Natasha Adorlee Residency
We are closing out February with a brand new piece from the one and only Natasha Adorlee! South Chicago Dance Theatre had the privilege of working with Natasha for eight intensive rehearsal days. Throughout her process, a quartet was chosen and a 15-minute dance was created. It includes props, physically demanding dancing, athletic lifts and stunts, and forward-moving and intense music.
Natasha works collaboratively with dancers to create intricate and risky partner work. We began the week with many duets, trios, and one lengthy solo. Natasha then combed through the material, placing it to compelling music, identifying peak moments and attaching it to phrasing so that the musicality is flawless. She integrated transitions between songs, choreographed thrashing group moments, and intertwined fierce lifts and throws together to create a physically demanding quartet.
This piece - titled "Slip Force" is exciting to watch, non-stop, and thought provoking. Natasha described the title to be multi-meaning. The dancers are physically wearing slips, a prop onstage is a house of cards and the term 'slip force' is used in card magic, and the movement itself is forceful.
Working alongside Natasha these past couple weeks was a privilege. She is gentle, does not rush through her process, and has the kindest spirit while being highly passionate about her craft.
We are so thankful for our first outside choreographer residency of Season 9!
Black History Month 2026: Illuminate!
We always love February every year because our Black History Month performance series brings us to so many schools in the Chicagoland area and allows us to perform and share in the celebration of Black History Month with so many school-aged children! What a privilege for us, and EXTRA special this year because Kia has created a brand new school show called: ILLUMINATE!
Illuminate features 5 prominent Black figures throughout history. It highlights activists, poets, dancers, actors, and musicians that made strides in their respective areas. Children see dances about each of these notable figures while also learning about the styles of dance we use in our show, the African American flag, and the Black National Anthem!
Our new show has been a hit so far - the music and dancing is upbeat, performative, interactive and fun! One of my favorite parts of the performance is when Kia invites 15-20 students up on stage with us to learn a Motown-inspired dance routine! The kids are so full of joy and it's amazing to me how movement can connect us and keep us focused and happy!
It's a joy for SCDT to share dance on any stage, but whether it be an auditorium, a gym, or a cafeteria, we are so blessed and it feels so important to be a small part of these kids' education on Black History.
Thank you to the schools that bring us year in and year out - it's wonderful for us to perform for you and we hope you have a great rest of your Black History Month!
Governor's State University Black History Month Kickoff
On February 5, 2026 the 13 members of South Chicago Dance Theatre put on a Black History Month series show for over 1500 school students at Governor's State University in Illinois. To be a part of this was nothing short of amazing and the BEST way to kick off our Black History Month performance series.
Throughout the month of February, we tour to Chicagoland area schools sharing our Black History Month educational show with many school aged children. To be able to start this month with a main-stage version of our show and present it to kids who were field tripped to this gorgeous venue was a dream. Kids watched many dances, learned about the Black National Anthem, learned facts about the Great Migration, and were engaged with professional dancers who made a career in the Arts for themselves.
We begin the show with a demonstration of multiple styles of dance: Ballet, Jazz, Modern, West African, Improvisation, Tap, and Hip-Hop. We then move onto a description of the African American Flag as well as a performance to the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing". We included a piece about the Great Migration, a piece about Rosa Parks, a piece about the rise of Jazz Music during the Civil Rights Era, and even a piece set to the "Still I Rise" poem by Maya Angelou. The performance concluded with a discussion on Martin Luther King Jr.'s importance and a dance set to the "I Have a Dream Speech".
The whole show was so fun to share, and it was so beautiful getting to engage with the students in a Q&A post-show. Talking with our viewers is so wonderful - especially when they are as curious of kids as these audience members were!
We hope to return to Governor's State University and are so thankful to have educated through dance. The Arts are such a beautiful means of presenting important information and sparking meaningful conversation.
International Touring in Review
photo from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
Throughout my time on South Chicago Dance Theatre, I have had the incredible privilege of touring internationally FIVE times. I can hardly believe it and I am filled with immense gratitude for this organization, our director Kia, and our touring manager Terra who all work together to bring us to beautiful places to experience, learn, perform, and dive into all things dance.
I was reflecting during the past trip to Berlin on how this was country number 5 with SCDT for me and was amazed at all we've done throughout the experiences. In order, below are the places I've been AND a short blurb about my favorite dance things we did at each location.
1. Arnhem, Netherlands (Season 5): It was the most incredible trip to ArtEz University teaching and collaborating with the students there. This was my first ever international trip for dance purposes and it swept me off my feet to discover the differences in dance culture.
