Thodos Dance Chicago (Chicago)
jwww.thodosdancechicago.org

"Breathtakingly athletic," "powerfully beautiful," performing "vibrant choreography" are among the many critical accolades that Thodos Dance Chicago (TDC) has received since its inception. Founded in 1992 by artistic director Melissa Thodos, this ensemble of well-rounded artists delivers contemporary dance to its audiences with an appealing style that incorporates a variety of dance forms created and performed with an innovative flair. The Company's unique mission of inspiring expression through dance education, dance creation, and dance performance has established Thodos Dance Chicago as an innovative presence in American contemporary dance.

Highlights of the Company's annual performance season include its autumn and winter home concerts, touring engagements, and the critically acclaimed New Dances choreography performance series presented each summer. TDC has been regularly presented at Chicago's Dance for Life fund raising benefit for HIV/AIDS as well as in the Dance Chicago Festival. The Company has performed in more than 50 dance venues in 10 states, as well as in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the International Istanbul Dance Festival, the Ankara Music and Dance Festival, the Busan International Dance Festival, South Korea and at the Jacob?s Pillow Dance Festival. TDC has collaborated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Remy Bumppo Theater, and three times with Fulcrum Point New Music Project, as well as with numerous individual studio artists and musicians.

In addition to performing choreography of its resident artistic staff, TDC performs a diverse array of works created by other well known choreographers: Tony-Award winning choreographer Ann Reinking, Lar Lubovitch, Shapiro & Smith, Lucas Crandall, Jon Lehrer, Brock Clawson, Michael Anderson, Zachary Whittenburg, Amy Ernst, and Ron De Jes�s. In addition, TDC ensemble members themselves create highly-charged, illuminating world premieres every year in the Company's acclaimed New Dances choreography series that audiences have found "exquisite," "phenomenal," and "inspirational." Selected works from the series are chosen to become part of the Company's repertory the following year, and have also been performed by the Joffrey Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Reaching young minds through dance education is vital to Thodos Dance Chicago. As a teaching Company, members of this highly trained ensemble hold BAs and MFAs in dance, and teach extensively at the elementary, high school and university levels. TDC is well suited for residency programs where performances, lecture demonstrations, workshops and master classes go hand in hand. TDC is in residence at The Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls where it teaches daily classes and operates a Youth Ensemble. Thodos Dance Chicago also offers a robust dance curriculum for adults through partnership with the Chicago Sport and Social Club and hosts a week-long intensive program every August geared to pre-professional and professional dancers.

?rich theatrical work, limited only by gravity? ? Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times

Touring Programs
Tours with 10-12 dancers

Repertory Program
Mix of work by critically acclaimed guest choreographers, Melissa Thodos, and company choreographers selected from New Dances. Can include works like Anasa, which is based on Melissa?s Greek heritage and dedicated to the fires in Greece.

Fosse Trilogy
A new program with 3 works by Bob Fosse, staged by Ann Reinaing, which focuses on the value of the history in American dance. Commissioned by the NEA

Outreach

Residencies / Master Classes / Assembly Performances
Thodos Dance Chicago is a 19 year-old company, which passionately pursues its mission of inspiring expression through dance education, dance creation, and dance performance. Whether it is a pairing with schools, community centers, libraries, or Universities, Thodos Dance Chicago is adept at creating educational programming tailored to the specific needs of each organization and community. With education being the foundation upon which Thodos Dance Chicago was created, artists are selected from among the brightest in contemporary dance. Most ensemble members hold B.A. or M.F.A. degrees in dance from highly reputable colleges and universities. Thodos Dance Chicago artists teach children in Chicago in partnership with the Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls teach adults through partnership with The Chicago Sport and Social Club, and set works on dance ensembles locally and across the country.

Residencies
The Company is equipped to create a dance residency of any length, suited to the needs of any age group and curriculum. The two performance opportunities listed below can be integrated into any residency structure that could easily culminate with a student participatory performance with Thodos Dance Chicago. In addition, TDC has set new works on local dance ensembles, which have performed on a full concert program with Thodos Dance Chicago.

Master Classes - for the beginners to the advanced
Thodos Dance Chicago can teach a single class, all dance forms (styles) and at all levels. Classes can be taught in technique, choreography and composition, improvisation and repertory, yoga and Pilates mat classes.

Imagine Dance Assembly Performance: Grades K-8
Imagine Dance is an exciting 40-minute interactive dance assembly that educates students about the concepts and tools employed in creating dance. Professional dancers from Thodos Dance Chicago perform three acclaimed dances from current repertoire and, along with a narrator, demonstrate the concepts, stages and tools needed to create a dance. The program also contains three participatory exercises requiring student generated ideas and the execution of those ideas by students themselves onstage with the company dancers. Students use their ideas throughout the assembly as dance concepts are learned and developed by way of students working together with professional dancers. Study Guide Available!

Dancing Green Assembly Performance: Grades 4-8
Dancing Green is an exciting 40-minute interactive dance assembly that educates students about conservation and the environment, using dance as a demonstration and teaching tool.

Dance Smash Educational Performance: Jr. and Sr. High School
A full company one-hour repertory concert with lecture demonstration, best performed in a theater setting. Acclaimed dances in the repertory of Thodos Dance Chicago are performed by the entire Company for the student body with full production elements inclusive of lighting and costumes. A question and answer session with the entire Company is conducted with the students following each performance.