HSDC’s Cerrudo Premieres Third Company Creation
Off Screen Highlights 2009 Spring Series at the Harris
Since his arrival in 2000, Artistic Director Jim Vincent has made it a priority to develop new work and cultivate young choreographers. As a result, the main company has produced 25 world premieres, at least half by company choreographers. Alejandro Cerrudo, who joined the company as a dancer in 2005, is responsible for two of those works: Lickety-Split (2006), which grew out of 2005 “Inside/Out” Choreographic Workshop creation Come True, and Extremely Close (2008), both of which have been well-received by audiences and critics alike.
Cerrudo received his training at the Real Conservatario Professional de Danza de Madrid. After joining the Stuttgart Ballet in 1999, he choreographed his first piece, Beige and Brown, which was performed at their annual Noverre’s Association Workshop in 2000. He went on to create more works for the Stuttgart’s Noverre Gesellschaft workshop and the Sphaera Organization. In 2005 Cerrudo received awards for two pieces that he created for the 5th International Ballet and Modern Dance Competition in Nagoya, Japan, and in 2006 he also received an award for his solo work FUEL at the 20th International Choreographic Competition for Young Choreographers in Hanover, Germany.
Cerrudo has spent the fall developing his third work for HSDC, Off Screen, which receives its world premiere during the company’s 2009 Spring Series April 1–5 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. Off Screen is sponsored by Marge and Lew Collens, the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation and John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe.
What inspired this new work?
I was inspired by music used in films, specifically the scores of There Will Be Blood by Jonny Greenwood, Syriana by Alexandre Desplat and Punch Drunk Love by Jon Brion. I have also used music by Andrew Bird and Paganini. I wanted to explore the atmosphere that music creates in a movie and what would happen if I used it in a live performance with dance.
Did the stories or subjects of the movies affect your choreography?
I hadn’t seen any of the films when I chose the music. I didn’t want to be influenced by the specific movies and I’m not trying to tell a story. Though the piece may end up having some of the same feelings as the films they came from, that wasn’t deliberate. But exploring the atmosphere of movies took us through many different states—fear, drama, love, comedy. It was challenging to put all those pieces of music together and make them flow.
How does Off Screen compare to your earlier works for HSDC?
Though Lickety-Split and Extremely Close are quite different in terms of music, mood and look, there are some elements that they share with each other and with this piece. While ultimately an artist wants to reinvent himself as much as possible, I also think it’s important to research a subject as long as possible, so that after doing one work, the next one might be an extension of that first work, and then the next one might be an extension of that work.
What has it been like to change roles with the company?
Thanks to my wonderful colleagues, it has been easier than I thought to shift from dancer to choreographer. The other dancers respect me in my rehearsals, when I have my back to the mirror. It has worked both ways, too: being a choreographer has made me more hypersensitive about my responsibilities as a dancer because I’ve been looking at the dancers with choreographer’s eyes.
Have you been influenced by the choreographers you’ve worked with as an HSDC dancer?
Working with so many talented choreographers has definitely been an influence, but everybody influences me. Everybody influences what you do as a person, even if it’s minimal—hopefully in a positive way—but I also learn what I don’t want to do from my experiences as a dancer.
Have you begun exploring your next work?
I’m always thinking ahead to my next work, but I’m not ready to talk about it yet. But I’m truly honored that this is my third work for the company. I’ve been grateful to have these opportunities.
Come Party with HSDC!
As the outdoor temperatures begin to thaw, HSDC wants to invite you to come inside and really heat things up at several parties the company will host in conjunction with its 2009 Spring and Summer Series.
