2000

ARTISTIC FEATS  Hedwig Dances’ choreographic collaboration with the classical Bharata Natyam Indian Natya Dance Theatre gives birth to AMMA, an evening-length work depicting the challenges of immigrant mothers bringing children to a foreign culture in a beautiful blend of Eastern and Western dance movement. Founders/Artistic Directors Jan Bartoszek and Hema Rajagopalan conceived this multicultural brainchild, springing it to life in a world premiere at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts with music by Michael Zerang, costumes by Lezlee Crawford, set by Bill Swartz and lighting by John Fishback. As the Dance Company-In-Residence, Hedwig Dances performed Story Dance, two works paying homage to the history of the Chicago Cultural Center for school groups in the Claudia Cassidy Theater.

Jan Bartoszek “A Founder Matures: Learning to Share – Learning to Trust” Excerpt, “Arts Bridge Newsletter”, Winter 2000 Issue.
“Learning to share decision-making, delegate work and incorporate the ideas of others into Hedwig’s plans has been both challenging and rewarding. Many times I had to compromise my original ideas, but I have gradually learned that the creative input of Board, staff, and dancers has helped Hedwig Dances grow… As a good friend has said, ‘sometimes you feed the organization and sometimes it feeds you’.”