Dancing for our lives

An eclectic evening of exquisite art, Dance For Life Chicago brought together some of the city’s biggest and brightest names in dance to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS services Aug. 21 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.

Since the event began in 1992, Dance For Life has raised nearly $4 million, with the sold out August 21st performance at The Harris Theater certainly increasing that total. WGN entertainment reporter Dean Richards guided the show, with inspiring words sprinkled between dances from various AIDS foundation partners, as well as an appearance from Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.

As for the dancing, the diverse spectrum of talent in the evening created a program with a little something for everyone. Showcasing styles from flamenco to modern dance, each of the six participating organizations shared dance that spoke to the originality of the choreographer, training of the dancers, and talent of every individual company. The finale combined the talents of multiple companies, kinetically expressing a singular voice of hope. Choreographed by Harrison McEldowney, the number was a mixture of reflection and celebration, featuring emotion filled music and extraordinary technique. Dance For Life 2010 succeeded in providing an entertaining and enlightening event, bringing together a community of dancers to rally for a very worthy and important cause.