Displaying items by tag: Harris Theatre for Music and Dance

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) presents their "Season 61 | UNLIMITED!" Spring engagement at the Harris Theater at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Street, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6. The program will feature the world premiere of "Gershwin in B" choreographed by Al Blackstone, Emmy Award-winner for Best Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming for his work on "So You Think You Can Dance." The premiere of Adam Houston's new pas de deux "unconditional" and popular selections from GDC's repertoire will complete the program.

"'Gershwin in B' is a celebration of the glorious music of George Gershwin, the incredible legacy of Giordano Dance Chicago, and one young woman's curious spirit" says Blackstone. "Making this piece was its own chapter of my life and I'm grateful to Nan, Cesar, and the incredible dancers of Giordano Dance Chicago for making it such a beautiful one."

Blackstone has choreographed extensively around the country and Off-Broadway. Credits include "Freddie Falls in Love" (Joyce Theater), "Happy We'll Be" (Roseland Ballroom), "Elephant in the Room" (Arts on Site), "NORMA" (Steps on Broadway) and "Brown Eyed Girl" (2011 Capezio A.C.E. Award for Choreographic Excellence). In 2020 Blackstone won an Emmy for his work on "So You Think You Can Dance" (FOX). Additional network television credits include "Good Morning America" and The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. His artistic arena includes self-produced short films and in 2020 he was chosen by the Irving Berlin Estate to direct and choreograph "Isn't It a Lovely Day" to commemorate the 85th Anniversary of the classic musical "Top Hat."

Blackstone's work is the focus of entire second half of the program. The first half of the program will include the following:
• "unconditional"- World Premiere by GDC Company Dancer Adam Houston. "unconditional" comes to the stage through "G on G," GDC's investment in its dancers' artistic expression through a choreography showcase. Houston's new pas de deux will be performed by Fernando Rodriguez and Sasha Lazarus.
• "Alegría" by Kiesha Lalama (2011). The Chicago Tribune calls it "entertaining, swift and alluring, and smartly shows off the subtle, Latin-tinged joys of its score."
• "Entropy" by Davis Robertson (2002). Set to music by Astor Piazzolla, this work has been hailed as "a genuine stunner" by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Giordano Dance Chicago presents their "Season 61 | UNLIMITED!" Spring engagement at the Harris Theater at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Street at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6. Tickets range from $20-$90. For tickets or more information visit harristheaterchicago.org or call 312.334.7777

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC), America's original jazz dance company, is an iconic cultural institution with deep roots in Chicago and partnerships around the globe. From its origins in founder Gus Giordano's original school in Evanston, Ill., to its current incarnation as a Chicago-based world-class dance company, GDC boasts more than a half century of worldwide performances (28 countries, 47 states, more than 1300 cities). Now in her 39th season, Nan Giordano has led the company as Artistic Director, responsible for commissioning innovative choreographic works and mentoring thousands of aspiring dancers. This season she is joined by GDC's new Executive Director Erica Lynette Edwards as the company continues its exciting evolution.

GDC is one of the few dance companies in the world that has a foundational technique (NGCP©) with certified teachers in 36 states and 8 countries. This season, GDC's robust schedule will include touring performances around the U.S. including Naples, Fla., Dallas, Texas and Santa Fe, N.M. GDC's educational mission includes workshops and mentorship programs at home and on tour. Their Jazz Dance/Science & Health initiative is a robust arts integration program in which GDC company dancers use a dance-centric framework to teach state-mandated elementary school anatomy and nutrition curriculum within the science classroom. Offered in the spring of each year since 2006, this seven-week, no-cost program has served more than 5,500 Chicago Public School students. For more information about GDC visit giordanodance.org.

A tragic Shakespearian tale of Romeo and Juliet set to the music of a Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev is brought to Chicago Harris theatre by The National Ballet Theatre of Odessa (Ukraine).

 A ballet in two acts, it starts out rather slow. Dancers are mostly standing around, and a sense of a theatre, rather than ballet, is conveyed. This low energy feel is not helped by the dull uniform-like color palette of the costumes and unexciting set decorations [of predominantly burgundy]. Luckily, the first scene features multiple quarrels between the servants, which escalate to a brawl, bringing some much-needed energy to the stage. We get our first look at lovely Juliet, who is most certainly the star of the show. 

