Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Dance Chicago Choreography Awards
Dance Chicago, in conjunction with the Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation, gave awards to several choreographers this year–including the Choreographer of the Year, Sam Cortez (Mexican Dance Ensemble). Mr. Cortez was selected based on the volume and depth of the seven distinctive works he created.
In addition to the Choreographer of the Year award, otheres were selected to receive the Dance Chicago Outstanding Choreographer (Body of Work) Award for their significant contributions to the 2010 festival, they are:
Billy Siegenfeld (Jump Rhythm Jazz Project)
Chris Courtney (Culture Shock Chicago, Chicago Dance Crash)
There were also awards for Outstanding Choreography (New Voice):
Melinda Wilson (Curie Metropolitan High School for the Performing & Technical Arts)
Jessica Deahr (Chicago Dance Crash, Independent Dancers)
And finally, The Dance Chicago Outstanding Choreography Award (Team Choreography) was awarded to:
Trae Turner, Angelina Grima, Susan Skrzymowski (BOOM CRACK! Dance Company)
Congratulations to all of the participants and winners this year!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Chicago Tribune about dance chicago 2010
The virtue of Dance Chicago is not so much that it offers something for everyone, but seems, in its wide swathe, to feature something just about by everyone.
This bedrock, rag-tag and inconsistent festival is always a far-reaching potpourri showing off diverse elements from our varied community. Every style and mode get a nod, from quirky experimentalists to flashy ballroom acrobats.
Credit artistic director John Schmitz, whose penchant for modern dance never stopped him from including ballroom pizzazz in the mix years before the trend reignited on television. Schmitz puts together participants as if concocting a global menu, tossing in the well-established, the up-and-maybe-coming, the aging pro, aspiring students, hip hop and folk dance.
Wednesday's opening at Stage 773 included Billy Siegenfeld and his Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, often stars of festivals past, back with his 2010 "Why Gerswhin?" It's an intriguing, zany play-let harkening back to the novelty and rhytmic vocals of his earliest pieces, this one taming a man's man (Siegenfeld) steeped in James Brown, seduced by his lady and a chorus of Gershwin-crazed loonies. Rising choreographer Autumn Eckman displays an affinity for the same pop elements in her "A Little Moonlight," an entertaining, deliciously crafted mix of jazz and soft ballet, danced Wednesday by Giordano II's Brianna Pazos and Devin Buchanan, a specialist at sparkly leaps.
Eckman premiered a promising but flawed work with NoMi LaMad Dance Inc., "Mirrors Are Dangerous," edgy in style though not always compelling in dramatic evolution. Outside, the Renegade Dance Architects entertained on the sidewalk before the concert, while likable contemporary works by Eddy Ocampo and Wilfredo Rivera played on the same stage with a Gothic anti-romance from the talented students of Curie Metro High School; salsa ballroom fireworks from the daredevil team of Brandon and Serena; gymnastic romp and elasticity from AMEBA; and a festive, foot-stomping finale from the Mexican Dance Ensemble.
Upcoming events include samples of ballroom, jazz and hip hop in Jazz Cabarets Saturday and Nov. 14; New Moves programs of young dancers and choreographers Thursday and Nov. 18; urban movement performers and troupes Nov. 19; various performance innovators and newcomers in a Nov. 20 Dance Carnival; and showcases of new work Nov. 21.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Dance Chicago Evento Benefico
-- ALERTA DE PRENSA--
EL FESTIVAL DE DANZA MÁS GRANDE
DEL MUNDO REALIZARA EVENTO BENEFICO PARA
DAMNIFICADOS POR HURACAN
Mexica Dance Ensemble formara parte de este evento
QUE: EVENTO BENEFICO DE LO MEJOR DE DANCE CHICAGO: Dance Chicago, es el festival de danza mas grande en su género en todo el mundo e iniciara si 16ava temporada con una presentación especial el dia Septiembre 25, 2010, en “Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC)” para beneficiar a los afectados por el huracán que devasto Streator y otras áreas del centro de Illinois.
QUIEN: ”Lo Mejor” del festival Dance Chicago, entre los que se encuentra la compañía de danza “Mexican Dance Ensemble”. Víctimas de esta tragedia serán invitados de honor. El fundador del festival Dance Chicago, John Schmitz y CEO de mercadotecnia Roger Halligan, quienes crecieron en esta ciudad de Streator IL.
CUANDO: Sábado, September 25 at 7:30 p.m.
DONDE: Illinois Valley Community College Cultural Center Oglesby, IL
PARA: El ingreso total de boletaje y contribuciones privadas ira directamente a la fundación The Show Must Go On - Engle Lane Tornado Relief Fund para ayudar a reconstruir Engle Lane Theater en la ciudad de Streator.
Victimas del Tornado serán invitadas de honor en el evento
Para mas informacion contactar (en ingles):
Roger Halligan
H+A International
Tel. 312-332-4650 ext. 22
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
MDE Offstage. Edgar Medrano
Name: Edgar Medrano
Date of Birth: October 26, 1987
Aside from folkloric dance, are there other ties that you have with Mexico? Well, aside from both of my parents being from Mexico, (reynosa tamaulipas SI SEñOR) 'tengo el nopal pintado en la frente' ive been told.
For how long have you participated in folkloric dance? I’ve been dancing for eight years.. wow.
Besides MDE, what other groups, workshops, or instructors have you participated with? I started off under the direction of two awesome instructors, Alex and Mary Palencia. Spent a sweet six years with them. Other instructors... Leopoldo 'Polo' Palencia a.k.a. “Grandpa”. Miguel Velez. Juan Carranza. Huemantzin Lopez. Profe Rubio. Placido Alberto. Paco Nevarez. Chava davila.
When did you decide to become a part of MDE? A cold February i visited Chicago.. Fell in love with the city. Met the Mde'rs and five months later.. BAM causing havoc in Chicago since aug of 07.
How did you find out about MDE? I met Sam at a competition in Dallas.. Well sort of, he was playing mc for the competition and announced my number. I think we exchanged a 'hi' or something to that extent. Saw MDE compete and of course they kicked butt. They were engraved in my head since then.
What can you say about your professional/work experience with MDE? MDE and Sam have blessed me with the chance to tour around the country and world. Allowing us the chance to show our rich and joyful culture that captivates audiences all around the world.
What are your thoughts on MDE in general? This includes the Organization, instructors, and colleagues. Is there any particular moment, or performance that you remember the most? In my short three years of being part of Mde, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Colorado, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa. Over seas Portugal & Spain in 08' and again in 10', France and Dubai.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
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