RNCDC Presents World Premiere by Sidra Bell

Currently celebrating its 21th anniversary, River North Chicago Dance Company (RNCDC), returns to the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park (205 E. Randolph Dr.) for a one-night-only "River North Contemporary" fall engagement Saturday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.

Last year's November engagement at the Harris Theater resulted in a sold-out house and critical acclaim. The company proudly returns to present the stunning world premiere of "Risoluta" by sought-after contemporary choreographer Sidra Bell with an original score composed by her father, acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Dennis Bell. The engagement features celebrated works from River North's repertoire including newly appointed artistic director designate of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Robert Battle's "Three," RNCDC Artistic Director Frank Chaves' full company tour de force "Forbidden Boundaries" and a revival of Chaves' 1994 sensual duet "Fixe," among others.

Tickets to the Harris Theater fall engagement are $30-$65 and are currently on sale  at harristheaterchicago.org or 312-334-7777.  For an additional $10, guests can enjoy cake and champagne in celebration of RNCDC's 21st birthday during intermission Nov. 13 in the Harris Theater's private lounge on the 2nd floor.

Characterized by her signature movement vocabulary and sensuous duets, Bell's new work "Risoluta" illustrates an enigmatic world filled with personas that engage in an atmosphere resembling a subterranean ball. The piece features nine dancers, four women and five men, and is set to an original composition by Dennis Bell featuring saxophonist Casey Benjamin.

Sidra Bell is the Artistic Director of Sidra Bell Dance New York whose credits include works for Alvin Ailey, Ailey II, Ballet Divertimento (Montréal), Arts Umbrella Dance Company (Vancouver), National Choreographers Initiative, The Margie Gillis Foundation, Bessie Schönberg Choreographers Residency at The Yard, Ballet Austin and Sacramento Ballet, among others. Her solo work "Conductivity" recently won a second prize at the 13th International Solo Dance Theatre Festival in Stuttgart, Germany, and in 2009 received several performances throughout Germany. Bell's company has been presented by the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inside/Out Series, Symphony Space, Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Ballet Builders, The Harlem Stage, Tangente (Montréal), The Gershwin Hotel, among others. She is an in-demand teacher and has taught her unique approach to the creative process at many premiere institutions in the United States, such as The Joffrey Ballet School and abroad.

Dennis Bell, celebrated musician and father of Sidra Bell, is a gold and platinum award-winning jazz pianist, arranger and songwriter and composer. He has performed on albums and in concerts with Marcus Miller, Buddy Williams, Nick Brignola, Jimmy Owens, Dave Grusin, Buddy Morrow, Sal Salvador, U2, Lenny Kravitz, Celia Cruz and many more. His compositions for "Musique Pour La Danse Modern," a modern dance and ballet CD recording, were released in 2008 in addition to "Dennis Bell Jazz NY" and solo piano recordings.

Sidra and her father Dennis were recently awarded the American Music Center grant in support of the Live Music for Dance program, which provides funds to New York City and New Jersey-based professional dance companies for collaborative projects involving a composer and/or musicians.

Additional selections from RNCDC's acclaimed repertoire include:

• Robert Battle's powerful male trio "Three" (2010). This "muscular jam session" (Chicago Tribune) is a battle of dancers in solos and duets set to musical excerpts from "Beat Box Battle" by Eleventh Hour; "Fairlight-In-The-Being" by Art of Noise; "Great Taiko Drum Solo" by Taiko Drums; "Music of Japan" and "Aquapella" by Les Tambours du Bronx.
• Artistic Director Frank Chaves' full company tour de force "Forbidden Boundaries" (2009). Set to an original score by Evan Solot and music by Michael Cusson, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Gustavo Santoalalla, upon the premiere the Chicago Tribune declared, "a feisty first movement, a lyrically intricate third and a grand finale finish glisten with Chaves' stylish acrobatics...'Boundaries' combines thoughtful theme with River North's patented flash."
• Kevin Iega Jeff, Artistic Director of Deeply Rooted Productions, receives a revival of his stunning and emotional "Sky" (2006). The piece showcases Jeff's strong, emotional style and portrays a search for connection and compassion, ending in a sense of peace and hope. The Chicago Sun-Times hails, "In 'Sky,' Jeff...has created a beautifully abstract yet emotionally intense vision...in which 12 dancers look heavenward with a sense of fear and foreboding as well as hope."
• Chaves' "Fixé" (1994) features two dancers bathed in warm lighting and enveloped by enchanting music. "Fixé" is a hypnotic piece that melds a series of intricate, flowing and balletic lifts into an impressive and "...mesmerizingly silky and sexy duet..." Chicago Reader.
• Internationally in-demand choreographer Lauri Stallings' "Suppose," (2010) an "abstract movement symphony of detachment...and the need to be part of a community...against a pulsating soundscape" (Chicago Tribune). The musical score features selections of Deadbeat's "Let it Rain" from the album Wildlife Documentaries; Gustavo Santaolalla's "Blinding Sun" and additional soundscape by John Mennella.

