All stories by Lauren Warnecke on BroadwayStars

Friday, May 13, 2022

South Chicago Dance Theatre will debut at the Harris: Ambition, grit and grace are this company’s special sauce by Lauren Warnecke

Kia Smith's South Chicago Dance Theatre celebrates its fifth anniversary with five world premieres at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:15AM
Thursday, April 28, 2022

Review: The Joffrey brings ‘Of Mice and Men’ to the ballet stage in a world premiere; plus Balanchine’s ‘Serenade’ by Lauren Warnecke

Both dating to the Great Depression, “Serenade” is still a curious overture for “Of Mice and Men,” British choreographer Cathy Marston’s story ballet based on the John Steinbeck no…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:00PM

‘How does this thing fly?’ For ‘Wired’ at the MCA, disability arts company creates a wheelchair aerial dance that touches on race, gender and by Lauren Warnecke

Throughout the piece, the dancers wrestle with this unwieldy, unforgiving object, their bodies enclosed by a tangle of wires and barbs.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:40AM
Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Troup Bingo of Circus Vazquez hails from Ukraine — one woman walked (and took trains and a taxi) to Poland in order to perform by Lauren Warnecke

Troup Bingo’s mantra is to leave the worries of the war outside the circus tent, focusing first on what is often a very dangerous job.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Joffrey Ballet will participate in nationwide Arpino Centennial, celebrating the choreographer who put Joffrey on the Chicago map by Lauren Warnecke

The dancer and choreographer who, even more than Robert Joffrey, was responsible for the role the Joffrey Ballet has in Chicago today will be the subject of a multi-year national celebration.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:01AM
Saturday, April 2, 2022

Review: Giordano Dance ‘Illuminates’ the Harris with sultry sex appeal, a beach vibe and Koresh’s cathartic ‘EXit4′ by Lauren Warnecke

“EXit4″ was so loved in the seasons following its premiere that it was nearly performed to death. But time and a new context reaffirm how good this piece really is.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:33AM
Monday, March 14, 2022

Joffrey Ballet’s ambitious 2022-23 season includes ‘Anna Karenina,’ Chicago premiere of ‘The Little Mermaid’ by Lauren Warnecke

The Joffrey Ballet has an ambitious season in store, returning to normal operations — and then some — for the 2022-23 season at the Lyric Opera House.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:15PM
Friday, March 4, 2022

Review: Hubbard Street Dance is back at the MCA and stronger than ever by Lauren Warnecke

Artistic director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell said her vision is focused on “reconnecting with Hubbard Street’s audiences.”

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:05PM
Thursday, March 3, 2022

Review: Alvin Ailey Dance is back in Chicago, a sign of life in more ways than one by Lauren Warnecke

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Chicago is like a phoenix rising from the ashes — then taking us to church with ‘Mass’ and ‘Revelations’

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:33PM
Friday, February 25, 2022

Review: ‘Creature’ is English National Ballet’s return to Chicago, a powerful story with echoes of ‘Frankenstein’ by Lauren Warnecke

Akram Khan’s new ballet features Jeffrey Cirio as the central character Creature. It is unclear if Creature is a man, a monster or some hybrid of the two.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:35PM
Thursday, February 3, 2022

Trinity Irish Dance Company is back and kicking after a pandemic absence — and the troupe on stage looks a little different by Lauren Warnecke

The Trinity Irish Dance Company officially formed in 1990. “This is still five years before ‘Riverdance,’” associate artistic director Chelsea Hoy said, crediting founder Mark Howard…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Friday, January 21, 2022

2022 will be the Year of Chicago Dance, with robust programs planned for summer by Lauren Warnecke

The Year of Chicago Dance will be new DCASE commissioner Erin Harkey’s first major project.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:43AM
Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Chicago comic Lisa Beasley turns her viral TikTok imitation of Lightfoot into a show for teachers at Laugh Factory by Lauren Warnecke

Bronzeville’s Lisa Beasley is riding the wave. Her raspy-voiced, disheveled impression as “Lory Litefoot” caught the eyes of Chicago last week and within hours Laugh Factory was on boa…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:25PM
Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Dance Top 10 in Chicago: Among the don’t-misses are Trinity Irish Dance, ‘Don Quixote’ and a return of the stunning English National Ballet by Lauren Warnecke

From visits from Alvin Ailey and the English National Ballet, to the homegrown talents of Hubbard Street, the Joffrey and Chicago Tap Theatre, don't miss these upcoming performances.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:45AM
Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Dance Chicagoan of the Year: Ginger Farley of Chicago Dancemakers Forum has helped bring dance to a new level by Lauren Warnecke

Ginger Farley spent this year and her career supporting dance artists when and how they needed. She retires Dec. 31.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Top 10 moments for dance in Chicago in 2021: Live, on a screen and behind the scenes, Chicago dance forged ahead by Lauren Warnecke

