Imagine if the Chicago theater community consisted mainly of outstanding actors with only a handful of directors and playwrights to create material for them. That’s the analogy John Schmitz, co-founder/artistic director of Dance Chicago 2003, draws on to describe the local dance scene: a plethora of highly skilled dancers hungry for more choreographers to develop new works.
It’s the reason why this year’s Dance Chicago–a nine-year-old festival celebrating the city’s diverse dance arena, Saturday through Nov. 30 at the Athenaeum Theatre–will showcase world premieres by artists participating in the Choreography Project. The event also has expanded its reach into a unique International Exchange Program between local and foreign choreographers.
“Over the last 25 years,” says Schmitz, “the technical aspects of dance in Chicago have greatly improved. The problem is that choreography has lagged far behind. Since we started the Choreography Project last year, instead of putting an emphasis on dance companies, we’re trying to create choreographers.”
And Dance Chicago is gradually achieving that goal. In 2002, Julia Rhoads of Lucky Plush Productions teamed up with River North Chicago Dance Company to craft the experimental “In the Oasis”; ballroom champions Tommye Giacchino and Gregory Day set “A Spanish Feel” on Hubbard Street 2. Both works are now in those companies’ repertoire.
This year, four up-and-coming choreographers were paired with accomplished dancers. The artists were given a total of 30 hours to create new dances, which will premiere during opening weekend. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago ensemble member Cheryl Mann choreographed a quirky-abstract piece, “Lighten Up,” for six dancers from Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago–an experience that has allowed her to merge psychological mystery with whimsy.
“As a modern dancer, I’m used to performing in very emotionally deep works,” says Mann. “But I also danced in Disney World for five years. And sometimes I just want to breathe and be more lighthearted.”
With the jazzy-theatrical Gus Giordano troupe, she can engage in more breezy play and forge a work that has the dancers manipulating little lamps and flashlights, which appear to control their movements against an eerie, carnival-inspired score of found sound, like a clinging cash register.
Paul Christiano of Melissa Thodos & Dancers also gets to explore his capricious side as he molds his tango-esque sextet, “Balada Para Un Loco,” on dancers from River North Chicago Dance Company. “I wanted to keep the jazzy flair of River North while pushing the modern element at the same time,” says Christiano.
He plans to convey that by joining familiar tango rhythms and the anguished story of a woman’s friendship with a mentally challenged man. This central pair is surrounded by four dancers representing aspects of the woman’s memory.
Choreography Project participants are certainly helping to “pump new blood into Chicago dance,” according to Schmitz. But for the first time, the festival is injecting creative foreign energy into the program. And instead of big-name cities, like Paris or London, festival organizers are bringing in experimental choreographers from Albania and Turkey.
Albanian-born dancer-choreography Altin Naska–who has lived in Chicago for five years and is a former member of Melissa Thodos & Dancers–is the driving force behind Dance Chicago’s International Exchange Program. As its director, he has secured the pairing of Albanian choreographer Arjan Sukniqi (who is also creating a work for the 2004 Olympics in Athens) with two dancers from the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. His duet, which combines classical ballet and contemporary movement, will debut at Dance Chicago.
Dance Chicago will then send a Chicago choreographer to Istanbul next year to work with Cemal Resit Rey Dance Theatre, founded by Geyvan McMillan (a dancer-choreographer trained in the Martha Graham Technique). This company will perform in this year’s festival Finale Nov. 30. Future collaborations with artists from the Netherlands are in the works.
“In Europe, you see many choreography festivals,” explains Naska. “And they are mostly supported by the government. I felt Dance Chicago is the ideal forum for this. I think Dance Chicago needs to grow into something more global.”
According to Naska–who is also premiering a new work for three Joffrey dancers as part of the Choreography Project–the International Exchange gives fledgling Chicago choreographers a chance to be seen in Europe. On the flip side, lesser-known European choreographers have a built-in American festival to showcase their creativity. On a larger scale, this type of exchange exposes artists and audiences to diverse cultures. Earlier this year, Naska brought Chicago dancers–including Bril Barrett and Joseph Mills–to Albania, where they appeared on television and were treated “like superstars.”
“I want this to be a true exchange, and I want it to have a future,” insists Naska. “It’s not just a one-shot thing.”
With its new focus on choreographic development, Dance Chicago is putting dancers in greater control of their careers. As Hubbard Street’s Mann points out, “I’ve always been the instrument of the choreographer. Now I get to compose.”
Dance Chicago 2003: A highlights checklist
Opening Weekend: This varied lineup is ideal for audiences who want a taste of all the dance styles offered in the festival, from ballet and jazz to tap and hip-hop. 8 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; $20.
Encore!: New this year, “Encore!” features works that received high marks from audiences and critics in the last eight years. 8 p.m. Nov. 7; 3 p.m. Nov. 16; $15.
Dance For Kids, Too!: A proven crowd pleaser, this energetic family-oriented program consists of youth dance companies and professional adult troupes performing kid-friendly works. 2 p.m. Nov. 8, 15, 22 and 29; $5-$12.
Dance Slam: This popular event lets audiences rate aspiring dance companies and choreographers, who perform a new routine in five minutes or less. The top vote-getters are invited to perform next year. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 and 18; $5.
River North Chicago Dance Company: The jazzy-modern company, under the artistic direction of Frank Chaves, merges its fall engagement into Dance Chicago. 8 p.m. Nov. 14, 15 and 22; 3 p.m. Nov. 23; $20-$25.
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Dance Chicago 2003 runs Sat.-Nov. 30 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $5-$25. Call 312-902-1500.
