June 1 - 6, 2021

June 1 - 6, 2021 Vol. 29 No. 22

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Arts & (Home) Entertainment

We are replacing our usual calendar with virtual events and recommendations from StreetWise vendors, readers and staff to keep you entertained at home!

Pride Month has begun, and we highlight special LGBTQ+ events to celebrate.

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SportsWise

The SportsWise team enthusiastically discusses NBA star and Chicago native Patrick Beverley.

Cover Story: Chicago Dance Month

Joffrey Ballet's Director of Community Engagement Linda Swayze tells how her own ballet career -- after growing up on the South Side -- helps her as a teacher and mentor to students of diverse abilities and ethnicities. On May 11, Joffrey announced its expansion into the South Loop, part of its "Joffrey for All' five-year strategic plan.

Is ballet art or athletics? Hannah Ross describes the tenacity that goes into practice and the precision that goes into making satin pointe shoes, which support ballet dancers as they fly around the stage on their toes. A StreetWise intern, Ross studied ballet for 10 years. In addition, See Chicago Dance organizes special events to celebrate Chicago Dance Month.

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The Playground ON THE COVER: Joffrey artists Victoria Jaiani and Temur Suluashvili perform in "Under the Trees' Voices."

THIS PAGE: Joffrey dancers perform in Pablo Sánchez's "¡ViVA!," part of Joffrey's "Winning Works" performances.

(Both photos by Matt de la Peña).

Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher

dhamilton@streetwise.org

StreetWiseChicago @StreetWise_CHI

Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief

suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Amanda Jones, Director of programs

ajones@streetwise.org

Julie Youngquist, Executive director

jyoungquist@streetwise.org

Ph: 773-334-6600 Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616

LEARN MORE AT streetwise.org

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ARTS & (HOME) ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Since being stuck inside, which shows have you been watching? Which movies? Have you read any good books lately? Any new music releases have you dancing in your living room? StreetWise vendors, readers and staff are sharing what is occupying their attention during this unprecedented time.

To be featured in a future edition, send your recommendations of what to do at home and why you love them to Creative Director / Publisher Dave Hamilton at dhamilton@streetwise.org

City-wide Art!

Toward Common Cause Three exhibitions marking the 40th anniversary of the MacArthur Fellows Program open across Chicago this spring, ushering in the first wave of projects presented in conjunction with Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change, and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40.

Dawoud Bey: Portraits from Chicago Now - August 28, Arts + Public Life Arts Incubator, 301 E. Garfield Blvd.

Bey has photographed South Side youth across decades of artistic practice. These portraits make visible a group who are not fully recognized by society, activating the sitters’ inner worlds for viewers to contemplate.

Jeffrey Gibson: Sweet Bitter Love Now - Sept. 18, Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St. Sweet Bitter Love presents Jeffrey Gibson’s reflections on representations of Indigenous people in cultural institutions. These art objects collectively deconstruct myths about Indigenous cultures and attest to Native persistence.

Much Unseen is Also Here: An-My Lê and Shahzia Sikander June 3 - Aug. 29, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago, 600 S. Michigan Ave. Much Unseen is Also Here brings together the works of two major artists who both consider the theater of the landscape, monumentality, cultural history, and representation. Probing monuments and identity, An-My Lê and Shahzia Sikander explore history’s embeddedness in our present.

(HOME) ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrate a True Icon

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‘Frida Kahlo: Timeless’ “Frida Kahlo: Timeless,” on view June 5 - Sept. 6, will be the most comprehensive presentation of Kahlo’s work displayed in the Chicago area in over 40 years. The 26-piece collection, on loan from the Museo Dolores Olmedo, features an array of oil paintings and works on paper spanning the life of Kahlo, a Mexican artist foundational to the 20th century art historical canon. Works on view will include The Broken Column (1944), Henry Ford Hospital (1932), Portrait of Luther Burbank (1931) and The Mask (of Madness), 1945. Best known for self-portraits highlighting themes of identity, politics, sexuality and death, Kahlo channeled her childhood and personal struggles into her art and became an iconic figure and symbol of female empowerment, individual courage and Mexican pride. On display at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn. Tickets start at $23 at theccma.org/frida-kahlo

Street Art to Fine Art!

The Art of Banksy "The Art of Banksy," the largest touring exhibition of authentic Banksy artworks in the world, will open this summer in Chicago. Hosted in a yet-to-be-disclosed location in the city’s West Loop neighborhood, The Art of Banksy will feature 80 original works from private collections across the globe, offering a rare opportunity to view authenticated and certified Banksy artworks rarely seen by the general public.

