It's Your Behind the Scenes Look!
We've done it! We finished our season with a week packed full of filming. Us six dancers traveled to the 21c Museum Hotel Chicago each day to record sections of our Home Season work, "Cartography of Peace" choreographed by Kia S. Smith. Lucky you, because today I'm giving you the low down on how filming went and how we went about all the challenges that came our way. And here's your reminder that if you have not bought your tickets...DO IT! The link is scdtcartography.eventbrite.com and the virtual premiere of our show is on June 26, 2021. We cannot wait to share it with an audience!
As a company, we have been in rehearsal for this piece since the beginning of March. It began with Kia's concept, exploration of movement, and finally the setting and staging of the choreography. This all led up to our week long taping of the project in the first week of June. Our wonderful videographer, Matt, shot all of the scenes and we worked with two incredible collaborators (Joelle Lamarre as our soprano vocalist & Alexandria Hill as our violinist). Let me tell you, collaborating with other artists was nothing short of amazing. The amount of passion and pure talent in one room was inspiring. Speaking with each other post-project, it seemed that all of us gained respect for one another's craft. Working with each other heightened our own experience and, if I can say it, bettered our dancing overall.
Day one we entered the museum space to lighting set up surrounding two large paintings. The space was much more condensed than we expected it to be, so we immediately began to re-space our choreography. There were certain sections where we had to be so close to one another and modify and adjust the choreography to fit within the camera's range. Right after spacing, we began to record some vocal elements that Kia will edit throughout the piece. There is a poem that is repeated throughout the work, so some of us dancers recited the poem while Alexandria improvised and Joelle sang. Moving forward, we went section by section, changing costumes with each song and mood change. The entire work reflects different stages of peace - peace with joy, peace after trauma, peace in chaos, and peace & quiet. Each section comes with it's own feel that is reflected in the music choice, costuming, and lighting. We got through two sections in our first day and wrapped with filming by 2pm!
Day two ran similarly - directly into recording choreography of the last two sections that remained. As performers, these tend to be very long days, but as a company that gets along a little too well, we lighten each other's spirits and joke around to keep the energy alive. My favorite memory from this filming was towards the end of day two when we were all tired out of our minds. We were about to run a section another time and all of us (Kia and Joelle included) just burst into laughter and took our jokes too far. I love that our company is able to laugh at ourselves while simultaneously getting lots of work done.
So much happened and so much work was put into putting our show together. As a company, we celebrated and went out to dinner after our final day. This season brought us closer and we are proud to be our own family that supports, challenges, encourages, and inspires one another. This truly is a passion project of Kia's and I'm sure it will be reflected when it debuts on June 26 virtually!!
Our season is wrapping up, but we are thrilled to share this one last performance with you prior to Season 5's launch. You won't want to miss it!!
Dancing for a Purpose this Weekend
As the world begins to open up and look a bit more normal (with appropriate safety precautions still in place, of course), we have been thrilled to be invited to perform in multiple events. This past year sure has looked a bit different with virtual school shows, virtual performances, and rehearsals masked and distanced, so to be able to perform live has been such a privilege.
Just this past weekend, on Saturday May 15, 2021, SCDT traveled to Alsip, Illinois to perform at Christine Porter's Memorial Concert and Homegoing Celebration. This concert was full of talent - us four company members met SO many beautiful singers from opera to gospel to child performers. Each one of them stole the show and honored Ms. Porter's legacy, as her daughter Cheryl Porter spoke so eloquently of. The entire service drove me to tears - just ask Kim who sat next to me sobbing in the audience. It was a rollercoaster of emotions from a true upbeat celebration to a somber remembrance of the person Christine was. I felt honored to be able to perform for such an inspirational and powerful woman. Cheryl told us that her mother had many issues with her legs and that us, as dancers, symbolized her mother dancing again in heaven. What a powerful visual. I have chills still thinking about her saying it now.
