Hubbard Street Dance Chicago‘s Fall Series opened tonight at the Harris Theater. Let me put the bottom line right here at the top: GO SEE THIS SHOW.
Here you will experience a completely new and different take on dance, on theater, on the varied spaces that fit together to make a complete building work seamlessly for dancers and audience alike.
What on Earth am I talking about? This is contemporary dance; wild, expressive and daring, while simultaneously demonstrating the skill, passion, dedication, athleticism, discipline and grace that it takes to be a dancer in a modern theater. We were given directions, the dancers entered the waiting hall, and began the evening walking through the crowd, splitting themselves into small groups and twisting, bending, waving and moving in ways that were intriguing, even fascinating, as when one group of three worked their way up the main staircase in a human chain sort of fashion, the last one flowing around and over the others, to the front, finding a fixed position that clung firmly to the former lead, over and over.
We were lead about the entire theater, up and down stairs, on stage, back stage, all while watching dancers continue to twist and gyrate, leap, tangle and separate yet again. Part of the experience was watching the audience members, many in light and colorful clothes, move about, interspersed by the fluid dancers, so inexplicably dressed in uniform tones of brown.
The show gives you a chance to truly see the dancers’ perspective when they are on stage, or moving to and from it. It gives these talented athletes, these disciplined and amazingly graceful young men and women a well-earned chance to show off their skills and abilities and I left with a renewed respect for each and every one.
GO SEE THIS SHOW. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been to Harris Theater, or a live dance presentation, or even if you know nothing about contemporary dance (heck, I don’t know anything about it, really). Go and take it all in. Keep your eyes, your ears, your mind and especially your heart open to see and feel this entire event. HURRY. It’s only being shown for a few more days, so, dear readers, please, hurry. You won’t be sorry.
http://www.hubbardstreetdance.com
Hubbard Street Ticket Office (312) 850-9744
Harris Theater at Millennium Park
205 E. Randolph Drive
Chicago, IL, 60601
Frank Brichetto, Ukrainian People magazine
Photo: Carol Fox and Associates
