Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Season Finale Features ‘LubDub’

The performance begins with two lines of dancers leaning towards each other, reminiscent of a rugby scrum. Despite the precarious positioning, none of the Hubbard Street dancers falls. The piece, ‘LubDub,’ opens with a sense of balance, though it quickly transitions into more dynamic choreography.

‘LubDub’ forms the entire second half of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s final performance of the season. This presentation runs through Sunday at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Choreographer Aszure Barton crafted this standout piece as part of a three-year residency with Hubbard Street. While this is the third year, the collaboration terms are open, leaving the possibility for Barton to continue contributing her distinctive choreography in Chicago.

The performance involves the entire dance ensemble and lasts nearly half an hour. It takes viewers through a palpable journey symbolizing the human heart, inspired by the sounds heard through a stethoscope. The heart’s ‘lub-dub’ is represented by dancers who resemble red blood cells navigating the body. They create intricate, winding paths on stage, transforming the event into more than just dance.

The music adds depth, featuring a dramatic soundtrack by Jlin and contributions from Kara-Lis Coverdale and Susanne Lundeng. The visual design, marked by top lighting and shadow effects by Jim French, complements the choreography. Barton and Jenah Hensel designed the distinctive maroon costumes, reflecting the piece’s flow between serious and whimsical moods.

Opening the show, however, is a homage to Bob Fosse through two pieces. This is part of Hubbard Street’s collaboration with the Verdon Fosse Legacy. The opening performances featured Alexandria Best alongside Dominick Brown and Aaron Choate in ‘Sweet Gwen Suite.’ Shota Miyoshi shined in Fosse’s ‘Percussion IV,’ beautifully executed with minimalistic design choices focusing the attention on his jazz-inspired dancing.

Following Fosse’s work, Chanel DaSilva presented her first commission for Hubbard Street, titled ‘Atlas.’ The piece portrays a trio of women dealing with seemingly weighty silver exercise balls that become a metaphorical light burden in their hands. Although featuring some elegant segments and a solo by Stevens, ‘Atlas’ seemed overshadowed between the Fosse and Barton pieces.

Overall, the spring series is a blend of classic and contemporary dance, highlighted by Barton’s ‘LubDub’ as the captivating main event. Hubbard Street’s spring series runs through Sunday at the Harris Theater, with tickets priced from $47 to $101.