Celebrate10! Gala A Success!

Thank you to everyone who attended our Celebrate10 gala! The evening was filled with fun, laughter and some very important philanthropy all in support of Chicago Repertory Ballet’s 10th annual season. We had a wonderful performance by the company dancers choreographed by Artistic Director Wade Schaaf. As well our Youth Ensemble joined us with a performance of their new ballet “Petite Suite”. Please enjoy some photos shot throughout the evening by @DanielleCarpenterPhotography (You can find her at that handle on social media).

Artist Spotlight: Alex Goodreau

We caught up with dancer Alex Goodreau (he/him) to hear his thoughts on the upcoming CRB performance and so much more! Read Alex’s interview below!

CRB: Tell us about your journey at CRB Alex.

Alex: “This is my second season with Chicago Repertory Ballet! I traveled to Chicago frequently during college to research dance companies in the area, which is how I found CRB. There are plenty of contemporary companies in Chicago, but much fewer ballet ones. CRB's rep has a classical influence that I found attractive. After taking Wade's open company classes, I found that I enjoyed spending time with the director/dancers in CRB and decided to audition!”

CRB: What are your thoughts on the upcoming July performance?

Alex: “Our July performance is quite eclectic. There are four pieces in the show, and each one brings its own unique vibe. From comical contemporary to Balanchine inspired ballet to Wade's rendition of The Rite of Spring, the performance has a bit of everything. I'm very to excited to perform in general, but I am especially happy to perform these works since we were not able to do so last year due to the pandemic. It's been a year of waiting and we are all ready to dance and to see performances of all kinds!”

CRB: What was your quarantine experience like where dance is concerned?

Alex: “Regaining the physical stamina required for CRB's rehearsal schedule proved to be more difficult than expected. After a year of laying around, the transition to dancing everyday was challenging! Fortunately, we had the opportunity to participate in CRB's Dancer Training Program, which was six weeks of classes that progressively helped us regain our strength. I did suffer a hip injury during this process that I am still dealing with. It was a lesson in patience and how long it takes to get back what you once had.”

CRB: Do you have a job outside of dance?

Alex: “I rehearse with CRB, teach and work in retail...it can be a lot!”

CRB: What are 5 things in your dancer bag you can’t live without?

Alex: “Foam roller, toe tape, foot massage ball, a snack and water!”

CRB: Do you have a favorite piece to dance in this concert?

Alex: “Anderson Sweet! I love the music chosen for this piece. It's challenging musically and physically but feels very rewarding when you do it well!”

CRB: Anything else you’d like to share with the readers at home?

Alex: “Please come see our show! We are so excited to dance for you.”

To catch Alex and the rest of the company in performance., get your tickets for The Rite of Spring and Other Works - July 23 - 25 TODAY!

Announcing: Joffrey dancer Princess Reid to guest with "Dying Swan"

Guest Artist Princess Reid to dance “The Dying Swan”

Photo: Angel Dibbs Photo

Chicago Repertory Ballet is proud to announce that guest artist Princess Reid will dance the variation “The Dying Swan” in CRB’s upcoming July performance. The dying swan is a well loved classical ballet variation originally choreographed for Anna Pavlova by Michel Fokine. In this sweet variation, the audience sees a frail swan in her last moments before she breathes her final breath. Reid worked with director Wade Schaaf on the version that she will dance July 23 - 25 in CRB’s live performance on Montrose Harbor.

About Princess: Princess Reid grew up in Jacksonville, FL. She started studying ballet at age seven at The Florida Ballet under the direction of Laurie Picinich-Byrd where she danced until she was 18.

Soon after, she joined Orlando Ballet's second company in 2015, where she stayed until May 2018. While in Orlando, Reid performed in Don Quixote, Serenade, and Val Caniparoli's A Cinderella Story, to name a few. 

Reid was also given the opportunity to perform Robert Hill's Requiem at the American Dance Competition gala in 2016 and in June 2018, she competed in the prestigious USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi.

See Princess and the rest of the CRB dancers in The Rite of Spring and Other Works July 23 - 25 on Montrose Harbor’s Cricket Hill. Get your tickets today!

Photo: Matt de la Pena

*Princess will appear courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet

Death On The Dance Floor: A BALLET SHE WON'T SURVIVE

Chicago Repertory Ballet tackles two Ballet Russes-Era ballets that feature deadly outcomes.

We all know the scheme by now: girl meets girl, girl commits and act of bravery, girl dances herself to death in a ritual sacrifice to the Earth. Simple ballet story line, right? And so it is with Wade Schaaf’s latest rendition of “Le Sacre Du Printemps” (The Rite of Spring). “I’ve always been very interested in the plot-line of this composition.” said Schaaf “I think it’s the interpersonal dynamics between the characters that interests me most. What motivates these people, and what causes them to go to such extremes?” It is a dramatic scheme that drives The Rite but not one that’s completely unrealistic. While it may seem fantastical for us to consider, we have seen countless examples of people going to extremes within their own tightly knit communities. “I’m always interested in capturing a sense of realism in my work. I want people to be able to relate to what they’re seeing on the stage, and perhaps see themselves in the characters.”

