St. Louis

Meet me in St. Louis: Love Letters from Chicago’s Artistic Directors to Spring to Dance

By Lauren Warnecke on May 24, 2014

* Note: This post was created as a special feature in collaboration with SeeChicagoDance.com* ST. LOUIS, MO — Dance St. Louis has changed Memorial Day weekend. While most Americans stuff themselves silly with burgers, hot dogs, and beer, for thousands of St. Louisians this weekend is about world-class dance performances. The Spring to Dance Festival started […]

Chicago Shows Up at Spring to Dance

By Lauren Warnecke on May 25, 2013

Last night at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center did not suck. Though not solely responsible for the brilliant performances last night, Chicago certainly showed up and demonstrated its versatility and technical panache. To spare readers an in-depth exposé of each piece in an evening that was (between two shows) three hours long, here […]

A Conversation with Michael Uthoff

By Lauren Warnecke on May 24, 2013

ST. LOUIS, MO — When Michael Uthoff first arrived in St. Louis, MO, he was asked what he thought of the local dance scene. “I think it’s shit,” he said. Born to dancing parents who founded the Chilean National Ballet, Uthoff danced for Jose Limon and eventually found his way toward classical ballet. Having seen […]

Spring to Dance a strategy for butts in St. Louis dance seats

By Lauren Warnecke on May 31, 2012

ST. LOUIS, MO — On my final day in St. Louis I spent a sweaty afternoon downtown and cooled off with two excellent shows at the Spring to Dance festival. Chicago definitely shined on this last day of three, with some of our heavy hitters appearing in both shows. I’m ashamed to admit that this was my […]

Spring to Dance the place to be for Memorial Day in St. Louis

By Lauren Warnecke on May 26, 2012

ST. LOUIS, MO — Apparently the Touhill Performing Arts Center is the place to be on Memorial Day weekend in St. Louis. I expected a pretty good line-up of mostly regional and a few national companies; what I didn’t expect is the droves of people that come out for this event. Folks practically climb over […]

Springing to a New Realm in Dance Writing

By Lauren Warnecke on May 16, 2012

I admire dance critics, but I certainly don't envy them. Weekends spent in a dark theater hunched over a notepad; people you barely know pretending to be your best friend; the fate of their social media lives resting in your hands. I think back to episodes such as the disastrous review of NYCB's […]