Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Dancin' Feats
by Zachary Whittenburg
2009-06-10

This article shared 4033 times since Wed Jun 10, 2009
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


I'm not trying to start a brawl, but I'll go ahead and say that Czech choreographer Jirí Kylián is the most influential artist working in the field. His formal, musical style has absorbed the lessons and secrets of nearly every school of movement, from the Aboriginal dances of native Australians to the kinetic fluidity of the B-boy tradition. Although Nederlands Dans Theater ( NDT ) dates from 1959 ( when 18 Dutch National Ballet members broke off to pursue a more progressive agenda ) , the company is, to this day, indelibly associated with Kylián—who, from 1975 to 1999, served as artistic director, creating dozens of signature ballets and solidifying the troupe's sterling reputation.

Though only in his early 60s ( and still quite prolific ) , a succeeding generation of dancemakers is emerging from under Kylián's wing, hinting at the path that lies ahead of the identity he's built for NDT and contemporary dance as a whole. Anders Hellström, artistic director since 2004, has commissioned many works from these young artists and Jim Vincent, who will take over for Hellström in the fall, will no doubt continue the trend. The choreographic team of Sol Léon and Paul Lightfoot are exemplars of this new look, taking Kylián's sculptural approach to set design one further and accelerating the intricacy of his vivid mechanics almost to a blur. "Shoot the Moon," a work from last year, turns the stage into a haunting carousel of rooms and live video, Philip Glass' score fleshing out the anguished acrobatics and Expressionistic grimaces of a series of couples. Although frantic at times, it lands hard and firm on many unforgettable images and elevates "I wonder what's going on next door" voyeurism into exquisite third-person poetry.

Crystal Pite is NDT's most recent choreographer-in-residence and last year synthesized many themes of her portfolio for "The Second Person," a city of a dance that pushes multiple idioms and strong personalities into close proximity. Inescapably, choreography is to some extent puppetry, and Pite tackles the subject head-on, using a small wooden mannequin as a cipher inflated with life by a stage-filling ensemble. Omniscient narrative pops up in other forms as well, in prim British voiceovers and duets that have dancers swapping turns manipulating one another. It's a sprawling, ambitious work, but Pite keeps her eye on the road and, as is her wont, reins her tangents down to Earth with a succinct and breathtaking finish.

Kylián doesn't go unrepresented, mind you: 1997's "Wings of Wax" is as good as any example of his unparalleled inventiveness with couples, and its solos for men leave little doubt as to how high NDT's male dancers set the bar. NDT hasn't performed in Chicago in over 30 years: Get tickets today if you haven't already.

They will perform at the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress, June 16-17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30-$89; visit auditoriumtheatre.org .

Other offerings this month include:

—Mixed bill Dance Shelter continues for a second weekend at Hamlin Park Fieldhouse, featuring work by Nana Shineflug, Cindy Brandle, Rachel Bunting and Atalee Judy on June 12-13 at 7:30 p.m., 3035 N. Hoyne; $12-15. Details are at chicagomovingcompany.org .

—Aerial dance company AMEBA says to hell with gravity as they take to the floor, walls and ceiling with "String Theory: You are a force of nature" June 12-13 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn, at 7 p.m; $20. Call 773-463-4402 or visit www.amebadance.org .

—Synapse Arts Collective exercise a unique voice in Chicago dance, taking vocal expression and fusing it with movement generated through a collaborative process. The five performers assembled for "Stridulate" have considerable skills in both environments, allowing their work to seep into its audience through multiple sensory channels. The Galaxie hosts six performances at 2603 W. Barry, June 12 and 19 at 8 p.m. and Sat. June 12 and 20 at 4 and 8 p.m. Go to www.synapsearts.com .

—"In the Middle, Somewhat Replicated" is the cheeky title of Lucky Plush Productions' and Smith/Wymore Disappearing Acts' joint production/reunion. An evening of four works orbiting around very timely issues of authorship and authenticity, it reunites the Bay Area's Sheldon Smith and Lisa Wymore with Lucky Plush's Julia Rhoads and kicks off the company's tenth anniversary. It's at Link's Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, June 12-13 at 8 p.m. and June 14 at 7 p.m. $15. Find out more at luckyplush.com and stealthisdance.com .

—Also at Link's Hall this month are Jaema Joy Berry's "You Can't Dance Out the Side of Your Mouth" June 19-21 and the always terrific ( and very cheap ) benefit series Poonie's Cabaret June 15. Visit www.linkshall.org .

—Innervation Dance Cooperative struck gold last year with "Everyman," its loose interpretation of a 15th-century morality play set to Led Zeppelin. Featuring nine choreographers and a thorough once-over, it's back for a run at the Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., June 18-20 at 8 p.m. and June 21 at 2 p.m. $15-18. Go to innervationdance.org

—At the Vittum the following weekend are Matter Dance, back with their new production "Revolving Doors" June 25-27 at 8 p.m. and June 28 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 each; see www.matterdance.com .

—Chicago native Paul Sanasardo, celebrating 80 years, and Muscovite Dmitri Peskov share a bill at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts June 26 and 27. Sanasardo, a point of connection to nearly all of modern dance history from Martha Graham to Pina Bausch, has created "Sleepless Nights in the City" to a suite of music by modern composers and Peskov, who's received much acclaim from the local press, brings five works to the stage ( two premieres and three repertory dances ) . Both shows are at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday's performance coincides with a benefit for the new Joel Hall Dance Center and is $50. Find out more at sanasardopeskov.com .

—Props for Spain are in order upon the 33rd anniversary of the American Spanish Dance Festival. Presented by Northeastern Illinois University's Ensemble Español Center for Spanish Dance and Music, a whole host of activities and performances are on tap at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts at 9501 Skokie, Skokie, June 26-27 at 7:30 p.m. and June 28 at 3 p.m. Tickets $26-46 each; visit www.northshorecenter.org .


This article shared 4033 times since Wed Jun 10, 2009
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Theater Review: Billy Elliot, The Musical 2024-02-19
- Book and Lyrics: Lee Hall; Music: Elton John. At: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora Tickets: 630-896-6666 or Paramountaurora.com; $28-$79. Runs through March 24 Billy Elliot: The Musical may nearly be two decades old, but ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ JoJo Siwa, Tom Holland, Bowen Yang, Pet Shop Boys, Mariah Carey 2024-02-02
- In the wake of Nigel Lythgoe exiting So You Think You Can Dance, queer personality JoJo Siwa is returning to the series, per Deadline. Siwa, who was a judge on season 17 of the Fox show, will replace Lythgoe, who left ...


Gay News

DANCE Choreographer Dwight Rhoden talks David Bowie, Alvin Ailey, queerness 2024-01-31
- In "STAR DUST: A Ballet Tribute to David Bowie," Complexions Contemporary Ballet co-founders Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson—backed by their Alvin Ailey lineage—and their dance troupe tackle many of the ...


Gay News

Chicago Dancers United and The Dancers' Fund become Chicago Dance Health Fund 2023-12-14
--From a press release - Chicago Dancers United, which has supported the health and wellness of Chicago's professional dance community through The Dancers' Fund for more than 30 years, announces that, effective January 1, 2024, the organization will operate and distribute ...


Gay News

DANCE 'Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker' running Dec. 20-30 2023-12-12
- Tony-winning producers David Garfinkle and Dr. Ron Simons announced the world-premiere of "Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker"—a holiday dream told in dance—which will play at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. ...


Gay News

MOVIES Rick Cosnett chats about 'Shoulder Dance,' Molly and Jason Momoa 2023-12-05
- In the new movie Shoulder Dance, which is out on streaming, friends Ira (played by out actor Matt Dallas, looking and sounding quite different than from his days on TV's Kyle XY) and Roger (played by ...


Gay News

DANCE Deeply Rooted performing Nov. 3 at the Auditorium Theatre 2023-09-27
- The Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., is presenting Deeply Rooted Dance Theater—a Chicago-based contemporary dance company rooted in traditions of American and African-American dance—in a one-night-only performance ...


Gay News

Chicago Dancers United raises more than $365K at Dance for Life 2023-08-29
- Chicago Dancers United (CDU)—which supports the health and wellness of Chicago's professional dance community—welcomed 1,600 people to the 32nd annual Dance for Life on Aug. 19 at Auditorium Theatre, per ...


Gay News

Teen suspect arrested in killing of gay dancer 2023-08-05
- The New York Police Department arrested a suspect in the fatal stabbing of 28-year-old O'Shae Sibley, who was attacked last weekend at a Brooklyn gas station. According to The Advocate, Sibley, a professional dancer, had been ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Drag news, HIV-bias lawsuit, Disney, Brittney Griner, gay dancer 2023-08-04
- Swastika flag-toting neo-Nazis, some of them armed, were at a Wisconsin LGBTQ+ Pride celebration that included a drag show, The Advocate reported. Members of the neo-Nazi extremist group Blood Tribe joined other right-wing hate groups, like ...


Gay News

Billy Masters: Cattrall passive-aggressively returns just like that 2023-06-06
- "I kinda look like a 200-year-old pole dancer now! I don't think that's gonna happen, but thank you anyway." —Sylvester Stallone's response when Sherri Shepherd asks if he'll wear his tank top and booty shorts in ...


Gay News

ART on THE MART's summer programs include Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Pride celebration 2023-05-11
--From a press release - CHICAGO, IL — ART on THE MART, an innovative digital art project that transforms a Chicago architectural landmark into a larger-than-life canvas, will introduce two new commissions this summer. Building Light, a new projection by Gensler, ...


Gay News

South Chicago Dance Theatre to debut 'Memoirs of Jazz' on June 10 2023-05-09
--From a press release - (May 8, 2023) Through the 1960s and '70s, Jazz in the Alley on Chicago's South Side was a hotbed for jazz and a meeting place for some of the country's prominent musicians, visual artists, poets, activists, ...


Gay News

Artemis Singers presents June 10 "Better Times Will Come" Pride Concert and Dance 2023-05-03
--From a press release - CHICAGO─Artemis Singers, Chicago's lesbian feminist chorus, will present "Better Times Will Come" Pride Concert & Dance, Saturday, June 10, at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave. ...


Gay News

Andersonville Midsommarfest to return June 9-11 in its 57th year 2023-04-30
--From a press release - CHICAGO (April 27, 2023) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to welcome summer with Andersonville Midsommarfest, one of Chicago's oldest and most beloved summer street festivals. Now in its 57th year, the ann ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS






Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.