As part of Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, 2023 Guggenheim Fellow in Choreography Nejla Yatkin will surprise visitors in parks around Chicago with pop-up performances of her interactive and joyous Firebird dances for visitors to attend free of cost. Accompanied by live music, the meditative dances will be created in a sustainable relationship with nature. For four weeks starting on Thursday, June 8, Yatkin will perform 16 dance meditations that spark hope and deepen connections between people and their surroundings. At the end of each dance, park visitors of all ages will be invited to join in a collective bird movement meditation guided by Yatkin to prepare for the final Firebird Parade on Saturday, July 8. The full schedule and locations are below and online at www.ny2dance.com.
In many myths and cultures, the Firebird – or in Egyptian myth known as the Phoenix – is a messenger of hope and is considered as an agent for purifying the land and waters, bestowing fertility to wherever the Firebird visits. The mythical creature represents the union between the Earth and the Sky serving as the mediator and messenger between the two.
“My creative work is very much influenced by my pastoral nomadic heritage,” shares Nejla Yatkin. “Similar to my nomadic heritage in which people travel seasonally to regenerate the land, I travel from place to place and put down creative seeds. My ‘nomadic’ creative practice has taken me to all continents of the world and has connected me, in a very intimate way, with diverse communities everywhere. From my multi-cultural background, I weave multiple cultural influences into choreographic tapestries of my own design. I explore multifaceted identities in solo dances, choreograph trans-cultural ensemble dances for stages and sites, collaborate on plays and film/video projects, and educate young and professional artists.”
Before the start of each week’s park pop-up performance, Yatkin will lead free, family-friendly Firebird Workshops each Wednesday in four different cultural centers, including Indian Boundary, Lincoln Park Cultural Center, Ford Calumet Environmental Center, and Berger Mansion. Participants will learn new movement vocabulary inspired by bird-like gestures and shapes, develop movements through flocking, explore the beauty and complexity of bird sounds, learn how to use found objects and movements to create their own unique soundscapes, focus on breath and meditation practices, and create personal costume designs that reflect the transformative journey of the Phoenix.
The park pop-ups and workshops will encourage participants—and roaming visitors—to create their own firebird costumes, sounds, and movements that they can bring to the final Firebird Parade. Participants are invited to gather at the Caracol Gathering Space in the Burnham Wildlife Corridor on July 8 at 5:00pm for a performance of Firebird followed by a festive parade with costumes, sounds, and dances to conclude the Firebird ceremony.
FULL SCHEDULE
Map of specific performance locations HERE
Cancellations due to weather will be posted online HERE
Week 1
Movement Workshop with Nejla Yatkin:
Wednesday, June 7 | 5:30-7pm at Berger Mansion
Pop-ups with Nejla Yatkin and guest musician Ulli Meta:
Thursday, June 8 | 6pm at West Ridge Park
Friday, June 9 | 6pm at Wildwood Park
Saturday, June 10 | 12pm at Shabbona Park
Sunday, June 11 | 6pm at Legion Park
Week 2
Costume Workshop with Janet H Yang and Nejla Yatkin:
Wednesday, June 14 | 5:30-7pm at Indian Boundary
Pop-ups with Nejla Yatkin and guest musician Patrick Wojtalk:
Thursday, June 15 | 6pm at Clark Boathouse
Friday, June 16 | 6pm at Peace Garden at Buena Lakefront
Saturday, June 17 | 12pm at Maggie Daley Park
Sunday, June 18 | 6pm at Promontory Point
Week 3
Movement Workshop with Nejla Yatkin:
Wednesday, June 21 | 5:30-7pm at Lincoln Park
Pop-ups with Nejla Yatkin and guest musician Patrick Wojtalk:
Thursday, June 22 | 6pm at Bessemer Park
Friday, June 23 | 6pm at Arcade Park
Saturday, June 24 | 12pm at Jesse Owens Park
Sunday, June 25| 6pm at Vittum Park
Week 4
Sound and Movement with Ulli Meta and Nejla Yatkin:
Wednesday, June 28 | 5:30-7pm at Big Marsh Park
Pop-ups with Nejla Yatkin and guest musician Patrick Wojtalk:
Thursday, June 29 | 6pm at Gage Park
Friday, June 30 | 6pm at McKinley Park
Saturday, July 1 | 12pm at Humboldt Park
Sunday, July 8 | 5pm Firebird Parade at Caracol Gathering Space at Burnham Wildlife Corridor*
*In case of inclement weather, the Firebird Parade will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 9 at 5pm
About Nejla Yatkin
Nejla Yatkin is a performer/choreographer. Described by The New York Times as "a magician, telling tales and creating worlds" and "a fierce and supple performer," 2023 Guggenheim Fellow and Chicago-based choreographer Nejla Yatkin travels the globe inspiring empathic connections between people and their environments. She creates solos, choreographs ensemble dances for stages and sites, collaborates on plays and film/ video projects, and educates young artists. Nejla hails from Germany; her artistic lineage enfolds European dance-theatre, American Modern Dance, African American modern dance, and numerous international influences. She is the recipient of awards from the Princess Grace Foundation, the National Performance Network, 3Arts and the Baryshnikov Arts Center, 3Arts Foundation, Chicago Dancemakers Forum among others. For more see www.ny2dance.com.
About Nights Out in the Parks
Firebird by Nejla Yatkin is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with 100 local artists and organizations, present engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood. Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. For more information, please visit www.nightoutintheparks.com.