David Rousseve's Saudade - an ode to those universal moments when great joy and agony collide

March 13, 5:22 PMChicago Dance ExaminerRachel Thorne Germond

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David Rousseve/REALITY      photo: Jorge Vismara

David Roussève continues to be an important voice in contemporary American dance. "The man is—has always been—a marvelous storyteller, "  is how New York dance critic Deborah Jowitt describes Rousseve.   During the late 1990's and early 2000's, he developed his reputation for master storytelling as the choreographer and artistic director of  David Roussève/REALITY-a unique multi-racial dance/theater ensemble.

REALITY toured throughout the U.S., Europe, and South America, and Roussève created eleven full-length works for the company, including collaborations with Sweet Honey in the Rock's Ysaye Barnwell (Urban Scenes/Creole Dreams, '92), jazz/hip hop Grammy nominee Me'Shell N'degeOcello (The Whispers of Angels, '95), and Tony-winning lighting designer Beverly Emmons (Love Songs, '99).  Love Songs was awarded a "Bessie" Award for Choreography.  In 1996, Roussève joined UCLA's Department of World Arts and Cultures, where he is Professor of Choreography.  

What: David Roussève/REALITY
When: March 12-14 at 8 p.m.
Where: The Dance Center of Columbia College  1306 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL
Tickets: $24-$28

David Rousséve/REALITY performs Saudade, Portuguese for "bittersweet," an ode to those universal moments when great joy and agony collide. Saudade is a compelling mix of theater, spoken dialogue and South Asian, Indonesian, West African and modern dance forms; set to contemporary and traditional Fado music.

FYI -I was checking out the cast members and saw that Marianne Kim currently works as an assistant director and performer for this project. You might remember Marianne Kim from her time here in Chicago with the company XSIGHT!,  along with Peter Carpenter who moved away to Los Angeles for a while but now teaches here at the Dance Center of Columbia College. As an artistic associate of Chicago performance collective, XSIGHT! (1993-2001) Marianne presented worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northwestern University, Dance Center of Columbia College, Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, University of Illinois Weselyn, University of Alaska in Anchorage and Fairbanks and Out North Contemporary Art House in Anchorage.

PERFORMERS: Esther M. Baker-Tarpaga / Nehara Kalev / Marianne M. Kim / Taisha Paggett / Sri Susilowati / Olivier Tarpaga / Anjali Tatta   COLLABORATORS: Peter Melville (Set/Prop Design), David Ferri (Lighting Design), Ashley Hunt (Video Design), David Karagianis (Composition/Sound Design), Leah Piehl (Costume Design)

Link to video of Saudade here:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1733261837/bclid1729287463/bctid1733275722