Giordano Dance Company's Spring Concert Offers Glimpses of the Past and the Future

When I was offered the chance to see Giordano Dance Company’s (GDC) Spring Concert at the Harris Theater at Millennium Park, I jumped at it.  I have followed this innovative jazz dance company since the late 1970s.  Two of my roommates taught at Gus Giordano’s Dance Studio while I was serving as the Technical Director/Lighting Designer for the newly formed Hubbard Street Dance Company.  Founder Gus Giordano’s classic book, Anthology of American Jazz Dance was prominently featured on the coffee table in our apartment.  Many a bottle of wine was emptied as we discussed (argued) which was better, the established, premiere GDC or the upstart Hubbard Street Dance Company in the same manner we discussed our favorite sports teams.  History has demonstrated both were winners.

Photo Courtesy of GDC

GDC, America’s original jazz dance company now in its 55^th year, is one of the longest running professional dance companies in Chicago and one of the few dance companies in the U.S. to have achieved this milestone.  The mission of GDC is to create and present new and innovative jazz dance choreography, often redefining and expanding the very definition of jazz dance, and to bring this invaluable American art form to audiences and students of all ages and all ethnic backgrounds.  Known for its high-impact artistry, GDC continually receives critical and audience acclaim worldwide.  Currently under the leadership of Artistic Director Nan Giordano, marking her 25^th Anniversary as Artistic Director and 33 years in GDC, and Executive Director Michael McStraw, GDC is a world-class dance company and a driving force in Chicago’s thriving performing arts community.

The GDC Spring Concert featured entertaining looks at both the past and the feature of this innovative jazz dance company.  First, the world premiere of Joshua Blake Carter’s “Take A Gambol” showcases the eight men of GDC in a wonderful homage to the innovative jazz dance choreography of company founder, Gus Giordano.  Mr. Carter spent seven years as a member of the company but now has made the transition into a talented choreographer.  As I watched the eight male dancers perform, I was taken back to all the amazing pieces choreographed by Mr. Giordano during the earlier days of the company.  It was a pleasant trip back in time indeed.

Photo Courtesy of GDC

Not to be outdone, the women in the company were featured in excerpts from Roni Koresh’s “Crossing/Lines”.  This piece showcased the future of GDC with the women smoothly incorporating street and hip-hop moves into the choreography along with signature Giordano movements.  The entertaining “dance battle” of the past vs. the future resulted in an amicable draw.  The finale, “Pyrokinesis”, choreographed by former Alvin Ailey Dance Theater dancer Christopher Huggins, brought the audience to its feet as Huggins showcased each dancer in the company with some incredible moves, including some of the fastest and tightest pirouettes across the entire proscenium line I have ever scene.

The evening also featured some special surprisess not included in the program.  To celebrate Nan Giordano’s 25^th Anniversary as Artistic Director, Executive Director Michael McStraw, dressed in angel wings, sang a parody of a song from “La La Land” accompanied by an acoustic guitar.  Later in the program, the entire GDC company performed a self-choreographed piece featuring a collection of Ms. Giordano’s favorite dance moves.  These special surprises demonstrated that GDC is more than just a premiere dance company, but a family of artists.  By including these tributes in the concert, the audience, too, felt like members of the family.

Photo Courtesy of GDC

Another surprising observation was the large number of young people in the audience.  In the lobby before the performance, their excitement was contagious as they anxiously awaited watching their favorite dancers.  Each year, GDC’s innovative outreach program, Jazz Dance/Science & Health, reaches more than 450 Chicago Public School students in four underserved CPS schools.  In addition, the Nan Giordano Certification Program offers certification world-wide to professional dance educators in the proprietary and foundational Giordano Technique, created by Gus Giordano. 

I left the Harris Theater confident GDC has a strong and creative future ahead.  Moving into their new home in Lincoln Park will only solidify those prospects.