Bold Moves for Bold Women
Wednesday, April 1
The energy is high and the connections are buzzing at HSDC’s sixth annual women’s networking event at the Fairmont Hotel. This event is where Chicago’s in-the-know civic and business women come together to support the city’s acclaimed Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and celebrate the opening night of the Spring Series. A fundraiser for HSDC’s artistic and education programs, the evening begins with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at the Fairmont. Guests can treat themselves to a makeover by Laura Mercier, chair massages from AthletiCo and a chance to win great raffle prizes. The energy then flows to the Harris Theater for the breathtaking opening night performance, featuring the world premiere of HSDC dancer/choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo’s Off Screen, the return of Daniel Ezralow’s SF/LB and HSDC Associate Artistic Director Lucas Crandall’s Gimme and a performance by Hubbard Street 2 of Andrea Miller’s Blush.
Baker & McKenzie is the Lead Sponsor of Bold Moves for Bold Women HSDC board members Karen Lennon and Betsy Stelle Morgan are the event co-chairs. The Host Committee (still in formation) includes:
| Kathleen Abbott |
Joni S. Jacobsen |
Nicki Pecori |
| Julia Langdon Antonatos |
Michele King |
Sheila Quinn |
| Jennifer Bartlett |
Rachel Corn Kluge |
Caroline Soodek |
| Leslie Delany |
Marie A. Lona |
Denise L. Stefan |
| Jan Anne Dubin |
Carmen Lonstein |
Marilee C. Unruh |
| Sheila Gidley |
Diane E. Merna |
Kimberly A. White |
| Carmela Hernandez |
Mary P. Nelson |
| Susan L. Hollender |
Lou O’Brien |
Celebrity Cast Party – Sunday, April 5
Chicago’s LGBT community and friends hit the dance floor at the best closing night party in town. The event starts at the Harris Theater with the final performance of the Spring Series. Then the party gets serious when guests head over to the Fairmont Chicago’s swanky Moulin Rouge for signature cocktails, great food and a chance to share the dance floor with HSDC’s own celebrity cast.
The Celebrity Cast Party, which always features unexpected guests and surprises, supports HSDC’s artistic and education programs. Exelon is the Lead Sponsor Jonathan Goldman and HSDC board members Marc Miller and Patrick Schieble are the event co-chairs.
Spotlight Ball – Friday, June 5
As the season’s crowning event, this elegant gala is one of Chicago’s not-to-be-missed parties, beginning with a performance by the internationally acclaimed main company at the Harris Theater. Guests then travel to the Fairmont Chicago for cocktails, dinner and dancing to the music of Maggie Speaks, joined by the dancers of HSDC. There is also a silent auction and raffle of terrific prize packages. The Fairmont Chicago is the Official Hotel, American Airlines is the Official Airline, Bottlenotes is the Official Wine Sponsor and Gemini Graphics is the Official Printer of the Spotlight Ball. HSDC board member Maureen Mosh is the event chair, working with a committee of 20 civic and cultural leaders, still in formation, including:
Jamie Breslin
Jan BrownMeg
Siegler Callahan
Stephen J. Cerrone
Susan G. Feibus
Michael A. Gorshe
Linda J. Krivkovich |
Marc Miller
Kay Nixon
Dina Norris
Byron Pollock
Sally Regenbogen
Nancy G. Ross
Denise L. Stefan |
Deborah Stonebraker
Mary Stowell
Jane Strauss
Taylor Todd
Kimberly A. White |
Don’t miss what are sure to be three memorable evenings this spring! Click here for more details and tickets to all of these special events or call 312-850-9744.
“Highly Recommended” Winter Series Caps Off 2008
Winter wasted no time making its presence known in Chicago, bringing a snowstorm on the first day of December. But the rest of the week brought warmth and wonderful dance to Chicago audiences when HSDC’s main company performed its first-ever Winter Series at the Harris Theater of Music and Dance in Millennium Park. The program featured the world premiere of Artistic Director Jim Vincent’s
One on One, the company premiere of Johan Inger’s
Walking Mad and the return of Associate Artistic Director Lucas Crandall’s
The Set (2008) and Marguerite Donlon’s
Strokes Through The Tail (2005).
