THE 2009-2010 RUTH PAGE DANCE SERIES PRESENTS
DANCEWORKS CHICAGO AND CIVIC BALLET OF CHICAGO
AT NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

CHICAGO – The Ruth Page Dance Series is pleased to present DanceWorks Chicago and the Civic Ballet of Chicago as part of its 2009-2010 Ruth Page Dance Series at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU), 5500 North St. Louis Avenue, Chicago. Performances will be held at the NEIU Auditorium, Fine Arts Bldg FA-158. Free parking is available in Lot F. Both dance companies are currently in-residence at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago. DanceWorks Chicago performs Saturday, April 25 at 8 PM. The Civic Ballet of Chicago performs Saturday, May 30 at 7 PM and Sunday, May 31 at 3 PM. Tickets for both dance companies is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students. NEIU students, faculty and staff can attend for free. Tickets are available at www.tickets.com and through the NEIU box office at 312-442-4636. For additional information, please call 312-337-6543 or visit www.ruthpage.org.

DANCEWORKS CHICAGO (www.danceworkschicago.org)
Moving far beyond the constraints of the traditional dance company model, DanceWorks Chicago has up-ended the status quo to create an organization dedicated to cultivating all aspects of Dance.

Highlights of the April performance include Twyla Tharp’s “The One Hundreds,” and Alex Ketley’s “If Ever (An Ocean) Relinquished” featuring a new soundscape created specifically for this performance through a competition held at Northeastern Illinois University. A movement-based work, “If Ever (an Ocean) Relinquished”, will be presented with a soundscape especially selected from applicants from NEIU to this first-ever competition. Alex Ketley's choreography will take on new dimensions, adding an extra layer of excitement and interest for dancers and audience members. NEIU students, faculty, staff and alum can access information about the competition by going to http://danceworkschicago.org/dwcneiu-competition.html.

CIVIC BALLET OF CHICAGO (www.civicballet.com)
This young, vibrant ballet company returns to NEIU with a program packed with bravura dancing and elegant moments. The Civic Ballet is the official youth training company at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago. The program will feature two Civic premieres and two classical standards. Included in the program is Paul Abrahamson’s “Classic Sinatra”, and Gerald Arpino’s “L’Air de Sprit” through special arrangement with the Gerald Arpino Trust and the Joffrey Ballet.

Begun in 1989, the Ruth Page Dance Series, one of the initiatives of the Ruth Page Foundation, honors and celebrates Ruth Page, an international dance icon known for her innovations in the world of ballet—pushing the creative envelope in her choreography and working outside the codified structure of classical dance. Emanating from Chicago, the visionary work of Ruth Page influenced the growth of theater design, opera ballet, and dance. She achieved worldwide recognition as a true pioneer of dance in America. The Series reaches out annually to new audiences and presents them the very best of many dance styles and Chicago dance artists.

The 2009 Ruth Page Dance Series
CDI/Concert Dance, Inc. presents
Talk To Me

“Everybody's on the phone
So connected and all alone
From the pizza boy to the socialite
We all salute the satellites
Let me text you with your master plan
You're loud and clear but I don't understand
I'm a digital explorer in analog roam
And everybody's on the phone”
(Jimmy Buffet, “Everybody’s on the Phone”)

CHICAGO – CDI/Concert Dance, Inc. proudly presents Talk To Me, two weekends of dance performances that explore the subtle and not so subtle aspects of 21st century communication. Highlighting both weekends will be the world premiere of Artistic Director Venetia Stifler’s and the Company’s newest work, “Digital Fidgeting.” Taking a look inside communication within the construct of today’s technology, “Digital Fidgeting” incorporates multi-media, an original sound score by Mark Bandy, and audience interaction.

Performances are January 16-18 and 23-25, 2009 and will be presented at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts Theater, 1016 North Dearborn Street in Chicago, as part of the 2009 Ruth Page Festival of Dance. Performance times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets are $40 on January 16 (Opening Night Gala), with all other performances $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/42193 or by calling 312-337-6543.

“Digital Fidgeting” takes its name from a newly coined term from Newsweek magazine, which describes obsessive multi-tasking and compulsive gadget fondling on portable wireless devices. Set to a commissioned sound score by Mark Bandy and presented in five sections, “Digital Fidgeting” is a response to the seeming obsolescence of traditional communication in the face of today’s mobile perpetual-tasking. A collaborative work created by Ms. Stifler and the Company, it also explores the alienation that occurs as mobile phones, IM, e-mail and the new wireless technology simultaneously brings the world within reach in ways that just a short time ago were only seen on television shows like the “The Jetsons,” and yet keep us apart by the lack of real, live personal interaction.

