Cerqua Rivera Dance Theare (CRDT) is pleased to announce its Spring 2025 Concert Series, led by co-founder and artistic director Wilfredo Rivera, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., on Friday, June 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, at 2 p.m. The approximate runtime is 90 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
The events will include performances of original dance and music by the company’s professional dance ensemble and jazz orchestra. Works by choreographers Wilfredo Rivera, Shannon Alvis and Michelle Manzanales and composers Joe Cerqua and James Sanders celebrate the Latinx diaspora, exploring the range of gender identity and the experience of metamorphosis, and reflecting the immigrant experience and our shared humanity.
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre’s award-winning art – called “blended magic” by See Chicago Dance and “immersive alchemy” by Newcity Stage – explores authentic personal stories at the crossroads of heritage, culture and identity. The company is made up of hometown “movers and shakers who dazzled audiences” (Chicago Tribune) that performs “outstanding choreography deftly executed by this technically superb troupe.” (Splash Magazine).
The Spring 2025 Concert program includes:
- LÁGRIMAS NEGRAS
by Wilfredo Rivera with composition by Miguel Matamoros and arrangement by CRDT Music Director Stu Greenspan; a celebration of Wilfredo’s childhood among the Latino diaspora, to the classic bolero-son.
- The Island
by Michelle Manzanales (Ballet Hispánico) and James Sanders (Conjunto, Chicago Sinfonietta); inspired by a real-life story about the island in the Humboldt Park lagoon which becomes a wonderful refuge for two girls, where playful and imaginary moments provide escape from reality.
- Metamorphosis (excerpts)
by Shannon Alvis (Hubbard Street Chicago) and Joe Cerqua (Columbia College, American Players Theatre); inspired by non-binary/gender queer and trans Chicago dance artists, exploring evolving definitions of gender identity.
- American Catracho (Act II)
by Willfredo Rivera; an epic semi-autobiographical piece exploring immigration, from displacement and trauma to resilience and hope.
Interview with Co-founder Wilfredo Rivera:
This reviewer had the opportunity to interview Wilfredo Rivera about the scope of Spring 2025, and the vision behind the program. Most dance concerts are comprised of unrelated pieces from a company’s repertoire, perhaps including premiere works. In comparison, CRDT’s shows always have an overarching theme, and usually contain dances that have been crafted over a period of years, in collaboration, in segments. “The uniting concept for this show is the exploration of family, gender identity, and the challenges of immigration/assimilation in the spirit of joy, shared community and belonging,” said Rivera.
Rivera went on to note,”The performances as a whole are theatrically scripted, and require the troupe to be expressive actors as well as dancers, adding an extra level of intent and a lot more effort. This is consonant with our full-company endeavors that include original music and song.” He added, “We want to give the audience a sense of restorative renewal, as a respite to the political embattlement of the past decade. By sharing successful historical examples with which everyone can identify, in celebration, we can make hope for the future a reality”.
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre combines dance, music and visual art to immerse audiences in performative storytelling. This unique company invites both performers and audiences to contemplate the beautiful differences in communities and explore the intersections of heritage, culture, and identity. For nearly three decades, Cerqua Rivera has been a seasoned staple of the Chicago dance community as well as a national touring organization.
Tickets are $37 – $79 and available now at CerquaRivera.org. Sponsor and Angel level tickets include access to exclusive pre-show chat with Co-Founder & Artistic Director Wilfredo Rivera.
Splash Magazines
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