Choreographed by Michael Lavrovsky, overall, Odessa’s Romeo and Juliet has a very traditional feel, full of reliable dance moves but not too many thrills for the Chicago Harris Theatre’s spoiled audience. Regardless, it does have some nice parts, all of them seemingly saved for the Second Act.

Alas, Act Two has a lot more sparkle. Events are set in motion, the pace is picked up and, to our delight, we get another major infusion of Romeo’s friend, red-headed Mercutio (danced by Nikolay Vorivodin), who is unquestionably the liveliest dancer of the troupe and, frankly, one of its most memorable. His spirited energy lights up every scene he’s in, and that’s a really good thing for this sleepy production. In his last performance he dances out a sword fight, churning out acrobatic- inspired moves, while remaining playfully graceful. Farewell, Mercutio, we’ll miss you.  

Odessa’s National Ballet Theatre features some very fine performers in Romeo and Juliet. Olga Vorobiova, who dances the part of Juliet, is absolutely outstanding. A world class ballerina, she is gracefully fluid and highly expressive. Her partner Stanislav Skrynnik (Romeo) is a very capable dancer, perfectly executing his role in the ballet as a support for Vorobiova during the couple’s love scenes. One of the most impressive scenes in the ballet is Romeo and Juliet last embrace; it’s absolutely gorgeous. Ahh, Romeo and Juliet, fused together in an expression of love and devotion; it brings tears to one’s eyes.

Giordano dance Chicago has opened its 2017 season with its Spring Series at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Divided into six distinct pieces, the show is a high energy celebration of jazz dance; it’s well polished, exciting and expressive. Not a word is spoken, but each piece tells a story so vividly that one might wonder why we would need the spoken language after all.  Opening with ‘’Grusin Suite’’, featuring former Giordano Dance Chicago dancer and River North Dance Chicago Artistic Director Frank Chaves, it’s a 1993 re-staging set to the soundtrack for the film “The Firm”. Fluidity of the dance is complemented by the flowing fabrics of the uniform - like costumes of the dancers (costume design by Branimira Ivanova). The costumes are kept very simple throughout the show, and so nothing detracts from the dancers often moving in unison, always with intention and precision, and there’s always a story being unwrapped. After Grusin Suite comes dark Divided Against - A place painted is decidedly hostile with male dancers wearing robes and acting subservient to the female dancers, who are erect and unemotional. Choreographed by Peter Chu, music by Djeff Houle. Next comes blissfully tribal A Ritual Dynamic. Deeply satisfying both visually and auditorily, it’s Avatar-like in its feel. Choreographed by Jon Lwhrer, music by White Derbakeh and DJ Disse. 

After intermission we’re treated to Sneaky Pete, choreographed by Brock Clawson, music by Kerry Muzzey, Abel Korzeniowski, and Adam Crystal. A lot going on here: mating game between two dancers with the girl pursing the boy, while the rest of the troupe is “living their normal life”, a.k.a., dancing beautifully, of course. It ends with the boy upsetting the girl and suffering the consequences by getting ostracized by the rest of the troupe (the “society”?). Or, at least, that was my interpretation. I invite the reader to make their own impression. Next piece is a gorgeous The Man That Got Away, a 1990 classic. The girl wants a man, but he’s is indifferent. She tries many things: affection, seduction, reason, arguing, but nothing will melt his heart.  Set to Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin music performed by Judy Garland, it’s choreographed by Sherry Zunker. Featuring dancer Ashley Downs. Fun Fact: Sherry Zunker has gifted The Man That Got Away to Giordano Dance Chicago in honor of legendary Gus Giordano. It’s sexy and compelling; an absolute delight!

Last, but not least, is a world premiere of a dance called Lost in this World. Choreographed by Liz Imperio, who is hailed as choreographer to the stars. Her credits include the staging and choreography for Jennifer Lopez’s world tour “Dance Again” and directing/choreographing of three of Gloria Estefan’s world concert tours and two world tours for Madonna. Set to music by Ed Sheeran/Steve Mac/Johnny McDaid, and Raury Tullis, Lost in this World is very youthful.  Beautifully danced by the lead woman Maeghan McHale and lead men Devin Buchanan and Adam Houston.

The Giordano Dance Chicago Spring Series is performed at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. For more information on Giordano Dance Chicago visit http://giordanodance.org/.