Few dance companies can claim both the history and continued relevance of Giordano Dance Chicago. More than sixty years after its founding as Dance Incorporated Chicago in 1963, America's original jazz dance company continues to evolve while remaining firmly rooted in the style and spirit that helped define its legacy. That blend of tradition and innovation was evident throughout Untamed Passion at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, an engaging program that showcased the company's versatility, athleticism, and enduring commitment to the art form.

Rather than relying on a single style or choreographic approach, the evening moved comfortably between intimate character-driven moments, explosive ensemble work, ballroom-inspired celebration, and contemporary abstraction. What emerged was a portrait of a company capable of balancing technical precision with genuine emotional connection.

What made Untamed Passion particularly rewarding was the variety from one piece to the next. No two works felt alike, yet each revealed a different facet of the company, whether it was powerful ensemble work, intimate relationship-driven choreography, or pure entertainment. The result was an evening that remained captivating from beginning to end and offered several standout highlights along the way.

The program opened with Ronen Koresh's EXit 4, a physically demanding work that set the tone for the evening. The company filled the stage with sharp, driving movement and an energy that rarely relented. The piece demonstrated the strength of the ensemble while also highlighting the individual personalities within the group.

One of the evening's most affecting sequences arrived with Lindsey Leduc's Gravity, a tender pas de deux exploring the complexities of overcoming grief from the loss of a loved one. Charles Palmer Jr. and Sydney Priestly delivered a beautifully matched performance that felt genuine rather than theatrical. Their partnering was seamless, but what stood out most was the sense of trust between them. Neither dancer seemed interested in drawing attention to the technical demands of the choreography. Instead, they allowed the relationship at the center of the piece to come forward naturally. Palmer projected both depth and sensitivity, while Priestly moved with a graceful ease that made even the most intricate passages appear effortless. Together they created a quiet intimacy that drew the audience in and provided one of the evening's strongest emotional connections.

Gravity featuring dancers Charles Palmer Jr and Sydney Priestly. Photo By Zach Kemper.

The mood shifted dramatically with excerpts from Sabroso by Del Dominguez and Laura Flores, which ultimately emerged as my favorite piece of the evening. Filled with Latin rhythms and social dance influences, the work brought an infectious energy to the stage and quickly became a crowd favorite. Here, Analysse Vance and Adam Houston were impossible to ignore. Vance danced with grace, poise, and confidence, moving across the stage with an effortless elegance that never sacrificed the playful spirit of the choreography. Houston proved an equally engaging partner, combining intensity, charisma, and sharp musicality. What made their performance particularly memorable was the natural chemistry between them. Whether navigating the work's faster ballroom-inspired passages or sharing quieter moments together, they danced with a fiery passion that felt completely genuine rather than performed. Their enthusiasm seemed to spread throughout the entire ensemble, drawing appreciative reactions from the audience and elevating Sabroso into one of the most entertaining and unforgettable works on the program.

Jon Rua's namuH (which is human spelled backwards) offered a striking contrast, blending jazz vocabulary with street-dance influences and contemporary movement. The work felt fresh and modern without abandoning the company's jazz foundation. Its sharp textures and urban sensibility gave the dancers an opportunity to explore a different side of their artistry, one that was every bit as compelling as the more traditional pieces on the program. There were two striking tableaus, the first was the entire body of dancers climbing to form a human mountain topped with a lone female dancer ascending to the summit of their bodies. The second was performed under a red spotlight in which all of the ensemble formed a human heart actually beating and pulsating in time to the music. Rua’s piece was as spectacular as it was unforgettable.

Autumn Eckman's commonthread, featuring live accompaniment by musician Dan Myers, slowed the pace and invited audiences into a more reflective space. The relationship between movement and music became the focus, creating a thoughtful and atmospheric interlude that showcased the company's ability to adapt to a wide range of choreographic voices.

Across the program, the lighting, costumes, and simple scenic elements complemented each work without overwhelming it. Whether emphasizing the intimacy of Gravity, the vibrant energy of Sabroso, or the playful retro atmosphere of Dumb Luck!, the production design enhanced the choreography while allowing the dancers to remain the evening's primary focus.

The evening concluded with Al Blackstone's reimagined Dumb Luck!, a lively work infused with swing influences and contemporary flair. The choreography radiated a sense of fun that proved impossible to resist. It served as a fitting finale, reminding audiences that while Giordano Dance Chicago continues to evolve, the company has never lost sight of the joy that lies at the heart of great dance.

While Palmer, Priestly, Vance, and Houston delivered some of the evening's most memorable moments, Untamed Passion was very much a company effort. Aidan Aloma, Ava Geske, Talia Luzzo, Simon Schuh, Rueben Brock, Amanda Hickey-Newcom, Erina Ueda, Joshua Brumm, Nathan Eck, Sasha Lazarus, Sasha Schick, and Eduardo Zambrana all played important roles in bringing the program to life. Their commitment, versatility, and ensemble work helped maintain the production's momentum throughout the evening, serving as a reminder that Giordano Dance Chicago's greatest strength lies not only in its featured performers, but in the depth of talent across the entire company.

What makes Giordano Dance Chicago so impressive after all these years is not simply its technical excellence, but its ability to connect with audiences through a variety of styles and emotions. Untamed Passion offered bursts of exuberance, intimacy, playfulness, and reflection, all delivered by dancers fully invested in the material. With standout performances from Charles Palmer Jr., Sydney Priestly, Analysse Vance, Adam Houston, and Ava Geske, the program served as yet another reminder that Giordano Dance Chicago remains not only an important part of the city's artistic landscape but also one of the premier dance companies performing today, drawing remarkable artists from across the United States and abroad, including company member Erina Ueda of Nagoya, Japan.

I highly recommend experiencing Giordano Dance Chicago, as the company showcases the highest level of traditional dance training combined with the excitement and “Untamed Passion” that inspires dancers of all ages and will continue to do so for decades to come.

https://www.giordanodance.org/