Posts Tagged ‘The Dance Center of Columbia College’

Some of contemporary dance’s leading choreographic voices will bring their companies to The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago during the 2011-2012 season.

Beginning this fall with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, other scheduled presenters include David Gordon’s Pick Up Performance Co(s), Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan and, in a co-presentation with the Harris Theater of Music and Dance, the Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s Legacy Tour.

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan in Water Stains on the Wall (Photo by Liu Chen-hsiang)

The season continues in 2012 with Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, a shared program featuring The Space/Movement Project, Rachel Damon/Synapse Arts and Erica Mott; and Ballet Hispanico.

The FamilyDance Matinee Series continues for its 13th season, featuring one-hour family-oriented performances preceded by free parent/child movement workshops with the artists. Most artists will also participate in DanceMasters, community master classes presented by The Dance Center’s Community Outreach and Education office. Discussions with the artists will follow most Thursday performances, and some programs will feature pre-performance talks with artists and Dance Center personnel or guest lecturers.

Subscriptions and single tickets go on sale July 11 at The Dance Center, 1306 South Michigan Avenue, 312.369.8330 or online at www.colum.edu/dancecenter.

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago welcomes back the popular dance-theater work of choreographer Joe Goode and his Joe Goode Performance Group with two Chicago premieres February 3 to 5 at The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

The Joe Goode Performance Group mixes dance and puppetry in Wonderboy. (Photo by R.J. Muna)

For Wonderboy, Goode collaborated with master puppeteer Basil Twist for this unexpected tale of a peculiar superhero isolated by his gift of super-sensitivity. The piece features music by Carla Kihlstedt of the Tin Hat Trio and Matthias Bossi. In 29 Effeminate Gestures, a choreographer and a chainsaw provide for an insightful exploration into the paradox of gender language. This program contains strong language.

As part of Joe Goode Performance Group’s residency, there will be a post-performance conversation with the artists following the February 3 performance, and Goode will give a pre-show talk on February 4 at 7:00 p.m., free to ticket holders. All performances begin at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $26 to $30.

A FamilyDance matinee on February 5 will feature a movement workshop with the artists at 2:15 p.m., followed by a 45-minute family-oriented performance at 3:00 p.m. at The Dance Center. Admission for children 12 and younger is free; tickets for adults are $15.

Goode also will lead a DanceMasters class February 1 at 6:00 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue. Class is $15.

DanceMasters is a series of community master classes presented by The Dance Center’s division of Community Outreach and Education, in partnership with the Lou Conte Dance Studio at the Hubbard Street Dance Center, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Classes are for dancers at the intermediate level or higher.

For more information, call 312.369.8330 or visit www.colum.edu/dancecenter.

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago has announced its 12th season of the FamilyDance Matinee Series, featuring a variety of dance traditions and styles—and for the first time, children’s admission is free.

The Dance Center presents its 12th season of family dance matinees. (Photo by Lindsay Schlesser)

For spring 2011, FamilyDance Matinees will be presented by Joe Goode Performance Group on February 5, Robert Moses’ Kin on February 26, and Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre on March 12. Each FamilyDance Matinee features a 45-minute family-oriented performance preceded by a free workshop that encourages parents and children to get up and move with the artists.

“It’s an opportunity to show kids and parents that dance is fun,” Dance Center Executive Director Phil Reynolds said. “Once they’ve tried it themselves, they’ll enjoy watching it even more. We hope we’re nurturing the development of the next generation of dancers and audience members as well.”

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago is the city’s leading presenter of contemporary dance, showcasing artists of regional, national, and international significance.

FamilyDance Matinees begin at 3:00 p.m.; the free movement workshops begin at 2:15 p.m., all at The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago. Single tickets are free for children 12 and younger, $15 for adults. The theatre is accessible to people with disabilities. Call 312-369-8330 or visit www.colum.edu/dancecenter.