Writing for the Chicago Tribune, Sid Smith defined the program as “comedies with many twists…The choreography is consistently serious in design, richness, color and challenge. It's also fast, rhapsodic, mournful and dark…[the program] illuminates dance as soulful even when funny. Joy, madness, hilarity and agility all get stage time.” He described Vincent’s One on One as “compelling, personal choreography with clever dramaturgy…”
Highly recommending the Winter Series, Chicago Sun-Times dance critic Hedy Weiss commented that the company displayed “sensational choreographic invention, dance brilliance and pure sense of edgy fun…bravura technique, versatility and exemplary wit.” Donlon’s Strokes Through The Tail ”has never been danced better” and Crandall’s The Set “became an instant miniclassic earlier this year and is a must-see.”
As the icing on the cake of these wonderful critical responses, several HSDC dancers received attention in two year-end Chicago Tribune articles. In “Dancers that made the year great,” Smith spotlighted main company dancers Meredith Dincolo, Terence Marling and Jamy Meek, and dancer/choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo was singled out as the Chicagoan of the Year in dance. Click here to read the full Chicagoans of the Year article.
There are two more Chicago performance series coming up in the next several months: the 2009 Spring Series includes the world premiere of Cerrudo’s Off Screen; the return of Crandall’s duet Gimme (2005) and Daniel Ezralow’s SF/LB (2004); and the premiere of 2008 National Choreographic Competition winner Andrea Miller’s Blush, created for and performed by Hubbard Street 2. Exelon and Harris Bank are Co-sponsors of the 2009 Spring Series. The 2009 Summer Series will include Slipstream (working title), a new work by Vincent set to Benjamin Britten’s “Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge,” and the return of Cerrudo’s Extremely Close (2008) and Nacho Duato’s Gnawa (2005).
Click here to purchase 2-Pack subscriptions and single tickets to be part of the excitement!
HSDC’s main company recently welcomed dancer Karen Castleman. She began her dance training in her hometown, Bakersfield, California, and later studied at the San Francisco Ballet School and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. After receiving her B.A. from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, Castleman worked with Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston and Marah Dance Theater in Philadelphia, and she traveled extensively as a soloist with MOMIX. In Chicago, Castleman has held positions with MOMENTA and Hedwig Dance Company. 
Joni S. Jacobsen is a partner with Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. Her law practice focuses on the defense of publicly traded companies and their directors and officers in actions alleging securities fraud. She serves on the Women’s Board of the American Cancer Society and will chair its annual fashion show this year. She has a B.A. with honors in history from the University of Utah. Prior to earning her J.D. from the Law School at the University of Chicago, she served as a choreographer and dance teacher.
Rachel Corn Kluge concentrates on consumer products and retail investment banking for City Capital Advisors, a Chicago-based investment banking firm. She previously was a principal in the Investment Banking division at William Blair & Company. She earned her M.B.A. in finance, marketing and international business with distinction from Northwestern University and her B.S. in accounting with highest honors from the University of Illinois. She is a member of the Executives’ Club of Chicago and a 25-year supporter and Junior Board founding member of the Breast Cancer Network of Strength (formerly Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization)
Mary Kay Shaw has spent nearly 20 years with the McDonald’s Corporation, currently serving as vice president and head of investor relations. She previously was assistant vice president and corporate accounting manager with Huntington Bancshares in West Virginia and audit supervisor for Coopers & Lybrand in Columbus, Ohio. She earned a B.B.A. cum laude in business, majoring in accounting at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
Kimberly A. White is vice president of corporate communications for Baxter International Inc. She returned to Chicago in 2007 after spending 16 years with Ogilvy PR Worldwide in New York, where she headed the agency’s healthcare practice and subsequently ran the New York office. She began her career her in Chicago with Burson-Marsteller and is a frequent speaker and commentator on healthcare communications. She earned a B.S. in communications, with a minor in political science, from Northwestern University.
