Same Planet Different World & The Cambrians Present Two World Premieres, Now thru 3/1

Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre and The Cambrians (formerly the Nexus Project) announce two world premieres on a shared bill at Links Hall, 3111 N. Western Ave., tonight, February 26 - March 1 at 7 p.m. each night.

Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre and The Cambrians are two of Chicago's most highly physical contemporary dance companies. They unite for the first time for four joint performances featuring new work by SPDW Artistic Director, Joanna Rosenthal, and Melinda Jean Myers of The Cambrians.

Rosenthal presents Stripped, a work exploring how personal technology can affect the lived (social) experience. These technologies -- from smartphones to social platforms like Facebook and so on -- have facilitated social and political participation from a distance, created mediated realities that become self-reflexive, and constantly test our abilities to be "in the moment." Stripped abstracts these concepts to create haunting environments that remind the audience of what is at stake when the pervasive use of technological objects replace human connection. The absence of technology within the work cleverly illuminates its ubiquitous presence in everyday life. The work features costumes by Vin Reed and lighting by Jacob Snodgrass.

Clover is a new dance work devised by Myers in collaboration with The Cambrians' performers Benjamin Wardell and Michel Rodriguez. In direct response to The Nexus Project (an evening-length duet created by Wardell and Rodriguez in 2013 with the source material of 12 Chicago choreographers), Myers directs the making of Clover by studying forms and structures found in nature, society and art composed of triads and trinities to inspire ways to incorporate herself into the duo's already established rhythm of movement, collaboration and personal intimacy. The work researches and emphasizes the power of the number three by exploring phases in nature such as the new, half, and full moon cycle, the spirit, mind, and body connection, and the past, present and future relationship to time, among other themes.

Links Hall presents Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre and The Cambrians Thursday through Sunday, February 26-28 and March 1 at 7 p.m. at Links Hall, 3111 N. Western. Single tickets are $20 and student tickets, with proper ID are $15.00. For more information or to purchase tickets visit http://linkshall.ticketfly.com/calendar/ or 773.281.0824.

Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre (SPDW), led by artistic director Joanna Rosenthal, is a Chicago-based contemporary dance ensemble that has built a strong reputation for work that is evocative, entertaining and engaging. SPDW has received critical acclaim for its varied repertory and powerful performers. SPDW presents the choreography of artists from across the country, both seasoned veterans as well as up-and-coming innovators, with styles that range from classical to post-modern dance. The diverse spectrum of work can range from humorous satire to high-octane virtuosity, but never ceases to delight audiences with performances that are dynamic and inspiring. Contributing artists include Peter Carpenter, Faye Driscoll, Jan Erkert, Carl Flink, Ashleigh Leite, Molly Shanahan, Jeff Hancock, Shirley Mordine, Sam Watson, and Shapiro and Smith Dance. For more information, visit www.spdwdance.org.

The Cambrians is a brand new, Chicago-headquartered dance production and media company. The Chicago Tribune called our most recent undertaking, The Nexus Project, "hard to describe, but easy to watch", and we love that. At The Cambrians, we use large collaborative processes that coordinate the very best performers with numerous choreographers from many different communities. These processes create genre-bending, interdisciplinary shows which challenge the notion that progressive art can't be accessible. We strive to make sure that as many voices as possible have an influence in the art we put on stage. Working with artists from many perspectives allows us to build art rooted in the human experiences that connect us. For more information, visit www.thecambrians.com.

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