Chicago, Chicago, That Toddling Town

Raised as a Pure Michigander, frequent trips to the Midwest's New York City were standard. Of course, Michigan Avenue is Chicago's main tourist attraction so during the weekend visits (aka shopping sprees with mom), we never made it further south than Grand (aka Nordstrom). Embarrassingly enough, we finally discovered Rush Street in just the past three years.

So I'm sure you can imagine my excitement when I made the decision to relocate to this magical city this past summer. I was determined to experience everything Chicago had to offer, everything I had been missing out on those weekends I was busy paying 4% more for the same sweater I could purchase in Michigan -- hey, I was on vacation! I had never ridden the train -- not that it's anything to write home about -- never visited the surrounding neighborhoods, never been exposed to the Theatre District, never attended one of the festivals, never been to the museums; the list goes on.

That's why I'm grateful not only for the invaluable career-oriented experience I'm gaining from The Silverman Group, but also the crash course covering the culture of Chicago. In the past three months, they’ve provided me with opportunities I would not have been able to experience in three years on my own. I've attended Joffrey Ballet rehearsals with reporters previewing the performances. I was able to compare the choreography unfolding two feet away from me with the press-attended opening night performances viewed from the back of the breathtaking Auditorium Theater. I've also had the chance to work directly with the promotion of the hilarious A Christmas Story, The Musical! TSG invited press members to a rehearsal at the Oriental Theater where I was able to assist and interact with the amazingly talented and mature cast largely comprised of kids under ten years old. TSG even trusted me enough to let me staff an event on my own last night! The Fulcrum Point New Music Project introduced me to, you guessed it, new music at their Benefit Concert. The unique performance was held at the Chicago Cultural Center, another one of Chicago's gorgeous gems I had yet to visit, and I was able to mingle with the musicians, board members and guests at the reception afterward. And the excitement continues next week! I’m anticipating I will “find Christmas” in the words of Cindy Lou-Hoo and my holiday spirit will skyrocket when I accompany Beth and Erin to the unveiling of LIGHTSCAPE on State Street.

These are just a handful of the exciting, one of a kind experiences TSG has allowed me to be involved in, and I'm sure many more are to come with the holiday season creeping in. Who knows, they may even suck me in for another semester! Stay tuned…

Luna Negra Dance Theater Rehearsal

This afternoon, I attended a rehearsal for Luna Negra Dance Theater's upcoming production of Eduardo Vilaro's Danzón. I'm so glad that I was able to see the company in person and truly understand its unique blend of contemporary and Latin dance. The company's performance style is difficult to describe without seeing, as it embodies both of the aforementioned styles at once, yet is something entirely different.



Vilaro's talent and enthusiasm for dance are both enviable. His company and his works show subtle reverence for the past yet are decidedly modern. While I'm not familiar with the company's past works, the above piece from the company's fall performance is definitely as retrospective as it is joyful. Luna Negra dancers are a close-knit group, in that its members are confident in their art and each others' performance. They rely on each other as much as the music (speaking of which, I can't imagine how the performance would look, feel and sound with Paquito D’Riviera and the Turtle Island Quartet this Friday and Saturday.





Don't miss Luna Negra Dance Theater's 10th Anniversary Gala, Noche de Luna, on Friday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are include a performance of Danzón at the Harris Theater, and are available from Luna Negra Dance Theater (312-337-6882).



Luna Negra Dance Theater will also be performing Danzón at the Harris Theater Friday, October 9 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 10 at 8 p.m. Tickets for Luna Negra Dance Theater's Fall Performance are on sale now.

Rehearsal at the Joffrey, with a Special Guest

This afternoon, Farrah, the Account Supervisor for The Joffrey Ballet, was running down to Joffrey Tower to meet with a writer. When she asked me to come along, I agreed. She had just received a call and heard that Mikhail Baryshnikov would be attending a rehearsal for Othello, and that I could sit in.

We were seated in a small balcony overlooking the studio space. The room was dark and quiet, with all eyes focused on the activity below. After seeing so many performances over the years, and after taking dance classes myself, I saw firsthand the effort, dedication, and passion that goes into a professional performance. But what really struck me was that I had never seen so many Joffrey dancers offstage at one time: laughing, joking, practicing in between segments. Watching Lar Lubovitch interact with the dancers and bring his vision to life was eye-opening. I've always been fascinated by how the slightest change in tone, wording, etc. can profoundly impact communication. The same is true of non-verbal communication.

Photo courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet

Of course, watching Baryshnikov watch The Joffrey Ballet rehearse was like watching a tennis match. I'm not sure if I watched the dancers or him more. He has as commanding a presence offstage as he does on.

It was an amazing opportunity and an amazing afternoon, and would have been for any intern. Yet the experience reaffirmed why I'm glad to be working with a small group of people who truly know and love what they do. So many of my classmates work for large agencies. While I'm glad that Chicago affords us that luxury, I've never been able to see myself at a large, impersonal company. My father owns a small business, and I simply feel comfortable at a place where everyone knows all of their client's employees by their first name. Baryshnikov said the following about dance, but it's uncanny how well the metaphor applies to public relations:

It doesn't matter how high you lift your leg. The technique is about transparency, simplicity and making an earnest attempt.

Baryshnikov will be performing Three Solos and a Duet at the Harris Theater this Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-27.

The Joffrey will be performing Lar Lubovitch's Othello for the first time Oct. 14-25 at the Auditorium Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.