Gu Jiani’s ‘Right & Left’ Challenges Assumptions (review)
Lauren Warnecke Joseph Lam, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (CI), climbed a short set of stairs from the house of the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater…
#whydancematters
First Ever Chicago Teen Dance Festival Tonight!
A conversation between Links Hall’s Roell Schmidt and Suzanne Connor of the Chicago Community Trust was the catalyst for the Chicago Teen Dance Festival, a new initiative mirroring the Chicago…
Dancer/Choreographer Paul Christiano dies at age 39
“A few years ago, Paulie was directing a production conceived and choreographed entirely by him from the ground up. Early on in the creation process Paul let me know there…
Summerdance Meets Science
I’ve been keeping my eye on Dr. David Marquez, who keeps his office across campus from me at UIC. Marquez is conducting some interesting research on the effects of Latin…
That’s (not just) Entertainment: Dance as a tool for cultural dialogue and social change
In 2013, Chicago-based Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (DRDT) became the first American dance company to appear in the 15th annual JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience in Durban, South Africa. JOMBA!’s founder…
Chicago Dancing Festival founders receive Public Humanities Award
Every once in awhile, we are reminded that dance is about more than just dance. Each year since 1984, the Illinois Humanities Council has awarded the Public Humanities Award to…
Choreographers team together for “Fostering Dreams through Dance”
Producer Jesse Welch and professional dancer Melanie Buttarazzi teamed together recently with a vision to enrich the lives of foster youth through dance. Welch and Buttarazzi recruited choreographers Sean Cheeseman,…
Dizzy Feet’s Nigel Lythgoe and Jenna Elfman pop in for a visit at Hubbard Street
After a SYTYCD audition stop in Chicago, Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe stopped in for a visit to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s studios to observe a rehearsal of the company’s upcoming…
DMTs Show Artistry and Collaboration in the Third Annual MOVED Concert (preview)
MOVED is a student run organization in the Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling (DMT & C) program at Columbia College Chicago. With a mission of advocacy for DMT through sponsored events…
Sometimes it’s Reassuring to See that Other People Agree With You
There’s a nice article online at Dance Magazine floating around on the social media today about common mistakes we are making in the dance world. Author Nancy Wozny gathered information…