Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) is an American dance company based in Chicago. HSDC performs in downtown Chicago and its metropolitan area and tours nationally and internationally throughout the year.
The dancer and choreographer Lou Conte founded HSDC in 1977, and served as artistic director until his retirement in 2000. Originally HSDC's sole choreographer, with a particular focus on jazz dance[1], Conte developed relationships with both new and established choreographers as the company began to grow, adding bodies of work by a variety of artists. In the 1980s, the company commissioned several works by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Margo Sappington and Daniel Ezralow. Its debut in New York City was in May 1983.[2]
A partnership with Twyla Tharp in the 1990s helped expand the company's repertoire with the acquisition of six of Tharp's works and commissioning an original work for the company. About this time, the company began to include European choreographers Jirí Kylián and Nacho Duato. HSDC further expanded its repertoire with the works of Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, including "Tabula Rasa," "Minus 16," "Passomezzo"[1], "Queens," and "Black Milk." The company has appeared in 44 states and 17 countries at celebrated dance venues including the American Dance Festival, DanceAspen, the Holland Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival[3], The Joyce Theater, the Kennedy Center, Philadelphia’s Dance Celebration, the Ravinia Festival, Spoleto Festival of the Two Worlds (Italy), Spoleto Festival U.S.A. (Charleston, SC), Sadler's Wells Theatre, The Brighton Festival and Wolf Trap.
The American dancer and choreographer Jim Vincent became the second artistic director of HSDC in August 2000.[4] Vincent brought his experience with the Nederlands Dans Theater into greater prominence with HSDC.[1] In January 2004, HSDC partnered with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) for dance performances with live orchestra, including Vincent's work "counter/part". In February 2009, HSDC announced the resignation of Vincent as artistic director, effective August 2009.[5] In June 2009, HSDC announced the appointment of Glenn Edgerton as its third Artistic Director, effective August 2009.[6]
HSDC has continued collaborations with various orchestras, including return engagements with the CSO, as well as performances with the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa) and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.
Education programs
As part of their community outreach work, HSDC has partnered with several schools in Chicago to offer both in class and after school programs to students, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts. They also provide classes for teachers on how to incorporate dance into their classroom. HSDC works with an average of 25 schools each year, which are selected through an extensive application process that includes site visits and a demonstrated commitment to the program by each school. Although HSDC has previously hosted master classes and residencies for schools outside of Chicago, including "whole school dance" initiatives with various public schools in the Chicago area.
References
- ^ a b c Gia Kourlas (6 August 2008). "Mind the Feathers and the Steps, and With In-House Talent Be Handy". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ Jennifer Dunning (3 May 1983). "Dance: Hubbard Street". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ Jennifer Dunning (29 August 2001). "Dresses Dance Alone, And Naps Play a Role". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ Christopher Reardon (19 August 2001). "Director of Chicago Dance Troupe Doesn't Miss a Step". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-29. [dead link]
- ^ "Jim Vincent Appointed Artistic Director of Nederlands Dans Theater" (Press release). Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
- ^ "Glenn Edgerton Appointed As The Third Artistic Director In Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's 32-Year History" (Press release). Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 2010-04-10.