This month, collaborations abound in the Chicago dance community. Music and movement meld, multiple companies share a stage and area non-profits are supported through the happenings of November dance. Before the holiday season begins, catch some of these highlighted performances.
The Chicago Human Rhythm Project ( CHRP ) will conclude its 20th-anniversary season with the annual "Global Rhythms" event. Taking place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance Nov. 26-28, Global Rhythms will showcase four unique programs, giving voice to several local, national and international artists. In addition, CHRP continues its Thanks 4 Giving program, which gives patrons a 10-percent discount by mentioning one of more than 50 participating Chicago nonprofit organizations. CHRP will share 50 percent of the revenue from that sale with the selected organization, which has produced as much as $32,000 for Chicago-based nonprofits in previous years.
The artists participating in Global Rhythms provide an eclectic mix of movement and music. French medieval ensemble Diabolus in Musica will be making its Chicago debut Nov. 26, with a program exploring the feminine presence in 13th-century trouvères. The first professional company dedicated to stepping, Step Afrika!, returns to Global Rhythms with contemporary stepping and hip-hop alongside ancient Zulu dances. CHRP's resident performing ensemble, BAM!, will present a series of premieres of tap dance. Also included in the event is Asian-American musical fusion The Miyumi Project, and the Fulcrum Point New Music Project. Chicago ensembles Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater, and Be the Grove will also perform.
CHRP will present Global Rhythms at The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph, 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 26, 3 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 27, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 28; $15-$55. For tickets or more information, call 312-334-7777 or visit www.harristheaterchicago.org
River North Dance Theater celebrates 21 years of dance this season with a return to the Harris Theater for one night only Nov. 13. The program, entitled "River North Contemporary," features several choreographers from varying backgrounds in the contemporary genre of dance. River North Artistic Director Frank Chaves will show a full company piece as well as an intimate duet. Also on the program are choreographer Lauri Stallings, Deeply Rooted Productions Artistic Director Kevin Iega Jeff and Robert Battle, newly appointed artistic director-designate of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Part of the celebration is a world-premiere piece by sought-after contemporary choreographer Sidra Bell. The new work, entitled Risoluta, illustrates an atmosphere resembling a subterranean ball. Bell's signature movement vocabulary and intertwining duets are set to an original score composed by her father, Dennis Bell. Sidra Bell is the artistic director of Sidra Bell Dance New York, and her choreography has been commissioned for many companies including Ailey II, Sacramento Ballet, Dance Theater Workshop and The Julliard School. Windy City Times sat down with Bell to look into the person behind the choreography:
Windy City Times: What was the process like creating a new piece on the River North dancers?
Sidra Bell: I spent three weeks with the dancers in August working on a brand new work. the first week and a half we did a lot of workshopping material, developing vocabulary, and we also did a lot of improvisation. My process is generally collaborative and organic, whenever I am visiting a group of dancers I like to tap into their community, and let the texture of the piece come from who they are.
WCT: Can you speak more about the collaboration with your father in your choreography?
Sidra Bell: My collaboration with my father [ Dennis Bell ] is lifelong. Specifically when I started choreographing, I began to work with him on music. Some of my first shows I put on in New York City used live music, orchestrated by my father, and now that I am being commissioned to create works for larger companies I like to bring him in to create original music for the pieces. Its really important in the dance world to introduce not only new aesthetics but also new music, and really pushing the envelope on sound. The music we often collaborate on is kind of mixing jazz and electronic, and mixing voice and classical voice. We like to play with textures in sound, and I thought that bringing in this type of music to the River North piece would add to the direction of the work.
WCT: Who have been some inspirational choreographers to your work as an artist?
Sidra Bell: Growing up I was really influenced by Alvin Ailey; I studied there, so from early on my biggest fascination was Ulysses Dove. He made really extreme movements, and also had a lot of conviction in those movements. I used to watch videos of his pieces all the time growing up. Now, I look to my peers. When I was visiting Montreal I attended a show with work from Sasha Waltz, a German choreographer. She is just so comprehensive; the movement is very physical but also contains had theatrical elements to it. I think with my own work I try to push the visual element. Not necessarily following a narrative, but definitely visual and very physical, showcasing the body and what it can do.
WCT: How do you feel you fit into the genre of "contemporary dance?" Is that an appropriate term for your work?
Sidra Bell: Well, "contemporary" is kind of this big umbrella of a term. We are so much in a time of change with art, a fusion period of sorts, so I feel comfortable under the term contemporary because I feel I am also constantly changing and trying to push envelopes physically.
I was trained in ballet, modern and jazz, and all of that comes together for me in a way that feels like a hybrid. Also, my exposure to music in my family has influenced me with improvisation elements and call and response in my work. I think a hallmark of contemporary is the physical interplay; it is not necessarily presentational, but has this life to it that is the conversation in the movement with the dancers. I think the piece I created for River North speaks to that, with the duet work and the story element that is contained in the movement.
River North Dance Theater will present "River North Contemporary" at The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph, 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13; tickets are $30-$65. Call 312-334-7777 or visit www.harristheaterchicago.org .