Scheduled to open Thursday, July 1, its tickets are on sale now and going fast! In true Banksy style, The Art of Banksy is not authorized or curated in collaboration with the artist, but rather sourced from private collections, allowing the public to see works that would otherwise stay hidden in private homes or warehouses. The exhibition features many of Banksy’s most recognizable images, including “Flower Thrower,” “Rude Copper” and “Girl with Balloon,” famously shredded at auction in 2018. The canvasses, screen prints, sculptures, and limited-edition pieces on display are dated between 1997 and 2008, a period that resulted in Banksy’s most recognizable works.

A Clean City!

Pitch In for the Parks The non-profit Chicago Parks Foundation (CPF) announces the second season of its citywide volunteer effort “Pitch In for the Parks!” to help keep the city’s 600+ public parks clean. This season-long, family-friendly volunteer opportunity is now open for registration on an ongoing enrollment basis, with park clean-ups starting June 1 and lasting through October. Visit chicagoparksfoundation.org/volunteer, to sign up to voulunteer, which includes an interactive map

Architect Talk!

CAC Live: Architect Talk: Lawrence Scarpa with planning commissioner Maurice Cox Brooks + Scarpa founding principal Lawrence Scarpa explores how design excellence can revolutionize housing for communities in need, in conversation with Maurice Cox, Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development. June 3, 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 / $15 CAC members / $10 students at architecture.org

Art Remix!

‘Cecil McDonald Jr.: Cuts and Beats' Chicago-based artist and educator, Cecil McDonald Jr. uses photography, video, and text to explore intersections of masculinity, ancestry, and the artistic and intellectual pursuits of Black Americans.

'Cuts and Beats' refers to the title of McDonald’s most recent body of work in which the artist subverts historical images, like publicity stills from Black artists in the Vaudeville and Minstrel era, by transforming them using techniques of photo collage, video, and performance combined with his own photographs. McDonald thinks of the process of cutting, altering, reassembling, and bringing images into different contexts as a metaphor for performance, dance, music, and the complex histories of Black Americans. The new built images, McDonald says, “look back to often racist representations, and much like memory, recede to a current, self-possessed and subversive imagery, each influencing and dictating to the other, serving as a remix of past and present culture.”

Schedule an appointment at hydeparkart.org -Compiled by Dave Hamilton

PRIDE MONTH EVENTS

June 1 Lambda Literary Awards When: 6-8 p.m. CT Where: Online What: Created 30+ years ago to celebrate the best LGBTQ literature, the Lammys are usually held in NYC, but this year will be available virtually – free – to the world. Hosted by Rakesh Satyal (Lambda winner for his 2009 debut novel, “Blue Boy”), Lammys will be presented by John Paul Brammer, Katherine V. Forrest, Alex Gino, Alan Hollinghurst, Cyree Jarell Johnson, R.O. Kwon, Carmen Maria Machado, Ryan O’Connell and Torrey Peters, with a performance by funk, soul and hip-hop singer/songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello. Donors of $75+ receive digital gift bags.

Sign up at lambdaliterary.org/awards/ June 3 Rainbow Storytime with Mr. James When: 11-11:30 a.m. Where: Zoom What: Join Mr. James from the Chicago Public Library’s Edgebrook Branch in a celebration of love and Pride Month through stories, songs and more during this special time for families with children age 0 to 5. Please register at least 24 hours ahead at https://chipublib.org/bibliocommons/events (and scroll to June 3) since space is limited. More information is available from Mr. James at 312.774.8313 or edgebrook@chipublib.org June 5 Rainbow Storytime When: 10-10:30 a.m. Where: Zoom What: The Thomas Hughes Children’s Library of the Harold Washington Library will offer a 25-minute story time featuring books, finger plays, movement activities, rhymes and music to celebrate Pride Month for children 0 to 5 and their caregivers. Register at least 24 hours ahead at https://chipublib.org/bibliocommons/events More information at 312.747.4200.

June 8 Grab & Go: Pride Mini Charm Keychain When: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Where: Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., 8th floor reference desk What: Are you an adult, teen or tween looking for a fun creative outlet?

How about a dangling mini jar filled with beads in rainbow colors or blue, pink and white?

Courtesy of the Chicago Public Library Arts & Music Department and the Maker Lab, the kit is available until June 30 or while supplies last. More information at 312.747.4300.

June 8 Drag Story Time When: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Where: Zoom What: Leaders from the Chicago Black Drag Council, Miss Toto and Manic Maxxie, will lead a virtual story time for kids 0 to 5 and their caregivers, facilitated by Rogers Park children’s librarian Miss Jessie. Please register at least two hours in advance, only one registration per household needed, at https: //chipublib.org/bibliocommons/events More information from 312.744.0156 or acantu@ chipublib.org .

June 9 Author Talk: 'Tinderbox’ When: 6-7 p.m. Where: Chicago Public Library’s YouTube and Facebook pages What: Robert W. Fieseler reconstructs the fire in the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans that has only recently emerged as a catalyzing event of the gay liberation movement. The June 24, 1973 arson killed 31 men and one woman: the largest mass murder of gays until 2016. Relying on unprecedented access to survivors and archives, Fieseler created an indelible portrait of a closeted, blue-collar gay world that flourished. Originally from Chicago, he is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and recipient of a Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship. He writes about marginalized groups that make the world better for themselves and now lives in New Orleans with his husband and his dog. You will be able to ask questions during this event, which will be archived for future viewing.

