Two student dancers pose with two student musicians

The Music of Black Voices

Ballet Chicago
Two student dancers pose with two student musicians

The Music of Black Voices:
Inspiring today’s youth through a choreographic reflection of our era and celebrating the history of Black artists in music

Six choreographers join forces with Ballet Chicago Studio Company dancers and the superb young musicians of Merit School of Music - a longtime Harris Theater education partner - to reflect on the arc of history and contributions of Black composers and musicians. These six brief ballets should be viewed not only as works of their time, but also as works of dance relevant beyond today.

PROGRAM
‘Quartet No. 3 Sol Mineur Allegro’ | Joseph Bologne Chevalier De Saint-Georges (recorded)
Dancers: Emily Hain, Hayley Lampariello, Brianna Moose, Lucie Richard
Choreography by Durante Verzola

Three Fours ‘Adante’ | Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Piano: Joshuah Mhoon
Dancers: Emily Hain, Emma Kapteyn
Choreography by Julie Niekrasz

'Sunday Afternoons at the Pier' | Wayne Shorter
Alum Jazz Trio: Garret Munz, Miles Richey, Leo Buczkowski
Dancers: Emma Kapteyn, Liliana Pfeifer, Lillie Rose Reddy
Choreography by Elyse Jost

‘Reflections in D’ | Duke Ellington (recorded)
‘I Thought it was You’ | Herbie Hancock (recorded)
Dancers: Russell Schmidt, Deshawn Townsend
Choreography by Johnathon Hart

‘In a Sentimental Mood’ | Florence Price
Piano: Bella Berman
Dancers: Lauren Batterbee, Emily Hain, Lillie Rose Reddy
Choreography by Dominique Atwood

'Caged Bird' | Maya Angelou
'Lotus Blossom' | Billy Strayhorn
Piano Duet: Aleko Lionikis, Brandon Harper
Spoken Word: Ruby Sindelar
Dancers: Quinn Andrews-Myers, Ella Bates, Lauren Batterbee, Lillian Hundley, Alyssa Kantner, Claudia Kantner, Claire Kellar, Anna Kinghorn, Hayley Lampariello, Rebecca McCain, Mimi McKelly, Skylar Rutman, Asha San Juan, Nora Winans and Russell Schmidt
Choreography by Ted Seymour

"Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou