Bronzeville Area Events

by Dhyia Thompson

Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre “Touches” Bronzeville

Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre hit the stage of the Harold Washington Cultural Center (4701 S. King Drive) in mid-November with the world-premier of Touch. According to Center Stage magazine, Kevin Iega Jeff, the ensembles Artistic Director, explained “I have always been inspired by the idea of touch and decided to use it as our theme for this season. Our goal is to touch the community by sharing power, intimacy and joy.” Bronzeville was in for a real treat as Deeply Rooted moved this season’s performance from their former site at the Harris Theatre located downtown.

Deeply Rooted’s mission is using the vehicle of dance for the upliftment of the human spirit and they address the family condition and the issue occurring in our communities through their performances. A great example of this is reflected in Ferrotype, a piece that is reminiscent of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations, however it separates itself by providing the audience with the intimate and painful moments of each family member enduring struggles and tribulations in the early 20th century. Ferrotype consists of string of movements using both abstract and traditional dance, which gave the audience a beautiful slice of Black American small town life, similar to the way Edgar Lee Master’s portrayed characters in the Spoon River Anthology.

Another crowd favorite was Wild as the Wind, performed by dancers Tyrell Rolle and Cecilia Jones. Jones’ fluid movements gave Nina Simone’s words justice and her several extensions throughout the performance seemed to stretch into eternity. Cecilia is a dancer’s dancer and has her body awareness and respect for her core is what captivated audience members. It was also refreshing to see a male dancer, like Tyrell represent a strong male persona in a romantic duet piece.

Finally, and ironically I found the last movement of the evening my favorite, Church of Nations, it did remind me a bit of 90s music video from Madonna or Janet Jackson; but the musical combination of Ennio Morricone and The Art of Noise was actually pretty ingenious. The ending was as powerful as the beginning -- it appeared to be 20 dancers all in precise synchronization, dressed in black priest garbs. The piece is way out there, but I stayed with it and glad I took the trip, especially as each dancer was able to manipulate a chair prop with such grace. Being a former dancer, I imagined the potential snafus that could have occurred, but the ensemble out-performed the piece winning a standing ovation from the audience.

Business Manager Yeeskah Radcliffe was elated that Deeply Rooted was able to perform at the Cultural Center, and adds, “in the future, we will have to see what happens at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, it’s got good equipment…we definitely look forward to doing more performance there.”

For those that missed Touch, you have another opportunity to see Deeply Rooted at their Up Close & Personal in-studio performance on Sunday, December 13th at 17 N. State Street. The ensemble will perform some of the works seen in November’s performance as well as excerpts from new work. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door, visit www.deeplyrootedproductions.org or call 312-795-9777 for more information.

Fat What!!!!? Chicago Southside’s Erica Watson Pushes the Envelope

On November 27th, Erica Watson, no-nonsense comedian from the Southside of Chicago, took stage at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts (777 N. Green Street). Watson stood with grace and confidence, decked out in a form-fitting grey tweed dress, with stilettos ready to bear her soul and nearly choke you with laughter. Her hard-hitting comedy jerks you out of the seat because of her outrageous take on being tired of “being a fat chic with a pretty face”. Her ability to permit you to laugh (and yes laugh hard), about a politically incorrect topic, is trumped by her brutal honesty and vulnerability to confess some not-so pretty memories. Erica states that she developed the concept of the show because she “wanted to offer an alternative [from the way] in which plus-sized black women are portrayed in the media.”

The jaw-dropping show, entitled “Fat B***!”, takes us through Erica’s antics from her childhood through adulthood. Watson’s stories reveal her true feelings about big girls in animal print, “special” big-chic parties where the men are looking for “cute in the face and thick in the waste”, bouts with low-self esteem and dating socially-inept men. She pushes the envelope and takes us nearly to the edge of controversy, as she tells a hard to believe story from her college days, but the audience is left spell-bound and blown away grasping for air through laughter as she provides the audience with concrete proof. I ran into Erica at the Bronzeville Coffeehouse and she expressed, “Chicago has an energy that can’t help but to live within the souls of the artists that come from here. I am Chicago! Where ever I go, I take that Spirit”. Well she hopes to bring this spirit back to Bronzeville next Spring 2010 when the show returns to Chicago for a full month run.

In the meantime, if you plan to be in the New York area in February, be sure to see her perform at the Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 W. 42nd St. NY, NY) on 42nd street for an off-Broadway run.

Upcoming Bronzeville Area Events

If you enjoyed reading about these wonderful cultural events, than don’t miss out on these fun events coming up in December and January. This is an opportunity for you and your family to get off the couch, spend some time together and attend local events in the Bronzeville community. Just a little tip, if you haven’t bought a ticket before, just show up an hour before the performance, many theatres hold a number of tickets and sometimes discount tickets the night of the performance.

December 2009
12/11/2009 – 12/12/2009
Bronzeville Nut Cracker: Boys and girls, the Nutcracker has made it way to 47th and King Drive. This classic fairy tale is about a little girl who receives a nutcracker for Christmas, falls asleep to find all of her toys have come to life. Artistic Director and former Alvin Ailey dancer, Lisa Johnson-Willingham of the Willingham Project is adding a “new twist to an old classic”. The holiday show will run December 11th & 12th at 7:00 pm at the Harold Washington Cultural Center. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.bronzevillenutcracker.com or call 773-269-9147 for more information.

12/17/2009
Join the Bronzeville Business Association’s Holiday Toast to 2010 on December 17th at the South Loop Sports Lounge, 11 W. 26th Street starting at 6:30pm - 9:30pm. The BBA is dedicated to the continuing education of business owners and the building a strong business and professional community. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend!

12/17/2009
Live Jazz in Bronzeville: Tecora Rogers is the amazingly talented songstress featured at the Bronzeville Community Club House on Jazz Thursdays from 7pm - 10pm. Admission is $15.00 and includes dinner. BCCH is located at 3847 S. Giles. For more information, call 773-548-7724.

12/31/2009
Countdown to Bronzeville NYE 2010: Owner of the popular SL Sports Lounge (11 W. 26th Street) is ready to ring you into the New Year right and are offering a down town experience without traveling South of I 55. Jeff Procopio, Manager of the Lounge, states, “when it comes to celebrating the new year, we want Bronzeville residents to stay local.” The event is sure to entice many Bronzeville residents as admission includes an open bar, special guest appearances, dinner buffet and a champagne toast to help you celebrate into the New Year. Best of all, attendees will get a sneak peak as the event is being held at soon to be opened 5,500 square foot contemporary American cuisine restaurant; which shares its space with the South Loop Hotel. Early bird tickets are available at $65/person or $120/couple before 12/17. Purchase tickets at SL Sports Lounge, online at http://bronzeville2010.eventbrite.com, or call 772-233-3980.

January 2010
01/17/2010
Celebrating the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.: Southsiders Organized for Unity & Liberation (SOUL) will co-host a MLK Celebration and public meeting on Sunday, January 17th 2:30 – 4:30 pm at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 5472 S. Kimbark. The Celebration will bring together clergy, congregants, and residents from across the Southside of Chicago to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King. The event will include a blended choir from several churches on the Southside and public commitments to the community from elected officials representing the Southside of Chicago. This event is Free, to RSVP and for more information; contact David Hatch at 773-330-5684.

Send your community events to submissions@bronzevillemetropolis.com

Dhyia is a consultant with the virgoProject, LLC. She is an avid arts lover and former jazz and contemporary dance performer. For respectful exchanges of ideas please feel free to share comments at dhyia@yahoo.com, for all others stop and smell the roses.