June 9 Book talk: ‘Boy Erased’ When: 6-7 p.m. Where: Zoom What: Garrard Conley was the son of a Baptist pastor in small town Arkansas. Outed to his parents as a 19-year-old college student, he was forced to make a life-changing decision: either attend a church-supported conversion therapy or risk losing family, friends, and the God he prayed to every day. Garrard found the strength to search for his true self and forgiveness. Register at least 24 hours ahead at chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events More information at 312.744.1965 or oriolepark@ chipublib.org -Compiled by Suzanne Hanney

Vendors Russ Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.

Patrick: Patrick Beverley is what we all should be: a doer.

Strangely enough, I’m one of those people who believes there’s a place and a space for all kinds of folks to succeed and contribute positively to our society. But not this time; this time, it’s different. We’ve seen him grow from a talented and determined youngster to a very talented and very determined man. He’s been on so many different teams, there’s no denying his heart and will to prove his worth to the world, because that’s not an easy task to embrace.

SPORTSWISE

John: You’re right, Patrick. I remember reading about him in the papers when he was at Marshall High School on the West Side, and I was sold back then. If my memory is right, he averaged over 35 points a game.

Donald: 37.3. Just looked it up. Dang, dude was playing.

Russ: I was at the Roundball Classic his senior year at the United Center. Yep. It was Greg Oden, Mike Conley— Donald: Both going to Ohio State.

Patrick Beverley (Kyusung Gong photo).

Patrick Beverley: Chicago's Hometown Hero

Russ: Yep. Daequan Cook was even out there. And the one cat I remember the most: Patrick Beverley. Man, you talk about hustling and working—man, this lil’ dude was like on skates, moving that fast...but in control. It was absolutely amazing.

Patrick: It really was. And we all remember him when he was at Arkansas.

Donald: Of course. He did the do there.

John: SEC Freshman of the Year, second-team All-SEC honors—he was impressive.

Patrick: Then he decided to play overseas with, I’m sure, that determination I spoke of earlier, of getting to the NBA—and he did get back, signing with the Houston Rockets. And he continued to do the same things that got him there: the man hustled.

And I don’t mean hustle in the sense of doing small jobs and getting inconsistent pay; no, I mean, the man worked hard and kept believing that he belonged. You talk about the lil’, uhm, engine that could!

Donald: The more we talk, the more it comes back to me. You’re right: Beverley has always strived—and succeeded—whenever he played.

And I wouldn’t be shocked if that’s how he runs his life. He has become one of the—if not “the”—premiere one-on-one defenders in the game.

Russ: He may not score more than 9 points…

John: Or get more than 5 boards or assists…

Donald: But you know that dude was out there affecting the hell out of the game. Every game!

Russ: You ain’t never lied.

Patrick: I’ma tell y’all…I think Patrick Beverley coming to the L.A. Clippers in 2017, and hanging in there—with his feet on the floor—should’ve ended with a championship at some point.

Donald: They almost did.

Patrick: I know, but, to me, he’s one of those players who’s crucial in helping the bigger guys win championships.

John: And he also shows the world what teamwork means.

Patrick: Speak!

Donald: I got this: Patrick Beverley, you the man.

Any comments or suggestions?

Email pedwards@streetwise.org

' Joffrey Ballet '

We want to be able to grow

by Hannah Ross

Linda Swayze is the director of community engagement and a dance instructor at the Joffrey Ballet. “I've always enjoyed dancing. And I can't even remember the time when I saw ballet first. But I knew that I fell in love with ballet.”

For a time, Swayze danced at a school on the South Side. When her teacher knew she had taken her as far as she could, she recommended the Stone-Camryn studio downtown, which was known for turning out professional dancers. “But little Black girls didn't do ballet. They might have danced, but they didn't do ballet.”

So Swayze straddled two worlds. “Adjusting to the different cultural experiences was challenging because there weren’t a lot of Blacks in my classes. In fact, I was the only Black for a long time. I would be going to this white institution five days a week after school and loving it, but then going to an all-Black neighborhood after my classes, I got ribbed, very much so. My classmates and my friends, they couldn't understand. ‘Why are you taking these ballet classes? Why did you go down there?’ And so trying to navigate both of those worlds was quite interesting, especially being an adolescent and really not having anyone to mentor me. Stone-Camryn mentored me as far as my talent and technique was concerned. But the emotional side of it, I really didn't have anybody to mentor me in that way. So I was trying to find my way.”

