South Chicago Dance – Innovative, Inspiring

By Flo Mano with Wes Hessel

Saturday night’s performance at the Auditorium Theatre by South Chicago Dance Theatre, titled “In/Within”, was incredible. The first piece was the company premiere of “Temporal Trance”, by choreographer extraordinaire Frank Chaves. Quite simply, it blew me away. It was an Olympic-athletic, architectural delight – transitioning seamlessly as if the dancers were one.

The second piece, choreographed by Kate Weare, was the world premiere “Folk”. It was a melange of Jewish and Italian music, exploring the concept of community through the individualities and differences, finding a commonality – creating their “village”. It pretty much represents the concept of South Chicago Dance Theatre.

“Under The Skin” by Tsai Hsi Hung was an amazing, fast-paced athletic feat and Asian sourced costumes by designer Trey Alexander – sublime… “In/Within”: the final piece was the world premiere by director/choreographer Kia S. Smith, an emotional exploration of wandering through a dreamlike terrain, exploring varied emotions.

The evening honored Frank Chavez with The Cultural Hero Award for his significant impact to dance in our city, thus archiving his legacy. The South Chicago Dance Theatre is definitely a company to not miss when it’s on your radar – for more on the troupe, please see www.southchicagodancetheatre.com, and for upcoming great events in dance and other cultural happenings, visit www.auditoriumtheatre.org.

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