Persistent Spring — local art showcase

Chicago Sun-Times included “Persistent Spring” in its May 20 guide to things to do in Chicago for May 21-27, placing the dance program alongside larger-ticket entertainment listings for the week. The event was presented May 22 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., in a collaboration between Chicago Movement Collective and Winifred Haun & Dancers. The listing described it as an annual showcase of new works by Rachel Walker, Steven Hou, Imani English, Faith von Atzigen, Winifred Haun, Valerie Lowder and others. Tickets were listed at $39 in the Sun-Times guide. ### Who is behind “Persistent Spring”? Chicago Movement Collective and Winifred Haun & Dancers are the two organizations presenting the program, according to event listings and a May 19 preview by Newcity Stage. Newcity reported that the showcase draws from Chicago Movement Collective’s Claire Bataille Legacy Scholarship program and Winifred Haun & Dancers’ Third Coast Contemporary Dance training program. (chicago.suntimes.com) Winifred Haun, founder and artistic director of her company, told Newcity the co-presentation is now in its third year. Newcity said Haun and Ethan Kirschbaum, who founded Chicago Movement Collective, joined forces to create a professional concert that would showcase trainees’ work after training opportunities shifted in Chicago’s dance scene. (newcitystage.com) ### What does the showcase actually include? The May 22 program centered on new dance works by both established choreographers and early-career artists. The Sun-Times named Rachel Walker, Steven Hou, Imani English, Faith von Atzigen, Winifred Haun and Valerie Lowder among the artists featured in the annual event. See Chicago Dance and Winifred Haun & Dancers published fuller rosters. (newcitystage.com) Those listings named Abdiel Figueroa Reyes, René, Lauren Willman, Ashton Craven, Caitlyn Cargnoni, Katerina Willis and Kalie Ferry in addition to the artists highlighted in the Sun-Times item. See Chicago Dance listed the running time at 120 minutes and ticket prices from $29 to $39, while the company site listed additional package pricing. (chicago.suntimes.com) ### Why does the event focus so heavily on younger artists? Newcity reported that more than half of this year’s short pieces were choreographed by trainees. Haun told the publication, “These Gen Z artists have a lot to say,” and said many of them arrive with clear ideas about design as well as movement. Steven Hou was one of the dancers Haun singled out in that interview. (winifredhaun.org) Newcity said Hou began dancing only a few years ago and travels from Chinatown to the North Side to train, with Haun describing his interest in Graham technique and his ideas for set design. ### Where does “Persistent Spring” fit in Chicago’s dance ecosystem? (newcitystage.com) Winifred Haun & Dancers said the purpose of “Persistent Spring” is to showcase pre-professional and early-career artists in the Third Coast and Claire Bataille Legacy programs. The company said both programs serve dancers ages 17 to 26 and described them as affordable professional training tracks. The company also said more than 80% of dancers from the two training programs are now dancing professionally in Chicago, New York City and elsewhere in the Midwest. (newcitystage.com) That figure, published on the event page, is the clearest measure offered by organizers of the pipeline the showcase is meant to support. ### If readers want details, where should they look next? The Chicago Sun-Times guide remains the quickest week-of reference for readers scanning the May 21-27 lineup, including the basic listing for “Persistent Spring.” Organization pages from Winifred Haun & Dancers and See Chicago Dance provide the fuller cast list, venue information and ticket details for the May 22 presentation at the Ruth Page Center. (winifredhaun.org) See Chicago Dance also lists Chicago Dance Month beginning May 30 and running through June 27, placing “Persistent Spring” just ahead of a broader month of dance programming in the city. (seechicagodance.com) (chicago.suntimes.com)