The four of us performed four dances throughout the program, three of which we were joined by musical artists. To be able to perform live again is one thing...to be performing behind live accompaniment takes it to a whole other level. My dancing connected directly to the pitches and volume of each singer and my art was only amplified because I had someone's artistic energy to feed off of. It's such a beautiful thing to collaborate and be inspired by other creatives.
All in all, I felt so happy to have met the people we did, to have performed with them, and to honor such a beautiful soul who lived a jam-packed life. I'm sure she was celebrating alongside us in heaven. What a wonderful way to celebrate someone's life - with art.
Check out our Instagram and Facebook page (@southchicagodancetheatre) to see where we pop up next now that in-person performances are reopening!
I Told you to stay Tuned...
And this is it!! What you've been waiting for! Our very exciting home season show and the final show of our fourth season.
First things first, the details! June 26, 2021 is the premiere of our virtual show "Cartography of Peace" choreographed by our very own, Kia S. Smith. Head over to scdtcartography.eventbrite.com to purchase your tickets NOW!
Now that you have your tickets, allow me to tell you that there's A LOT going into this show. I have the next 2 months to blog about all of our exceptional collaborators, our beautiful filming location, and of course - the stellar choreography and dancing that you'll experience.
For now, I'm here to tell you that we have been working since the beginning of March to bring this virtual show to your screens. It all started with the creative process of investigating new choreography, Kia researching her concept, and the setting and staging of the work. Since then, we've taken promotional photos in our filming location (drumroll, please!!) of the 21c Museum Hotel Chicago! If you've never been, you should definitely take a look at our social media (@southchicagodancetheatre on Instagram and Facebook) as we begin to share some sneak peek photos! We've also invited our collaborators into rehearsal with us. We have Joelle Lamarre as our soprano singer as well as Alexandria Hill as our violinist. They are as involved in the show as us dancers, and let me tell you it is such a joy to share our art with each other. It brings the whole experience to another level.
I hope you can sense my excitement as I begin to chat about the show. As always - more to come!! I can't wait to brag more about our collaborators and tell you more about the process of creating and filming this show. But for now MARK YOUR CALENDARS for June 26 and BUY YOUR TICKETS for the virtual show. You can watch from anywhere around the globe, just make sure that you've bought that ticket in advance!
Dancer Spotlight: Shannon Washington
Meet our amazing dancers and get to know more about them in our Dancer Spotlight Series! This month we are putting the focus on our very own Shannon Washington - Company Member, Rehearsal Assistant, and Executive Assistant.
Name: Shannon Washington
Age: 30
Hometown: Lansing, IL
Favorite Color: In general, pink or rose gold. It changes with the seasons, though, so in Fall usually maroon or burnt orange.
Favorite Style of Dance: Contemporary
Favorite Choreographer: That’s really tough, and it has definitely changed over the years. When I was younger it used to be Mia Michaels and Brian Friedman. They were my ultimate favorite and I always wanted to take class from them. Now, I love Travis Wall, Talia Favia, and Lizzie McKenzie.
When did you start dancing?: When I was 3 years old, I was in ballet and tap with my sister in the same class!
College: Pomona College in California. My major was Chemistry and I minored in Dance.
Siblings: My twin sister, Taylor!
Why do you feel passionate about dance?: My passion for dance has evolved over the years. When I was younger, I said I danced for an escape. That’s still true to this day. I’m not the most expressive person and I don’t show my emotions well, and dance is what allows me to do that. From when I was younger to now, if I was mad, frustrated, stressed - dance was it for me and how I expressed that. I also just have a love for how the body works. Looking at it logically and even scientifically. There’s so much that is happening with physics and anatomy and even with chemistry while we dance...it is so intriguing to me.
If you weren’t a dancer, what career would you choose?: I would go into physical therapy, which I am currently working towards! I have an interest in both science and dance, and I feel it comes together with physical therapy. I also feel that most PT’s don’t know much about dancers and our true athleticism and what our bodies need to recover and not hinder our performance.
