In a word, Hubbard Street is ‘breathtaking’

On April 4, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago—one of the most original forces in contemporary dance—will bring an evening of adventurous, versatile works to Macky.

“Out of Your Mind,” Alejandro Cerrudo’s dreamlike composition, is defined by its haunting use of space. It is deep. Literally.

“Depth is something that I love,” says Cerrudo. “You can bring the light line forward and have this beautiful neverending darkness behind the dancers. If you have enough depth on the stage, you can get the sense that there’s nothing but darkness behind them. It sounds scary, but it’s beautiful.”

In contrast, the scale of choreographer Crystal Pite’s piece “A Picture of You Falling” is much more intimate. It is a poignant work, meant to be performed as either a solo or duet.

“I am fascinated by the shared narratives that live in our bodies—the familiar, repetitive storylines that move across cultures and generations—and the body’s role as their illustrator,” says Pite. “I’m curious about the ways in which the body can convey profound meaning through the simplest of gestures.”

And of course, many audiences are already familiar with “Decadance,” the third work on Hubbard Street’s program. It’s one of Ohad Naharin’s most famous works. Even so, there are surprises in store. A constant evolution, Naharin recreates the piece every decade or so. The Echad excerpt being performed on April 4 is from a version called “Decadance/Chicago,” created specifically for this ensemble in 2018.

In the press, the separate pieces have been lauded as stunning, visually arresting, transformative even—and all have been described as breathtaking. And yet, as you can tell, there is an element to each that defies description.

Hubbard Street’s program is simply an evening of work that demands to be seen.

See Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Saturday, April 4 in Macky Auditorium. Tickets start at $22.

PROGRAM:
“Out of Your Mind” by Alejandro Cerrudo
“A Picture of You Falling” by Crystal Pite
Echad Excerpt from “Decadance/Chicago” by Ohad Naharin