Concert Dance Inc. is the official contemporary dance company and an Artist In-Residence of the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago, IL. CDI creates and presents contemporary works that evolve from a choreographic collective under the artistic direction of Emmy Award-nominated choreographer, Venetia Stifler, often using live music, video and other media in its performances. The dancers are both highly trained technically and active in the development of the movement vocabulary. Their skills of improvisation and ability to create visual imagery results in work that is not only of the highest caliber, but also artistically proficient and emotionally satisfying.
In 1984, CDI became the dance company in residence at Mundelein College (now Loyola University). In 1987, when its Artistic Director Venetia Stifler became the Director of the Dance Program at Northeastern Illinois University, the company moved its operation to the NEIU Campus. In 1999, CDI toured to Edinburgh and performed as part of the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The company was well received and highlighted in the press as one of the “best of the fest.” In 2003, Venetia Stifler was commissioned by the American Composer’s Forum to collaborate with a composer in the creation of a new work to be premiered that year. Also in 2003, the Ravinia Festival commissioned Ms. Stifler to create “Aftermath: The Dance” to music by renowned composer Ned Rorem. This commission by the Ravinia Festival marked the beginning of an on-going relationship for CDI in the creation of new dances that have premiered each summer at Ravinia since 2003. In 2009, CDI was again commissioned by Ravinia for a new dance that was presented as part of their year-long Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration. “The Better Angels of Our Nature” featured the music of Lawrence Dillon, with spoken word borrowed from Lincoln’s personal letters. The Lincoln Trio, a piano trio, performed live and Welz Kauffman, Ravinia President/CEO, narrated.
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