Hedwig Dances announces “no ideas but in things” – PART TWO

Hedwig Dances, the Chicago-based contemporary dance company, announces ambitious spring concert “no ideas but in things” – PART TWO, featuring three premieres: Kin (World Premiere) by Emmy Award-winning San Francisco-based choreographer Natasha Adorlee; Under My Thumbs (World Premiere) by Hedwig company member Paula Sousa; and Svad’ba (Chicago Premiere) by Chicago-based choreographer Anna Sapozhnikov. 

The concert will be staged in the theater at the Ruth Page Center, 1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL. Evening shows take place on April 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee on Sunday, April 7 at 2:30 p.m. A reception with the artists will follow the opening night show, for an additional $25 per person. After Saturday’s performance an on-stage discussion with the choreographers will take place; there is no charge for this discussion. Ticket prices range from $20 to $55 and are on sale now at HedwigDances.com.

The concert’s title quotes a line by poet William Carlos Williams. A sequel to Hedwig’s fall concert, each choreographer iterates anew on the prompt to merge movement with a visual environment. Each work furthers Hedwig’s signature dance and design aesthetic in unexpected ways, creating powerful imagery that transforms the performance space. 

Natasha Adorlee’s Kin probes intimacy within the domain of home life. Dancers elegantly traverse an ethereal realm, merging reality and illusion to reveal the depths of familial ties and collective experiences. Through choreography and projected imagery, the performance unfurls a narrative honoring the quiet subtleties of daily existence—moments unspoken, gestures shared, and the profound connections that define home. 

Company member Paula Sousa’s premiere Under My Thumbs explores the intersection of humanity and AI. Paula collaborates with ChatGPT 3.5 to describe the work: “In Under My Thumbs the dancers seamlessly transform into the embodiment of artificial intelligence, taking on the calculated precision of machines, exploring the intricate interplay between human expression and the emotionless characteristics traditionally associated with AI. Witness the dissolution of boundaries between human and artificial and contemplate the nuanced synergy between humanity and technology.”

Anna Sapozhnikov’s Svad’ba, as reimagined for Hedwig Dances, draws inspiration from Bronislava Nijinska’s Les Noces (1923). Svad’ba takes a deep look into the traditional Russian and Ukrainian family structures within the 21st century. Dancers dressed in crimson are surrounded by a façade of crumbling concrete with projections by media designer, John Boesche, and music by composer Boris Sichon.

Hedwig Dances is a contemporary dance theater ensemble under the artistic direction of its Founder, Jan Bartoszek. In-Residence at the Ruth Page Center, Hedwig Dances’ bold, interdisciplinary collaborations combine poetic choreography, projected images and haunting original music. The critically acclaimed and award-winning dance ensemble has presented over 1,500 performances at prestigious national and international venues. Hedwig Dances and its associated artists have been honored with two Ruth Page Awards and a Chicago Dance Award. For 20 years (1992 – 2011), Hedwig Dances served as the Dance Company-In-Residence at the Chicago Cultural Center under the visionary leadership and invitation of the late Lois Weisberg.

Tickets for “no ideas but in things” – PART TWO begin at $20. Click here to book now.

Hedwig Dances presents no ideas but in things – PART TWO, Photo by Peter Hinsdale