The Chicago-based contemporary ballet company PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, makes their Studebaker Theater debut with “/ v. anthology /” 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. These performances mark the company’s premiere presentation of mixed repertory works on a proscenium stage in Chicago. This series is the culmination of PARA.MAR's fifth season and features an exclusive collection of works curated by founder and director Stephanie Martinez with renowned choreographers Jennifer Archibald, Xavier Nuñez, Hélène Simoneau, and Yin Yue. Martinez's own creations "kiss." and "Dos Lados" bookend the program, securing her unique artistic voice to the lineup.
Says PARA.MAR Founder/Artistic Director Stephanie Martinez. "When I started PARA.MAR Dance Theatre in 2020, it was born out of a deep desire to offer hope, opportunity, and resilience during a time when the world felt like it was turning upside down. The pandemic had left many of us desperate for connection, and I could never have imagined the incredible journey that would follow.
From masked performances of ‘kiss.’ in a parking lot in Avondale – to an evening of spectacular works from some of the best choreographers working in dance today at the historic and iconic Studebaker Theater of the Fine Arts Building, it is a reminder to us all to take chances that focus on what is important – the art, the audiences, connection and hope."
Works featured in the “/ v. anthology /” program are as follows:
“Trace of Grace” by Xavier Nuñez (World premiere 2024)
“In the wake of loss, we navigate a world transformed by absence. Every familiar sight becomes a poignant reminder of what once was. As the days blend into a haze, the weight of grief becomes a constant companion. Yet amid the darkness, there are flickers of light. A tribute to my father and anyone who has lost someone to suicide.” (Xavier Nuñez)
“Walk” by Jennifer Archibald (World premiere 2021)
“When we walk like (we are rushing), we print anxiety and sorrow on the earth. We have to walk in a way that we only print peace and serenity on the earth… Be aware of the contact between your feet and the earth. Walk as if you are kissing the earth with your feet” - Thich Nhat Hanh
“So Soon My Love” by Hélène Simoneau (World premiere 2023)
“Death can obliterate memory; it can spur memory. It often divides mourners’ lives into before and after.” - Peggy Phelan. The work explores "what death does to the living / what happens to those that remain" and variations on the strength we have in "our people" in these moments – that community of people showing up, witnessing and being present without the need to do anything. Presence.
"kiss." by Stephanie Martinez (World premiere October 2020)
“An antidote to collective loneliness, as well as a sign of hope. I offer up this performance series as a testament to our community’s resilience.” (Stephanie Martinez)
"Stay A Little Longer" by Yin Yue (World premiere 2020 for YYDC, premiere for PARA.MAR 2023)
"Stay A Little Longer "is an extended and reimagined version of a 2006 solo dance "Stay" by Yin Yue, which she recreated and shared digitally during COVID. PARA.MAR was the first company to premiere this work on a dancer other than the choreographer, and it was presented on the program "Pivotal" which explored works that confronted the theme of "pivotal change".
"Dos Lados" (Two Sides) by Stephanie Martinez (World premiere 2022)
Original sketches of this work were developed with the Instituto Coreografico de Ballet Hispanico and later revisited and expanded with PARA.MAR Dance Theatre as part of their third season: UNTOLD.
“'Dos Lados' explores the conflict between the public and private self and the stories we are ‘allowed’ to tell, causing a reckoning with the duality that I lived with in my own home as both Mexican and Native American. Thinking of my formative years, I remember what it was like to be caught in the middle as an observer of the household’s cherished Catholic ideals and a queer family member living a double life, only sharing what they were ‘allowed.’ Amid this sexual and religious turmoil, I recall grappling with the dichotomy of masculinity and femininity, especially as it related to traditionally defined gender categories, depicted not only within my culture, but within the aesthetics of my ballet training.” (Stephanie Martinez)
Tickets
PARA.MAR Dance Theatre presents their Fall Series “/ v. anthology /” at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 401 S. Michigan Ave., 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.
The company maintains their commitment to radical access to art by continuing to offer pay-what-you-can ticketing. Suggested donation range: $30-$100. For tickets and more information, visit fineartsbuilding.com/studebaker. For more information about PARA.MAR Dance Theatre visit paramardance.com.
About PARA.MAR Dance Theatre
PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, now wrapping up its fifth season, is a Chicago-based contemporary ballet repertory company, founded in 2020 and directed by award-winning choreographer, Stephanie
Martinez. Meaning “together, with, and for,” the Spanish word “PARA” represents the vision, purpose, and commitment to celebrating identity and creating community through contemporary ballet. Together, with the belief that inclusion leads to innovation, and that dance is an essential mode of human expression, PARA.MAR’s mission is to empower and elevate diverse voices in contemporary ballet by providing performances and programming rooted in artistic excellence, radical accessibility, and reflective of the unique identities of the communities it serves. For updates and more information visit paramardance.com.
Chicagoans can also catch PARA.MAR in performance at “Chicago Live!” at Navy Pier the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 21. Visit www.navypier.org/chicago-live/ for more information