As Swayze continued her education at Stone-Camryn and her passion for dance grew, she started looking to the future for a career in dance. “Walter Camryn and Bentley Stone knew that, although I didn't know at that time, they knew that there was not really going to be a place for me in a white ballet company.”

However, Camryn and Stone had a connection with Dance Theater of Harlem co-founder Arthur Mitchell who, at the time, was noted for innovating the dyeing of tights to match dancers’ skin tones. “So here I go, this little Black girl going with a letter from Walter Cameron and Bentley Stone to go have an audition and I was just awestruck at the time, because I never really saw myself in a company until that point. And then that evening, I had tickets to go see them perform and that solidified it for me. When I sat in that seat at the Auditorium Theater, and I saw Dance Theater of Harlem do “Four Temperaments”—that was the opening ballet that they did—and immediately I knew that that was what I wanted to do.” Swayze had always

worn pink tights, but Dance Theater of Harlem showed her something new. “I think that was one of the things that subconsciously seeing that just kind of pivoted for me that the brown tights in the brown pointe shoes made sense.”

Swayze danced with Dance Theater of Harlem for 15 years, traveling to London, Spain, Brazil, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Italy, France. She participated in the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics. “At Dance Theatre of Harlem, it's 52 weeks in the season, and we had 45 weeks of guaranteed work. So I didn't know at the time, but we were making history.”

Of course, things rarely always go exactly as planned during a performance. And Swayze’s time with Dance Theater of Harlem was no different. They were performing George Balanchine’s “Allegro Brillante,” which Balanchine described as all of classical ballet boiled down to 13 minutes. A dancer was injured and Swayze went in as her understudy – except that the injured dancer was on the other side of the stage, doing the opposite set of move-

s Linda Swayze'

w as the community grows :

ments to what Swayze had learned. “That was traumatic, yeah, but I made it through. I had a great partner and they kind of talked me through it.”

After 15 years, Swayze left the stage and started a family.

She worked in the paper industry and hated the confinement of being behind a computer all day after being in such a creative profession for so many years.

“I met up with a former dancer just by happenstance. I was going—I'll never forget this—I was going up the CTA Red Line escalator to the street level to State Street and Pierre Lockett was walking down State Street and we locked eyes.” Lockett had transitioned from Dance Theatre of Harlem to Joffrey, which became her foot in the door. He invited her to teach classes and she loved it, so he hired her as a teaching artist. “And I've been at Joffrey ever since because I love working in the community. And I know how impactive dance can be, not only dance, but all the arts.”

Lockett has since moved on from Joffrey and started his own school called Forward Momentum Chicago.

CENTER: Greg Cameron, Joffrey Ballet President and CEO; Raymond Rodriguez, Abbott Academy Director of the Joffrey Academy of Dance; Pat Dowell, Alderman, Chicago’s 3rd Ward; Linda Swayze, Joffrey Ballet Director of Community Engagement; Ashley Wheater MBE, the Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director; and Brian Smith, Joffrey Ballet Chief Marketing Officer (Todd Rosenberg photo).

RIGHT: Linda Swayze poses as a young child and performs as a young adult (photos courtesy of Linda Swayze).

“What I really enjoy about teaching is the creative process, because there's so much that you can learn in the teaching environment. I would like to be the kind of teacher that Walter Stone and Bentley Camryn were for me. Because they were two teachers who were white that advocated for me, and had they not advocated for me and treated me no differently from any other student, then I don't think I would have had that access.

“One thing I do have to say, is that, in the environment with Arthur Mitchell, I did learn some things. You can get more from people when you treat them well. In the environment and time that Arthur Mitchell grew up in, he didn't really have a voice, being a Black dancer in the New York City Ballet, principal dancer. The way he had to use his voice was through his dancing. So fast forward, now. Students have a voice. Now on this side of teaching, I see there's a better way to get the best out of students, and to be the kind of teacher that brings out the best in students. Because a teacher can make a student or break a student.

And I've seen and been in environments where teachers broke students, and I've had things said to me that would have broken my spirit, had I not had somebody to say, ‘yes, you can do it.’

“So I want to be the teacher that says ‘yes, you can do it.’

I want to be the kind of teacher that is an advocate for that student. That motivates me, when I'm in front of a classroom, that somebody who might be struggling, because I was the one who always had to prove myself. I know what it's like. Even when I was at Dance Theater, I was never the first cast. I was always the second cast. I always had to go the extra mile to prove myself. And so I see that now in students who might have the passion, but maybe they need the extra help, they need the extra push. The one who might not be the best turner, or they might not be the person who gets their legs up. But they have musicality, they have a passion, they know how to bring the magic. And so I want to be that person for those students, because they're out there.”

As Swayze transitioned into the role of director of community engagement—the role previously held by Lockett—and the Joffrey’s outreach programs grew, she found less and

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less time to teach. “I'm finding now that I have to pull back from the teaching aspect. But I do love the teaching, and I always want to teach, I always want to have at least one school that I'm teaching.”

