Dance review by Patricia Simms
Read full review on Chicago Splash
Billed as “a rich tapestry of dance performance creatively sparked by the Windy City,” Thodos Dance Chicago’s “Chicago Inspired” celebrates today’s and yesterday’s dance artists– including Broadway legend and Chicago native, Bob Fosse–with today’s beautiful, athletic, graceful bodies leaping, turning, throwing, catching, trusting dance moves.
How do you describe dance? Such an ephemeral art form. Such athletic yet graceful feats. “Thank you!” for sharing your imaginative genius with us through not only creative art, but also your art for collaboration. What we saw today (February 21, 2015) was a gift to our spirit. The intertwining of the inspired work of all your collaborators did create a tapestry whose evocative movement changed with each carefully chosen piece.
Thanks for the ENCORES
Lullaby by Brian Enos premiered in 2012 at Ruth Paige Center for the Arts
Night Windows Tenley Dorrill premiered in 2014 also at Ruth Paige Center for the Arts
A Salute to Old Friends—including a video of Agnes de Mille (the music? Dave Brubeck’s Stompin’ for Mili!) who actually danced along!
Fosse Trilogy, a trio of three Fosse works originally created for TV in the late 1960s, set on Thodos Dance years later with new transition choreography by Fosse collaborator Ann Reinking. Three 1960s pop songs – Cool Hand Luke, Tijuana Shuffle and Mexican Breakfast– originally created for The Ed Sullivan Show in 1969 and featuring his wife Gwen Verdon and the template for Beyoncé’s wildly popular Single Ladies video.
Thanks for the PREMIERS
Near Light by Artistic Director Melissa Thodos, the Chicago premiere of Memoirs by first-time TDC guest choreographer Garfield Lemonius, reprises of Sybil Shearer’s Salute to Old Friends and Brian Enos’s Lullaby, and the official debuts into TDC’s repertoire of John Cartwright’s Flawed and Tenley Dorrill’s Night Windows, both created by these TDC ensemble dancers via the company’s New Dances 2014 series. Each dance (each dancer!) swept us away with the beauty of their work.
At the intermission, we were treated to a peek at the Youth Ensemble who delighted us with their dance to Parov Stelar’s “Booty Swing.” Their energy and charm were captivating.
Let’s Celebrate!
Chicago Inspired will be presented again on Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago.
Tickets are $15–$65; 40% off for students and seniors.
Purchase tickets at the Harris by calling (312) 334-7777 or visiting harristheaterchicago.org.
Put on your dancing shoes and join in the post-show VIP Gala!
Immediately following the Harris concert, Thodos Dance is hosting its Chicago Inspired post show VIP gala.
At 9:30 p.m., guests will be spirited to the Harris back stage to enjoy signature cocktails in the Green Room.
Then guests will ride a Chicago Inspired decorated elevator with Thodos Dancers up to the glass enclosed stage of the Pritzker Pavilion.
With night views of Millennium Park and the Art Institute as a backdrop, Thodos’ supporters will enjoy an open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dancing, and fruit, dessert and coffee stations.
Tickets are $275 or $500 and include pre-show cocktails and VIP seating.
Purchase tickets at Thodos Dance Chicago website or call (312) 266-6255.