Hubbard Street DanceChicago is America's premier contemporary dance company based in Chicago. Hubbard Street performs in downtown Chicago at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and at the Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Hubbard Street also tours nationally and internationally throughout the year. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago grew out of the Lou Conte Dance Studio, when in 1977 several aspiring young artists approached dance teacher/choreographer Lou Conte to teach tap classes. At the time, the studio was located at the corner of LaSalle Street and Hubbard Street, which is how the company acquired its name. Conte served as director for 23 years, during which he developed relationships with choreographers including Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Margo Sappington, Daniel Ezralow, Nacho Duato, Jirí Kylián and Twyla Tharp, all of whom helped shape Hubbard Street's repertoire. In 2000, Jim Vincent became Artistic Director. Vincent worked to further expand the company's programming and repertoire. He introduced initiatives that have become staples of Hubbard Street's programming, including the "Inside/Out" Choreography Workshop, during which Hubbard Street dancers create original choreography for their peers; and the Choreographic Fellowship, which identifies and develops emerging choreographers from within the company. Dancers Alejandro Cerrudo and Robyn Mineko Williams, as well as Rehearsal Director Terence Marling have all developed works for the company. Dancer Penny Saunders choreographed a work for Hubbard Street 2 through Hubbard Street's annual National Choreographic Competition. In 2009, then Associate Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton became Artistic Director. Soon after, he named Alejandro Cerrudo Hubbard Street's first Resident Choreographer. Cerrudo has created ten works for the company. Since becoming Artistic Director, Edgerton has secured new commissions and repertoire hits by master and notable choreographers including Jirí Kylián, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp, Ohad Naharin, Victor Quijada, Aszure Barton and Sharon Eyal.
Main Company
Today, the main company consists of 16 dancers. One of the only American dance companies to operate year-round, Hubbard Street performs in Chicago, at national and international dance venues, and through dance programs at universities around the country. While many contemporary dance companies are single-choreographer organizations, Hubbard Street has always been a repertory company, representing numerous choreographers and styles. Hubbard Street has commissioned and presented almost 200 new and acquired dance works throughout its history. Additionally, Hubbard Street now offers a Summer Intensive, which provides concentrated training in ballet and modern technique classes, repertoire rehearsals, dance history lectures and health and wellness presentations to pre-professional dancers as well as a yearlong professional training program for dancers ages 18–24 headed by Director of Artist Training, Alexandra Wells.
Lou Conte Dance Studio
Under the direction of Claire Bataille, one of the original four Hubbard Street dancers, Lou Conte Dance Studio offers weekly classes in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, African, hip hop, African drums, musical theater, yoga, Pilates and Zumba at all levels from basic to professional, as well as workshops and master classes. LCDS also maintains a scholarship program for advanced dancers.
Hubbard Street's Education and Community Programs began in 1997 offer movement-based arts experiences to students, teachers and families. These programs aim to bring students into the world of dance by actively engaging them in perception, research, reflection and discussion, assisting them in strengthening basic proficiencies to develop analytical and abstract thinking, interpretation and problem-solving skills. Hubbard Street's partnerships with schools aim to provide teaching artists and educators the opportunity to plan, teach and learn together to create exciting and meaningful integrated curriculum which challenges students and takes learning to new levels. Hubbard Street also offers family workshops and youth dance programs at Hubbard Street Dance Center and through its community partnerships.
