I just finished previewing the new documentary River North Dance Chicago: Every Dancer Has a Story. The video, beautifully produced by the indefatigable Chicago dance boosters HMS Media, offers a view of the rarefied environment of the dance studio during rehearsals as well as substantial and sensitively captured sections of RNDC’s most memorable repertory pieces.
The show airs at 3pm on Sunday 11 on WTTW11 and WTTW HD.
- River North’s Jessica Wolfrum
The individual and collective “stories” of the company are told by various voices during the hourlong program—mostly company members, but critic Lucia Mauro also takes a supportive turn in front of the camera. Some of the comments feel platitudinous: Early remarks about individuality and human uniqueness seem to be contradicted by the repertory excerpts, which consist almost entirely of unison (movement in which everyone looks does the same thing at the same time in the same exact way). I was more moved by the comment about how lovely it is to see people moving and flowing together like a school of fish.
Even the most jaded culturista can’t help but being a little bit moved by the program’s portrayal of the standard themes found in dance documentaries. Yes, the dancers, artistic directors, choreographers and rehearsal assistants, are deeply dedicated; yes, the company members strive to cross the footlights with the energy drawn from their own life experiences; yes, it’s very, very hard work that doesn’t pay alot; yes it is very amazing when dancers go beyond the technique and get into the emotion of the music. Although we’ve heard it all before, it’s still special stuff. The company looks gorgeous throughout.
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