Chicagoist Weekend Theatre: Dance Stage With Ruth Page

By Lisa White in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 13, 2014 7:00PM

The Chicago Film Archives always offers up a plethora of wonderful historical moving images to enjoy and this weekend is no different, as we put a spotlight on one of the pieces from their extensive Ruth Page collection. If you aren't familiar with the name Ruth Page or the performing arts center named after her, Page was a pioneer in American ballet, both as a dancer and choreographer. The Ruth Page Center for the Arts is still showcasing emerging dance talent and training a new generation today, keeping the work and legacy of Page living on in her memory.

The Chicago Film Archives has a variety of her work, but today we take a look at an episode of NET's "Dance Stage" hosted by Page herself. Page, a gifted teacher, explains numerous facets of dance while her dancers (Barbara Johnson, Kenneth Johnson, Etta Buro and Charles Schick) perform and show how just a simple change in tempo or emotion can radically alter the same steps.