Results tagged “dance”

If you’re a fan of River North Dance (or even if you’re not) - you’re going to want to grab tickets to the company’s “20th Anniversary Fall Engagement” - the company won’t be in town again until February.

Most probably recognize Mikhail Baryshnikov as Carrie's love interest on Sex and the City, but I knew him first as the name I wore on my dance tights. The man is a true living legend in the world of ballet, a man who brought the art to the attention of a culture more concerned with television and rock and roll (perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised that everyone I told that I was going to see the show knew his name). He is the kind of legend that comes a lifetime before, not the kind that that you still have the opportunity to see perform.

"Lift your dress enough to show me those shins, let your hair stick to your forehead."

By now, you've all seen the Thriller dance as performed by a group of Philippine inmates. Now, upon the death of King of Pop Michael Jackson, the inmates are back with another tribute to the fallen pop star.

Rehab is not only the best party going down each and every Monday, it's also arguably the strongest weekly residency in the Chicago with it's appeal across multiple genres and everyone's welcome attitudes. We became fans of their evening at evilOlive partially because it didn't feel like a typical club night. Sure, there were throngs of dances, but there was always room to chat with friends or duck away fro a game of pool if you weren't feeling a particular DJ's set.

Kylie is coming to Chicago! What? Kylie who? Oh right, you're North Americans. We understand most folks don't realize what a superstar Kylie Minogue is in the rest of the world -- we feel it's similar to what we call "Robbie Williams Syndrome" -- but at least most of you are familiar with her through her infectious single "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" that accompanied endless Bally's commercials a few years ago. And to you folks who are even older, she sang that bubblegum rendition of "The Loco-Motion." In-between those two songs she underwent a number of changes zipping from soap actress cum pop-tart, semi-serious indie chanteuse, disco diva, and finally arriving at her current mix of electro-tweaked pop.

Michael Mayer makes dance music, but it's not necessarily of the pedal-down, pit-sweat variety. Co-founder of the celebrated Cologne, Germany-based imprint Kompakt, Mayer's work as both a producer and DJ, like much of his label's output, favors pristine swoops and melodic washes bundled with the considered, stylish beats of micro-house and other incarnations of what's known generally as minimal dance music.

Thanks, Ariel!

              

[Ed.'s Note: The above pictures are technically SFW but proceed at your own peril if you work in an office. Or with young children nearby.]

Toronto electronic outfit MSTRKRFT hits Chicago Thursday night for their installment of Myspace's Secret Show series. Previously gracing Double Door, Smartbar and Vision on their Chicago tour stops, fans can expect a very different live experience as the funky electronic maestros turn Bridgeport arts complex Co-Prosperity Sphere into sweaty mayhem.

The world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company hits the stage at Roosevelt University’s Auditorium Theatre this week, kicking off a nationwide tour in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The program includes both classic and new works by Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, Hope Boykin, Mauro Bigonzetti, George Faison and Elisa Monte. Opening night (Wednesday, April 1) will also feature a performance by Grammy-winning group Sweet Honey In The Rock.

We'll admit we're still not exactly sure HOW the Heaven Seventies should be musically classified. Are they a dance-rock band? A disco-funk combo? Electro-gangsters? Remixers? DJs? All that and a bag of chips?

Cut Copy, Hot Chip and Hercules and Love Affair have proven that there is room on Chicago's dancefloors for more than juke and electro. Drawing on influences from post-punk to disco to the radio greats of the past, it seems electronic pop is gaining momentum in a big way.

Honestly, we try to avoid videos after they've spread like the plagues, and we were deeply suspicious off this one chronichling one man's attempt to do 100 dances in 100 different locations in 100 days. We finally gave in and watched it though, and have to hand it to the dude for at the very least completing a pretty daunting task. For obvious reasons #67 is our favorite, #71 is pretty groovy, and #80 proves that Lykke Li is danceable no matter what BPM she's putting out. Hell, the whole thing rocks pretty hard as far as the marriage of dance and eclectic playlist goes. Maybe we can get him to DJ Chicagoist's anniversary party this May and recreate #100?

