Photo by: Ashley Deran
Photo by: Ashley Deran
Chicago Dance Crash and Artistic Director Jessica Deahr are proud to premiere The Last First: Professional Dancemaking in 2020 Chicago — a bouncing, 50-minute documentary telling the story of the Crash Performance Ensemble and creative staff negotiating today’s climate to create and film three new repertory works + getting a few things off their chests while they’re at it.
The 50-minute film is interwoven with fully-produced new dance works that were created during the 2020 season and filmed in HD on the stage of the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago’s South Side. The new works include “Elastic” by Artistic Director Jessica Deahr with Rehearsal Director KC Bevis as well as “Show & Tell” by Milwaukee-based hip hop choreographer Jasper Sanchez. Additionally a brand new celebratory House section by Chicago-based Funk dancer Keeley Morris puts the finishing touches on Amirah Sackett’s work, “Sikeena.”
The online screening will take place on November 13th, 7pm CST. Ticket-buyers will also have on demand access to the family-friendly film for 24 hours the following day. Tickets are $40 or $20 for students/industry available now at www.chicagodancecrash.com. Proceeds from the virtual ticket sales will go to the “Keep Crash Moving” COVID Relief fund.
You can also support Chicago Dance Crash directly through their website: www.chicagodancecrash.com/donate
“We’d planned to debut three new works in July that specifically had a more direct hip hop feel to round out our current repertory,” says Deahr. “The live aspect of that obviously got shut down pretty fast but between pandemic life, the recent moves on spotlighting social injustices and the effects it’s all had on the entire Chicago performing arts industry it became clear the artists’ experiences in making these pieces became possibly as captivating as the works themselves. You’ll get an insider’s look, if not condensed, of not only Crash’s story but anecdotes from recent life in this great city.”
Top Left: screenshot of film. Top Right: photo by Philamonjaro Studio. Bottom Left: photo by Philamonjaro Studio. Bottom Right: photo by Ashley Deran
