Banner Photo by Steven Brown
J. Lindsay Brown Dance: Black Dogs & Bell Jars
Depression hovers, anxiety looms, and emotions are set free in the newest concert from J. Lindsay Brown Dance: “Black Dogs & Bell Jars: a romp through depression.” The show brings together seasoned and emerging choreographers to present their work dealing with mental health, and provides a space for dancers to honestly explore an unfortunately taboo topic.
“Black Dogs & Bell Jars” will cap the the company's seventh season in Chicago. J. Lindsay Brown Dance is thrilled to perform at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble's Ebenezer Lutheran Church Auditorium for the first time, as the venue brings new technical possibilities and marks a change from the group's previously “tech-lite” production style. “It's a moment of expansion,” says artistic director J. Lindsay Brown. “We kept selling out our smaller venues, so now we get to see if we can move up to the big leagues. I am excited and a bit terrified that this show is pushing me both as a producer and as an artist.”
The concert features also works by Esoteric Dance Project, John Cartwright, Jaimee Jaucian, Mary Sue Reese, Lindsey Scouten/Morgan Cutler, Jenna Ziebarth, and Helen Zoerhof. Each choreographer approaches a different facet of mental health, dealing with topics like birth trauma, family crisis, gender identity, and Choice Theory.
Among this group of varied and distinct guest choreographers, J. Lindsay Brown Dance will premier their titular work, “Black Dogs & Bell Jars”, which combines spoken word, movement, and even humor to examine the often ignored issue of depression. “It's rare that a choreographer tackles depression directly in a relatable, tangible, transparent way,” says Brown, “Folks often talk around it—or rather, dance around it—just implying or hinting at mental health struggles. I wanted to make a really honest work about my personal and ongoing issues with depression in a way that wouldn't be all grandiose doom and gloom. When I'm not feeling depressed, my depression seems absurd--even funny. When I am depressed, it seems crushing, interminable. I want both aspects to come across in this dance, and for folks to realize that they are not alone in that deep darkness.”
The show takes place on May 1-2 at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church Auditorium, 1650 W. Foster Ave. Chicago. For tickets and more information, click the ticket link above or the image below.
Depression hovers, anxiety looms, and emotions are set free in the newest concert from J. Lindsay Brown Dance: “Black Dogs & Bell Jars: a romp through depression.” The show brings together seasoned and emerging choreographers to present their work dealing with mental health, and provides a space for dancers to honestly explore an unfortunately taboo topic.
“Black Dogs & Bell Jars” will cap the the company's seventh season in Chicago. J. Lindsay Brown Dance is thrilled to perform at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble's Ebenezer Lutheran Church Auditorium for the first time, as the venue brings new technical possibilities and marks a change from the group's previously “tech-lite” production style. “It's a moment of expansion,” says artistic director J. Lindsay Brown. “We kept selling out our smaller venues, so now we get to see if we can move up to the big leagues. I am excited and a bit terrified that this show is pushing me both as a producer and as an artist.”
The concert features also works by Esoteric Dance Project, John Cartwright, Jaimee Jaucian, Mary Sue Reese, Lindsey Scouten/Morgan Cutler, Jenna Ziebarth, and Helen Zoerhof. Each choreographer approaches a different facet of mental health, dealing with topics like birth trauma, family crisis, gender identity, and Choice Theory.
Among this group of varied and distinct guest choreographers, J. Lindsay Brown Dance will premier their titular work, “Black Dogs & Bell Jars”, which combines spoken word, movement, and even humor to examine the often ignored issue of depression. “It's rare that a choreographer tackles depression directly in a relatable, tangible, transparent way,” says Brown, “Folks often talk around it—or rather, dance around it—just implying or hinting at mental health struggles. I wanted to make a really honest work about my personal and ongoing issues with depression in a way that wouldn't be all grandiose doom and gloom. When I'm not feeling depressed, my depression seems absurd--even funny. When I am depressed, it seems crushing, interminable. I want both aspects to come across in this dance, and for folks to realize that they are not alone in that deep darkness.”
The show takes place on May 1-2 at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church Auditorium, 1650 W. Foster Ave. Chicago. For tickets and more information, click the ticket link above or the image below.
Want to support “Black Dogs & Bell James”? Check out our Facebook fundraiser and get some cool thank you gifts (along with our undying affection).
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