One Thousand Pieces: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago pays tribute to “America Windows”, Marc Chagall’s stained-glass masterpiece
In commemoration of their 35th anniversary in 2012, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) commissioned resident choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo to create a world premiere celebrating their history as Chicago’s premiere contemporary dance company. This full-company work also includes the six dancers of Hubbard Street 2 and features the music of Philip Glass. One Thousand Pieces is the company’s first full-length work by a single choreographer featuring a single theme.
Alejandro Cerrudo’s inspiration is Marc Chagall’s “America Windows”, one of the most beloved treasures housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The six monumental panels of glowing blue stained glass, created by Chagall especially for the Art Institute and dedicated to Chicago’s Mayor Richard J. Daley (1902-1976), commemorate the American Bicentennial in 1976. One Thousand Pieces is dedicated to current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (former White House Chief of Staff, and a graduate of the Evanston School of Ballet) and his commitment to making Chicago an international destination for dance. Mayor Emanuel has said, “For 35 years Hubbard Street Dance has showcased Chicago’s extraordinary local talent and vibrant cultural community to the world.”
Chicago Theater Beat (October 23, 2012) wrote that One Thousand Pieces is "... a testament to interpretation and inspiration, beautifully conveying Chagall’s windows. Hubbard Street dancers are a testament to flawless, fluid strength. Congratulations, Mr. Cerrudo. You have crossed the line from genius to legend."
Alejandro Cerrudo -- HSDC’s resident choreographer since 2009 -- has a fervid imagination and persistent originality; he has already created ten works for the company. "I don't want to do the same thing, I want to learn with every piece," he says. One Thousand Pieces doesn't tell a story or literally evoke Marc Chagall. "I visited [“America Windows”] a number of times and then consulted with the designers about what inspired me. The feeling comes to me right away as I look at them and then stays in my head. And it's filtered through who I am. The windows celebrate literature, architecture, religious freedom, dance and music. It's not so much about the windows as the experience they transmit to me personally."
Read more about “America Windows” here: http://www.artic.edu/exhibition/Chagall
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago perform One Thousand Pieces in Southam Hall on Saturday November 23 at 2 pm and 8 p.m.