CDI/Concert Dance, Inc. creates and presents unique dance works that evolve from a choreographic collective under the artistic direction of Venetia Stifler, often using live music, video and other media to enhance the process and product. CDI acts as a cooperative of creativity where dance is explored as a collaborative art form. The process of creating new dances interweaves creative input and movement development from the dance artists in the company with the direction, vocabulary and structure of Venetia’s choreographic perspective. This unique approach to dance and choreography drives the company’s artistic vision and sets an example of artistic collaboration.

CDI’s 2009 performance season has been sponsored in part by generous contributions from the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Northeastern Illinois University, Golf Construction, the Illinois Arts Council, City Arts Grants, ExxonMobil, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, and the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.

THE RUTH PAGE FOUNDATION’S RE-ENVISIONED PRODUCTION
OF “BILLY SUNDAY” RECEIVES AN EMMY NOD

The PBS Documentary Has Been Nominated
for Two Chicago-Midwest Emmy Awards

CHICAGO – The Ruth Page Foundation is pleased to announce that “Billy Sunday - The Dance” has been nominated for two Chicago-Midwest Emmy Awards. “Billy Sunday – The Dance” is a critically acclaimed performance documentary of the re-envisioned production of Ruth Page’s 1947 ground-breaking dance. These two Emmy nominations, announced recently in advance of the October 18, 2008, awards ceremony, are the first to be received by the Ruth Page Foundation.

In addition to being nominated for Outstanding Achievement for Arts/Entertainment Programs – Program or Program Series (HMS Media, Scott Silberstein as Producer), “Billy Sunday” was also nominated for Outstanding Achievement for Individual Excellence On Camera (Harrison McEldowney for his role as Billy Sunday).

Venetia Stifler, director and choreographer, as well as artistic and executive director of the Ruth Page Foundation, commented, “A lot of people asked me the question of why revisit this particular work? The reason that I chose this dance to re-envision was that the strength of ‘Billy Sunday’ is in the ideas. Ruth poked fun at how we view sex, women and politics and presented it in a manner that audiences would respond to. This was also a wonderful challenge for me as the choreographer and director on the project to blend the steps that Ruth had created with new material that would propel the dance into the 21st century and be seen by an entirely new audience. I knew that if Scott and HMS Media could be convinced to document our process and Harrison to take on the lead role, the result would be exceptional and that we would have something truly special to share with the community. Of course I’m thrilled that all our efforts have resulted in this honor. I’m a little overwhelmed by it. I’m also grateful to the Ruth Page Foundation board, which gave me a free hand in developing this project. Without their trust and their support, ‘Billy Sunday’ would never have happened.”

Chicago White Stockings outfielder-turned-evangelical-preacher Billy Sunday was born in 1892 and went on to set an early record for stolen bases before becoming one of the country’s most famous and financially successful religious speakers. Chicago dance icon Ruth Page saw one of Billy Sunday’s sermons as a child and never forgot the power and impact of this man who looked like he was dancing as he preached. It took Ruth Page five years to put together the provocative dance about Sunday, but in 1947 her production of “Billy Sunday” was launched and created quite a stir in Paris before doing the same in the United States.

Sixty years later, the Ruth Page Foundation presented Stifler’s restaging of Page’s landmark ballet. This production became HMS Media’s latest broadcast special. The ballet features the talents of Concert Dance, Inc. (the official contemporary dance company of the Ruth Page Foundation) along with acclaimed dancer/choreographer Harrison McEldowney in the title role, and other stellar Chicago guest artists including Stephanie Martinez (River North Chicago Dance Company), Kenny Ingram (musical theater veteran and Broadway performer) and John Ross (Hubbard Street Dance Chicago). McEldowney said, “This is outstanding to be nominated for a Chicago ballet, by Chicago's legendary Ruth Page, about Chicago baseball player and proselytizer Billy Sunday, in conjunction with Concert Dance, Inc. and HMS Media, and is an honor and a testament to this great city!"

The entire dance was presented in the one-hour special, which explored the creative challenges of re-envisioning a landmark dance for today’s audiences and provided an in depth look into the hearts and minds of dancers as they contemplate what it means to mix entertainment, politics and religion across 100 years of American history. The taping took place at the auditorium at Northeastern Illinois University. “Billy Sunday” was HMS’ newest High Definition special, which aired September 17, 2007, on PBS.

"I'm especially moved that this show represents a lot of dreams come true,” said HMS producer Scott Silberstein. “This concept was so special to Venetia, Silvino and everyone at the Ruth Page Foundation, and to be entrusted with their hopes and dreams was a privilege. It also meant a lot to see long time friends and colleagues like Harrison get to stretch and show off some talents that many people hadn't seen before, and I am thrilled that he's been nominated, too. Most of all, I'm humbled that we could play a small part in passing on and perhaps even enhancing the legacy of Ruth Page, to whom Chicago owes an enormous debt for all the beauty she created and all the risks she's inspired so many of us to take."

