“Being presented with perspectives and context I wouldn’t otherwise have on topics that are important to the evolution and roots of dance helped me to expand my personal scope of interest and exploration. “
Call & Response: On Knockout - Sixty Inches from Center's Rachel Lindsay's Reflection
Environmental awakening: ETHOS IV connects community to the Earth
A canopy of pink blossoming trees showers petals on the audience as we sail down the path, pulled along by a current of wind and sound. Slow and easy, like swirling air, four figures float through the grove, reverently laying hands upon the bark and grass. They caress the breeze and mimic the shapes of the branches and trunks. Ayako Kato—kinetic philosopher, poet and choreographer—pauses to hang from one branch, arm hooked delicately and body unfolding toward the sky. The crowd is hushed. See Chicago Dance reviews Ayako Kato’s ETHOS IV: Degrowth/Cycle/Rebirth.
What happens when we take off our socks? The bittersweet power of introspection: a response by Aaliyah Christina
In January/February 2024, dance artist SJ Swilley held a production residency at the Dance Center of Columbia College supported by Chicago Dancemakers Forum. They invited collaborators Mawu Ama Ma'at Gora and Graciella Ye'Tsunami to help shape their work, Aaliyah Christina as an embedded writer, and Jovan Landry as the photographer to document some of the process. The resulting piece was part of the Chicago Artist Spotlight Festival in April 2024.
Discussion of LaTasha Barnes's The Jazz Continuum by Wyatt Sutter
Dance Theatre Etiquette and How It Shapes Our Experience as Viewers by Gabriela Marks
A Community Unveiled by Elaina Fletcher
“the Mo(ve)ment Performance Showcase as a whole, as it was a journey not just throughout different styles of dance, but an engagement unveiling the sundry ways of what a dance performance can look like and captivate those watching. And most notably, it unveiled a community in which I am avid in becoming a part of”
A Celebration of West African Rhythms and Movements: The Ayodele Drum & Dance Experience by Marisol Hernandez
“As a dancer myself, witnessing Ayodele Drum & Dance’s performance really reinforced the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context of the dances I perform. West African dance is more than just a series of steps; it's a means for preserving the traditions of a people, for conveying their stories and emotions.”
American Dancing Bodies Symposium - Movement though the Soul by Demetrius Gordon
On the Ground
Expanding our blog to take the pulse on our dance communities
In 2021, through the support of The Walder Foundation, we were able to expand the On the Ground series on our blog. We checked in on the dance communities in our city and beyond by taking the pulse of the moment during the covid pandemic. On the Ground became an online dance journal-magazine that featured interviews with Chicago dance artists, shared work from virtual residencies that we hosted with choreographers, and took deep dives into our video archives.