2. Colombia (Season 7): We visited both Medellin and Bogota, both beautiful places. Collaborating with the dancers in Colombia was nothing short of a spiritual experience - they are connected to dance in a soulful way I can hardly articulate.
3. South Korea (Season 8): Being in Seoul was vibrant and fun, though my favorite memory was performing at the festival in Tank. The outdoor venue was unlike any other stage I've ever been on.
4. Vietnam (Season 8): In Vietnam, we collaborated with both a company from Vietnam as well as our beloved dancers from Choomna in Korea. Having two days to dance together, take class from one another, and learn the styles of each company was a beautiful collection of dance.
5. Berlin, Germany (Season 9): The focus we all had at LAKE studios Berlin was unlike any other. We created an entire new piece with Kia and everyone was locked in and connected through the process thanks to the beautiful facility and hospitality of LAKE studios.
Overall, I am insanely thrilled to have grown so much as a dancer and person throughout my travels with SCDT. I take a bit of wisdom from each country we tour and when I reflect on these travels, I remember nothing but joy and discovery!
Berlin Residency: While we are Here!
Overall, what an incredible second day of residency in Berlin. Today was the best mixture of structure, play, focus, and fun. The trip has just begun, but it’s already so memorable in the best possible way.
The day began as it typically does in Chicago as well. 9:15am call for warm-up in the studios. Only this studio in Berlin has a skylight view and a different sense of focus than at home. For a lot of us dancers, we work outside of rehearsal time or have other obligations to attend to. Here, thousands of miles away, our sole responsibility is to dedicate ourselves to this rehearsal process. Today we focused our energy on some phrases of movement that Kia, our director and choreographer, created. In addition, we explored some creative ideas with the potential use of props in abstract ways. It was thrilling to use our imagination in new ways and develop ownership in parts of the creative process. It’s one of my favorite things to do as a performer - act & think on my toes!
Post-rehearsal we all relaxed a bit and freshened up. A group of us dancers traveled to Alexanderplatz to check out the shopping and have a German meal. Top of my list for the trip was to have as many of my all-time favorite snacks: a pretzel. It did not disappoint and the live music at the restaurant was only a bonus on top of our group’s fun conversation. It’s a treasure to me to get along and enjoy the company of my co-workers. At this point they’ve become friends that I trust in my everyday work & in life.
Day two and already thrilled to continue. Thanks, Lake Studios Berlin!
SCDT takes on APAP in NYC
SCDT’s first ever tour to New York AND our first ever APAP all wrapped into one!!
We had such a wonderful time performing both an excerpt from “On a Lark” as well as all of “Under the Skin” for APAP, a performing arts presenters conference that takes place each year in the heart of New York City.
SCDT brought our Main Company and our two Associate Artists, Lauryn and Ben, for their first ever tour with us. They did a beautiful job and it’s always so fun bringing more of our Company on tour!
APAP is run so efficiently as there are performers that span all different form of entertainment - musicians, dancers, comedians, visual artists, magicians, and so many more - so that presenters from across the nation have a myriad of options to book.
Our short 20-minute slot was received well with a standing ovation and lots of fans of Kia’s in the audience!
It was straight from New York onto our International Tour to Germany! NYC was a quick trip yet so incredibly worth it!
Happy Holidays to All!
To close out our wonderful 2025 year, all I can do is wish you a Happy Holidays! In the midst of celebrations, I hope you all get a chance to enjoy family, friends, and good times.
At South Chicago Dance Theatre, we concluded our year of rehearsals with an in-studio party celebrating the success of our season. We ate good food, enjoyed great company (including our own child star, Peter Westergaard, who was featured in our recent production "Lamentations for Peace"), and watched back our Holiday show. Terra and Kia hosted an amazing day for us and sent us into our 2-week break from rehearsal feeling restful, appreciated, and ready for the New Year.
We have so much to be thankful for throughout the year. In 2025, we presented TWO main-stage shows in Chicago. Our first two-show run of a main-stage show was that of "Lamentations for Peace" and we were so glad to have performed it twice. Lots of firsts - including our tour to Utah AND our tour to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan - while also returning to places we love - like the Dance Center at Colombia College and Laguna Beach to perform with Opera Laguna for the second time.
SCDT is entering 2026 with the determination to make each year better than the last. I'm particularly reflective on how my co-workers have never felt more like family and what a blessing that is. Here's to a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Cheers and love to you and your people!
