Natural Encounters

September/October 2019 | Multiple Locations, Chicago Park District
In a wooded-area, a dancer and saxophone player perform while others watch.

07

September
Chicago Dancemakers Forum partnered with The Nature Conservancy to present a series of original dance performances centered on stewardship and ecological exploration called “Natural Encounters.” Past Chicago Dancemakers Forum awardees Nejla Yatkin, Ayako Kato, Nico Rubio, and Erin Kilmurray presented immersive dance works at Indian Ridge Marsh, Hegewisch Marsh, and Big Marsh on the city’s southeast side. These events were presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks program. This program was partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. All three events were free and open to the public. “Natural Encounters” was coordinated by Lex Birts.
Dances for This Land
September 7, 2019
Indian Ridge Marsh
11740 S Torrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617

In the first event of the series, Dances for this Land, 2019 Lab Artist Nejla Yatkin and 2007 Lab Artist Ayako Kato responded in movement to the natural spaces of Indian Ridge Marsh and its inspiring story of land remediation. The event included stewardship and educational activities coordinated by experts from Audubon Great Lakes and The Nature Conservancy to highlight the resident natural features of Indian Ridge Marsh. This event took place on Saturday, September 7 at Indian Ridge Marsh.

​Performed by: Lex Birts, Ayako Kato, Ysaÿe McKeever, Nejla Yatkin, and Ji Hae Yepa-Pappan

Birds, Bugs and Tap
September 21, 2019
Hegewisch Marsh
13298 S Torrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60633

Birds, Bugs and Tap was performed on Saturday, September 21 at Hegewisch Marsh. Chicago tap artists under the direction of Chicago Dancemakers Forum 2018 Lab Artist Nico Rubio performed original work inspired by and responding to the rhythms and timbres of bird calls and insect sounds. The event included stewardship and educational activities coordinated by experts from The Nature Conservancy to highlight the resident natural features of Hegewisch Marsh.

Performed By: Nico Rubio, Martin “Tre” Dumas III, and Zayvion Rubio

CYCLE
October 5, 2019
Big Marsh
11555 S. Stony Island Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617

Rounding out the events was the high-energy choreography of 2018 Greenhouse Artist and 2020 Lab Artist Erin Kilmurray in an event called CYCLE, on Saturday, October 5 at Big Marsh. Kilmurray engaged with the environment and history of Big Marsh along its bike paths through this performance with live music. The event included stewardship and educational activities coordinated by experts from The Nature Conservancy to highlight the resident natural features of Big Marsh. The event was in partnership with Experimental Station and Friends of Big Marsh, who hosted a barbeque that will be open to audience members. Read more in this article in South Side Weekly.

Performed By: Erin Kilmurray, Josh Anderson, Kara Brody, Tia Greer, Alyssa Gregory, Breon Arzell Jackson, Sarah Ellen Miller, Porscha Spells, John Cicora, Rajiv Halim, Matt Kowalski, Melissa Neff, Constantine Alexander, Neil Hemphill, and Akshat Jain

The Nature Conservancy logo
Audubon Great Lakes logo
Experimental Station logo
Friends of Big Marsh logo

Image Captions and Credits: Cast of “Natural Encounters 2019: CYCLE” directed by Erin Kilmurray at Big Marsh, photos by John Gutierrez | “Dances for This Land” ​directed by Ayako Kato and Nejla Yatkin, photos by Enki Andrews | “Birds, Bugs and Tap” directed by Nico Rubio, photos by John Anthony Gutierrez