Welcome to an exciting glimpse into Skunkworks Dance Performance Program's upcoming premiere! In this post, you’ll discover:
- What makes a “Repertoire” Show unique and how it differs from a full-length work
- The full description of Founder Jana Bennett’s newest piece, The Butterfly Effect
- All the details on how to see Skunkworks' latest production, ONE, premiering this Friday and Saturday!
Get ready to dive into the artistry, innovation, and energy that make this event unforgettable!
See the "ONE" Show Promo here:
The Rep Show - Differences Between
a Full Length Work and a Repertoire Show!
We are thrilled to present Skunkworks Dance Performance Program's very first "repertoire" performance series! Learn about the repertoire show structure, and what make it different from a full-length work (example: The Puppet Game, Nexus).
A full-length evening work in dance is typically a single, cohesive piece, often over an hour, that follows a central theme, storyline, or concept. It’s like a journey from start to finish, with each part connected to build a continuous experience. The audience is invited into one world, one narrative arc, or one set of ideas developed throughout the evening.
In contrast, a repertoire show is more like a dance collection—a series of shorter pieces (usually between 3-5) or excerpts from different works, each with its own unique style, theme, or choreography. Repertoire shows offer a variety of pieces in one performance, showcasing different sides of the dancers, styles, and choreographers. It’s a bit like visiting an art museum, where each gallery offers its own distinct style and mood, giving the audience a taste of diverse creative voices and perspectives within a single experience.
Both formats allow for creativity and depth, but they deliver a very different experience for both the dancers and the audience! We hope enjoy our first "Rep" show.
Faculty works in "ONE" include: "The Butterfly Effect" by Founder and Director, Jana Bennett - Company Work
"Making Waves" by Skunkworks Faculty, Julia Schaeffer - Pre-Company Work
"Musical Articulations" by Skunkworks Faculty, Julia Schaeffer - Company & Pre-Company Ballet Minor Work
"PARTY ERA" by Skunkworks Faculty, Daniel Williams - Company & Pre-Company Ballet Minor Work
Founder Jana Bennett's Newest Work,
The Butterfly Effect, Full Description
In creating this new piece, I wanted to step away from our typical storyline-driven works and dive into something different—a concept-driven choreographic exploration. This season, I decided to play with “The Butterfly Effect,” the idea that small actions can ripple out and lead to significant outcomes, like the delicate flap of a butterfly’s wings sparking a tornado.
Starting with simple movement phrases and specific group sections (solos, duets, quintets and layered groups) I built the dance around subtle shifts triggering new paths. As I was choreographing, I learned upon the fascinating science of “Chaos Theory” and it's relationship (correct theory) to The Butterfly Effect. A video by the University of Bristol’s School of Mathematics, "Chaos Theory and The Butterfly Effect - Predicting The Unpredictable," brilliantly illustrated how “Chaos Theory” and “The Butterfly Effect” intertwine as well as the significant mathematical and scientific principles behind the popular pop culture concept. The moment I heard the video, I knew the Bristol's narration of "Chaos Theory" was the perfect underscore to bring the dance to life.
With this new perspective, our dance gained depth: Company Members Meg and Emmeline embody the unpredictable math of lotteries and casinos, where the house wins by understanding chaos. Our quintet of Apprentices and Trainees becomes the baker kneading dough, where tiny changes yield wildly different outcomes. Meg’s PLUS+ solo, set against the background of dancers in a "waiting room" movement, captures colliding particles in motion, pure chaos in every step. And Meir's PLUS+ solo became the agent of chaos that we can never avoid in life.
Every movement, section, and idea in this piece is intentional, bringing the intricacies of these theories to life on stage—and beyond. As the dance begins, the performers enter through the audience, blending their movement and presence with those around them, symbolizing how the fabric of our lives, the dancers and the audience, are interwoven. The dancers then build an invisible theatrical “fifth wall,” creating a divide and separation between you, the audience, and the dancers as they explore and illustrate “Chaos Theory.”
Keep an eye out as the dance concludes: the dancers break down this “wall,” releasing Chaos Theory back into the shared space, reminding us that unpredictability is something we all experience and cannot escape.
To push this exploration even further, we’ve added lighting as a bold element, representing the unpredictability and mathematical pulse of Chaos Theory—a dynamic, explosive twist that electrifies the piece.
For my fellow math, science, dance, and performance enthusiasts, this one’s for you!
Description By: Jana Bennett | Founder and Director, Skunkworks Dance
Come See the Show!
✨ Presenting "ONE" ✨
Show Times:
- Friday, November 15 at 6:30 pm
- Saturday, November 16 at 6:30 pm
Venue:
Unitarian Church of Evanston
1330 Ridge Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
Show Description:
Skunkworks Dance Performance Program's latest production, "ONE," premieres Friday, November 15, and Saturday, November 16. This show marks our studio companies' debut "repertory" performance, featuring 18 talented dancers across four new works choreographed by Jana Bennett, Julia Schaeffer, and Daniel Williams. While Contemporary Dance remains the heart of our Performance Program, audiences will also be captivated by powerful Hip Hop and elegant Ballet pieces woven into the evening.
As specialists in pre-professional performance and innovative choreography, Skunkworks Dance invites you to witness the extraordinary creativity and artistry on stage in "ONE." Prepare to be inspired and moved as our dancers bring each exceptional work to life!
Important Information:
"ONE" is recommended for audiences ages 8+ and includes dramatic lighting effects, including strobe lights. Viewer discretion is advised for those sensitive to flashing lights.
Ticket Details:
All tickets are sold at the door. Doors and ticket sales open 15-30 minutes prior to each performance.
- $30 Adults
- $20 Students
- Current Fall 2024 Skunkworks Students are FREE!
Payment Options:
We prefer cash, but also accept Zelle, Chase Quick Pay, and Venmo. Credit card payments are available with a 4% fee; please note that they may take additional time to process.
"ONE" is an experience worth seeing more than once! We encourage you to bring friends, family, and fellow dance enthusiasts for a night (or two!) of remarkable performances.
Don’t miss this chance to be part of an unforgettable evening—come join us for "ONE!"
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