Displaying items by tag: John Schmitz
Magical! Dances from the Heart at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
I thoroughly adored Dance Chicago’s Dances from the Heart curated by Artistic Director John Schmitz, the highlight of the show, which featured Canadian guest artist Azalea Kaviani and Jordan Faye, was the premiere of “Of the Sun” from the program; Fish of the Sun. Fish of the Sun tells the story of a little fish who has lost her father and goes on a long, challenging journey to find him again. Children have an innate need to be near their parents or caregivers; their lives revolve around them much like the planets revolve around the sun. As the lost fish struggles to find her father, she recalls the importance of the physical connection. This dance shows the benefit of creating space for work that is for by and about the nuanced experiences and artistic expression of people with disabilities.
Azalea Kaviani, who is also one of the artistic directors, dressed in a blue and white unitard with lighting that appeared to make her and her partner appear underwater was a delight to behold. She danced with grace and sensitivity. They conveyed the inner experience of the delicate, lost fish looking for her father. Jordan Faye was a wonderful supportive and strong dancer and partner. When Faye carried his daughter, the little fish, off of the stage it was the most touching and meaningful moment of this wonderful evening of dance.
Having had two members of my immediate family, paralyzed by genetic ataxia, I sincerely hope that more artistic directors like Kaviani will get the support they need to utilize dancers in various stages of disability showing the world that beautiful interpretive dance is not limited.
Comedy Dance Chicago, with their opening number and titled “L – O – V – E,” brought out the light moments of comic relief and showed that anyone with any level of dance experience can still express themselves and the joy of dancing.
The two largest international dance troops, TRINITY Irish Dance ensemble with twenty-three dancers and Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble with fifty-one dancers, filled the stage with joy and tradition. These group dances, complete with wonderful, colorful costumes from each country, although completely different in style, conveyed how marvelous it is that young boys and girls together can dance together in freedom and safety, while in many parts of the world, this type of performance is either forbidden or impossible.
Gus Giordano Dance Company was fantastic with their numbers entitled “So Hot” and “Issa Vibe”.
Soloist Sophia DeLeon Sanchez with the premiere of the dance, entitled “Letting Go“ was a stand out with her sensual, hypnotic and mature grace.
I was also impressed by tap dancer and soloist Trey Dumas. The first portion of his solo was an improvography in silence, which allowed the audience to hear the intricate beats that this long time tap dance teacher was able to create on the spot. But the second half of his program, which was set to the song autumn leaves with the original French lyrics by Jacques Peurye and performed by Leslie Odom Junior, really brought the light of his tap genius into the romantic program that fit perfectly with Dances from the Heart.
Hip Hop ConnXion family with eleven dancers took over the stage with great energy and verve in their dance entitled “I miss you”. Other wonderful contributions were made by Visceral Studio Company, Christine Rich Dance Theatre, Flamenco, Ramya Ravi, Kalakriti bharatanatyam, Culture Shock Chicago, Tap Icon Tre Dumas, Footprints Tap Ensemble, Forum Dance Theatre, Elevation Studio Company, and Wheatland Dance Theater.
Dances from the Heart at the lovely North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie was a full-length program with a complete variety of highest quality dance troops curated from all over Chicago and the country was two hours of enchantment with a 15 minute intermission. I highly recommend this program in the future for audiences of all ages.
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Written by Buzz Center StageSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to continue its 51st Season with the world premiere of Chicago playwright Stephanie Alison Walker's biting satire Adirondack Chair Circle, directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Downstate, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), playing October 22 — December… -
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Written by Buzz Center StageWriters Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, concluded its 2025/26 season by shattering box office, attendance, and fundraising records, and cementing its position as a premier national hub for theatre excellence…
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American Blues Theater names Nia Akilah Robinson the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award for her play Overnight at the Museum and announces featured finalists Benjamin Benne and Claire Crowley
Written by Buzz Center StageAmerican Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award is Nia Akilah Robinson for her play Overnight at the Museum. As part of the award, Robinson receives a $3,000 cash prize and a staged reading…
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ETA’s for colored girls Honors the Enduring Power of Ntozake Shange
Written by Wesley DavidNearly fifty years after its groundbreaking premiere, Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf remains one of the most important works ever written for the American stage. Neither conventional play nor musical,…
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