If you could do a duet with one person, who would it be?: My best friend who lives in Shanghai now - Elisa Montalvo. We grew up dancing and taking class together and it would be fun to reconnect that way!
Favorite place you’ve traveled: Lima, Peru in college! It was gorgeous and I loved everything about it. I traveled with medical students at the time to serve the people there. They were so humble and appreciative of what we were doing - even if we were just talking to them and providing them with basic needs.
Favorite food: Sushi with salmon or tuna in the roll! But also CHEESE.
One word to describe yourself: Resilient
If you had a dance move that described you, what would it be?: A tour jeté
Fun Facts: I used to be a cruise ship dancer, I rewatch Friday Night Lights each year, I love chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, and I’m a published scientist.
We are so thankful to have Shannon on SCDT with her many hats and roles throughout the company. You’ve still got two more company members to learn more about...stay tuned and check back!
Our Emerging Artists are on the Rise!
Wow, it has been a busy past month for our Emerging Artists, and let me tell you personally...they are nothing short of amazing. We are proud to share some of their individual accomplishments with you, but first allow me to tell you what the program is all about!
Our Emerging Artists come from around the nation and join South Chicago Dance Theatre daily for company class and rehearsal. They perform with the main company and are offered the same opportunity to be cast in pieces. They, too, auditioned at the start of the 2020-2021 season and were hand-selected to join the program. Each Emerging Artist is partnered with a mentor with whom they meet with twice during the year and are encouraged to stay in contact with. Our mentors this season include Bernard Brown, Stephanie Martinez, Ethan Kirschbaum, and Kia Smith. These mentors provide the artists with guidance in the Chicago Dance Community as well as another connection to potential future companies and opportunities that may suit each individual dancer. The Emerging Artist program serves as a bridge to the professional dance community and offers continued training and performance opportunities to it's participants.
Speaking from a personal standpoint - this season's Emerging Artists are OUTSTANDING. They have the most incredible work ethic, they are professional, and they are such an important and special part of our SCDT family. On top of that, they are so involved with the Chicago dance community already and have a list of accomplishments for us to share with you!
First off, Sydney Jones (graduate of Point Park University) recently won the Inaside Choreography Competition! She receives $800 and the opportunity to set a piece on Inaside Chicago Dance!! We are so proud of the creativity and drive to choreograph and create Sydney consistently has.
Next up, we are so proud to announce that Dorianne Thomas (graduate of Webster University) accepted a contract to perform with Joel Hall Dancers. So well deserved - Dorianne is a fierce performer and owns the stage.
Morgan McDaniel (Fordham/Ailey program) also recently accepted a contract with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. Morgan is gorgeous, technical, poised, and hilarious. We are proud of your huge accomplishment!!
Lastly, Hayley Midea (BFA at Western Michigan University) performed her powerful self-choreographed solo in the Trifecta Dance Collective showcase. Hayley's piece proves how dance can serve as activism and speaks out against Larry Nassar.
I'm telling you, this group is ultra-talented and we are so happy to have the privilege of working with them. We can't wait to see what's next in all of your journeys! The Emerging Artist Program produces some driven dancers that are committed to excellence in all that they do.
Have you met our Board of Directors?
Oh, you haven't? Well we are so appreciative for them and their support of our company. Allow me to introduce you from left to right, top row first!
We first have Keona Owens, a Board Member who works with Touch Gift Foundation. Next is Calvin Smith - our secretary - also with Eban Educational Services, LLC. Our next row starts with Kia Smith, our board Treasurer and Chair. Next up is Jennifer King, our Vice President who is also a founding board member! Jennifer is an Assistant Attorney General as well. Lastly, we have Ekua Davis, our Board President who works with Johnson Controls.
Our Board of Directors is an integral part of South Chicago Dance Theatre. These leaders come together to support our foundation and its mission as well as promote the SCDT in their own professional circles. Each board member brings something different to the table and allows our company to be seen and appreciated in many different ways by many different people. The board for South Chicago Dance Theatre also helps secure financial donations through the various organizations they may be a part of or know of. This allows our company to remain funded and share as much of our art as we can!