Her unique position as an administrator with professional dance experience allows her to reach students who’ve come from similar backgrounds and introduce them to the possibilities of the arts and dance. “When I was growing up, you had one of two choices. You had either to be a concert dancer, or you can be commercial. But now, there's so many opportunities as far as dance is concerned. Now you could do concert dancing, you do commercial work, you could work with graphic artists, video, you can do so many things that dancers couldn’t do back then that you can do now as a person of color. And I go into these schools, I want to be able to share with them, that you can make a living, you don't have to be the starving artist anymore. So I want to be able to be an advocate for those students who have creative ideas and to show them a pathway that they can actually have a career in the arts.

“Because a lot of our programs are in underserved areas, I want to broaden the vision as far as our Black children and Brown children are concerned, that they can be more than just a rapper, a basketball player, or a hairstylist. I'm not knocking any of those things. Those things are great.

But also, guys, you can pursue science or be a doctor or a lawyer, and have a creative side, too. I don't want them to be just one-dimensional. As a person of color, and a person who loves the arts, I want to show them that there are other avenues that you can go and not be afraid to explore those avenues. Whether they choose it or not, is irrelevant.

But if they can get exposure to it, I think that will increase their likelihood to even expand it. Because vision is so very important. Being able to see it and have a pathway. That's one of the things that I really want to do here at Joffrey. It's to give the students a pathway.”

One way Joffrey extends the pathway to students is through its Joffrey Tower programs. For the programs at Joffrey Tower, “Students are chosen to participate in inschool and community programs based on their demonstration of excellent attendance, behavior, and a passion for

Joffrey expands into south loop The Joffrey Ballet has purchased new studio space and training facilities at 1920 S. Wabash Ave., expanding its reach to the South Loop and beyond, a major step in its five-year “Joffrey for All” strategic plan.

“A foundational principle of the Joffrey mission that dates back to Robert Joffrey himself is that dance is for everyone,” Joffrey Board Chair Anne Kaplan said May 11. “By widening our presence beyond our State Street studios at Joffrey Tower, the Joffrey is making a significant investment in our students, teachers, and community, which is also an investment in the cultural vitality of Chicago and its future arts leaders.”

dance,” according to the Joffrey website.

The programs are free and allow participants to use the dance facilities, attire and costumes as they gain a deeper understanding of dance and grow confidence through performance. The Tower offers many different programs for students of all ages and at varying intensities. These programs are designed as a springboard for students to find passion in art. For example, at the end of the Summer Intensive course, a teacher from the Joffrey Academy evaluates the students and offers 10 a full scholarship to study at the Academy.

Currently, the Academy has 44 students on full scholarships from the community engagement programs. “I'm really proud of that, because not only does it bring in students that will get the structure of ballet, it also brings more diversity into the Joffrey Tower.”

Ultimately, Swayze’s goal with community engagement is to learn how the Joffrey can better serve the community.

“The whole idea is, of course, to give the students and schools more exposure to dance, and to also hopefully have schools know about our programs and how we can serve them, because I recognize that we are an arts organization. But that's not the only thing. We want to be able to come in and serve the school. What is the school's need? We don't want to be the type of organization that says, ‘Okay, we know how to do arts, and you are going to learn these specific things.’ No, we want to come in and say, ‘These are things that we can offer, but how can we serve you?

How can we serve your community?’ And we want to be able to grow as the community grows.”

Joffrey Tower Programs After School Matters (left), a seven-week summer partnership for high school students and Joffrey Bridge Program (center & right), a four-phase introduction to ballet and continued training for grades kindergarden through second (Joffrey photos).

Joffrey Tower (10 E. Randolph St.) will remain the headquarters for the more than 60-year-old company, whose repertoire encompasses the classics and modern, original works. Its performance home will be the Lyric Opera House.

The new 5,314-square-foot space, (formerly the Chicago Dance Academy studios), is fully equipped with sprung floors, harlequin surfaces, and professional-grade sound equipment. The space also conforms with all American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

There’s nearby access to public parking, Chicago Transit Authority Green and Red Lines stops (within a two-block radius) and several CTA Bus routes.

“The additional studio space will allow the Joffrey to hold more classes, support new programs, and continue the positive momentum of the Joffrey Academy,” said Raymond Rodriguez, director of the Joffrey Academy of Dance. “More students equal more possibilities for company artists, administrators, and teaching artists in the future, as we build upon our work of creating a holistic lifecycle of a dancer.”

“Joffrey for All” envisions three tiers to a holistic Joffrey education: a prospective student’s first exposure to dance via Joffrey Community Engagement; scholarships and further training at the Joffrey Academy of Dance; and a professional contract with The Joffrey Ballet or other major professional company.

Educational programming at the Joffrey Academy and Joffrey Community Engagement were rebranded under the mission “Joffrey for All” in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and Greg Cameron, president and CEO, led the Joffrey in developing a five-year plan.

