith and performed by Ellie Guzzano, Heather Latakas, and Sorensen, confronts the discomfort of aging. Latakas, grasping comically at her back, is becoming physically limited by her own aging body. Struggling to keep pace, she falls a beat behind her counterparts. Eventually, all three dancers succumb to rusty joints and, together, they develop a slower rhythm that is more physically sustainable, but just as technically demanding as before, a loving acceptance of their bodies.

“Slow & Steady,” choreographed by Sara Anderson and Sorensen and performed by Latakas and Smith, reflects on the importance of practice. The piece unfolds with deliberate, grounded heel drops, weighted shuffles, and marching arms, eyes locked on a fixed golden spotlight. The repetitious performance feels hopeful, emphasizing patience and gradual growth as Smith ends the work by stepping into a golden glow, recognizing how far they have come and the practice that got them there.

“Solitude,” choreographed by Smith and performed by Anderson, Harris, Latakas, Matthews, and Smith, meditates on the importance of time alone. The work unfolds in a slow, quiet rhythm, with shifting improvised solos that allow each dancer to take a moment to breathe in their solitude. Some solos are soft and elongated, like Harris’ incredibly quick, soft tapping phrases, while others are sharp and rhythmically dense, like Anderson’s heavy drops, exploring each dancer’s unique experience of being alone.

“Own Your Choices & Create Your Path,” choreographed by Smith, performed by Harris, Latakas, and Smith, is about bringing one closer to the impact of one’s decisions. Filled with energy and playful back-and-forth interactions, the trio bounce and build motifs off one another, illustrating how our paths are shaped not only by our own choices but also by the people around us.

“Celestial Celebration & Bows,” choreographed by Smith and performed by the ensemble, closes the evening on a celebratory note. Through a flurry of quick solos, each dancer showcases the best of their personal skill sand growth, celebrating the last thirty years of life and ready to embrace whatever the next thirty may bring.

Also included in the program: “Accountability/Responsibility,” choreographed by Anderson, about accepting personal responsibility; “Hard Work & Discipline” and “Separation/Restriction,” both choreographed by Smith, the former a celebratory piece about accomplishments, the latter a restrained piece reflecting on the separation from self; and “Boundaries,” choreographed by Latakas and Smith, an unapologetic rejection of the psychological barriers and expectations that hold us back.

Being one year away from my own Saturn Return, I couldn’t help but connect with many of the themes explored throughout this program. The need to accept, embrace, and cherish life’s transitions is a universal human experience, one that Smith captures beautifully through their emotional vulnerability and experienced technique. It feels as though Smith wore their heart on their sleeve, offering audiences a glimpse into who they are at this particular stage of life. The result is a moving portrayal of personal growth, transformation, and self-acceptance.

Chicago Tap Theatre presents “Saturn Returns, June 11-14 at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway Ave. For more information, visit the event page by clicking HERE.