2008 RUTH PAGE AWARD ANNOUNCED

CHICAGO -- Venetia Stifler, Executive and Artistic Director of The Ruth Page Foundation, and the Ruth Page Award Selection Committee are pleased to announce the recipient for the 2008 Ruth Page Award. The Committee has chosen the Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts, Tommy Sutton, Founder and Peggy Sutton, Director, for its 50 years of cultural education to the children in its community. For five decades, Mayfair has been training young dancers and instilling in them lessons that last a lifetime – discipline, structure and confidence.

The Award will be given as part of the Ruth Page Festival of Dance at the Ravinia Festival, and will be presented at the performance of River North Chicago Dance Company on Saturday, September 13, 2008. A private reception will be held prior to the performance.

“Ruth was known for her passionate love of dance,” explains Ms. Stifler. “In addition to being a dancer and choreographer, she was also a producer and an educator. Through her life example, she blazed the trail of possibilities that lay ahead for American dance. The Committee felt that this incredible organization has helped move the art form along by providing the best possible dance education for the children of its community. And like Ms. Page, Tommy Sutton is among that iconic group of Chicago artists who are strongly associated with our city.” The Ruth Page Award is given annually, includes a monetary gift, and is a unique opportunity for The Ruth Page Foundation to acknowledge or help further an individual’s or organization’s artistic momentum. The award also continues the tradition of honoring those in the Chicago dance community whose contributions to dance share Ms. Page’s passion, artistry, and vision.

Mayfair Academy was established in 1957 by world-renowned tap master Tommy Sutton who realized that his own children as well as the children of his community were being neglected as to their dance training and education. Having had a full professional career as a performer and choreographer, performing with such notables as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Nat King Cole, Gypsy Rose Lee, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and many others, the Mayfair Academy became the beginning of a new era in the career of Tommy Sutton and the development of one of the finest schools in the city dedicated to the best dance training possible for the children in his community. Although Mr. Sutton passed away in 1995, his efforts and guidance helped to create a landmark institution. Located at 1025 E. 79th Street, it has become one of the largest and best-known private dance schools, which still flourishes today under the direction of his daughter, Peggy Sutton.

Established in 1970 by international dance icon Ruth Page (1899-1991), The Ruth Page Foundation is a private operating foundation committed to the education, promotion, and presentation of dance in Chicago. To this end, The Foundation supports a number of vital initiatives in Chicago, among them is the Ruth Page Award.

Emanating from the Illinois heartland, the visionary work of Ruth Page influenced the growth of theater design, opera ballet, and dance. She achieved worldwide recognition as a true pioneer of dance in America, embracing a life of artistic restlessness in which a quest for the new, with a refusal to conform to any one style of dance, became her legacy. From the heartland, she choreographed, danced, toured, and produced in all parts of the world. Ruth was employed by, collaborated with, and employed some of the greatest artists of the 20th century, including Irving Berlin, Adolph Bolm, Antoni Clave, Aaron Copland, Sergei Diaghilev, Katherine Dunham, Margot Fonteyn, Harald Kreutzberg, Rudolf Nureyev, Isamu Noguchi, Anna Pavlova, and Bentley Stone to name a handful from an extensive list. The Ruth Page Foundation’s mission is to promote Ms. Page's vision of dance as an innovative and accessible art form, while fostering and promoting artistic excellence.

CDI/CONCERT DANCE INC. KICKS OFF THE
2008 RUTH PAGE FESTIVAL OF DANCE AT RAVINIA

CHICAGO – The 2008 Ruth Page Festival of Dance at Ravinia begins the summer season with the return of one of Chicago’s leading contemporary dance companies, CDI/Concert Dance, Inc. to the Bennett • Gordon Hall stage June 11 and 12 at 8 p.m., 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. The program features two world premieres by Artistic Director Venetia Stifler. Tickets are $10 for reserved seats and no lawn tickets will be available. To purchase tickets to CDI/ Concert Dance, Inc.’s Ravina program visit www.ravinia.org or call 847.266.5100.

The first premiere, Fugues, is an engaging and high-energy work set to Johann Sebastian Bach’s fugues where four male dancers literally bounce off the walls and off each other as they vividly evoke the insane, nonstop, death-defying mischief and adolescent playfulness of young men growing up together. The second premiere of the engagement is German Songs, featuring soprano Rose Guccione and pianist Jane Kenas-Heller performing music by Johann Strauss and Franz Schubert. The piece will be danced in four sections, and feature four couples in various phases of a romantic relationship.

