Hubbard Street Dance Company visits LA again – October 1st, 2003
Hubbard St. Dance Co. performed again at the Beautiful Irvine Barclay Theater on their recent west coast tour.
The Hubbard St. Dance Chicago Project made another stop in the LA area, once again making its way to the Beautiful Irvine Barclay Theater. They performed 4 nights (October 15-18,03) with different spectacular programs each night. Of all the dance shows I cover, Hubbard Street is always near the top of the list. The Troup brought 20 awesome, exquisite, multi-talented dancers, and 9 different fabulous pieces of work.
The Hubbard Street Dance Company (HSDC) has been in existence for 25 years now and is getting even more popular as time goes on. The company is based in Chicago but tours all over the world. The dancers incorporate diverse influences form ballet, modern dance, acrobatics, and musical theater to make every performance a unique and exciting experience to see.
The three performances I got to witness were Counter/Part’ Reverse Deconstruct; and Minus 16. Counter/Past features artistic director Jim Vincent’s first choreographing work for the company. Set to the music of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti, this piece features 10 dancers as they move with great fluidity to the classical music. This piece premiered in April 02 and has been a main stay on the many of their performances. Reverse Deconstruct also premiered in April 02 and takes Irish Choreographer Marguerite Donlon on a humorous yet physical, energetic piece for 11 dancers. Acrobatic and bit of Irish dancing is influence with background music by Berlin Composer/Jazz Saxophonist, Claas Willeke.
The best and most popular piece I have seen with this company is entitled, "Minus 16". Choreographer, Ohad Naharin makes this interactive audience participation piece extremely witty , hilarious, and a fan favorite. Minus 16 debuted in 2000, and if given the chance, should be experienced by all. The full company of dancers is involved and the music ranges from Dean Martin to Cha-Cha; Mambo; Techno; and traditional Israeli music. The skit begins as you enter back from Intermission and see one of the dancers entertaining the audience with some creative moves. As everyone is settling in his or her seats, another dancer joins and the piece has now gotten everyone’s attention. Before you know it, all the dancers are on stage using some choreographed and some improvisational moves. While the music continues, the dancers begin to walk down within the crowd, and search for partners to perform with them on stage. After all the dancers have each hand-picked a member of the audience, they are all now on stage dancing using different movements and leads form the HSDC dancers. IT is very amusing yet entertaining how they all interact and perform so fabulously. Finally, each audience dancer is taken back to their respective seat before the full company continues with the piece. Next, each dancer performs individually for about 20-30 seconds with a tape-recording message of them selves saying some brief words about themselves or dancing styles. A very unique way to get to know and hear about each dancer is a great way to end the inspiring, fully satisfying show.
HSDC Founder, Lou Conte, has expanded and taken this dance company to new heights.
For more information and future touring dates, please visit hubbardstreetdance.org