Dancing in a pandemic brought digital delights, resilient ingenuity and bold returns to the stage.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:00AM
Sunday, December 5, 2021

Review: Joffrey Ballet’s magical ‘Nutcracker’ is now at the Lyric and better than ever by Lauren Warnecke

Maybe it’s the post-lockdown malaise lifting, but Joffrey’s “Nutcracker” sparkles like never before: The colors seem brighter, the sets more immersive, the orchestrations richer, the…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:15PM
Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Hubbard Street’s ‘RE/TURN’ to live dance has something old, something new and Barton’s tour de force ‘Busk’ by Lauren Warnecke

Jermaine Maurice Spivey makes his Hubbard Street and Chicago debut with a world premiere, alongside "Jardí Tancat" by Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato, and the Hubbard Street premiere of A…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:00PM
Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Holiday entertainment for 2021: Our Top 40 has all the shows and concerts, from ‘Nutcracker’ to Lil Nas X by Lauren Warnecke

Happy holidays! Live shows and events are back this year, and if you've missed celebrating — be it Scrooge or caroling at the Bean — we have a holiday list.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:00AM
Thursday, October 14, 2021

Review: With ‘Home,’ Joffrey Ballet dances at last in the Lyric Opera Opera by Lauren Warnecke

Joffrey’s Lyric debut runs the emotional gamut, with “Birthday Variations” as the sweet icing on top of the cake.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:33PM
Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Our Top 10 for Halloween, from Boo at the Zoo to the stuff of nightmares by Lauren Warnecke

Our list for October, including Halloween theater, family outings in the suburbs and a few in the category of truly horrifying.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:00AM
Wednesday, September 29, 2021

‘Moulin Rouge!’ national tour will launch in Chicago, starring Courtney Reed of Elgin by Lauren Warnecke

The musical, which recently won multiple Tonys in its Broadway production, will launch the tour next February at the Nederlander Theatre in the Loop, starring Connor Ryan as Christian and El…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:35PM
Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Top 10 for dance in Chicago for fall 2021: Harvest Fest, local gems and a not-to-miss ‘XENOS’ by Lauren Warnecke

Dance companies have been managing their return to live performances in fits and starts, this fall including Deeply Rooted, the Joffrey finally at the Lyric and fan favorites by Ensemble Esp…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 08:00AM
Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Calling all dance experimenters, improvisors, LGBTQ artists and those unafraid to fail — Poonie’s Cabaret is back by Lauren Warnecke

In the summer of 2002, I remember improvising with my Columbia College classmates at Links Hall. We were dressed in black jazz pants and white T-shirts — in hindsight, white T-shirts in Ju…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM
Saturday, June 15, 2019

'Internal Geometry' by Natya Dance Theatre is hardly radical but has women telling the story by Lauren Warnecke

Perhaps I’ll start at the end. In the post-performance Q&A for “The Internal Geometry,” a world premiere by Natya Dance Theatre at Links Hall, artistic director Hema Rajagopalan sp…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:15PM
Sunday, June 9, 2019

Chicago Tap’s ambitious ‘Saving the World’ is a sassy step into politics by Lauren Warnecke

If Chicago Tap Theatre (CTT) is known for one thing outside the dance world, it’s probably their Pride-themed extravaganzas. Tap dancing, beloved LGBT arts organizations like the Chicago G…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:00AM
Friday, May 31, 2019

Concert Dance Inc. at Ravinia is exemplary dance, if an uneven production by Lauren Warnecke

Dance offerings at Ravinia are not nearly as robust as they used to be, but the festival’s long-standing kinship with Chicago legend Ruth Page and her legacy remains, 93 years after Page f…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:55PM

Stravinsky and Ravel shine in an otherwise clunky first-time collaboration between the Joffrey and CSO by Lauren Warnecke

This was no ordinary night at the CSO. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has invited dancers to the stage at Orchestra Hall on a handful of occasions, but surprisingly, a collaborative concert …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:50PM
Thursday, May 23, 2019

'Stravinsky & Joffrey Ballet' will be a first-ever collaboration between the Joffrey and CSO by Lauren Warnecke

Choreographer Stephanie Martinez is a chameleon. She spent much of her performance career at River North Dance Chicago, and upon retirement began creating dances for contemporary and hip-hop…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:00PM
Saturday, May 18, 2019

Eifman Ballet's 'Pygmalion Effect' at the Auditorium turns 'My Fair Lady' myth into a baffling ballet with brilliant dancing by Lauren Warnecke

If, like me, your only knowledge of Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg is the company’s 2017 trip to Chicago for “Red Giselle,” the North American premiere of artistic director Boris Eifm…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:35PM
Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Mordine & Co. — the reason we have modern dance in Chicago — celebrates its 50th birthday by Lauren Warnecke

“Considering this city’s black thumb when applied to grass roots dance companies, I feel a compulsion to fly some zeppelin blimp over the Dance Troupe’s home at 1725 N. Wells St.” Gi…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 06:00AM

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