The Rite of Spring isn’t the only dance that deals with death on the program this July. CRB will feature one of ballet’s most famous stand-alone solos “The Dying Swan” on the program as well. This solo, famously danced by Anna Pavlova features a swan in its final moments. “It’s a sweet variation if not melodramatic. There’s something about the interplay of the swan as it passes on and this iconic music by Saint-Seäns that’s so very touching.” said Schaaf. “I’m really excited to bring this work which is so rarely performed to my stage in July.”

The Rite of Spring and Other Works will be performed July 23 - 25 in Chicago’s Montrose Harbor at Cricket Hill. Tickets range from premium seats at $45 to “pay what you can” seating on the hill.

Artist Spotlight: Dancer Molly McGivern

We caught up with dancer Molly McGivern (she/her) to hear some of her thoughts about her work at CRB, dancing through a global pandemic, her journey as a Pilates instructor and so much more!

CRB: Tell us a little about your journey with CRB. How did you get connected with the company?

Molly: “This is my second season with the company- although my first one was cut short by Covid. I found a video of Wade’s choreography on Instagram while I was dancing in Boston and was totally hooked! A few months later I flew to Chicago to audition, and while I was offered an apprenticeship, the scheduling didn’t work out. I ended up staying in Boston for another six months. Once I moved to Chicago I started taking Wade’s open classes at Dovetail before finally re-auditioning in 2020 and the rest is history!”

CRB: What do you think about the upcoming performance?

Molly; “The idea of just being back on stage at all after being away so long is incredibly exciting! Performing outdoors has always been one of my favorite things and I think that being at Cricket Hill is going to be an unforgettable experience. It’s also such a joy to finally perform with the other dancers after two seasons of rehearsals. They’re such an amazing group of people that I can’t wait to share the stage with.”

CRB: What was the quarantine process like for you as a dancer?

Molly: “Within the first week of quarantine my Grandma sent me a ballet barre in the mail. Every morning I would wake up and either take one of Kathryn Morgan’s ballet barre off of YouTube or Wade/Laura’s class on Instagram. I also taught virtual dance classes from home so my kitchen pretty much turned into a dance studio. The hardest things were keeping my cardiovascular strength up and keeping my body happy dancing on unsprung tile floor. I was sore all the time!”

CRB: A lot of dancers have a cross-training regime. Do you have one?

Molly: “I’ve always been a fan of pilates, and quarantine gave me that extra push to finally do something about it. I’m currently working on a 500 hour teacher training program and I spent at least 3 days a week in the Pilates Studio. I always loved giving myself mat classes at home but learning how to use a reformer has been so helpful to my dancing. Towards the end of last season I was having hamstring issues and Pilates has really helped to strengthen them.”

CRB: Do you have a favorite anecdote about CRB to share?

Molly: “Our themed Fridays! Carly has really worked hard to think of fun themes for the company to wear to class every week (usually alliterations); we’ve done Floral Friday, Funky Friday, Fitness Fridays, you get the point. Last season we did Friend Friday and all dressed as each other, it was my favorite! It’s the little things like that remind me what a great work environment CRB is. You couldn’t find a nicer, more supportive group of dancers anywhere!”

CRB: Do you have a job outside of dance?

Molly: “After most rehearsals I drive up to Evanston to teach. While I love teaching the advanced ballet classes I also spend a lot of time with our little kids. I used to be a preschool teacher so I’ve had a lot of practice! I also just got a job with the Beverly Arts Center teaching virtual dance classes for Chicago Public Schools.”

CRB: What's are 5 things in your dance bag you can’t live without?

Molly: “Spikey Ball, lacrosse ball, theraband, water bottle, and ballet skirt.”

CRB: Do you have a favorite CRB piece to dance?

Molly: “Immortal Beloved is set to one of my all time favorite pieces of classical music. I used to always listen to it back in high school when I first got my drivers licenses so I was thrilled when Marianna told us what the music would be! It’s so gratifying to dance to a piece of music you’ve been listening to for years.”

CRB: Anything else you want to share with the readers at home?

Molly: “ Come see our show and follow our Instagram! I’ve been helping Wade run it since last year and we both work really hard on it. I get excited every time we gain new followers and it really helps spread our message out to the rest of the world.”

To see Molly and the rest of the company perform, join us for The Rite of Spring and Other Works July 23 - 25 on Montrose Harbor’s Cricket Hill. Get your tickets today!

Artist Spotlight: Dancer Akilah Harris

Photo: Doug McGoldrick

We caught up with dancer Akilah Harris (she/her) to hear some of her thoughts about her time at CRB, what dancing though a pandemic was like, and her passions outside of dance. Read Akilah’s interview below!

CRB: Akilah, tell us a little bit about your journey with CRB.

Akilah: “I started with CRB in 2017 as an Apprentice, then I spent some time training on my own before returning as a Company Artist in 2020. During my second season I was able to really understand what a special company CRB is. To be in a room full of people committed to the growth of those around them, as well as their own is truly something else. This year is my third season and I feel lucky to share my energy with such a kind, talented and hard working group.”

