Chicago Dance History Project (CDHP) has confirmed the lineup and schedule for its Interview Marathon on January 31. Interviewees will appear live from international locations and around the U.S. CDHP Executive/Artistic Director Jenai Cutcher will conduct all the interviews from Chicago's historic Auditorium Theatre, which has donated its space for the event.
The seven-hour Interview Marathon represents decades of dance history personified in more than 40 interview subjects: artistic directors, choreographers, performers, presenters, administrators, and others who have worked and/or continue to work in Chicago. The 15-minute segments feature one-on-one interviews as well as small-group conversations on a specific theme, including dance presenting, artistic director legacies, dance education on the South Side, and more. CDHP also will present the inaugural Maurice Seymour Award for Vision and Service to HMS Media's Scott Silberstein. Clips of archival footage, some not seen publicly until this event, are interspersed between live interview segments. CDHP will record the live event and add the footage to its expanding archive of oral histories.
The schedule, to date, is as follows:
11 AM-12 noon
Introduction: Mark Kelly, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Presenting Dance: Lori Dimun, Harris Theater of Music and Dance; Rich Regan, Auditorium Theatre; John Schmitz, Dance Chicago; Tara Willis, Museum of Contemporary Art
Dance Education on the South Side: Cris Carole, Sammy Dyer School of the Theatre; Pierre Lockett, Forward Momentum Chicago; Peggy Sutton, Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts; August Tye, Hyde Park School of Dance
Artistic Director Legacies: Frank Chaves, River North Dance Chicago; Kevin Iega Jeff and Nicole Clarke-Springer, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater; Eduardo Vilaro, Ballet Hispanico and Luna Negra Dance Theater
The Future of Chicago Dance History Project: Jenai Cutcher
Co-chairs of the Interview Marathon are Pamela Crutchfield, Patti Eylar, and Sarah Solotaroff Mirkin. Gail Kalver serves as special consultant.
Chicago Dance History Project's Interview Marathon takes place
Sunday, January 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST.
All programming is subject to change.
All-day passes are available for a minimum donation of $20 at chicagodancehistory.org/events.
Registrants will receive a password-protected link to the event.