**** Highly Recommended Nobody is better at contemporary jazz than Giordano Dance Chicago. Their fall engagement, Season 62 | SOARING was spectacular. From the gorgeous Gershwin tribute to the world premiere of sultry, swanky Red and Black, the program was outstanding. The Giordano dancers are so strong, so talented, so creative, they are awesome! 4 BIG Spotlights
The program led off with Gershwin in B (2024) a tribute to the glorious music of George Gershwin choreographed by Al Blackstone. Appropriately enough, soloist Erina Ueda began pursuing a red fedora in A Hat, A Door, continuing the flirty fedora theme through elegant Gershwin tunes like S’Wonderful, Nice Work, Embraceable You and Rhapsody in Blue. Her pas de deux with Skyler J. Newcom was subliminal. The dancers, including Amanda Hickey-Newcom, Adam Houston, Sasha Lazarus, Talia Luzo, Fernando Rodrigues, Simon Schuh Analysse Vance, Eduardo Zambrana, flirted right back – and Bow, of course, finished with jazz hands.
Simon Schuh and Sydney Priestly in Red and Black. Photo by Anderson Photography
After an intermission, the company performed Flickers (2019), choreographed by Marinda Davis to music by Son Lux. Flickers, which is about hanging on to your dreams in the face of insurmountable odds, featured soloist Eduardo Zambrano. Dancers included Amanda Hickey-Newcom, Adam Houston, Sasha Lazarus, Talia Luzzo, Skyler J. Newcom, Sydney Priestly, Fernando Rodriguez, Simon Schuh, Erina Ueda and Analysse Vance.
Unconditional (2024), a contemporary pas de deux, was choreographed by Giiordano company member, Adam Houston, to music by Aron van Selm & Ardie Son. It’s a love story, told through dance, featuring Sasha Lazarus and Fernando Rodriguez.
Sasha Lazarus and Adam Houston in Red and Black. Photo by Anderson Photography.jpeg
Yes, And… is a sexy, fast-paced contemporary jazz dance choreographed by Autumn Eckman to an all-percussion score by Barbatuques. The dance, inspired by theatrical improv exercises, is full of surprises. Dancers include George Brous, Joshua Brumm, Claire Caloway, Amanda Hickey-Newcom, Adam Houston, Sasha Lazarus, Talia Luzzo, Skyler J. Newcom, Sydney Priestly, Fernando Rodrigues, Simon Schuh, Jules Shulman, Erina Ueda, Analysse Vance and Eduardo Zambrana.
After another intermission the company performed the world premiere of Red & Black, by Dancing with the Stars choreographer, Ray Leeper. This piece celebrates Giordano’s place in the dance world. Five glamorous showgirls and the men who pass through their lives, dance their way through five contemporary pieces of music. At the beginning, they're wearing sexy black dresses with slit skirts while the men sport red shirts. Toward the end, the showgirls change into slinky, satiny red dresses while the men are all in black.
Dancers include George Brous, Amanda Hickey-Newcom, Adam Houston, Sasha Lazarus, Talia Luzzo, Skyler J. Newcom, Sydney Priestl, Fernando Rodriguez, Simon Schuh, Erina Ueda, Analysse Vance and Eduardo Zambrona.
GDC Dancers in Red and Black. Photo by Anderson Photography
If you missed this fabulous show, relax, Giordano will be back with another program of flawless jazz dance in the spring.