Also on the program will be a number of audience favorites, including the 2004 Ravinia commission, Dvorak Suite, choreographed by Stifler to celebrate the 100th birthday of Anton Dvorak and his experience in America. Set to Dvorak’s “Humoresque” and “Slavonic Dances” this works is a dance that spoofs stock images of classical dance. The
work includes six dancers dressed in stylized tutus and tights who create a playful satire of pretensions to high art. Dvorak Suite will be performed to live music with pianist Mikhail Yanovitsky and violinist Michele Lekas.

Recently celebrating its twenty-fifth year, CDI, is noted for its strong dancers, live music, original art and costumes, while exploring a wide range of choreographic themes. With vividly evocative and sometimes comic choreography, the dancers and musicians create emotionally charged performances. As the professional company in residence at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, CDI also re-envisions the work of Chicago dance icon, Ruth Page.

The Ruth Page Festival of Dance at Ravinia presents CDI/Concert Dances, Inc. June 11 and 12 at 8 p.m, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. . Tickets are $10 for reserved seats and no lawn tickets will be available. To purchase tickets to CDI/ Concert Dance, Inc.’s Ravina program visit www.ravinia.org or call 847.266.5100. For more program information or to learn more about the Ruth Page Center for the Arts call 312.337.6543 or visit www.ruthpage.org.

Billy Sunday: The Dance
Ruth Page’s innovative 1948 “ballet cartoon” comes alive again
in this re-envisioned production directed by Venetia Stifler!

“the full revival (of Billy Sunday) could well
turn into a real home run.”
Chicago Sun-Times

CHICAGO – Ruth Page was an adventurous innovator who enjoyed choreographing outside the standard classical repertory of fairy tales, swans and princesses. Ms. Page’s uniquely American approach to classical ballet was the impetus for the creation of her innovative “ballet cartoons.” So named by dance historian and critic Ann Barzel because of the bold “cartoon strip” character of the costumes, colors, set design, and movement, the most famous of these is Frankie and Johnny and Billy Sunday. The Ruth Page Foundation has chosen the 1947 ballet, Billy Sunday, as the next Ruth Page work to be restored and performed in 2007.

Billy Sunday will premiere as part of the Ruth Page Dance Series at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) on September 28-30. Additional performances of Billy Sunday will take place at Governors State University as part of the 25th Anniversary Season of the Illinois Philharmonic on October 20. Emmy Award-winning video producers, HMS Media, will be documenting the project for a television special to be aired on WTTW/Channel 11 on September 16 at 6 PM. Starring in the role of Billy Sunday is veteran dancer/choreographer Harrison McEldowney.

Billy Sunday is a dance of pure Americana; representing American themes, American music, songs and hymns. It’s also an innovative look at the larger-than-life Billy Sunday. This Chicago baseball player-turned evangelist preached at over 300 revivals in the early 1920s, reaching millions of Americans with his brand of “that old time religion.” Billy is one of the last public figures of the early 20th century tied to a specific period of American morality. It took Ruth Page five years to put Billy Sunday, featuring updated versions of traditional morality tales, together. But on March 2, 1947 it was premiered by Le Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in New York City. In 1950, it was again performed, this time in Paris, where its popularity kept audiences coming to the theater for a month. The dance style was unpredictable, the choreography irreverent, and Ms. Page had her dancers speak – all things that were unheard of in a ballet of that time!

In the spirit of Ruth Page (as she hated to revive her dances), Billy Sunday will not only be reconstructed, but also re-envisioned. Venetia Stifler, Executive and Artistic Director of the Ruth Page Foundation, will spearhead the creative team that will bring to life the original concept, costumes, set design, text, music and steps. Additional choreography by Ms. Stifler, will provide a parallel layer that will be seen alongside Ms. Page’s. The cast will include 15 professional dancers, most of whom are coming from several of the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in-resident organizations that includes Concert Dance, Inc. (the Official Professional Dance Company of the Ruth Page Foundation), and Civic Ballet (the Official Youth Company of the Ruth Page Foundation). We are also privileged to have the original composer, Carmon DeLeone, working with us as musical director. Mr. DeLeone is the Music Director of the Cincinnati Ballet, and directed the 1983 revival by Cincinnati. “Ruth Page was an exciting and unique individual, and I feel very fortunate that she and her dear friend and associate, Freddie Franklin, trusted me with the responsibility of composing a new musical score for Ruth’s Billy Sunday,“ explains Mr. DeLeone. “I’m also very pleased that Mr. Long and Ms. Stifler and the good people of the Ruth Page Foundation continue to keep Ruth’s memory alive with special projects like their newly re-envisioned version of Billy Sunday.”