Auditorium Theatre 2021-2022, Issue 5, Giordano

6 | AUDITORIUM THEATRE :: GIORDANO DANCE CHICAGO FROM THE CORE How an essential tenet of jazz dance propelled Giordano Dance Chicago through the chaos of the pandemic What is that special “something” that draws you to a Giordano Dance Chicago dancer? Is it their elegance, their unbridled joy, their world class athleticism, their artistry? Or is it the dynamic interaction between a beautifully sculpted human body, manipulating gravity and time, all the while pushing against the surrounding air as if it had great weight? Likewise, what are those attributes that draw you to the organization that is Giordano Dance Chicago? Is it our seminal place within the art form of American jazz dance? Is it our educational programs or our vibrant performances? Or is it six decades of work within a worldwide community coupled with an unwavering commitment to excellence? Why Giordano Dance Chicago? Whatever it is that compels you to be drawn into the beauty of an individual dancer, the unity of the ensemble, or the activities of the entire organization, know that these exceptional qualities all come from one place, the core. For a GDC dancer trained extensively in the foundational Giordano Technique, all movement initiates from the core, the area of the body located in and around the musculature of the pelvis; proper use of the core produces movement that is grounded, athletic, and powerful. Never artificial or mechanical, the Giordano Technique lives through a constant flow of energy outward, forever initiating from within. Created by dance pioneer Gus Giordano and continuously redefined by master educator and Artistic Director Nan Giordano, the always-in-motion Giordano Technique celebrates all that the human form can attain. In parallel fashion, our effort to persevere, to adapt, to succeed comes from within every quadrant of the company and radiates outward. Never artificial or mechanical, we unify mission, purpose, and action, and we offer the universal and life-affirming experience of witnessing dance that is passionate, elegant, and celebratory. Giordano Dance Chicago illuminates beauty and invigorates the world through deep connections. We create and present innovative jazz dance choreography, often redefining and expanding the very definition of jazz dance and present this invaluable American art form to diverse audiences around the world. How else could this small but mighty nonprofit have persevered through the dark days, the seismic uncertainty, and the near-fatal loss precipitated by COVID? Giordano Dance Chicago stands before you stronger, more vibrant than at any time in our extensive history due to the resilience of our organizational heart. The attributes you witness in the art form of American jazz dance, most broadly, and in our extraordinary dancers, more specifically, are omnipresent across every facet of this organization, in our Board of Directors, Associate Board, staff, and collaborators. Giordano Dance Chicago is America’s original jazz dance company and here at the Auditorium Theatre in the final moments of our 59th season, we are one of the longest- running dance companies in the world. Ours is a story of reimagination, recalibration, and resilience, a belief in the power of legacy, inclusion, community, and innovation, and a deep-seated trust in the solidity, essence, and strength of our core. Why Giordano Dance Chicago? Sit back and enjoy tonight’s performance, and we expect you will find your why. Michael McStraw, Executive Director Photo by Gorman Cook Photography.