Jeff Hancock has a lot of experience with dance and design, and he's given it a lot of thought. He's seen the dynamic, multi-dimensional reality of design in concert dance from many perspectives, so we asked him about what it's like for a choreographer to be a designer, and for a designer to be a choreographer. Here's what he told us:
Ensemble Español will perform "Mar del Fuego" at Dance for Life 2019, and DancerMusic's Crystal Gurrola asked Executive and Associate Artistic Director Jorge Pérez about the piece, its dedication to Dame Libby Komaiko, and the future of this great company. Here's what he told us.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago dancer Rena Butler's career has a full circle moment at this year's Dance for Life as the company performs an excerpt of Ohad Naharin's "DECADANCE." Here's what she told us about taking the Dance for Life stage with her fellow HSDC artists:
Joffrey Ballet dancers Jeraldine Mendoza and Dylan Gutierrez will perform "Lorelei" at Dance for Life 2019. This pas de deux was originally created for a dance film and will be adapted for the stage. Here's what they told us as they prepare for their performance:
At Dance For Life 2019, Robyn Mineko Williams will present an excerpt from Echo Mine, and we asked Robyn about the work, about Claire Bataille, and about Dance for Life. Here's what she told us:
Four company dancers from Giordano Dance Chicago gives us insight to Ray Leeper's "SOUL," which will be performed at Dance for Life 2019. Here's what GDC dancers Jacob Frazier, Adam Houston, Katie Rafferty and Ashley Downs told us:
Each year, a dozen or more companies of young dancers gather to present the annual benefit Dance for Life's Next Generation, and in twenty five years it has come to be known not only as a showcase for imaginative and talented young artists, but even more as an iconic collaboration of good will. We asked Diane Rawlinson to tell us more about this widely anticipated event, which takes place this year on March 3rd at 5pm at Wheeling High School's Sang Theatre. Here's what she told us:
Lou Conte not only has a name that is important to the Chicago dance community, but as the founder of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago he is someone who has changed the history of contemporary dance. He created what is today an internationally acclaimed company that dancers from all over the world dream of being a part of. I myself was one of those young dancers, and Lou helped make my dream come true by bringing me into the company just before he stepped down as director in 2000. Lou will forever hold a special place in my heart, and not only by having initiated my entire dance career. With his values and the standards to which he held his work and company, he helped shape who I am today as a dancer, artist, and now choreographer. Lou is being honored at Chicago's Dance for Life this year, and when I was given the opportunity to talk with him and ask him a few questions, I couldn't help but be thrilled at the thought. Here's what he shared with me:
They say the best gifts are the ones you make yourself. The time, energy and thoughtfulness put into a handmade item is forever ingrained within it, making it truly unique. Here at DancerMusic, some of the best gift makers we know are the ones that create dance. These choreographers often spend countless hours in the studio creating movement, plus an ample amount of time researching and reflecting to refine what they make. No two creations are ever quite the same, and become more unique when you consider that no two performances of the same piece of choreography are identical. As
Dancers have the unique ability to take a piece of music and really show it to you. You may be thinking, how is that possible? Sound is a wave invisible to the naked eye, and even if you were to see that piece of music performed live, you would see the action that creates the sound, but not the sound itself. Here's where the dancer comes in. If a dancer were to create movement to your favorite song, chances are that dancer would pick up on the nuances in rhythm, accents in instrumentation, the subtle meaning behind the lyrics, and