It's so frickin' cold outside we recommend working up a sweat to this dance routine in order to raise your core temperature.

Lit

With their Winter Series program wrapping up last weekend at Harris Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago solidly defended their reputation as an internationally renowned contemporary dance company.

Film

The Keeper of the Floor (KTF) improv dance battle is a monthly series from the Chicago Dance Crash company, and something we have previously touted as a good opportunity to get introduced to the local dance scene. For those who shudder at the idea of a dance show its a great way to see something a bit more accesssible. The performances are meant to cater to the audience, which then chooses the winner of each dance competition.

Film

The 2008 Dance Chicago festival, a three-week long dance smorgasbord featuring 130 companies performing over 300 works, kicked off last Friday with three opening weekend performances packed with a variety of dance genres and styles. Among the many dancers and dance companies hitting the stage at the Athenaeum Theatre were the World Champion Trinity Irish Dancers, Moscow Ballet, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and Chicago's Mexican Dance Ensemble, all coming together to create a diverse program showcasing ballet, tap, urban, Irish, character, jazz and contemporary dance.

Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., 11/6, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Free

Gus Giordano, a man who left a substantial mark on the form of modern jazz dance, passed away last March, and now his Chicago dance company is honoring his legacy with a duel set of performances this weekend at Harris Theater.

Chicagoist certainly is a hard and serious Halloween celebrator, with info on costumes, zombie pin-up calenders -- and adding to our previous list of A&E Halloween treats -- here are a few more events to keep on the radar.

MSTRKRFT at Double Door. We're so happy they moved this banger of a show from Metro since it means a) no little kids and b) the fucking monstrous beats of MSTRKRFT will be demolishing a room as small as Double Door! Wahoo! It's bound to be absolutely insane. If you like either dance music or rock music, you do not want to miss this. Getcher tickets now, because it will sell out.

Chicago has been particularly successful in generating a bunch of dance rock band worth buzzing about -- Walter Meego, Hey Champ, Prairie Cartel, etc. -- and now we can add another to that list with Parks And Gardens. This newer group doesn't really deviate from the form of loop and sample laden rockin' designed with the discotheque in mind, but instead of utilizing those elements to create a cliche they inject an angular artsiness into their songs. In effect this creates a minor agitation in the listener, and we think that's kind of a bold move for any band trying to ingratiate themselves with a crowd not particularly interested in anything beyond basic Sybaritic pleasure. It's this element that bonds Parks And Gardens with the aforementioned bands, and helps raise them -- and the Chicago dance music scene in general -- above the countless other drones aping the style.

The Lou Conte Dance Studio is holding their Fall Open House this Sunday, offering free introductory dance classes in ballet, modern, jazz, hip-hop, Pilates, African and tap. Other freebies include a performance by Hubbard Street dancers and the chance to purchase two-for-one classes for the studio’s fall session block of classes.

This month, you don’t have to be among the well-heeled to afford a ticket to the ballet. Quality ballet performances can be pretty gosh-durn expensive; don’t miss these chances to experience one of the most beautiful forms of dance for a relative steal.

More on our quest to get some of y’all dancin’: Go-Go dance classes at The Galaxie center start today. Kaara Kallen, a co-founding member of local go-go troupe The Revelettes, teaches traditional go-go moves of the '60s to the genre's musical sounds across all eras. Wear athletic shoes and comfortable clothing. For more information, contact Kaara.

SummerDance is over for the year, but you shouldn’t be at a loss if you have a hankering to hunker down and learn a new dance form; there is no shortage of dance studios here. Dance instruction can be like the proverbial “box of chocolates”, and there are many teachers and studios in Chicago that have wonderful reputations for attentive, thorough and professional guidance in the field of dance.