The new location closer to Bronzeville, Chinatown and the future Obama Presidential Center fits the Joffrey for All mission, said Linda Swayze, Joffrey director of community engagement. “Joffrey Community Engagement will be able to offer in-school programming as well as programming at Joffrey Tower for students K-12, along with our custom residencies to fit the needs of neighboring schools, as well as our Middle School Dance Program that targets grades 5–8.

Student enrichment is a guiding principle in the work of Joffrey Community Engagement.” She can be reached at lswayze@joffrey.org or 312.386.8951.

No public or private COVID relief funds were used in the purchase of 1920 S. Wabash Ave., which was instead made possible through restricted grants from donors.

–Suzanne Hanney, from prepared materials

www.streetwise.org

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My First Pointe S

by Hannah Ross

Hannah poses on the Des Moines Riverwalk, age 17 (courtesy photo).

part of a dancer’s livelihood needs precision by an expert craftsman. Each dancer has one person who makes all her shoes by hand to her specifications: width and strength of the shank, shape of the vamp, size of the box, length of the sole. Most dancers only know their shoemaker by a symbol impressed on the sole, but they trust this symbol absolutely every time they put on a pair of pointe shoes.

The average professional dancer uses 100-120 pairs of pointe shoes a season. At $80 a pair, dance companies spend around $100,000 on shoes per year.

My mom opened the bright red door to Mark’s Dancewear and I trotted down the stairs with anticipation. This was it: the day I got my first pair of pointe shoes. I thought back to dance class, and how I watched the older girls slip into their soft satin shoes. They snapped the elastic strap on their foot before wrapping the ribbons around their ankle, crisscrossing them twice and tying them in a neat, sturdy slipknot.

The knots had to be sturdy because if a dancer’s ribbons unraveled during class, everyone owed the teacher 20 push-ups. Our teacher demanded perfection. We strove to meet her demands. Before every class, we relevéd 112 times to warm up our legs, then we followed a series of exercises to help soften the box of the shoe. The leather shank of the shoe becomes malleable from the heat and sweat of the dancer, and molds to the foot, supporting the dancer as she spins across the floor.

Pointe shoes didn’t start supporting dancers until almost 200 years after ballet’s invention. In 1795, Charles Didelot constructed the first pair of pointe shoes using a combination of wires, nails, and fabric to make his “flying machine.”

The ethereal quality these shoes gave dancers caught on quickly, and choreographers began to include pointe work into their dances. By the late 19th century, new skills and techniques had been developed, and dancing en pointe grew in popularity, but dancers wanted to have shoes without the wires. Marie Taglioni, the dancer credited with first dancing on pointe, modified her satin slippers by attaching a leather sole and darning the sides and toes to help the shoes hold their shape. Today, the box in the toe of the shoe is made of densely packed layers of fabric, cardboard, and paper hardened by glue, and the shank, or sole of the shoe, is leather that varies in thickness, depending on the dancer’s feet.

A dancer’s pointe shoes are more than just delicate satin slippers; they are an extension of herself. Such a vital

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Each shoe must be broken in before the dancer can wear them, otherwise, she won’t be able to perform all the moves correctly, and the stiffness of the shoe will damage her foot. Most people start by breaking the shank. They bend it forwards and backwards, crunching the delicate shape of the shoe. Then they move to the box. There are several ways to break in the box.

My dance teacher suggests slamming a door on it several times, while some of my classmates have microwaved theirs. Smashing it with a hammer is also effective. Once the shoe is soft, it can form to the dancer’s foot. Then, in two days, the dancer begins the process again.

By the end of a dance class, pointe shoes are soaked with sweat, and spotted with blood. They’ve been squashed, hit, and bent in all directions.

The shoes aren’t the only ones exhausted after dance.

Most practices last over two hours. Two hours of jumping and leaping, of pliés and jetés, of holding my leg at a 135-degree angle until it quivered with fatigue.

Ballet is also mentally taxing. Dance ruined the song "Comptine d'un autre été" (from the 2001 movie, “Amelie”) for me. On days that we practiced for recital, we spent 45 minutes on a 16-count section. We listened to the same song for five months, perfecting every move until my class flowed like a single organism.

My bare feet tapped rapidly on the wood floor next to my sneakers as I waited for Mark to bring a few pairs of shoes from the back room. I tried on a pair of Grishkos, but the box was too narrow. Then I tried on one Bloch and one Freed; the Bloch fit better around my toes, but the heel was too loose. Mark retrieved a smaller size, and I rose en pointe, evaluating how they hugged my foot and how I balanced on the box. These were the ones, the shoes that represented five years of hard work and dedication. Mark held one in both hands, the shining satin catching the light.

Then he bent the shank in half.

