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 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
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