Opera and Dance Reviews

"Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" - Review by Carol Moore

**** Once again, I’m in awe of the Joffrey Ballet. Their whimsical, fantastical production of "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland," choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, is dazzling! I’m completely in love with this production! The music, the choreography, the costumes, the puppetry, the scenery – just wow! Then there’s the dancers – and in addition to executing the most complicated choreography with flawless technique and timing, they can act! Don’t miss it! 4 BIG Spotlights

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Trinity Irish Dance 35 - Review by Carol Moore

**** Recommended I loved watching the company of Trinity Irish Dance 35 performing in the intimate Edlis Neeson Auditorium at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The dancers are strong, athletic and precise while executing some of the most difficult dance steps you’ll ever see and it was a lot easier to watch their footwork in the smaller space. By the way, they are nothing like the Irish dancers you see everywhere around St. Pat’s Day. What they do is more like an Irish drill team than Riverdance. In fact, it’s a hybrid of Irish step and American tap. An Irish band onstage makes the performance even more unique. 4 BIG Spotlights

Opera and Dance Reviews

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Hubbard Street Dance Spring Series - Review by Carol Moore

**** Highly Recommended I always look forward to a performance of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The artistry, grace, strength and athleticism of this troop of dancers is outstanding. The Season 47: Spring Series featured a repeat of last season’s Sweet Gwen Suite, the world premiere of Beauty Chasers, and the return of Blue Soup which premiered in 2002. The performance was breath-taking. 4 Spotlights

Opera and Dance Reviews

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Ballet Chicago's "Balanchine & Beyond" - Review by Carol Moore

**** Recommended Ballet Chicago, celebrating its 30th Anniversary, presented Balanchine & Beyond at the Harris Theatre recently. By the way, although they’ve been around for 30 years, this is another ‘new to me’ company. The program included two Balanchine masterpieces, Serenade and Rubies as well as two pieces by Resident Choreographer Ted Seymour, his Dánzon! and a new children’s piece. 3 1/2 Spotlights

Opera and Dance Reviews

Read more about Ballet Chicago's "Balanchine & Beyond" - Review by Carol Moore

Ballet 5:8 "Of Light and Shadow" - Review by Carol Moore

**** Recommended Of Light and Shadow, a performance by Ballet 5:8 demonstrated the company’s versatility with the world premiere of Celestia; a beautiful pas de deux danced to a live piano solo, Corinthians 13:13; a dark, dark and more contemporary piece, The Cave; and finally, an interpretive piece, The Space In Between. Since I love ballet, I was delighted to be in the audience for this performance. 3 ½ Spotlights

Opera and Dance Reviews

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Aerial Dance Chicago "Stardust" - Review by Jeffrey Leibham

****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**** Aerial Dance Chicago recently celebrated their 25th Anniversary season with a stunning evening comprised of a dozen works that the company originated and performed during the course of their artistic development. The gradual evolution of their bold, fluid and unique style is on full display here. Artistic Director Chloe Jensen, along with Assistant Director Karen Fisher Doyle, have meticulously curated this collection, which is titled "Stardust," from over 300 works that Aerial Dance Chicago has created over the course of the last quarter century. 4 SPOTLIGHTS

Opera and Dance Reviews

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SOARING, Life, Light, and Legacy - Review by Carol Moore

**** Highly Recommended Nobody is better at contemporary jazz than Giordano Dance Chicago. Their winter engagement, SOARING, Life, Light, and Legacy, was dedicated to Nan Giordano’s son Keenan Giordano Casey and it was nothing short of spectacular. The program included three brand new pieces, the reprise of 2024’s Red and Black, and two pieces from the Giordano repertoire. The Giordano dancers – who are dancing in every piece – are so strong, so talented, so creative, they are awesome! 4 BIG Spotlights

Opera and Dance Reviews

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"The Listeners" - Review by Jeffrey Leibham

***RECOMMENDED*** Do you hear what I hear?

Hopefully, you do not hear a constant dull hum or an aggressive drone during your every waking hour. Otherwise, you may need to seek the guidance of a self-help group collectively referred to as The Listeners. The narratives of many of the members of this nefarious group, in roles which are all sung by members of Lyric's chorus, combine and intertwine to create the highly disturbing yet hauntingly beautiful opera "The Listeners," composed by Missy Mazzoli in 2022 and receiving its Lyric premiere in a very bold yet distinctly adult production. 3 SPOTLIGHTS

Opera and Dance Reviews

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"La Boheme" - Review by Jeffrey Leibham

****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED While there is no denying that Puccini's "La Boheme" is one of -- if not the -- world's most beloved and popular operas, Lyric Opera of Chicago took a bit of an artistic gamble when they announced that they would be presenting "La Boheme" during their 2024/2025 season for an astounding ten performances. Just to give you some idea of how gargantuan that number of performances is, most individual operas presented by Lyric Opera each season are scheduled for no more than the standard five performances (sometimes that number can go as high as six if it is a specialized work or one that features a highly-coveted new rising star or one who is already established as a superstar in the international opera world). The risk on Lyric's part has paid off quite handsomely with this gorgeous production which feels as fresh and vital as it must have felt immediately upon its premiere in 1896. 4 BIG SPOTLIGHTS

Opera and Dance Reviews

Read more about "La Boheme" - Review by Jeffrey Leibham

Winning Works - Review by Carol Moore

**** Highly Recommended The Joffrey Ballet’s Grainger Academy’s Winning Works, presented annually at the Museum of Contemporary Art, is a performance I await with great anticipation. It’s a chance to see brand new pieces by new choreographers, all ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists, performed by up-and-coming dancers who get a chance to shine. Each piece is preceded by a short video in which the choreographer explains his/her vision, while working with the dancers. This year’s program was absolutely fabulous. 4 BIG Spotlights

Opera and Dance Reviews

Read more about Winning Works - Review by Carol Moore

"Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" - Review by Carol Moore

Trinity Irish Dance 35 - Review by Carol Moore

Hubbard Street Dance Spring Series - Review by Carol Moore

Ballet Chicago's "Balanchine & Beyond" - Review by Carol Moore

Ballet 5:8 "Of Light and Shadow" - Review by Carol Moore

Aerial Dance Chicago "Stardust" - Review by Jeffrey Leibham

SOARING, Life, Light, and Legacy - Review by Carol Moore

"The Listeners" - Review by Jeffrey Leibham

"La Boheme" - Review by Jeffrey Leibham

Winning Works - Review by Carol Moore

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