Shoes

Chicago Dance Month calendar June is Chicago Dance Month, with some FREE events listed below. Find times and ticket prices at seechicagodance.com June 5 Noumenon Dance Ensemble Seward Park, 375 W. Elm St. (stage at Orleans and Division) World premiere of “The March on Chicago” by Dominique Atwood and “W hat If?,” new works by artistic directors Nina Rose Wardanian and Erin Murphy. .

June 5 & 6 Synapse Arts – New Works Premiere Maggie Bridger and Rahila Coats, chosen from 29 talented applicants, premiere their original pieces virtually after working with mentors in safe studio spaces provided by Synapse Arts.

June 5-Sept. 4 Wave Wall Moves Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. Pop-up, 15-minute dance performances and interactive classes with a rotating roster of dance companies each Saturday: Culture Shock Chicago, Desueño Dance, M.A.D.D. Rhythms and more. FREE. June 7-25 Motor 6:21 with Khecari At Indian Boundary Park, Lunt & Rockwell.

Open to all levels, each practice could be different.

June 9 & 30 Chicago Dance Month Scavenger Hunt At McKinley Park, 2210 W. Pershing Road Self-guided tour with site-specific performances by Dancing Petals, Helen Lee/Momentum Sensorium, Ishti Collective and more. FREE. June 10 & 12 Push Pull At Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. Activation of Faheem Majeed’s rubbing of the historic Southside Community Art Center featuring The Seldoms’ dancer Damon D. Green, choreographed by Carrie Hanson.

FREE/RSVP required.

June 10-13 Dance Therapy Summit Online networking for anyone interested in dance/movement therapy.

June 10 & 24 Chicago Takes 10 Virtual performance series provides new platform for diverse local musicians, performers and dancemakers hurt by the pandemic. FREE. June 13 Chicago Ballet Arts Annual Concert Virtual performance celebrates 35th anniversary, features Pre-Ballet through Ballet 8, modern, contemporary and performance ensembles.

June 17 Inside Out with Soul Remedy Award-winning choreographer Monique Haley, Chicago jazz legend Pharez Whitted and Cerque Rivera Dance Theatre explore the Aesthetic of the Cool, rooted in the Black American experience. Livestream.

June 18-20 Zafiro Flamenco Festival At North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie. Livestream of Saturday performance.

June 24 Café Cortado Virtual production explores Chicago's unique coffee shops.

June 25 & 26 Aerial Dance Chicago 4028 W. Irving Park Road Kinetic artistry inspired by personal life journeys, and crossing, connecting or unifying paths.

July 8 American Ballet Theatre Across America Live performance at Jay Pritzker Pavilion as part of ABT’s road trip to 8 U.S. cities. Pas de deux from Don Quixote, music of Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, Count Basie and more. FREE.

www.streetwise.org

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Vendor a. Allen on Honoring our veterans My heart goes out to the African Americans who served in the armed forces of the States of America. I said the States of America because even before it became the United States of America, I think of Crispus Attucks, the first American Black killed in the American Revolutionary War, in the Boston Massacre of March 5, 1770. He is my first Black hero to serve in the military. I have quite a few.

Bringing it home to StreetWise, there’s our very own [Magazine Sales Specialist] Ron Madere, who works what we call the “cage,” selling the vendors papers. He has the discipline of working in the cage for 17 years and as far as I know, no unexcused absences, and I’ve been with the organization for 10 years.

That’s some discipline and I am sure he gained it from serving in the Army.

INSIDE STREETWISE

Let’s not forget [Vendor] Quincy Hunter, a vendor who has more than 10 years with StreetWise. He’s on the vendor advisory board, very dedicated, a friend and a faithful vendor. He is with StreetWise every day because he is that kind of guy.

Let’s not forget [Vendor] Russell Adams, who, when I came to StreetWise, was my mentor. He’s a great salesperson – at one point, our top salesperson. His dedication and discipline I’m sure gave him a fast start because of the knowledge he obtained from serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.

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Many African Americans served and thought to be serving their country they would come back and be treated with more respect, only to find that Black Lives didn’t Matter. It must have been a hurtful thing.

[Vendor] Robert Pope served in the Air Force during the Korean War. He was not only abused as a Black man, he never received all of his benefits. My heart really goes out to this veteran. He suffered and found the resilience to bounce back from the trauma he suffered as a Black man. His coming to StreetWise as a veteran says a lot about his ability to bounce back. That’s a real asset I am sure he learned from serving in the armed forces.

There are a lot of negative things that happened after returning home but there are benefits I can see in working with these gentlemen at StreetWise. Most of these benefits – discipline, dedication, determination, forgiveness, guts, leadership, patience, resilience – cannot be bought with money. I thank you all for your demonstration of these priceless qualities.

StreetWise has helped me in many ways, but this week, I am grateful for what it has shown through our very own StreetWise veterans.

