Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Concludes 2009-2010 Seaon

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC), one of the world's premiere contemporary dance companies, will present the final series in its 2009-2010 season, which will include a World Premiere by eminent choreographer Aszure Barton; the Theatrical Premiere of resident choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo's Deep Down Dos, which received its symphonic debut in April with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and a revival of Bardo by Japanese choreographer Toru Shimazaki. The Summer Series will take place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, in four performances only, June 3-6, 2010.

"We are incredibly honored to have Aszure Barton at Hubbard Street as an inspiring force in contemporary dance," notes Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton. "There is as sense of energy as she choreographs her first work for the main company. Watching her process has been fascinating as she shapes movement from the personalities of each individual. Equally exciting is the theatrical premiere of Alejandro Cerrudo's Deep Down Dos. A work that received its symphonic premiere in April with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and composer Mason Bates, Deep Down Dos will now realize a full production, which will transform the piece even further."

With lighting by Nicholas Phillips and costumes by Branimira Ivanova, Deep Down Dos is set to Mason Bates' electro-acoustic "Music From Underground Spaces" (2007), which combines recordings of the shifting of the earth's tectonic plates and subway tunnel sounds with live orchestra. Cerrudo uses this unique music as a palate of inspiration to create a ground-breaking piece that is infused with dynamic energy and offers a tangible compliment to the score.

Hubbard Street's fifth world premiere of the season will be a new work created by the illustrious choreographer Aszure Barton. She will be choreographing at Hubbard Street Dance Center during the month of May. Throughout the process, Barton will collaborate with each dancer independently and will build a shared vocabulary for the ensemble based on these personal interactions. Inspired by collaboration, Barton is interested in creating dense environments on stage in which each performer is an individual and all are united by a shared language. Barton's work has been described as intensely musical, structurally astonishing, and emotionally moving.

Rounding out HSDC's Summer Series will be Bardo by Japanese choreographer Toru Shimazaki. Created for and premiered by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 2006. With lighting by Ryan J. O'Gara and costumes by Branimira Ivanova, Bardo is set to international rhythms by Dead Can Dance and presents a mystical and mysterious journey between life and the afterworld. Passionate, fiery and fiercely athletic, the dancers in Bardo weave their way through daring partnerships and striking visual images.

Performance Schedule and Pricing for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Summer Series, June 3-6: Thursday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 4 at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, June 6 at 3:00 p.m. Single tickets start at just $25 and are available for purchase at hubbardstreetdance.com or by calling the HSDC Ticket Office at 312-850-9744. Group discounts are available.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago extends special thanks to its 2009-2010 Sponsors: AthletiCo, Official Provider of Dancer Health & Wellness Services; Chicago Athletic Clubs, Official Health Club; American Airlines, Official Airline; Sara Lee Foundation, Lead Sponsor for Aszure Barton's new work; the Walter E. Heller Foundation, choreography sponsor; New England Foundation for the Art's National Dance Project (NDP), Sponsor of Deep Down Dos; Target, Lead Community Partner. This season is also partially supported by a City Arts Program 4 Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; the National Endowment for the Arts; the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
For more information about Hubbard Street Dance Chicago visit hubbardstreetdance.com or call 312-850-9744.

