2020: Year in Review
...and what a year it has been! We know it has been a crazy one for so many people, and as a company we are privileged and so happy to say that we have had the ability to continue moving forward and employ more artists during this difficult time. Personally speaking, SCDT has been such a blessing to my 2020 and I am very thankful to be dancing professionally in a time like this.
If you did not yet get the chance to look over our "Heading into 2021 with Gratitude" newsletter, the following is the gist of what's gone on in the past year:
In addition to employing new company members and eight new emerging artists, South Chicago Dance Theatre also welcomed more administrative staff. Pictured below is Sarah Rathbun, our Bookkeeper, as well as Jennifer Davis-Harrington, our Director of Education. 
Members of the company have also taken on administrative roles as Shannon Washington is the Executive Assistant, Imani Williams serves as our Social Media Manager, and I (Kelly Anderson) get to hang out with you all on the blog as the Blog Manager!
As you've seen previously in our blog, we commissioned choreography from Crystal Michelle Perkins and Monique Haley through a virtual platform. We also had the privilege of restoring a historic work choreographed by August Tye. It was wonderful to be able to work together as a company on perfecting these dances.
Our annual South Chicago Dance Festival was unable to be held in person, but we were beyond grateful to have 600 virtual participants watching the performance (which included our Youth Training Program), participating in panels, and dancing with us in virtual master classes. Allow me to repeat...SIX HUNDRED. We are so thankful for your unending support.
In addition, our After School Matters youth program continued to train virtually. SCDT's many facets remain alive and well during the pandemic!
More to come in 2021, everyone! It truly has been such a testing year, but we cannot thank you enough for your generous donations, kind words, and effort to keep the arts thriving each year. Onward and upward!
You'll hear more from me in the new year!
-Kelly Anderson
Happy Holidays from SCDT!
Happy Holiday Season!
After a full month of rigorous rehearsals (trust me...all of us had low back pain throughout week two and three!) we took the last two hours of rehearsal on Thursday to spend some quality time together celebrating Christmas! We had a Secret Santa gift exchange, played a competitive game of catchphrase (because dancers take EVERYTHING too seriously), and of course danced around to Christmas music singing at the top of our lungs. Bonus points if you can guess who's on the nice list and who's on the naughty list...
One of my favorite parts of South Chicago Dance Theatre is the community we've created amongst the company. This year has been tough, and we are so privileged to be in the studio with each other. Everyone is so dedicated, fun, and passionate about their art. Although we may not get to travel as a company and perform live, we've made up for it by being each others' support system this season. Being able to take some time and celebrate with one another in a safe manner was just what we needed to close out such an incredible past four months together as a dance family.
From all of us to you - Happy Holidays! Thank you for your support of SCDT, thank you for staying updated with us throughout the year on the blog, and thank you for your generous donations. We wish you a safe and healthy holidays and Happy New Year. 2021, here we come!!
December Week One Recap
New month, new projects! We returned from our Thanksgiving break just in time to hear some exciting news. South Chicago Dance Theatre will partner with Quad City Arts. This past week we've spent capturing video footage of dance material in a variety of genres. As a dancer, it's been exciting to revisit all of the styles we train in and put together an informational video providing an inside look on these techniques.
Dance is such an interesting art because there are so many facets. Generally, when the word "technique" is used, people resort to the idea of ballet technique - long lines, pointed feet, flexibility, and graceful arm movements and gestures. Ballet is but one kind of technique we as dancers need to be well-rounded. Jazz, modern, African, tap, hip-hop, breaking, ballroom - these styles all have their own unique technique, and not one looks just like the other. Even within each style there are multiple techniques. For instance, modern is its own genre but dancers can train in Horton technique, Graham technique, release technique, countertechnique, etc. It's one of my favorite things about dance - you are NEVER done learning. There's always a challenge and always more to learn and grow from.
This week, we as a company demonstrated various ballet barre exercises, a jazz warm-up and across the floor, a modern exercise and center combination, a West African dance, and a tap combination. In between each style, our own company member Imani Williams spoke of the genre and broke down it's roots. It was so fun to watch him shine in a public speaking manner.
SCDT is so excited to share this video with Quad City Arts and educate students about dance and all of its techniques!
Moving Strong 2020
What Heather's mask says..."Moving Strong 2020".
It's been a YEAR everyone. I want to be the first to say a big, giant Thank You from all of us to you. We couldn't have gotten through this season without your support. After finishing our annual South Chicago Dance Festival as a virtual event, we were blown away by the amount of tickets sold and the amount of generous and supportive audience members from around the country. Virtual wasn't our favorite option - it worried us as we feel we weren't able to give you the same experience through a screen. On the complete contrary, it gave us the opportunity to reach a broader audience and share the Chicago community's artistry with people from all over. I, for one, am beyond thankful and proud.
