Chicago's Watershed goes to China

If you look at your right palm, you see a map of China: the rivers flow east, and most of the rest is high and dry; the arable land is like dirt collected in the lines of your palm. It is home to 1,380,868,414 of the world's population. A handful of them work at The University of Chicago Center in Beijing and Peking University. They invited Clinard Dance and EStrella Piano Duo to perform our piece, Chicago's Watershed: A 156-Mile Choreography and work with music and dance students. We leave Thursday; let's see what happens.

But before we leave, we need to reacquaint ourselves with what this Watershed business is all about.

A few intense days at Merit Music in the West Loop neighborhood is just what we needed...

We'll see you in a couple weeks when we return with many stories to share of our travels.

(sketches by Dmitry Samarov; photos by Avis Shapiro & Liz Roman)

Concurrent Rhythms

Earlier this year, Clinard Dance participated in a creative exchange with Hrishikesh's Center for Contemporary Dance in India. Now filmmaker Diandra Miller has documented their work in her documentary, Concurrent Rhythms. Here is some background on Miller:

Diandra Miller is a native of Glendale, Arizona and currently lives and works in Chicago, Illinois having received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Over the past two years she has been working with Clinard Dance to create unique documentation for their repertoire productions; such as the 40-page publication illustrating the process of Watershed, along with directing the documentary ‘Concurrent Rhythms’ that follows the international collaboration between Clinard Dance and Hrishikesh’s Centre for Contemporary Dance. For 'Concurrent Rhythms' Diandra collaborated with the filmmaker Tapan Pandit from Pune, India as well as the composer and musician, Cody Rowlands from New York to score the documentary.

In her individual art practice, Diandra Miller catalogs how folklore, narrative, and history function in our contemporary concepts and places of play. Focusing on the imagery of game and leisure structures for everyone from womb to tomb; Diandra's art practice situates itself in research, collaboration, and a multifaceted approach to making. You can view more of her work at diandramiller.com.

As a reminder: our winter session of classes begins the week of January 11th. Check out all we offer right here.

We wish you all a happy holiday season and thank you for supporting Clinard Dance this year!

2nd Friday Flamenco Concert, Friday, December 11th

Join Clinard Dance Theatre for a FREE Flamenco Performance, Friday, December 11th

—featuring student and professional work

—special guests: violinist Steve Gibons, bassist Alex Wing & guitarist Marty Metzger

*SPECIAL LOCATION* Performances will be held at 1915 S Halsted St

—7:30 and 9:00pm—

"I have been a flamenco student on-and-off for over 15 years. I have spent the last three years or so studying with Wendy and the Clinard Dance Theatre. Wendy has a unique approach to flamenco that offers all levels an opportunity for growth. On a personal note, her technique style has allowed me to dance without any pain in my knees which was an ongoing issue historically from previous years of flamenco and my jogging hobby. Dancing in the Pilsen Art Walk on the second Friday of the month has been a wonderful way to gain performance experience in a low pressure setting. Studying flamenco with Wendy, she constantly reminds me of why I love this art form: freedom of expression of your true self in a way that is honest and full of passion. She reminds me to also be forgiving as there is always something new to learn or improve upon. I'm excited for the Friday show and here's to many more with Wendy and the Clinard Dance Theatre!"

—Maria Santillan, one of our student performers