Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Photo: Tammy Shell For year two, the determined duo Arlene Schuler (President & CEO at City Center) and Oskar Eustis (Artistic Director at The Public Theater at Astor Place) joined forces to kick off the annual "Fall For Dance Festival,” free and outdoors at Central Park's Delacorte Theater. Their reason, Eustis put it simply, “…culture belongs to everyone.” Hubbard Street Dance Chicago opened with Nacho Duato's Gnawa (2005) highlighted by the petite Kellie Epperheimer and partner Jesse Bechard's recurring duet. Bechard managed to manipulate Epperheimer in what seemed comfortable contortions, framed by an ensemble of fine dancers. At different intervals, one, two, three or more from the group grabbed attention in accurately timed and sculpturally specific offerings, charging Duato's sometimes culturally-shaped movement or his sharp lines. William Forsythe's whimsical Herman Schmerman Pas De Deux (1992) performed by Maria Kowroski and Amar Ramasar of New York City Ballet, which began with requisite quirky and non-linear Forsythe shapes (wrists flung, hips off kilter and lots of inward rotation), was next. Around mid-way, this non-classical mixer took yet another turn when Kowroski left then returned in a bright yellow mini skirt, Ramasar did the same. Just enough hamming it up matched their lovely dancing. Embracing the backdrop of trees and a castle, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company with live music from The Orion String Quartet followed with the timeless D-Man in the Waters (Part 1) (1989). The Company looked especially joyous sliding, gliding and traversing the wide open space. Sadly, the excitement for Lil Buck closing the evening with Bend In The Road: New Orleans by Buck, Damian Woetzel and Matthew Neenan, was squashed because he sustained an injury to his ankle. Certainly not a replacement, Ron “Prime Tyme” Myles stepped up and within 48 hours, filled in for Lil Buck. This was the beginning of a work by Buck, Woetzel et. al, which included performers from BalletX and a cameo from Tyler Peck and her husband Robert Fairchild, courtesy of New York City Ballet.
The annual "Fall For Dance Festival" runs October 8 - 19 at City Center. Find out more here
The annual "Fall For Dance Festival" runs October 8 - 19 at City Center. Find out more here
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