Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's ( HSDC ) 43rd season ( 2020-21 ) will begin Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. with a virtual premiere presentation of new work from former Hubbard Street dancer and acclaimed choreographer Rena Butler.
The piece will be streamed again Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m.
Butler's 25-minute work, "A Tale of Two," was filmed by Talia Koylass. "Amidst the multiple pandemics of this yearwith protests and the attention to racial disparity, I was compelled to make a work that examined my curiosity of why Chicago constantly feels like two cities in onefrom the glamour of the Magnificent Mile to the rampant gun violence that heavily affects our youth and the generations to come within disparate communities," said Butler in a statement.
The choreography, casting, rehearsals and filming all took place during the pandemic, requiring the dancers to perform outdoors at a distance from one another or wearing masks (while in groups of dancers who reside together).
Hubbard Street will stream free of charge through Vimeo and on HubbardStreetDance.com, where viewers can RSVP for the event to receive a link via email.