“Dance Chicago 25th Anniversary Party” reviewed by CJ Hyland

**** Highly Recommended.

Correct me if I’m mistaken, but there are few things in life that sound like more fun to me than a dance party. Not sure? Let’s consider for a moment. According to Wikipedia, dance parties are “…social gathering(s) where dancing is the primary activity.” Usually held at night, the only necessities to throwing a good dance party are a space large enough for many people to be dancing in simultaneously and employing some kind of groove or beat to move to, after that, the possibilities are endless in terms of the type, size, and variety of soiree to be had. Balls, barn dances, cotillions, discos, hoedowns or raves, there is a dance party out there for anyone and everyone who wants to “get up and groove” or “get down and boogie.”

So then, what could be more fun than a dance party that has a little bit of everything? A dance party that honors all of the art form, be it ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, contemporary or cultural? A dance party that celebrates all that is Chicago dance, interweaving and comingling legacy dance artists from the past 25 years with new and upcoming talent just bursting onto the scene? To my mind, nothing sounds like more fun, and that’s exactly the extravaganza Emergence Dance Theatre hosted for us last evening, in Lincoln Park, Chicago.

Dance Chicago’s 25^th Anniversary Dance Party, set on the main stage of the historic Athenaeum theatre, capped off a two-week long festival that, for the past 25 years, has dedicated itself to recognizing and lauding Chicago dance in its totality. Considering all of the varied and vibrant forms of the art available to us here on the third coast, pulling off a festival and blow-out gala of this scope and magnitude is no small feat. Since its inception in 1994, the Dance Chicago festival can boast the creation of over 600 shows, showcasing 15,000 acts with over 150,000 artists participating, and the festival continues to grow every year, with original and innovative talent emerging to join the cavorting numbers all of the time. So, needless to say, I was pretty certain I was in for a treat when I landed this assignment.

Last night’s line-up boasted 19 acts, featuring 102 artists, representing 14 dance groups in and around the Chicagoland area. Some of these groups, like Forum Dance Theatre and Visceral Dance Chicago, have graced the Chicago dance scene for years, while others, such as Ballet 5:8, are training grounds for new and emerging talent and showcase relative newcomers only just now coming into their own. Yet age and tenure meant very little this evening, as all of the artists performing took to the stage with an enthusiasm and energy that was intoxicating and equally effusive from the fledgling troupes all the way up to the more established dancers and companies.

GG Pre-Professional Co., from theGus Giordano Dance School, kicked off the evening with an upbeat jazzy number, entitled Sing Sing Sing, that was all cabaret cool, flirty fun. Attired in black tuxedo leotards, complete with white gloves and tails, and dancing to the “King of Swing” by Benny Goodman, 14 dancers spun, kicked and jazz-handed their way through this high-energy performance. Shortly thereafter was Comedy Dance Chicago, in a hysterical number entitled Tiny Dancer, and set to the eponymous Elton John track. In this work, six dancers plus one teeny tiny finger puppet ballerina, lit by an iPhone spotlight, engage in a cavorting and quite literal interpretation of the song lyrics, with the finger puppet even dancing atop a tiny piano at one point. By the number’s close, the tiny dancer puppet had been tossed to the winds and the crowd was literally in tears.

Other first Act highlights included, Visceral Dance Chicago in a visually stunning piece entitled Keep, set to the haunting melodies of Trent Reznnor and Sigur Rós. Two dancers, Braeden Barnes and Meredith Harrill, scantily attired in black, were a perfect combination of beauty, power and precision in this scintillating Pax de deux.  Also, Gus Legacy Co., in a number entitled Coming in Hot, and featuring nine dancers, attired in black and red, and grooving to the electronic beats of Andy Mineo, Charlie Wilson and DeeJay Ford, was pure dance party fun with their high energy head swivels, high kicks and back flips. The first act closed with a gorgeous number by Aerial Dance Chicago, entitled The Phantom Beside Me, featuring three couples partnered by hanging black silks and set to the sensuous melodies of Johann Johannsson. Suspended high above our heads, these artists executed a breathtaking aerial ballet with the flawless technicality, athleticism, beauty and grace we have come to expect from this accomplished company.

The second act was no less of a show-stopper with an early performance by Sophia de Leon Flamenco Dance and Music, entitled Sueño Chinotto. With live musician, Louis Marini, playing the upright bass on stage, dancer Sophia Sanchez, attired in a fabulous yellow and blue ensemble complete with castanets, executed and series of leg-kicking twists, back-arching turns and intricate footwork that left your head spinning. She was followed shortly thereafter by BOOM CRACK! Dance Company in a fast-paced, sexy piece entitled, IMPERIUM: Love Delux. Featuring nine dancers with a music mix composed by Trae Turner, this work was a thrilling combination of hair flying head spins, spine arching back bends, and high energy hip thrusts punctuated by synchronized freezes and precise floor work that was enough to leave you dizzy.

Other second act favorites included Indian Dance School in a work entitled Triwat in taal Teentaal (Cycle of 16 beats). Featuring dancer Gauri Jog, dressed in a traditional sari of garnet, gold and amethyst and set to the traditional melodies of Anurekha Ghosh, this performance was an awesome combination of complicated hand gestures, skirt-flying twirls and astonishing footwork, perfectly punctuated by the gangling bells Jog wore on her ankles. Another memorable performance was delivered by Forum Dance Theater in a piece called True Strength. In this ravishing work, 14 dancers in flowing black dresses treated us to a voluptuous, ethereal performance of back-arching twists, dramatic lifts and dazzling extensions that ended with all 14 dancers on stage in what looked like masterfully controlled chaos. Brining home the second act was Jus’ LisTen in a number entitled Signs of Winters Times and featuring Tré Dumas in an improvisational tap number that was a jaw-dropping display of finesse and footwork

Dance Chicago’s 25^th Anniversary Dance Party was more than just a celebration or social gathering; it was a triumphant homage to Chicago and all of the talented artists and choreographers who grace her streets and call her home. It was a communal conclave, honoring all of the different forms dancing can take while also and, most importantly, highlighting and commemorating our similarities and the things we share – specifically a love of dance. Dance is the universal language and has the ability to bring people together, across oceans or parking lots, in peace, love and acceptance and, as such, its value in these times is immeasurable. So, given everything I have just relayed to you, I ask again; What could be more fun than a dance party, especially this dance party? And, this time I will answer you, unequivocally and with complete and utter conviction, NOTHING is more fun than this!!

Up Next from Dance Chicago:

Dances From The Heart, Saturday, February 15, 2020, 8:00PM, Athenaeum Theater