Chiwaukee Dance Festival brings together region's best troupes
Seeing that the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan sits between two great cities for dancers, Cheri Lindell had the idea for a festival to bring both together.
Lindell will bring dancers from Chicago and Milwaukee and areas in between together for the first time this weekend in a festival celebrating National Dance Week at the Genesee Theatre.
"This would be the perfect setting for dance companies to meet and perform, and what a great opportunity for residents to see these companies in their own backyard," said Lindell, who is the director of Dancenter North in Libertyville.
Logically, the name of the festival became the Chiwaukee Dance Festival, combining the names of two cities.
Lindell said four professional companies were at the top of her list as participants. To her surprise, all four agreed to take part.
The Joffrey Ballet, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, The Milwaukee Ballet and Especially Tap Chicago will headline the gala performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Among the performances that night, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago will perform two pieces. One is "Prey," choreographed by former Hubbard Street star Ron De Jesus. The second, "Pyrokenisis," is choreographed by former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre principal Christopher Huggins.
Also, the Joffrey Ballet will present "Secret Places," featuring a pas de deux by Maia Wilkins and Michael Levine in one of their final performances with the Joffrey. Especially Tap Chicago will perform its signature piece, "Stick To It."
The Cartier Collective, a newly formed professional company, will share the stage.
In addition, an invitation was sent to semi-professional, college and amateur companies throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky. Videos were submitted and a judging committee picked the best of the pack to participate.
The gala will include four of the top-rated pieces of choreography by Rasa Dance Chicago, Evanston Dance Ensemble, VADCO and Illinois Youth Dance Theatre.
These companies will perform a variety of dance forms from classical ballet to modern to tap to jazz.
The festival will continue at 4:30 p.m. Sunday with the Best of the Midwest Showcase.
The show will again feature a variety of dance forms from Irish dance to classical ballet to American funk.
Performers will include the Irish dance company McDance from Algonquin, the Midwest Collective, a modern company from Barrington; tap dancers from Jenny's Dance Studio in Lake Bluff, the Arlington Dance Ensemble from Arlington Heights and the Prairie Spirits company from the College of Lake County. They will be joined by dancers from Elizabethtown, Ky., Bradley, Ill. and Bloomingdale, Ill.
Dancenter North of Libertyville, as the host of the Chiwaukee Dance Festival, will have its best foot forward at both concerts.
Their highly acclaimed tap company, Soul-2-Soles, will appear along with DCN JazzCo and the studio's ballet performance group.
"People will see a wide variety of talent on this stage," Lindell said. "There will be 20 companies in all."
If you go
What: Chiwaukee Dance Festival
Where: Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
When: Gala Performance, 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Best of the Midwest Showcase, 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Tickets: $20-$30 for Saturday's performance, $15 general admission for Sunday's performance
Tickets available: At the Genesee Theatre Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets or charge-by-phone at (312) 559.1212.