Susan Marshall's PLAY/PAUSE Opens Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago's 40th Season Tonight

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago opens its 40th season with Susan Marshall & Company performing a world premiere,Play/Pause. Performances are tonight, September 19-21 at The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

Play/Pause embraces the collision between high art and pop culture, raiding and transforming popular dance forms from the YouTube zeitgeist. Marshall couples her intimate, structured choreography with the seductiveness of pop culture to explore our complex relationship with the media we consume. Set to a commissioned score by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang performed live by the electric guitar trio Dither, the piece is an ultimate mash-up: postmodern dance theatre meets indie rock.

There will be a post-performance conversation with the artists Thursday, September 19 and a pre-performance talk with Susan Marshall Friday, September 20 at 7 p.m., both free to ticket holders. Marshall also will participate in The Dance Center's new DanceMakers series, which features leading contemporary dance artists offering insight into their choreographic process, on Wednesday, September 18 from 10 a.m. to noon at the American Rhythm Center, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. In celebration of The Dance Center's 40th season, DanceMakers sessions are free.

This is Susan Marshall & Company's fifth appearance at The Dance Center; other performances took place during the 2007-08, 2003-04, 1999-2000 and 1988-89 seasons.

The Dance Center presents Susan Marshall & Company today, September 19-21, 2013, Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m. at The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave. Single tickets are $26-30; subscribers who order tickets to three or more performances during the 2013-14 season save 20%. All programming is subject to change. The theatre is accessible to people with disabilities. For information, call 312-369-8330 or visit colum.edu/dancecenter.