Opera Laguna: Year 2
It may be snowy and ice cold in our hometown of Chicago, but we’ve been enjoying our time in the 60s and 70s in sunny Laguna Beach, California.
On Wednesday, December 10, the eight of us Company Members traveled to California to join forces with Opera Laguna, a beautifully talented Opera Group on the West Coast. This is our second year collaborating with them and it is such a privilege to work with live musicians. This year, they’ve not only enhanced the show, but they’ve leveled up our role in the show. New for this year, they’ve included a world-class new conductor, a children’s choir, and three new pieces for us to dance to.
Handel’s Messiah, the Opera we are working on, is sort of the “Nutcracker” of the Opera world. Music enthusiasts make it a tradition to come experience this Opera yearly to kick off the Holiday season.
Us at SCDT are quite spirited as we just wrapped up our own premiering Holiday show, “Lamentations for Peace”. Now we are jumping into “Messiah” ready to bring more Holiday joy - although the temperatures here don’t feel quite like Christmastime to me!
We are so lucky to have the opportunity to perform here in California and to nurture our continued relationship with Opera Laguna!
Lamentations for Peace: A Great Success!
What a beautiful string of performances we had this past Saturday & Sunday at the Dance Center at Colombia College for our World Premiere of "Lamentations for Peace".
The weekend included two almost Sold Out shows with friends, family, supporters, and our biggest fans.
The reviews are in, and not only did this show encompass the Holiday Spirit, but it also showed the depth of human relationships and how this can be a difficult time for families and loved ones. An authentic journey through the trials and tribulations of a tough relationship and how it weighs on those surrounding.
See Chicago Dance said that "this is a dance not only to watch, but to feel and experience", which comes across with the longing emotions and deep storytelling of our Company. Third Coast Review even "recommend[ed] that you attend a performance of South Chicago Dance Theatre whenever you get the chance."
These glowing reviews have us excited to continue to grow this performance year after year and let it become a Holiday tradition for families in and traveling to the Chicago area. We laughed, we cried, we celebrated, and we grappled with grief in this show. There's truly something for everyone - whether that be a certain emotion or a genre of dance. We did it all and we can't wait to do it again!
Gratitude 2025 Edition
I may be a couple of days behind, but don't you worry, I didn't forget about my favorite blog of the year - MY GRATITUDE JOURNAL!
If you've been following for the past few seasons while I've been doing the Blog for SCDT, my Gratitude Blog is one of my all time favorites. I'm huge on gratitude - I journal about it, I meditate about it, and I try my best to remind myself of things I'm grateful for throughout each day. It's the best way to stay positive and bring joy to myself and hopefully rubs off on those around me.
So, yes, I'm a little late after Thanksgiving this year, but hopefully you can forgive me for soaking up our break with friends and family. Below, in no particular order, are 10 things I'm grateful for from this season of South Chicago Dance Theatre!
1. My coworkers! Yes, I said no particular order, but this one HAS to be at the top. My fellow dancers get me through each day. They are the magic behind South Chicago Dance Theatre and over the years, they have become more like family than coworkers.
2. Our new Artistic Liaison, Noelle Kayser! She's an incredible mentor, leader, and cleans our dances so well!
3. Our newest Company Class instructor, Laura Wade! She's obsessed with ballet and never fails to answer all of our nerdy questions about technique.
4. Speaking of Laura, we LOVE having Imogen as our accompanist for Laura's class this season. It is SO incredible having live music for ballet class each Thursday!
5. Kia - as always!! - and her fun process with our new holiday show, "Lamentations for Peace". We are thrilled to put this one on stage and Kia has been our fearless leader throughout this choreographic process.
6. Another year-to-year favorite, our Managing Director Terra Schultz. Terra RUNS our lives (or at least it feels like it) and is so professional, prompt, and thorough with all things behind the scenes!
7. Our collaborators, such as but not limited to, Trey with costume design, The Bourne singers as live music for our upcoming show, the kids casts in our Holiday Show, and so many more!
8. Our consistent company class instructors including Jessica, Meredith, Ethan, Laura, and Noelle. You know how to get us ready for our busy days at rehearsal and we love beginning each day with you all!
9. Our GUEST company instructors!! This season it has been so fun getting to interact with new faces from around the Chicago-area on Tuesdays. Thank you Kara, Maggie, Faith, Homer, Patti, Craig, Imani, and so many more! We can't wait to add more to our list.
10. Finally, our grand finale - YOU ALL! We love our audiences so much and it wouldn't make sense if we didn't thank you for your support.
Happy Thanksgiving and let's keep the gratitude rolling all season long!