A Gallery of Dances

A gallery is not just a place where art lives, it is a place where stories are brought to life through paint strokes, photos, and more. It is an experience that can change people’s perspectives, bring tears to their eyes or a smile to their face. A Gallery of Dances, produced by Darvin Dances, showcases many stories from embracing one’s queerness to the majesty of the Christmas Island Crab migration. There is a little sprinkle of something for everyone, promising a delightful evening that you cannot miss. This performance has been generously subsidized through Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble’s artist’s support and residency program.

“Eastman’s ability to keep the audience’s eyes moving with persistent action is worth repeat viewing to capture each part.” said Tristan Burns of See Chicago Dance in 2023. Eastman will be presenting excerpts of her past works: Efforts of Contemplation (2018), Patternalia (2020), Navigating the After (2022) and Journeys of a Crustacean (2024).

“Efforts of Contemplation displayed a quiet intensity powered by detailed, articulated movement phrases” said Julinda Lewis of the RVArt Review. The work analyzes our life choices; the what ifs and maybes that fill a person’s mind as they come to a fork in the road in their lives. Her next work, Patternalia explores the process of dreaming using finger walking hand gestures and seamless transitions into crooked shapes. Navigating the After looks at the initial grieving process to wrestling with the identity of a survivor as victim of sexual assault. Journeys of a Crustacean delves into the process of the red crab migration on Christmas Island in Australia, this amazing natural phenomenon is danced with crab walks, floor work and more.

“Choreographer Mandy Milligan utilizes a unique music score, striking lighting, and bold movement to leave the audience wanting more” writes Gery Moore of See Chicago Dance in 2024. Milligan will be presenting four works in A Gallery of Dances; Lady, X, The Ruckus and I Remember Damage: But What am I?

Milligan’s first three works are inspired by John Singer Sargent paintings (Lady Agnew, Madame X and others). Lady starts with the dancer embodying the perception of her outward persona, eventually evolving into an exploration of the ‘lady’s’ inner world. X shows the contrast and dynamic of the striking work. Four dancers embody the sensuality, power, and poise of this dynamic portrait. The Ruckus is the last in the series inspired by a painting created by NAME HERE. “The Dancer” takes its form and movement from several different Singer Sargant works depicting Spanish Romani dance. These works are unique to his archives as they are some of the few that are not posed portraits of aristocracy, but instead capture working class artists.

The last work by Milligan is a black and white film (I Remember Damage, But What Am I?) shot by Sean Rafferty. It shows six dancers as they process their changing identity through introspection, reflection, acceptance, and fear. This film is one section that is part of a larger evening length work entitled “I Remember Damage” which will premiere next fall under the Mandy Milligan Movement Project.

Tickets start at $20