1994

ARTISTIC FEATS  “A Field Gathering: A Collection of Dances about Birth, Rebirth and the Capacity to Thrive” debuted at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. The world premieres of Jan Bartoszek’s Clearing, Made of Dream with music by Lynn Book, costumes by Christy Munch, set design by Cheryl Anne Levin and lighting design by Ken Bowen, coupled with, Sheldon B. Smith’s 5-Line Sheave, received critical acclaim.  The reprise of Sweet Baby, Baby Suite (1993) choreographed by Jan Bartoszek was also on the evening’s program.

“Jan Bartoszek, who’s been making dances here for almost 20 years, could easily have slipped from the scene when her daughter was born. Instead she solidified her place in the community by making Hedwig Dances the resident company at the Chicago Cultural Center and bringing in all kinds of other companies and choreographers to give classes and concerts. Among them was Sheldon Smith, and now she’s offered this talented newcomer a more permanent place, a niche. Because the sad and scary thing about this shadowy, radical, elusive form is that it needs a place to grow.”  – Laura Molzahn, Chicago Reader