"Street Beat" family matinee - Nov. 13 at 1 p.m.
In conjunction with the Nov. 13 Harris engagement, RNCDC presents a family matinee of "Street Beat - Dance Through the Decades," Saturday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Harris Theater. RNCDC hand jives and hustles through history, educating while entertaining families about the evolution of jazz dance throughout the 20th century. Featuring full costumed performances, the family matinee performance showcases dance from the Roaring 20's through the Hip Hoppin' 90's. "Street Beat" includes educational narratives on the historical and social conditions of each decade and their impact on the evolution of jazz. Tickets to "Street Beat" are $12 and available at harristheaterchicago.org or by calling 312-334-7777.

"Taking Flight" 21st annual benefit celebration - Nov. 11

This year, River North Chicago Dance Company hosts its 21st annual benefit celebration with the theme "Taking Flight," symbolic of the soaring success the company has experienced and continues to experience as it leaps into its 2010-2011 season with new world premieres and expanded programming. The celebration begins Thursday, Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. with a special performance at the Harris Theater followed by cocktails, dinner and dancing at the Fairmont Hotel's Imperial Ballroom, 200 N. Columbus Dr. Gala Co-Chairs are Karen Hale of PNC and Mark Reeves of Northern Trust.

An impressive array of items, vacation packages and more will be included in the silent auction. RNCDC offers a "Taking Flight" Raffle with all proceeds directly benefiting the development of the company's new work initiatives. Raffle tickets are $50 and the winner will receive a $3,000 cash grand prize. Festive or business attire preferred. Tickets for the evening are $300. Guests under 35 can purchase specially priced tickets at $175. For more information, visit rivernorthchicago.com.

Center on Halsted "River North: First Look of the Season" - Oct. 28

RNCDC performs a sneak peek of New York choreographer Sidra Bell's newest work and showcases Robert Battle's male trio "Three," at the Center on Halsted (3656 N. Halsted), Thursday, Oct. 28 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Part of the Center on Halsted's danceOUT series, this special performance will be followed by a Q&A discussion with the dancers and artistic director. Tickets are $5 and available at centeronhalsted.org.

About River North Chicago Dance Company

Founded in 1989 by four visionary dancers/choreographers, River North Chicago Dance Company has established itself as one of Chicago's leading dance companies, receiving critical acclaim on a national and international level. In 1993, founding member Frank Chaves assumed the role of Artistic Director, succeeding River North co-founder Sherry Zunker, and has since led the jazz-based contemporary company through 17 years of tremendous growth, success and acclaim. In May 2009, Gail Kalver, revered arts leader and longtime Executive Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, was named the Executive Director of RNCDC, after serving in an interim capacity the previous year. The company is currently celebrating its 21th anniversary with a three-year, one-million dollar fundraising campaign, raising support for three special initiatives: Creativity, Community and Capacity.

The 2010-2011 touring season is also marked by great growth. River North is honored to have been awarded a prestigious New England Foundation for the Arts touring grant.  The grant was awarded largely based on the company touring its critically acclaimed works by Robert Battle, who was recently named artistic director designate of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, succeeding Judith Jamison. These works include "Train," "Ella" and "Three." The company will return to Europe during its 2010-2011 season for its second International tour.

The company has also been selected to participate in the Building a Network of New Dance Presenters grant program. The touring initiative is funded by the Doris Duke Foundation and is a collaboration of Dance Affiliates of Philadelphia, DANCECleveland and Dance St. Louis.  In the company's selection, River North was cited as "the ideal company to introduce dance to new audiences and to mentor new presenters."

Under the artistic direction of Frank Chaves, River North Chicago Dance Company embodies a true flavor of "Americana" in their dynamic repertoire.  Elements of River North Chicago include highly skilled and emotive dancers, stimulating music and bold, commanding choreography.

The Chicago Sun-Times observed "When the music starts, the heart responds.  That's the motto of River North Chicago Dance Company." The core works developed by Frank Chaves, along with an array of pieces by nationally and internationally renowned choreographers, construct the varied, eclectic and powerful repertoire that River North Chicago possesses. The repertoire consists of works from choreographers including Robert Battle, Lauri Stallings, Daniel Ezralow, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Ashley Roland, Randy Duncan, Julia Rhoads, Harrison McEldowney, Kevin Iega Jeff, former Co-Artistic Director Sherry Zunker, as well as Artistic Director Frank Chaves.

The company has been the subject of three documentaries produced by HMS Media for WTTW Chicago, which have each won an Emmy and numerous Emmy nominations. For more information on RNCDC, visit

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