Photo: Michelle Reid.
Chicago is a distinctively supportive city for early career dancers, not only because of the city’s collaborative spirit, but also thanks to excellent early and pre-professional training programs. The efforts of emerging artists from two of these programs—housed by Winifred Haun & Dancers and Chicago Movement Collective—will be showcased this Friday at the Ruth Page Center in a program titled “Persistent Spring.”
Winifred Haun, founder and artistic director of her eponymous company, says the co-presentation, now in its third year, is an obvious partnership. Haun launched the Third Coast Contemporary dance training program not long after Ethan Kirschbaum—the scholarship mentor at Lou Conte Dance Studio before it abruptly closed in 2012—founded CMC and its Claire Bataille Legacy Scholarship to fill the training gap left by Hubbard Street’s program. Haun and Kirschbaum were both interested in producing a professional concert to showcase the trainees’ talents and so joined forces. The annual “Persistent Spring” program blossomed.
This year, over half of the short pieces are choreographed by trainees. “These Gen Z artists have a lot to say. And they’re really funny,” Haun says. “A lot of them have really clear ideas for what they want in design.” Haun mentions Third Coast dancer Steven Hou, who began dancing only a few years ago, traveling to the North Side from his home in Chinatown to train, with his unusual passion for Graham technique. She says Hou has a vision for a set design they’re trying to make work in the rapid-fire showcase format.
The rest of the pieces on the program are by established choreographers including Faith Balderrama, Imani English, Abdiel Figueroa Reyes, plus a work in progress by Haun.
“It’s a good chance to see early career artists,” Haun says. And, with her typical wry humor she adds, “A lot of times with showcases like this it’s great because most of it is new work and if there’s something you don’t like it will be over soon and move to something you do like.”
Chicago Movement Collective and Winifred Haun & Dancers “Persistent Spring” at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 North Dearborn. Friday, May 22 at 7:30pm. $39. Tickets and info at ticketleap.com.
