**** 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
The Hubbard Street Company includes Alexandria Best, Dominick Brown, Jacqueline Burnett, Aaron Choate, Morgan Clune, Michele Dooley, Elliot Hammans, Jack Henderson, Bianca Melidor, Shota Miyoshi, Andrew Murdock, David Schultz, Simone Stevens and Cyrie Topete. Guest artists: Jemoni Powe, Sydney Revennaugh.
From my perspective, the piéce de resistance of the evening was definitely Sweet Gwen Suite, originally created by Bob Fosse and his wife, Gwen Verdon for television, with staging & additional choreography & direction by Linda Haberman. Mexican Shuffle, danced to music by Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass, and Cool Hand Luke, music by Lalo Schifrin, premiered on a Bob Hope Special in 1968. A year later, Mexican Breakfast, music by Johnny Mandel, appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Three dancers, Cyrie Topete, Dominick Brown and Aaron Choate (at my performance), wearing form-fitting charro suits with flat western hats, stand in silhouette against a red wall, smoking cigarettes. As they danced, their subtle – and not-so-subtle – movements were iconic Fosse – a shoulder, a hip, the head, the booty, even a finger snap! I can’t remember when I’ve been more enrapt! The alternate casts include Alexandria Best or Morgan Clune, Elliot Hammans and Andrew Murdock.
Beauty Chasers was choreographed by Mathew Rushing to Music by Elinor Ahlstrand, Alice Coltrane, David & Steve Gordon, Matthew Halsall, and Reiki Healing Music Ensemble. According to Rushing, Beauty Chasers loosely refers to the Holy Trinity. It began with a spotlight on Cyrie Topete, then Shota Miyoshi, finally Bianca Melidor, all appearing to chase the spot around the stage. In interesting twist, the dancers added clothing as the piece progressed, going from underwear to red, white & black palazzo pants with beaded necklaces at the end. The music was almost tribal, while the choreography was incredible. I marvel at body’s ability to move so athletically. Featured dancers at other performances: Dominick Brown, Morgan Clune & Michele Dooley; Aaron Choate, Andrew Murdock & Sydney Revennaugh.
Blue Soup, choreographed by Azure Barton to a score (some musical, some vocal) by Maya Angelou, Angelo Badalamenti, Faraualla, Trevor Horn, Serge Gansbourg, Kodo, Randy Newman, Les Yeax Noirs, Paul Simon and Andy Williams. Aaron Choate struts on stage wearing a curly white-blonde wig, a slinky blue robe with an occasional glimpse of a blue leotard beneath, and sky-high stilettos to lip sync to Shaboom by the Chords. As the lights go up, the entire company is revealed, with their backs to the audience. When they finally turn around you can see that these suits are shiny ‘zoot’ suits. After the curtain calls, my friend said this was her least favorite of the three pieces. I had to agree. To me, the music/vocal selections didn’t quite fit together. The entire Hubbard Street Company appeared in Blue Soup.
