Hedwig Dances, Chicago-based contemporary dance company, announces ambitious spring concert “no ideas but in things” – PART TWO, featuring premieres by Emmy Award-winning choreographer Natasha Adorlee, Hedwig company member Paula Sousa, and Chicago-based choreographer Anna Sapozhnikov.
A sequel to Hedwig’s fall concert, “no ideas but in things” - PART TWO iterates anew on the prompt to merge movement with a visual environment. Each work furthers Hedwig’s signature dance and design aesthetic in unexpected ways, creating powerful imagery that transforms the performance space.
THREE PERFORMANCES
Friday, April 5 at 7:30pm
Saturday, April 6 at 7:30pm
Sunday, April 7 at 2:30pm
The concert will be staged in the theater at the Ruth Page Center, 1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL. A reception with the artists will follow the opening night show, for an additional $25 per person. After Saturday’s performance an on-stage discussion with the choreographers will take place, moderated by Michelle Kranicke, artistic director of Zephyr Dance and co-director of the performance venue SITE/less. There is no charge for this discussion. Ticket prices range from $20 to $55.
THREE PREMIERES
Guest choreographer Natasha Adorlee premieres Kindred Spirits unfolds within a timeless purgatorial room. Here, a family of mysterious characters, each containing hidden depths, navigates their existence as past and present blur. The characters are confronted with fragments of their lives, reliving pivotal moments filled with unresolved desires. Drawing inspiration from the enigmatic atmospheres of David Lynch's works and spiritualism, Kindred Spirits is a surreal journey where personal stories unfold against a backdrop of metaphysical exploration.
Company member Paula Sousa’s premiere Under My Thumbs explores the intersection of humanity and AI. Paula collaborates with ChatGPT 3.5 to describe the work: “In Under My Thumbs the dancers seamlessly transform into the embodiment of artificial intelligence, taking on the calculated precision of machines, exploring the intricate interplay between human expression and the emotionless characteristics traditionally associated with AI. As the piece unfolds, witness the dissolution of boundaries between human and artificial, challenging conventional perceptions and inviting the audience to contemplate the nuanced synergy between humanity and technology. This piece explores the essence of movement, connection, and the evolving landscape of creativity, with the dancers embodying the role of AI.”
The concert will also feature the Chicago premiere of guest choreographer Anna Sapozhnikov’s Svad’ba, as reimagined for Hedwig Dances. Inspired by Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces (1923), Svad’ba takes a deep look into the traditional Russian and Ukrainian family structures within the 21st century. Dancers dressed in crimson are surrounded by a façade of crumbling concrete with projections by media designer, John Boesche, with music by composer Boris Sichon.
More information about the choreographers at www.HedwigDances.com.
*The concert’s title quotes a line by poet William Carlos Williams.
Pictured: "KA02" by Rigo Saura, photo by Peter Hinsdale.
