Displaying items by tag: VERDON FOSSE

Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) and Executive Director David McDermott today announced programming for its 2024/25 season, Season 47. This year, the company ushers in a new era with prestigious collaborations, including the company's Steppenwolf Theatre Company debut. HSDC's 47th Season will also inaugurate a partnership with The Verdon Fosse® Legacy, making Hubbard Street Dance Chicago the only company in the world to be granted approval to add a Bob Fosse® work in its repertoire.

Blending timeless choreography with contemporary flair, the Season 47: Fall Series (Nov. 15-24) will mark Hubbard Street's first engagement at Chicago's landmark Steppenwolf Theatre Company (1650 N. Halsted St.). The program is set to feature the Company Premiere of Sweet Gwen Suite choreographed by American dance legend Bob Fosse with his longtime muse Gwen Verdon through a milestone collaboration with The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. Verdon's admiration for HSDC began in the 1980s when she sought to adapt Fosse's works for concert dance, which included staging Fosse's Percussion 4 for the company during Fisher-Harrell's tenure as a HSDC dancer.

"Gwen Verdon adored the Hubbard Street dancers for their diversity and abilities to authentically embody a wide variety of styles," said Nicole Fosse, founder and artistic director of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. "The current company's limitless abilities, under Artistic Direction of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, continue to hold true today." Nicole Fosse, daughter of Verdon and Fosse and Allen Fields (Director of Creative Development of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy) continue the mission of bringing the genius of Bob Fosse® to world-wide audiences.

The Fall Series will also feature the tour de force solo piece Show Pony by Kyle Abraham and the intimate Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch. Two pieces by Resident Artist Aszure Barton, now in her second year of residency with HSDC, will round out the program; the contemplative return to patience and the breathtaking hit BUSK. The Chicago Tribune raved, "BUSK and return to patience make crystal clear why Barton and Hubbard Street are so good for each other. Both are works Hubbard Street can do better than just about anyone else."

"Steppenwolf is thrilled to welcome Hubbard Street Dance to our artistic home this year," said E. Brooke Flanagan, Executive Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. "We invite audiences to buckle-up for this exhilarating ride of a program and celebration of a globally recognized Chicago-based dance company that shares our theater's commitment to ground-breaking innovation and thought-provoking work."

In February 2025, Hubbard Street returns to its Chicago home at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph St.) for Winter Series (Feb. 13-16). Featuring Johan Inger's fantastical adventure IMPASSE, hailed by See Chicago Dance as "immensely entertaining" and a World Premiere by the dynamic, genre-defying choreographer James Gregg, Winter Series will also include additional works to be announced.

HSDC caps Season 47 with Spring Series at the Harris (May 16-18) which will feature a World Premiere by the Interim Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Matthew Rushing. Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon will light up the Harris stage, in addition to the Company Premiere of Resident Artist Aszure Barton's spectacular choreographic collage Blue Soup.

HSDC Artistic Director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell said about Season 47, "The 2024/25 Season line-up perfectly demonstrates our values of artistry, belonging and curiosity - and how thrilling it is to work toward our mission of awakening the human spirit through contemporary dance with our incredible new partners at The Verdon Fosse Legacy and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Not only do we get to continue our collaboration with Resident Artist Aszure Barton, but what better way to harken back to our jazz roots than with Fosse? When Gwen Verdon came to HSDC in the early 90s to stage Percussion 4 on the Company, it was just magical, and I am honored that Nicole and The Verdon Fosse Legacy are entrusting us with this delicious work. With Steppenwolf, I have admired how Glenn, Audrey, and Brooke are reimagining what the Company means to Chicago and the greater arts community, so to be welcomed in by them so warmly is a tremendous gift. We are so looking forward to reaching even more new audiences with our 47th season."

Subscriptions for Season 47 will be available starting in July 2024, with subscription prices beginning at $104 plus a $12 handling fee, based on price zones selected. HSDC is also proud to once again offer Young Professionals Subscription packages for just $60 plus a handling fee, which includes one Section 3 ticket per series. Visit hubbardstreetdance.com/subscribe to learn more.

Hubbard Street is grateful to our Season 47 Partners Athletico Physical Therapy and the Illinois Arts Council for their continued support.

The Season 47 performance schedule is as follows:

FALL SERIES

Friday, November 15 – Sunday, November 24, 2024

At Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Downstairs Theater

Friday, November 15 at 7pm

Saturday, November 16 at 7pm

Sunday, November 17 at 2:30pm

Thursday, November 21 at 7pm

Friday, November 22 at 7pm

Saturday, November 23 at 7pm

Sunday, November 24 at 2:30pm

Featuring:

return to patience by Aszure Barton

Show Pony by Kyle Abraham

Prelude to a Kiss by Lar Lubovitch

Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon

BUSK by Aszure Barton

WINTER SERIES

Thursday, February 13 – Sunday, February 16, 2025

At the Harris Theater for Music & Dance

Thursday, February 13 at 7:30pm

Friday, February 14 at 7:30pm

Saturday, February 15 at 7:30pm

Sunday, February 16 at 3pm

Featuring:

IMPASSE by Johan Inger

A World Premiere by James Gregg

And more to be announced.

SPRING SERIES

Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18, 2025

At the Harris Theater for Music & Dance

Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm

Saturday, May 17 at 7:30pm

Sunday, May 18 at 3pm

Featuring:

A World Premiere by Matthew Rushing

Sweet Gwen Suite by Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon

Blue Soup by Aszure Barton

Choreographer Bios can be found here.

About Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's mission is to awaken the human spirit through contemporary dance, envisioning a dance landscape that is relevant and accessible to all.

For 47 years, Hubbard Street has been one of the most original forces in contemporary dance – bringing top choreographers and works to Chicago and beyond. Hubbard Street's ever-evolving repertory, created by today's leading choreographic voices, makes them a company that dancers aspire to join and performance venues all over the world are eager to host. To date, the main company has performed globally in 19 countries and 44 U.S. states.

At home in Chicago, Hubbard Street performs 20 times a year and delivers renowned education programs in 50 classrooms across 17 Chicagoland schools. HSDC Education utilizes the choreographic process to teach essential problem-solving skills, creativity, and collaboration - expanding our reach beyond traditional concert dance audiences, ensuring that everyone has access to world-class dance and instruction.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago grew out of the Lou Conte Dance Studio in 1977, and Conte served as Artistic Director for 23 years. Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell began her tenure at the company in March 2021. In January 2022, HSDC moved to their new home in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue and acclaimed choreographer Aszure Barton was named Resident Artist in January 2023. Visit www.hubbardstreetdance.com for more information.