In the spirit of moving strong and moving forward (and after a restful Thanksgiving break) we are ready to get back in the studio! There's always more work to be done!! Kicking off December, we will start to work on school show choreography for Black History Month as well as dive deeper into Kia's piece that will premiere in May. It's always a great time working on fresh new choreography, especially after such a refreshing break. We are all ready to get back in studio and back with each other. I miss my SCDT family after just one week away (so much so that we formed a Secret Santa gift exchange over break). We just can't get enough of each other, apparently!
Happy Thanksgiving and Holiday Season to you all. We are incredibly grateful to have your support for South Chicago Dance Theatre.
Panels with a Purpose
It's festival week! There are so many events, and if you haven't bought your tickets yet for the performances...there's still time! So far this week, we've experienced master classes, panel discussions, and the anticipation to view our South Chicago Dance Festival concert!
The panel discussions led us deeper into the minds of various choreographers, dancers, and teachers in the industry. Attached are segments from both Crystal Michelle Perkins and Joshua Ishmon. They spoke to multiple Zoom viewers discussing their experiences in the dance world.
What sparked some deeper thought for me was Joshua's comment that "unless it's presented to you, you never know what you were without." I was a dancer from a young age. I grew up at a studio that competed dance, performed dance, but never educated its students that dance was a career option. I was never exposed to someone who had a professional dance career and therefore I hadn't believed in myself enough to pursue my passion. It was only once I went to college and was surrounded by people who were pursuing dance or had deep knowledge of dance career options that I felt confident to become a dancer. This is solely my personal experience. I can only imagine children, especially in South Chicago, not having the exposure to the arts and realizing the possibilities it holds. I find it so important what Kia and our Chicago arts community is doing - giving kids this exposure, these opportunities, and promoting and encouraging their passions in the fine arts field.
The arts are so special. It's our passion, our purpose, our love, not just simply a career. Support your local artists! Encourage those around you to participate and appreciate the arts. I'm proud of our company for providing these special experiences.
10 Things I'm Grateful For
As it’s November, and gratitude goes hand in hand with this month of thanksgiving, I find it fitting to address the ten things I am most thankful for as a part of SCDT. Gratitude is one of my favorite practices - each morning I write down ten things in the past 24 hours that I am thankful for. Overall, it makes me happier and helps me to notice the small things that make huge impacts. So here it is, my official Gratitude List for South Chicago Dance Theatre:
- Friendships and bonds that have been created in the past three months. I can confidently say that I trust, respect, and love every member of our SCDT team.
- The importance of artistry. Kia values each artists’ personal voice as a mover and that is so fulfilling as a dancer to know that your own movement quality and quirks are seen as important.
- Kia herself. Seeing a strong and confident woman run her own company in such an organized, professional, and loving manner is inspiring.
- The challenge to be a better dancer. Everyone gives it their all in company class and in rehearsal. It constantly pushes me to grow.
- COMPANY CLASS! Can we talk about Sarah Schaefer’s ballet class every Tuesday? I have never felt more poised and like I’m actually DANCING in a ballet class than with her. And don’t even get me started on Kia’s modern - a challenge but a necessity!!
- Diverse repertoire. We are performing ballet, jazz, modern, Africanist influenced, and soulful choreography. It keeps me on my toes as a dancer and provides me the opportunity to be versatile.
- Our board!! We had a chance to invite them to our rehearsal over Zoom last month and the way they spoke about their appreciation for dance and SCDT made my heart so happy.
- The Youth Training Company! I’ve had the chance to substitute teach over Zoom for these kids and their dedication to dance reminds me why I started in the first place.
- The laughs and silliness that only dancers can understand. Being back in community with fellow dancers has made me the happiest I’ve been all year!
- The sense of belonging I feel with SCDT. We are all such a crucial part of the group. The studio is our home, we are each other’s support systems, and movement is our therapy.
South Chicago Dance Theatre is so much more than just a company to all of us dancers. We get to live out our passion, and for that I am forever thankful!
Something 'New'
Fall has always in some way signified change for me. Whether it was starting a new school year or moving to a new city, there was always something “new” come the turn of the season. Lucky for us this Fall, we have had the privilege of having our own new choreographic work. For the past few weeks we have been in rehearsal with Crystal Michelle Perkins creating a piece via Zoom. The process has been an adventure and throughout the month of October we, as a company, have seen the work mold itself into a true work of art.
For non-dancers, the art of choreography can sometimes be a mystery. I often recall my parents asking me “where do you even begin?” It’s a valid question – does it start with the music, the concept or idea, a specific storyline, or maybe a sequence of movements that you like? For each choreographer it’s different, but the process itself feels so familiar. With Crystal’s currently untitled work, it began with two phrases of choreography made in silence - ‘Part A’ and ‘Part B’. Everyone learned these two phrases quickly, and then came the deconstruction. This is where the choreographer’s mind gets to let loose and be creative. Crystal utilizes what many of us refer to as a ‘toolbox’ for choreography. Using those two base phrases, Crystal paired us off in duets and gave each of us a task. One group sped the movement up, the other retrograded it (which is SO hard on the brain if I may add), and another did all of the movement on the ground (talk about bruises for days). These adjustments are all considered choreographic tools. Using these new variations of Phrase A and B, we started to mold the piece together. Crystal placed us in formations, played around with who dances when, and saw how the movement traveled through the space. We are currently still working on the overall structure of the dance, but that’s the beauty of choreography – it’s a process and there is freedom in the construction!
