The studio in the Ruth Page building is cheery–yellow walls, bright lights, plants hanging in the windows–but it’s cold. The dancers look like children dressed a little too warmly for bed: some wear long underwear, and all are in long-sleeved tops, often layered, with leg warmers and socks. There’s a big puddle in the middle of the floor from a leaky pipe, and when no one comes to mop it up, Tara Mitton runs out for a mop herself. One of the dancers quips, “Not only is she artistic director, manager, and booking agent–she does floors!” A few minutes later Mitton’s swabbing the deck, and the dancers are down on their hands and knees drying with paper towels.
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The Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble is about to rehearse its “New Dances ’91” program, to be presented at the Dance Center of Columbia College this weekend and next, the ninth “New Dances” for this ten-year-old group, which Mitton has directed from the start. As in the past, several choreographers with various levels of experience have created several dances, but this year Mitton and the members of her company are weaving the works, which have related themes, into a single more-or-less seamless piece.
Mitton seems both frazzled and confident, saying in one breath “It’s kind of falling into place,” and in the next “I have no idea what it’s going to look like.” She explains: “Always, ten days before ‘New Dances,’ I think everything is dreadful. Everyone gets sick, they can’t be here, nothing is coming together, the choreographers hate their pieces, the dancers don’t know what they’re supposed to do–there’s all this tension. But somehow, during those ten days when everyone’s running around with their heads cut off, tremendous growth happens and it all comes together.”
“New Dances ’91” will feature the choreography of CRDE members Mitton, Gongora, Shannon Raglin, Mark Schulze, and Melissa Thodos as well as of nonmembers Tim Noworyta and Jan Erkert. Stan Nevin, Scott Silberstein, and Richard Woodbury composed original music for some pieces; lighting is by Ken Bowen. Performances are December 13, 14, 20, and 2l at the Dance Center, 4730 N. Sheridan, at 8 PM. Tickets are $l2; call 27l-7928 for information.
