On Saturday, May 12 at 8pm Evanston's excellent new dance and music venue Studio5 will present an evening called Ballet Now -- a joint performance of two of the Chicago dance scene's most imaginative and convincing independent contemporary ballet companies. We asked CRB's Wade Schaaf to tell us a little about Ballet Now and here's what he told us:
Five thousand miles is a long way to be from home. When you're this far away, especially for years at a time, you may find yourself searching for that something that will always keep you connected. For dance artist Riccardo Battaglia, that something comes from within. It is an undeniable light and joy - a warmth forever fueled by the sunshine he carries with him from his home in Italy. Since making the solo move from Pescara, Italy to New York City just over seven years ago, Riccardo's career has blossomed in tandem with his incredible talent. And if the height
Cocodāco Dance Project has a lot of new ideas about dance -- how to make dance, how to be a dance company, and how to make dance for a dance company. Under their new Artistic Director David Maurice, Cocodāco is ready to push what was already a boundary-pushing vision a little further, and that all starts on Friday, April 20 at Foster Dance Studios, when they will present their three company program, HEADS / TAILS. We spoke to Artistic Director David Maurice about the company and about HEADS / TAILS, and here's what he told us:
Noumenon Dance Ensemble was founded in 2014, and since then the company has worked steadily to increase their impact on, and their outreach to, the community they are part of as the resident company at Dance Avondale. They are especially dedicated to their "mission to elevate female dance artists", and at their Spring Preview (Wednesday, April 18 at 7:30pm at Chicago's Links Hall), they will present works by choreographers Kristi Andarcia, Kristi Licera and Artistic Director Alia Montijo, along with guest dance company South Chicago Dance Theater. We asked Alia to tell us more about this unique company and their dedication to a very positive, proactive view of the art of dance. Here's what she shared with us:
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre is not quite like anything else that we can think of. It's certainly a Dance Company, and by any standard an excellent one, and the Company has attracted an astonishing group of superb dance artists. That's only part of Cerqua Rivera, thought; CRDT is also a fearlessly imaginative musical ensemble. Led by Joe Cerqua, there is a musical depth to CRDT that fully balances the choreographic depth brought by Artistic Director (and along with Cerqua, one of Cerqua's co-founders) Wilfredo Rivera. To get us ready for their Company Showcase and Sneak Preview on Thursday, April 17 (at Old Town School of Folk Music's Szold Hall), we asked both Artistic Director Wilfredo Rivera and CRDT Executive Director to give us an even more inside look at how Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre looks at their world. Here we go:
Unique, intriguing, and compelling are three words that come to mind when describing Alice Klock. There are a lot of different sides to the Chicago-based artist; Alice is a dancer, a painter, as well as a choreographer. I recently got the opportunity to work with Alice on one of her newest creations with Hubbard Street’s Professional Program (HS Pro). During the process I chatted with her about her choreographic exploration and perspective as an emerging female choreographer. Here is what she told us:
Ashley Deran founded A. Deran Photography in 2011 with a focus on dance concert events and dance publicity. Since then, she has photographed for companies including Chicago Dance Crash, The Seldoms, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Inaside Chicago Dance, Chicago Dance History Project, Salty Lark Dance Company, The Chicago Fringe Festival, Columbia College, and Western Michigan University. It is also worth mentioning that Ashley is an established dance artist in Chicago and is the Co-Director of Project Bound Dance. Her keen eye both inside the studio and behind the camera lens, as well as the ability to direct a dancer in both circumstances, produce sharp, expressive images that any dancer would love to have. In this 4PHOTOS, Ashley takes us through the four images that every dancer should have in their portfolio, plus the do's and don'ts on how to get them. Here's a pro's advice on how to put your best foot (and face) forward:
Young Steinway Artist Thomas Nickell will be performing at Chicago's Garfield Park Conservatory with The Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago on Saturday, April 14. The concert is at noon, part of the Conservatory's beautiful Music Under Glass Series, and will feature Nickell with OSC in Liszt's Totentanz. Nickell will also perform some of his original compositions for solo piano. We asked Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago Music Director Mina Zikri to tell us a little more about the concerts, and here's what he told us:
It adds another dimension to choreography, and an extra degree of anticipation, when a choreographer imagines an especially intriguing context for their work. Gustavo Ramírez Sansano has always brought an imaginative boldness to the way he conceives of creating dance, but in his World Premiere of Espíritus Gemelos for Ballet Hispánico's New York Season (April 10-15 at The Joyce), he does so in an especially engaging way. We asked Gustavo if he could share some of his process, his inspiration, and his experience in creating the work for Ballet Hispánico. Here's what he told us:
Some of the best pieces of dance choreography are those that successfully use movement to paint a living visualization of the accompanying sound design. The nature of these choreographic works highlight the sound in a way that can allow an audience to experience a familiar piece of music with fresh ears. Now, imagine having the same relationship between a dance work and a painting, where each reveals something new about the other. For Still Inspired(?) Executive Director Laura Thurston, imagining is not necessary - she's already curated and staged four seasons of Still Inspired(?), which pairs a Chicago-based visual artist with up-and-coming choreographers from the community.DancerMusic's Kristi Licera caught up with Laura while she prepares for Still Inspired(?): Live Creations, which features live drawing inspired by live music and dance improvisation. Read on to see how the collaborative efforts of Still Inspired(?) have created a circle of inspiration, as well as what Laura is up to to expand it:
