10 Companies Invoke the Spirit of Community, Togetherness, and Shared Humanity in Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions

10 Companies Invoke the Spirit of Community, Togetherness, and Shared Humanity in Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions

Chicago, IL -- The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project—an initiative of The Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago—and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance proudly present Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions at the Harris Theater at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 23. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased at HarrisTheaterChicago.org.

Under the leadership of co-directors Kevin Iega Jeff and Mashaune Hardy, the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project aims to preserve, uplift, and amplify the vibrant legacy of Black dance through advocacy and capacity building, archiving—and presenting performances such as this, which provide an opportunity to see an astonishing range of history, tradition and innovation on a single stage, in a single night.

This knockout group show will feature the ten companies that comprise the CBDLP’s current cohort—including The Chicago Multicultural Dance Company, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, The Era Footwork Collective, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Move Me Soul, Muntu Dance Theatre, NAJWA Dance Corps and Praize Productions Inc.

The concept for the concert, set by the project’s artistic leader Kevin Iega Jeff, is in part inspired by Dr. King’s Beloved Community. “It’s a vision of justice, equity, and shared humanity,” says the accomplished choreographer and former leader of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater.

Featuring dance genres from Chicago Footwork to Hiplet, a fusion of Hip Hop and Ballet, to jazz and contemporary dance, the multiplicity of narratives, values, and styles represented in the concert weave together to tell a story of individuality and connection.

“Community is at the heart of everything we do at the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, but the artistry and excellence of these phenomenal companies are what brings audiences to their feet at every show,” says Mashaune Hardy, who leads the project’s administrative side. “We are so proud to magnify the work of these companies, and we are thankful to the University, our partners, and our funders who support the important mission of this project.”

Underlining the project’s commitment to community building, the evening will also feature a work performed by its new Emerging Dancer’s Initiative, a program aimed at providing professional dance opportunities and mentorship to youth. This piece will be choreographed by Gary Abbott, who is also acting as co-curator of the concert overall, alongside Kevin Iega Jeff.

While several of the companies have appeared at the Harris before, this will be a unique opportunity to see a vast range of companies celebrating Black dance traditions together on its stage. "Hosting the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project at the Harris Theater for the first time is more than an honor—it is a meaningful moment for our organization and our stage. In a time when the world feels increasingly divided, this model of collective impact and artistic excellence offers a blueprint for what we need more of: connection, collaboration, and celebration,” says Lori Dimun, Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols, President & CEO, Harris Theater for Music and Dance.

In addition to the dance offerings of the evening, guardian of Chicago's soulful dance music scene, DJ Duane Powell, will kick off and close the concert, helping to transform the theater into a club atmosphere that welcomes each and every audience member to meet the joyful spirit of this evening focused on creativity and unity.

Kevin Iega Jeff sums it up: “Black dance legacy alone is powerful. But celebrating all cultural legacies through an honest lens brings us closer to our human selves—closer to one another.” This concert promises to do just that.

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