324 stories by "Laura Molzahn"
Who hasn't sympathized with Cinderella when the clock is about to strike midnight, her pretty coach milliseconds away from reverting to a pumpkin, she herself about to be exposed in rags? Wh…
The '60s were a confusing and pugnacious time, with more pushing and shoving than a Donald Trump rally (so far). What do we do with such times? We try to understand them; witness the thousan…
Major ballet companies are like battleships: big, heavy, built for rather antiquated displays of power, costly and difficult to keep afloat. But dance is a better use of resources than war, …
Fluidity marks the work of choreographer Kyle Abraham, fluidity of feeling, perception, movement. That protean force, applied to the outrageously long-lived issue of black people's civil rig…
"They come in and they look like bomber jets, because they're in a straight formation and they kind of swoop around," says Lourdes Lopez, artistic director of Miami City Ballet, describing t…
Several women sit motionless on stools, hands resting in their laps or on their knees, eyes closed " but flashing open at unpredictable times with a look of pleasure, astonishment, appreciat…
Nick Pupillo has come into his own with "SpringThree," the one-night third-season showcase for his young company, Visceral Dance Chicago, Saturday at the Harris. Though he's been a risk take…
Nick Pupillo has come into his own with "SpringThree," the one-night third-season showcase for his young company, Visceral Dance Chicago, on Saturday at the Harris. Though he's been a risk t…
Choreographers sometimes create concrete worlds for their otherworldly work using props and set pieces. Long one of the most imaginative and diligent of those artists, Jan Bartoszek of Hedwi…
Choreographers sometimes create concrete worlds for their otherworldly work using props and set pieces. Long one of the most imaginative and diligent of those artists, Jan Bartoszek of Hedwi…
Delight defines Mark Morris' "Dido and Aeneas." Delight in sex, in music, in pathos, in mischief and even evil. Delight despite the ancient tragic story of love betrayed, and despite the his…
Delight defines Mark Morris' "Dido and Aeneas." Delight in sex, in music, in pathos, in mischief and even evil. Delight despite the ancient tragic story of love betrayed, and despite the his…
What happens when hip-hop meets butoh? In broad terms, it's a meeting that promises to be more of a car crash: Hip-hop is superfast, butoh superslow; hip-hop wows the crowd, inward-focused b…
Cultures collide but don't ignite in "Flash" What happens when hip-hop meets butoh? In broad terms, it's a meeting that promises to be more of a car crash: Hip-hop is superfast, butoh supers…
Bad guys go way back, of course " but they don't often turn up in dance, especially contemporary dance. That changes with Brock Clawson's new "Sneaky Pete" for Giordano Dance Chicago's sprin…
Lucy Riner is an adventurous soul " not your straight-up purveyor of straightforward technique or the well-made dance. Even she was challenged, however, when a lightning bolt of disaster thr…
Lucas Crandall's "Imprint," created for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's spring program, felt ominous, vaguely threatening, as a rehearsal run-through began. Menacing ambient music by Czech in…
Strong and talented, Margi Cole has always been quick to open the door to other dancer-choreographers, often younger. She's also invited mentoring for herself from older artists, like Debora…
Strong and talented, Margi Cole has always been quick to open the door to other dancer-choreographers, often younger. She's also invited mentoring for herself from older artists, like Debora…
With an adrenaline-fueled rush, Robert Battle's "Awakening" ushers in a new era for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. But while it feels like a departure for both Battle as choreographer a…
With an adrenaline-fueled rush, Robert Battle's "Awakening" ushers in a new era for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. But while it feels like a departure for both Battle as choreographer a…
Chicago Repertory Ballet's synergistic treatment of the most shivery of Shakespeare plays, "Macbeth," unites animated projections, music and dance to excellent effect, suggesting both the us…
Chicago Repertory Ballet's synergistic treatment of the most shivery of Shakespeare plays, "Macbeth," unites animated projections, music and dance to excellent effect, suggesting both the us…
Immensely likable and entertaining, Lucky Plush Productions' "Trip the Light Fantastic: The Making of SuperStrip" has a lot going for it " and a lot going on. Video projections; fast-paced, …
Robert Battle, artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater since 2011, is hesitant to admit that his first new work for the company, "Awakening," might be just a tiny bit autobio…