CRB: Tell us a little about your thoughts on the upcoming performance series.

Akilah: “I’m so excited for the upcoming performance. I’ve felt quite nostalgic coming back to the works we were set to perform last season because it truly feels like a lifetime ago. I’m really enjoying the process of reconstructing these works. In “The Rite of Spring” and “Immortal Beloved” in particular I’ve found so many new ideas to explore that I hadn’t considered last season and I can’t wait to bring them to the stage.”

CRB: What was dancing through the pandemic like for you?

Akilah: “In terms of dance, the quarantine was actually a very helpful experience for me. I was able to go back to basics and focus on what my dancing feels like instead of what I think other people think my dancing looks like. It really helped me get into my body. My biggest challenge in returning to the studio has been applying that bodily awareness that I learned by myself when I know that other people are watching. It gets a little bit easier every time I do it, which is in part due to the supportive atmosphere of CRB.”

CRB: Any hobbies you may have picked up during the quarantine?

Akilah: “Not really a hobby, but I recently went back to school to get my bachelors in Psychology and it’s been a really rewarding experience so far.”

CRB: Do you have a favorite TV binge of late?

Akilah: “I just watched the first season of “I Am Not Okay With This” only to find out that there will not be a season two. I’ll never find out what happens next and I am NOT okay with this.”

Come and see Akilah perform in The Rite of Spring along with the rest of the company July 23 -25. Get your tickets below!

The Rite of Spring: CRB takes on the work that changed the art world.

Director Wade Schaaf tackles

“Le Sacre Du Printemps”

The year was 1913 and the place was Paris. Young Ballet Russe choreographer Vaslov Najinski was given a near impossible task: convey a terrifying tale of Russian folk life and ritual sacrifice to a brand new score by the now famous composer Igor Stravinsky. The score was unlike anything anyone had heard prior, so much so that the musicians would frequently stop rehearsals to point out what they thought were errors in the score. Of course this was not the case. What the musicians heard were sounds that they were unaccustomed to encountering from the orchestra. So was the way with the choreography. Highly skilled ballerinas filled the stage with feet turned inward rather than out, knees knocking and hands cupped. What was this creation that the Parisians came to see on that night in May? Love it or hate it, it was something brand new for the world to encounter. 

The now infamous opening night performance which was marked by boos, hisses and patrons shouting out, “UN DOCTEUR! UN DENTISTE!” (A doctor, call a doctor! A dentist, call a dentist) has also been described as something so original, both musically and choreographically, that the dancers and musicians had no idea what it is they were performing on the stage. And how could they? Perhaps in the creation process one might have understood that this work would be new, or original, but to understand that this would be a work that would change the artistic world is implausible at best.

And so it is with The Rite. 100 years after its premiere this work has become a standard part of the orchestral canon, and has been performed by countless ballet and contemporary dance companies across the world. Not only have companies restaged the original Najinski version, but as well, numerous choreographers have created their own versions of this captivating tale, from Martha Graham to Pina Baush. 

This July, Chicago Repertory Ballet’s founder Wade Schaaf will stage their new concept and choreography for The Rite in an outdoor setting on Chicago’s Montrose Harbor. Schaaf staged a version of The Rite in 2013 when CRB was in its formative years (only the second performance for the young company). Rather than re-stage the 2013 version Schaaf has re-conceptualized this ballet for the July premiere. “While I loved what I made in 2013 for the company, I have grown and changed alongside CRB and I wanted to make a version that really speaks to who we are as a company today.”, said Schaaf.

With costumes by resident designer Nathan Rohrer, lighting by Sarah Lackner, and an outdoor setting, Schaaf hopes to bring a sense of humanity and realism to their production. “I want the audience to encounter this group of people and to be able to relate to them and the situation in which they find themselves. These events, this sacrifice, should feel like something that could happen to any of us under the right set of circumstances. I’m also taking this opportunity to explore and present what this society might look like and how these people might behave without some of our current trappings about gender and sexuality.” Schaaf says that exploring gender and sexuality in ballet has become a hallmark of their work with CRB. “Ballet has traditionally been a gendered and heteronormative art from with roots in imperialism and misogyny. These aren’t ideas that I affirm. I’m working within a framework for which I have a deep love and respect to completely re-imagine the art-form. It’s time to tell stories differently so that all people might see themselves on the concert dance stage, rather than a select group.”

Catch The Rite Of Spring and Other Works July 23 - 25 at Cricket Hill on Montrose Harbor. Tickets range from pay-what-you-can seats on the lawn to premium seating at $45. Tickets are available at www.crb.dance.

*some material may be inappropriate for young children* 

Rehearsal Footage from Immortal beloved

Enjoy this beautiful segment from Mariana Oliveira’s “Immortal Beloved”. Here is dancer Felicity Nicholson in a recent rehearsal of the work. See this and many other beautiful dances in “The Rite of Spring and Other Works” July 23 - 25 on Montrose Harbor. Get your tickets today!