Evanston Dance Ensemble Presents Free Dance Shows in February & March

Evanston, Ill. — Childhood games like Hungry, Hungry Hippos, Twister and musical chairs are the inspiration for “On Your Mark…,” a new dance performance by ede2, a pre-professional dance company in residence at Dance Center Evanston. The show will be presented for free on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at the Skokie Public Library and on March 5 at 11 a.m. at the Robert Crown Community Center. The company will also present three low-cost performances on March 25 at 3:30 p.m. and March 26 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. at Studio5 in Evanston. Tickets for those performances are $7.

Filled with high-energy movement and fun-filled nostalgia, “On Your Mark…” is a collection of nine pieces, each inspired by the various board games, video games and playground games that have shaped our childhoods.

For example, the show features a piece about playing with Legos that is set to “Come Together Now” from The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part; a piece about playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos where the dancers are surrounded by balloons, similar to how the hippos are surrounded by moving balls; a piece inspired by the imaginary game The Floor is Lava, performed to “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash; a piece about recess featuring dancers playing hopscotch and jumping rope; and a piece about playing Ghost in the Graveyard, where the dancers perform using flashlights.

“The games we play in childhood are such an integral part of who we become as adults, and they evoke such wonderful, joyful memories,” says Rachel Molinaro, the new artistic director of ede2. “I thought creating a dance piece that explores the universality of these types of games would really be fun for both the dancers and for the audience.”

“On Your Mark…” includes a variety of dance styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary and dance theater. The pieces are choreographed by Molinaro, assistant director Erin Bates, former ede2 artistic director Allison Kurtz Volkers, and several other guest choreographers.

The music in the show also spans several different genres, from the 1960s song “Twisting the Night Away” by Sam Cooke, to the modern dance pop song “Kids” by MGMT, Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Vogue” by Madonna, a jazz piece by Sylvan Esso, classical pieces and more.

In addition to performing the five shows that are open to the public, ede2 will also be performing two private community shows — one for the residents of Misercordia on Feb. 12 and one at the Three Crowns senior living community on March 4.

“On Your Mark…” will be Molinaro’s first show since she took over the helm of the company in 2022 and it will also be the first mainstage show for many of the 15 dancers who are involved in the show, all of whom are in 7th or 8th grade. “There’s a lot of energy and excitement in the room,” Molinaro said.

Tickets go on sale March 1 at events.org/onyourmark.

EVENT DETAILS

“On Your Mark…”

Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.

Skokie Pubic Library, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie, 60077
Info: (847) 328-6683
Tickets: Free

March 5 at 11 a.m.

Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St., Evanston, 60202
Info: (847) 328-6683
Tickets: Free

March 25 at 3:30 p.m., March 26 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Studio5, 1938 Dempster St., Evanston, 60202
Info: (847) 328-6683
Tickets: $7. Tickets go on sale March 1 at events.org/onyourmark