About the choreographers:
Aszure Barton (Choreographer) was born laughing and was raised in Alberta, Canada. She is the founder and director of Aszure Barton & Artists. As well as perpetually producing new work for her own project, Barton has choreographed for many prestigious individuals and companies worldwide including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Fang-Yi Sheu, The National Ballet of Canada, American Ballet Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Les Ballets jazz de Montreal, The Juilliard School, among many others. She choreographed the Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera starring Alan Cumming, Jim Dale, Nellie Mackay, Ana Gasteyer, and Cyndi Lauper (translation by Wallace Shawn, directed by Scott Elliott). Barton is the recipient of numerous grants and awards from across North America and overseas and has choreographed several international film projects. She has also participated in international outreach activities, including Kenya's Earth Project: Healing the Rift, at the Laikipia Nature Conservancy. Barton's works have been performed in Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Australia, Europe, U.K, the United States, and Canada. Barton was the Resident Choreographer for Les Ballets jazz de Montreal from 2005-2008 and is an artist in residence at both the The Banff Centre and The Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York City. She was recently proclaimed Ambassador of Contemporary Choreography in Alberta, Canada. Aszure received her formal training at the National Ballet School, and also trained at John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, Germany. She has had the opportunity to perform with celebrated artists and companies including Mikhail Baryshnikov, The National Ballet of Canada, Les Ballets jazz de Montreal, and Hell's Kitchen Dance.
Alejandro Cerrudo (HSDC Dancer and Resident Choreographer) 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 two more works for the Stuttgart, as well as pieces for the Sphaera Organization and the 5th International Ballet and Modern Dance Competition in Nagoya, Japan; two of which, Short Cut To My Friend and I Make You Obvious, were awarded bronze medals in 2005. In 2006, Cerrudo choreographed Fuel for the 20th International Choreographic Competition for Young Choreographers in Hanover, Germany, and received third prize for his work. He joined HSDC in August 2005, and created his first work for the company, Come True, as part of the 2006 Choreographic Workshop, "Inside/Out." He developed this piece further, leading to the world premiere of Lickety-Split, as part of the 2006 Fall Series. Named an HSDC Choreographic Fellow in 2008, Cerrudo created three works for the company: Lickety-Split, Extremely Close, commissioned by The Joyce Theater in New York, and Off Screen, premiered by the main company in 2009. As the company's first Resident Choreographer, he has had the opportunity to present two World Premieres during the 2009-10 season.

Toru Shimazaki (Choreographer) began his training at the Goh Ballet Academy as a full scholarship student before joining Goh Ballet Company in Vancouver, Canada. In 1986, he moved to Austria and danced as a soloist at Tirol Landestheatre in Innsbruck. The Sitter School of Dance in Canada invited him to be the director of the Ballet Department in 1990, launching his career as a choreographer. Thunder Drum, created in collaboration with Canadian composer Geoff Bennet and performed by Reiko Matsuoka Ballet Company in 1992, marked his Japanese choreographic debut. Shimazaki has also created works for Polish Dance Theature, Grand Theatre de Geneve, Momoko Tani Ballet Company, Colorado Ballet, Setsuko Ichikawa Ballet Company, Japan's National New Tokyo Theatre and other companies throughout the world. His work River was chosen to represent "today's Japanese contemporary dance" at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters' 2004 annual conference. In July 2004, the American Dance Festival invited him to participate in its international choreographers commissioning program. He also served as a member of the jury for Prix de Lawsanne, Shanghai International Ballet competition and Cirque du Soleil auditions. He choreographed the musical Elisabeth, which has been running in Japan for three years and has enjoyed more than 300 performances. Shimazaki now works primarily in Kobe where he is the chief professor of the Dance Department at Kobe Jogakuin College.

About Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC), under the artistic direction of Glenn Edgerton, celebrates 33 years as one of the most original forces in contemporary dance. Critically acclaimed for its exuberant, athletic and innovative repertoire, HSDC presents performances that inspire, challenge and engage audiences worldwide. The company's ensemble of dancers displays unparalleled versatility and virtuosity, allowing HSDC to expand its eclectic repertoire with works by master American and international choreographers. HSDC also contributes to dance's evolution by developing new choreographic talent and collaborating with artists in music, visual art and theatre. Since Lou Conte founded the company in 1977, HSDC has expanded beyond its main company to include Hubbard Street 2, which cultivates young professional dancers and choreographers, performs nationally and internationally with a diverse and engaging repertoire; extensive Education & Community Programs which offer city- and state-accredited professional development for teachers to incorporate movement into curricula and allow young people to experience dance; and the Lou Conte Dance Studio, which offers a wide variety of classes weekly in jazz, ballet, modern, tap, African, hip hop, yoga, Pilates and Zumba®, at levels from basic to professional, as well as workshops and master classes.

 

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