SpinOff Dance Series Spotlights Midwestern Talent This Month

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 5, 2015 10:10PM

CATCH. Photo via DCASE.

The city's cultural affairs department provides Chicago residents with some pretty cool events throughout the year, many for free. And it’s not just stuff like the Taste and movies in the park; they also host some really targeted cultural events like this month’s SpinOff Dance Series. The contemporary dance series, which begins Thursday, spotlights Midwest talent in choreographers and companies.

SpinOff, run by DCASE (The Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events), is more than two weeks long and spans three different downtown venues with performances and a “Building Blocks” lecture series that explores how dance and the visual arts can be influenced by architecture (yet another dance event tied to the Chicago Architecture Biennial). On the performance side, we get a look at both established and up and coming artists, and their works in various stages of development. The Work-in-Progress presentations on Nov. 14 and 15 at the Dance Studio in the Chicago Cultural Center gives both artists and audiences the unique opportunity to test-drive new works before they’re finalized.

Stripe Tease by Chris Schlichting. Photo via DCASE.

The series also brings several premieres to Chicago stages. Things kick off Thursday evening with the world premiere of And We Shall Be Rid of Them, a work three years in the making by Chicago’s Molly Shanahan / Mad Shak at the Chicago Cultural Center. We’re also looking forward to Chris Schlichting’s visually compelling Stripe Tease making it’s Chicago debut on Nov. 20 at the Storefront Theater. The Minnesota-based choreographer’s newest work fills the room with movement, sound, color and light. Other premieres include a new work from local company The Space Movement Project, and the Chicago premiere of the multi-disciplinary performance series CATCH.

The 3rd Annual SpinOff contemporary dance series takes place at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and Storefront Theater. As with all DCASE events, performances are free, but reservations may be needed in advance for some. Check the DCASE website for more details and the full schedule.