River North Chicago Dance Company program has Philadelphia connections
December 2, 2009Philadelphia, PA — River North Chicago Dance Company will feature seven Philadelphia premieres when the troupe hits town January 14-16, kicking off the New Year for the Dance Celebration Series at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Known for its jazzy, sizzling, theatrical style, River North Chicago Dance Company (RNCDC) brings to the stage “energetic, marvelously trained performers and a gutsy, entertaining repertoire,” according to the Chicago Sun Times. This season’s program, performed by 13 high-powered dancers, several with Philadelphia connections, features choreography by Frank Chaves (RNCDC Artistic Director), Sherry Zunker (RNCDC Co-Artistic Director Emerita) and Monique Haley (RNCDC company member who trained in Philadelphia at the University of the Arts and Philadanco). Highlights include:
· Evolution of a Dream (2009), a full ensemble work choreographed by Sherry Zunker to music by David Stewart and His Rock Fabulous Orchestra. As the program opener, and celebrating the company’s 20th Anniversary, the work is a re-imagining of their classic signature piece, Reality of a Dreamer which garnered two Chicago Emmys prior to being picked up and aired by PBS, launching the company’s national presence.
· Forbidden Boundaries (2009), a full company work, choreographed by Frank Chaves set to music by Evan Solot (a Philadelphia composer and University of the Arts faculty member), Michael Cusson, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Gustave Santoalalla.
· The program also includes Ella (2010), a Company premiere preview generously underwritten by The Jane Beber Abramson Creative Fund, and featuring Lauren Kias, with the timeless music of Ella Fitzgerald, costume design by Jordan Ross and lighting design by Burke Wilmore. Also, 2001 University of the Arts graduate, Monique Haley makes her choreographic debut with RNCDC performing Uhuru (2009), another full company work whose name means “freedom” in Swahili, set to the music of Akoya Afrobeat.
· Frank Chaves’ riveting, colorful and richly-seductive Habaneras, The Music of Cuba (2005) closes the program. Set to the 1950 orchestral music of Cuba’s popular composers, Ernesto Lecuona, Carlos Puebla and Silvio Rodriguez, this six-part full company work captures the aesthetics and spirit of Chaves’ early Cuban roots. Chaves’ other works on the program include Sentir Em Nos (Even For Us; 2009), an evocative duet, performed by Michael Gross and Melanie Manale-Hortin, and Tuscan Rift (2009), a small ensemble work, to music by Rene Aubry and Andrew Bird.
Under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, the Dance Celebration series, presented by Dance Affiliates and the Annenberg Center’s Penn Presents, maintains the tradition of bringing to Philadelphia the world’s best contemporary touring dance companies. This season’s The Magic of Movement pays tribute to American dance and showcases its diversity of styles, from tap to Broadway, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, multimedia and dance theater.
Read the full release by downloading the PDF.
- Download this PDF [53K]