Sound like something you could potentially be interested in? Well lucky you...we are seeking applications for the Board of Directors for our 2021-2022 season! Head on over to http://www.southchicagodancetheatre.com/boardofdirectors/ to download the application. If you love SCDT and supporting the art of dance as much as I do, it'll be the perfect fit for you! Help us make Season 5 as amazing as it can possibly be!!
What is SCDT up to?
Happy March!! Spring is upon us and the beautiful weather is out (hopefully to stay)! As a company, we've completed our Black History Month show, shared it with schools in the area, and taught master classes to school-aged children. It was a whirlwind of a month. So now, you may be wondering, what are we up to moving forward?
As dancers, we never stop working. The idea of a true "break" is almost unheard of. Even in our weeks off, us dancers take open dance classes at local professional dance studios or participate in cross-training to keep our bodies active. You know what they say - a body in motion stays in motion! Yes, rest days are crucial to our recovery, but we can't seem to stay away from the dance studio for too long. Not only does our body miss it, but it truly is our therapy! Emotionally, mentally, and physically we need to keep dancing.
Starting our first week in March, we amped up our training. We took our normal company classes as well as some extra Pilates training to condition our bodies. Kia returned from her choreographic residency in Madison, Wisconsin and we got to celebrate both her and Shannon's birthday! (See the picture below for their fun gift!!!) In addition, we began the choreographic process for Kia's new evening length project that will premiere in June. 
The creative process - if you remember from a previous blog post - requires investigation, experimentation, setting choreography, setting formations, playing with different music attached to different movement, etc. At the very beginning of the process, Kia has had us working with props, working with text, incorporating our own thoughts into her choreographic ideas, and of course - testing out some new phrases of movement. I don't want to reveal too much, but know that you as an audience are in store for one of the most creative and innovative shows I have been in in awhile. Kia is going all out and it is such an exciting process to be a part of. Stay tuned and check out our social media (@southchicagodancetheatre) for more sneak peeks along the way!
We never stop moving and grooving and we can't wait to finish Season 4 with a bang. Yes, the show isn't until June, but it's the work you don't see that makes a show what it is. We are working hard now to produce a show that will WOW you later!
Dancer Spotlight: Heather Cagle
Meet our amazing dancers and get to know more about them in our Dancer Spotlight Series! This week we are meeting Heather Cagle, Company Member!
Name: Heather Cagle
Age: 23
Hometown: Toledo, OH
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Style of Dance: Contemporary
Favorite Choreographer: A hard question!! I find something in each choreographer I work with or I watch, but as a young dancer I was first ever inspired by Travis Wall.
When did you start dancing?: In 6th grade, so around age 11 at Toledo School of the Arts. I didn't get to start technically training until I went to college in 2015!
College: Wright State University
Siblings: One older brother
Why do you feel passionate about dance?: Dance has always been the one thing that I've wanted to do. My grandma passed away when I was young and dance was a way to deal with that. I would go to free community classes and I'd go to the library and check out books about ballet and try to teach myself ballet while we didn't have money to pay for classes. Luckily, we found out about Toledo School of the Arts, I auditioned and THANK GOD I made it in without prior training!
If you weren't a dancer, what career would you choose?: I would want to be involved in something where I could help people, so either a physical therapist or a motivational speaker. I would also love to be an outlet for teens and youths and be someone who could help guide them and be someone they could talk to. I also would love to help the elderly.
If you could do a duet with one person, who would it be?: My 'dance mom' - Mama Shauna. She has been the most influential person to me and I hold her very close to my heart. She is a force of nature. She was the first person who really invested in me and wanted me to reach the goals that I had for myself. She's really wonderful.
Favorite place you've traveled: Italy
Favorite food: It was brownies, but I'm gluten free now so ice cream!
One word to describe yourself: ENERGETIC
If you had a dance move that described you, what would it be?: "The Carlton"
Fun Facts: I love mugs, I have way too many. Mugs give me life. I love dogs. I have a birthmark on my left arm. I met Alyson Stoner when I was younger.
