From studio to stage, residency to raised curtain — Shenandoah Conservatory presented its much-anticipated performances featuring DanceWorks Chicago and the Shenandoah Conservatory Dance Ensemble during the first weekend of February. DanceWorks Chicago — a dance company committed to developing early-career artists and promoting the artistic growth and excellence of a diverse group of dancers and choreographers — joined the Shenandoah Conservatory Dance Ensemble for a thrilling and unprecedented collaboration that pushed the boundaries of professional artistic partnerships. Under the artistic direction of Julie Nakagawa, DanceWorks Chicago set up a creative laboratory at Shenandoah, rehearsing established company repertoire and creating new works. The residency culminated in a joint performance highlighting an array of contemporary dance styles in a program featuring repertoire created and performed by DanceWorks Chicago and Shenandoah Conservatory Dance Ensemble, and the premiere of a new collaborative work by special guest choreographer Katie Vickers. This project with DanceWorks Chicago and the Shenandoah Conservatory Dance Division was made possible through a generous gift from Marjorie Lewis.
Pictured: “Flamingos” (2019, adaptation)
Choreography and lighting design by Katie Vickers
Photo by Jeff Taylor