Auditorium Theatre 2021-2022, Issue 5, Giordano

10 | AUDITORIUM THEATRE :: GIORDANO DANCE CHICAGO Bios Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) In 59 years as an artistic leader and innovator, Giordano Dance Chicago — America’s original jazz dance company — has contributed greatly to the health of Chicago’s performing arts community. From our origins in Gus Giordano’s family-run studio to our current incarnation as a professionally-run organization with over a half-century of worldwide performances (28 countries, 47 states, and more than 1,300 cities), our imprint on the art form of jazz dance is far-reaching and significant. Our contributions include: a vast repertoire of more than 175 original works; the mentoring of new and emerging choreographers; the commissioning of innumerable musical scores and production designers; the education of tens of thousands of under-resourced public school and community students; the creation of generations of professional dancers, and performances to millions of audience members worldwide. Several major factors combine to be the engine behind all programs and also reflect the organization’s mission and vision. First, the legacy of founder Gus Giordano suffuses the organization, its mission and its daily activities and cannot be over-emphasized. Second, the leadership of Artistic Director Nan Giordano and Executive Director Michael McStraw has challenged and transformed the organization to continuously raise its standards, take artistic risks, and expand its influence worldwide. Third, GDC recruits, hires, and fosters dance artists who possess more than just superlative technique and experience, but who also convey passion, humanity, and elegance. Lastly, ours is always a passionate and visceral offering which connects deeply with our audience. Our mission provides for strong educational programs and services, including teaching the Giordano Technique in residencies in college and university dance programs, as well as the Nan Giordano Certification Program® which offers multi-level instruction and certification in the proprietary Giordano Technique. GDC’s Jazz Dance/Science & Health program, established in 2006, teaches elementary-school anatomy and nutrition curriculum through a dance-centric program in the science classroom over the course of 8 weeks. In 2019 the program brought 300 classes to 450 students in four under-resourced schools. Most exciting, GDC purchased the Hermon Baptist Church in Lincoln Park in January 2018 to serve as its new headquarters. The current structure will be modified/rebuilt to eventually house a dance school, studios, office space and informal performance space. The Ruth Page Artist In-Residence Program serves developed arts organizations looking for a mid-term home by providing cost-effective spaces in a prime location. The Program connects residents with the external community and with each other through fostered communication, collaboration, and joint performances to provide cost-effective operations, broader creative opportunities and expanded audiences. This season, Giordano Dance Chicago is proud to join the Ruth Page Artist In-Residence Program. Learn more about the Program, and Ruth Page Center for the Arts’ other quality programs by visiting their website at ruthpage.org.