I love being a paint color in an artist’s palette. It’s where I find my place in the dance world – supporting another’s artistic creation and watching it come to fruition. Crystal has been and continues to be a pleasure for us to work with. Now that you have insight on our choreographic journey, be sure to check out all of the work at South Chicago Dance Festival coming up!! We cannot wait to share our art with the community!
Zoom, Zoom, ZOOM!
Choreography for the company looks a little different this season and we are soaking up all the benefits of virtual learning.
Our first Zoom adventure was this Wednesday with Crystal Michelle Perkins. All the company members and emerging artists spent two hours learning new phrases of choreography via the screen. Crystal’s process worked quite well – she taught her movement to one dancer at a time and the rest of us followed along and learned from the “leader”. It always stuns me how much more there is to a company than dancing – it requires such keen teamwork, leadership, and respect for one another. Learning such detailed movement over Zoom is not an easy feat, but each of us is piecing the puzzle together to execute Crystal’s foundational phrases for this new piece! I’m excited to see how she will continue to work with us virtually to shape these phrases into a full work!
The following day we were on Zoom yet again, but this time with Monique Haley. We’ve learned the majority of Monique’s piece from last season’s video, though Monique decided to add four more dancers into the work. We slowly moved through her choreography while she tweaked movement, gave qualitative notes, and adjusted the spacing to work for ten dancers. She has such an infectious spirit that made us all feel valued, appreciated, and like we were contributing to the beauty of her soulful choreography. I cannot describe how wonderful of a feeling that is to get, especially through a screen.
It can be difficult training through technology. As dancers, most of us chose this career path to avoid staring at screens all day. What is keeping me thankful is the privilege to be in the space with my fellow dancers. While safely social distancing, I can still feel the drive of our company and tap into the sacred energy that dance brings…even through a Zoom call!
Elevating ALL the Voices of Our Time
In these troubling times, everything has flipped upside down. This rings especially true for children whose little minds were so used to being stimulated by constant activity, social interactions, and community with others their own age. South Chicago Dance Theatre is such a special organization in multiple ways and the Youth Training Company is just one aspect of SCDT’s dedication to our community. Though our country is in the midst of a pandemic and surrounded by worry and fear, these young dancers have a way to express themselves, improve themselves, and immerse themselves in the arts.
These two beautiful ballerinas are a part of the Primary Level Ballet Saturday class. It is our privilege as a company to continue their dance education virtually. Dance has taught me so much more than just technique. I am a firm believer that dance training is life training. As young as the age of five, dance taught me to respect authority, to exude confidence, to learn information quickly and efficiently, to follow direction, to form self-discipline, and to form life-long friendships. Seeing these children sprout interest in movement but also learn the value of artistic freedom is so inspiring. It reminds me why I started. Dance has so many benefits – SCDT is so lucky to spread that joy to so many people of all ages and all abilities!
Let's Talk About Stamina...
As a company, our main focus thus far has been learning previous repertoire by Monique Haley and August Tye. This has been quite a challenge with five new company members, but thankfully our rehearsal assistant and fellow company member, Shannon, has come to our rescue. We’ve been learning choreography from her as she references past video footage of the choreography for details and refinement.
The two pieces could not be further from each other in quality and dynamic. Monique’s piece, Soul Power, is grounded, intense, and requires extreme athletic stamina. There are multiple solos throughout the piece that allow each person to be seen, but there are also many interactions and crossing of paths throughout the work. One of my favorite parts of performing is making eye contact while dancing – not only does it fuel my fire, but it gives me that sense of community and belonging I’ve spoken of before. This piece allows so many opportunities for eye contact that serve as a little reminder between us company members to keep the energy up!
On the other hand, Danza De La Cervatas by August Tye is just a physically demanding, but requires so much poise, grace, and ease. The ballet dance is solely the four women company members, but I mean it when I tell you we never stop jumping. From an audience perspective, the dance looks effortless and composed as it should. From a dancers’ perspective, it’s a calf cramp waiting to happen. We’ve all been embracing the challenge and increasing our stamina through this piece (reminder: we are masked while dancing, so there’s some bonus stamina work).
SCDT is proving itself to be a diverse repertory company with this season’s choreography. Feel free to look into our Season's Choreographers and their background under the "Our Team" tab in the "About" section. More to come – we are always growing, improving, and working to be the most well-rounded dancers we can be!