We are so thankful to have Heather on SCDT. Stay tuned to learn more about our company members and what makes them who they are!!
Black History Month Series in Review
above photo credit to Michelle Reid Photography
Did you see it? Were you one of the 200+ people that tuned in to our virtual showing of the Black History Month performance? If you missed it, make sure to check up on our social media for sneak peeks of the work throughout this week! (Instagram: @southchicagodancetheatre, Facebook: South Chicago Dance Theatre).
This month was a whirlwind and the feedback we received from this show was incredible! As a dancer, I'm thankful to have the support of so many friends and family who watched the show, but to also have shared such an important message with so many is an absolutely incredible feeling.
Kia did more than a wonderful job portraying the call for brotherhood in our nation through two pieces of choreography - "I Too Sing America", which was inspired by the Langston Hughes poem, as well as "Architect of a Dream", which celebrated and included bits of Dr. Martin Luther King's famous speech. Each piece encompassed its own energy, the first being upbeat and celebratory while the latter was bold and serious and addressed the inequality in our nation we've worked for years to resolve. Kia's ability to include both moods in the same program just goes to show her virtuosity as a dancemaker. I am proud to work for her, proud to dance her choreography, and proud to be a part of such an important call to action.
If you have the chance, head on over to https://seechicagodance.com/review/south-chicago-dance-takes-worthy-risks-working-words-dr-king-langston-hughes?fbclid=IwAR37MUi-oN-s1fqgfnw3hrb2zYkvHj7W27pKD0wQruyfP8pzLa2uloDQd3k to read our review on See Chicago Dance - it beautifully lays out what a risk Kia took and how it paid off.
Dance is powerful...it has the ability to make a statement and call people to change. This show was a vivid depiction of just that. I hope you had the pleasure of viewing it.
Sending some LOVE to our Sponsors this Valentine's Season
We just couldn't do it without our sponsors, partners, and our generous donors! In order to send our appreciation and deep gratitude, we are giving each sponsor and partner a little shout-out today on the blog!! Every sponsor and each donation (no matter how big or small) helps to fund the equipment and services for our virtual performances (such as videography, lighting, editing, costuming, and rental of the space) as well as compensate our talented dancers! THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts to each sponsor - you are supporting the arts in a world that needs it more than ever.
I Am Popcorn (owners Sharon & Mike Carey)
Visit their amazing popcorn business at https://iampopcorn.com/
Lilly Grant Candles (owner Rachel M. Roberts)
Grab one of her candles at https://lilygrant.com/
Goldman Sachs Chicago
Thank you to the Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League for securing this sponsorship! We appreciate it.
Allgeier Chiropractic (owner Michael Allgeier)
“Dr Allgeier uses posture, exercise, massage, and joint manipulation to treat pain without the use of added drugs, injections, or surgeries. We support the work of physical artists and the care of their bodies and are happy to support the important work of The South Chicago Dance Theatre!”
Walmart Foundation
Visit the https://walmartfoundation.org/ for more information!
DOT Foods Charitable Committee
Hop on over to https://dotfoods.com/ for more information.
Prinz Law Firm Chicago
“The Prinz Law Firm strives to be the leader in business and employment law through our ongoing commitment to our clients, each other, and our core values. We wholeheartedly believe that the best businesses and employees are those that help foster a creative, positive and productive working environment. We are honored to be a part of that process.”
To learn more about the Prinz Law Firm visit https://www.prinz-lawfirm.com!
Sway Brand
Check out all of your branding needs by visiting the website: https://www.swaybrand.com/
Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League
Chicago Chapter Young Black MBA Association
Head over to https://nbmbaa.org/nbmbaa-chicago-chapter for more information on this amazing partner!
Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation
For more information, check out https://www.soulinchicago.org/
THANK YOU doesn't even begin to express our gratitude. We appreciate your support more than you know.
-South Chicago Dance Theatre