Ever since Hubbard Street Dance Chicago came to Cleveland to perform in PlayhouseSquare’s Dance Showcase last fall, I have become a huge fan. They performed Pacopepepluto, choreographed by Alejandro Cerrudo, which was a piece using three male dancers and music from the 50’s and 60’s. Once these men took the stage, they immediately captured the attention of the audience by their costumes—or lack thereof. The dancers added the element of surprise by wearing only dance belts. The choreographer put a lot of personality into the movement that was backed up by nearly perfect technique, and the dancers portrayed strength, wittiness, and flirtation so beautifully.
Photo by Todd Rosenberg
So what’s going on with them now? Hubbard Street is now in their 37th year of being a force in the national modern dance world. Their Spring Series will run from March 12-15, and include works choreographed by Chrystal Pite, Jiri Kylian, Alejandro Cerrudo, and a world premiere from Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. Hubbard Street 2, which is their second company utilizing young artists, is currently on tour in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Photo by Todd Rosenberg
Something that really sets Hubbard Street apart from other modern dance companies is their passion for education. They offer a variety of programs for schools including workshops designed for early childhood, grades k-8, high school, and before/after school programs. This company has a passion for taking education to the next level, and that is one of the reasons that they have become such a force in the modern dance community.