**** Highly Recommended It was an absolute pleasure to see Hubbard Street Dance Chicago performing their Season 47: Fall Series in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre. As a venue, Steppenwolf provided a more intimate feel than does the cavernous Harris Theatre, the usual Hubbard Street venue. I was excited because Hubbard Street was chosen to add Fosse to their repertoire, thanks to the Verden Fosse Legacy. By the way, Nicole Fosse was in the audience opening night. The performance was truly amazing and I am in awe of the strength and grace of the entire ensemble. 4 BIG Spotlights
The Hubbard Street Company includes Alexandria Best, Dominick Brown, Jacqueline Burnett, Aaron Choate, Morgan Clune, Michele Dooley, Elliot Hammans, Jack Henderson, Blanca Melidor, Shota Miyoshi, Andrew Murdock, David Schultz, Simone Sevens and Cyrie Topete with Seasonal Guest Artists Jemoni Powe and Sydney Revennaugh.
Originally choreographed in 2015 for students at the Julliard, Aszure Barton’s return to patience had its Hubbard Street premiere in 2023. Staged by Jonathan E. Alsberry to Gustave Le Grey by Caroline Shaw, it seemed that return to patience was a peaceful exploration of space. In formation, wearing identical jumpsuits, the dancers would start started with a tiny movement – a shoulder, a knee – then run off stage, only to be replace by another formation – or a solo or a pas de deux.
return to patience features the entire company and guest artists listed above as well as HSCD Summer Intensive Fellows Emily Cheung, Morgan Manning, Piper Northburg, Kalen Simpson and Ella Querry.
Show Pony is a tiny gem of a piece, choreographed by Kyle Abraham, to Hatshepsut, a delightfully playful percussion/electronic piece composed and performed by Gary native, Jlin, which Hubbard Street premiered in 2023. Show Pony is a showcase for technical artistry and prowess brilliantly executed on opening night by Shota Myoshi who was wearing a shiny gold full-body leotard which seemed to change colors under the lights whenever she moved. Cyrie Topete and Aaron Choate are featured at other performances.
Lar Lubovitch choreographed Prelude to a Kiss, to a jazz-infused tune of the same name performed by Kurt Elling and written by Duke Ellington, Irving Gordon and Irving Mills. This pas de deux features Alexandra Best and Elliot Hammans in a flirtatious dance which featured lifts that seemed effortless – and no hands! Morgan Clune and Jack Henderson perform at other performances.
The piéce de resistance of the evening was definitely Sweet Gwen Suite, created by Bob Fosse and his wife, Gwen Verdon, for television with staging & additional choreography & direction by Linda Haberman. Mexican Shuffle, danced to music by Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass, and Cool Hand Luke, music by Lalo Schifrin, premiered on a Bob Hope Special in 1968. A year later, Mexican Breakfast, music by Johnny Mandel, appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Three dancers, Cyrie Topete, Dominick Brown and Aaron Choate, wearing form-fitting charro suits with flat western hats, stand in silhouette smoking cigarettes. As they danced, their subtle – and not-so-subtle – movements were iconic Fosse – a shoulder, a hip, the head, the booty, even a finger snap! I can’t remember when I’ve been more enrapt! The alternate cast includes Alexandria Best, Elliot Hammans and Andrew Murdock.
Busk, choreographed and directed by Aszure Barton and staged by Jonathan E. Alsberry, was the evening’s finale. The title, Busk, pays tribute to the relationships between the performances of street musicians or buskers and their spectators. Much of the music was gypsy-like chorales which sounded vaguely militaristic (Kung Liljekonvalje, lyrics from a Swedish poem). Some was discordant, with traffic noises added. The range of composers included Moondog, August Soderman, David Wikander and more. Busk was nothing short of magnificent!
The curtain opened on a very dark stage, where one man, wearing dark clothing that masks his identity, sits slumped on a set of steps. His movements were exaggerated, comedic, and acrobatic. Throughout the piece, that technique and intensity continued, no matter whether a single dancer or a large group. Busk features the entire HSDC company.
Next up: Hubbard Street Dance WINTER SERIES, Harris Theatre for Music and Dance, February 13th through 16th. FYI www.hubbardstreetdance.com/subscribe