Streetwise 5/17/21 Crossword

Sudoku

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

10 Antler point 11 Feedbag morsel 12 Finish, with “up” 13 Rocker Nugent 18 Most basic 21 Brass component wn 22 High note 1 Sugar amt.

23 Shut off 2 Fla. neighbor 24 Reindeer 3 Card game for 25 Pizza places 26 Boar two 4 Hot springs 27 Accord 28 ___ available 5 Cancels 6 Roman deities 29 Sow’s pen 31 Codeine source 7 Diarist Frank 8 Abbr. after a 34 Incite 35 Aspersions name 9 Good craps rolls 38 Savage

39 40 42 44 45 47 48 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58

Soup container Top-notch Born Give-and-take, orally Tiny village Coffee shop order Raccoon relative Neighbor of Sudan And so forth Zero Gobbled up Chinese tea Before, of yore The land of ___ Joke Compass pt.

Copyright ©2016 PuzzleJunction.com

Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com

©PuzzleJunction.com

lastSudoku week's Puzzle Answers Solution

Solution

Sudoku Solution

Find your nearest StreetWise Vendor at www.streetwise.org

1 Cow chow 4 Exchange without cash 8 Moe of country music 13 Reveal, in poetry 14 Bridge fees 16 Combat zone 17 Pierce Brosnan 007 flick 19 Disguise 20 Luminous 21 Scouting group 23 Sign gas 24 Make stout 27 Sombrero, e.g.

30 Stitch up 31 Overseer 32 Combustible heap 33 Pago Pago’s place 34 Couric of “Today” 35 Small wavyhaired dog 39 Daphnis’s love 40 Pay tribute to 41 Flab reducer 42 Spotted wildcat 44 Fla. neighbor 47 Health resort 48 Malmö locale 49 Turkish river 50 Jotted down 52 Blatant 53 Press 55 Degree place 59 Broker 60 Smells bad

©2021 PuzzleJunction.com

61 Author LeShan 62 Bobbers 63 Aleutian island 64 Tofu base Down 1 Indian lodges 2 Orbital high point 3 Chicken 4 Goulash 5 Triumphed 6 Drink in a mug 7 Thickness 8 Breakfast sizzler 9 Folk singer Guthrie 10 Tyro

11 Genetic stuff 12 Beast of burden 15 Melee 18 An Everly brother 22 Inflamed 24 Renown 25 Roman love god 26 Junked 28 Seed cover 29 Golf bag item 31 Yard tool 32 Couple 33 Highlander 34 Stomach problem 35 Dale’s partner 36 Poisonous shrub

37 38 39 42 43 44 45 46 48 49 51 52 53 54 56 57 58

Fishing need Any day now D.J.’s stack Be in debt Fragrant wood Ridgelines Rio Grande city Off the mark Sports figures Gardner of film Sty sound Trans-Siberian Railroad city Brit’s raincoat Conceit Meadow Club ___ (resort) Alias inits.

How StreetWise Works

Our Mission

Orientation Participants complete a monthlong orientation, focusing on customer service skills, financial literacy and time management to become a badged vendor.

Financial Literacy Vendors buy StreetWise for $0.90, and sell it for $2. The profit of $1.10 goes directly to the licensed vendor for them to earn a living.

Supportive Services StreetWise provides referrals, advocacy and other support to assist participants in meeting their basic needs and getting out of crisis.

S.T.E.P. Program StreetWise’s S.T.E.P. Program provides job readiness training and ongoing direct service support to ensure participants’ success in entering the traditional workforce.

THE PLAYGROUND

To empower the entrepreneurial spirit through the dignity of self-employment by providing Chicagoans facing homelessness with a combination of supportive social services, workforce development resources and immediate access to gainful employment.

Crossword Across

©2016 PuzzleJunction.com

9 Church offering 0 Can’t stomach 1 Sheepskin leather 2 Transparent 3 Mine entrance 4 Margin

PuzzleJunctio

Soluti

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Investing in local media is funding your community.

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AirGo Block Club Chicago Borderless Magazine Bronzeville Life Chicago in Arabic Chicago Music Guide Chicago Public Square Chicago Reader CHIRP Radio Cicero Independiente City Bureau Current Magazines E3 Radio Evanston Roundtable Free Spirit Media Gazette Chicago

17. Growing Community Media 18. Gozamos 19. Hyde Park Herald 20. Injustice Watch 21. Inside Publications 22. Invisible Institute 23. La Raza Newspaper 24. Loop North News 25. Midway Minute 26. Mild Sauce 27. Newcity 28. North Lawndale Community News 29. Paseo Podcast 30. Polish Daily News

31. Public Narrative 32. Rebellious Magazine for Women 33. Rivet 34. Sixty Inches from Center 35. SoapBox Productions and Organizing 36. South Side Weekly 37. StreetWise 38. StudentsXpress Magazine 39. The Beverly Review 40. The Daily Line 41. Third Coast Review 42. Win-TV Channel 24 43. Windy City Times