Displaying items by tag: GIORDANO 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.