BELMONT DANCES THROUGH PANDEMIC

BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO

Even as the Belmont clubhouse approaches the end of its service, it’s still adapting to new purposes. Last winter, Belmont Station took aboard some castaways, 10 contemporary dancers ages 18 to 28, who spent their time aboard creating a performance. Founded by former Hubbard Street 2 director and choreographer Terence Marling, the dance company called COMMON, got turned out of their normal creative space, because the facility shuttered due to the pandemic. Marling, his choreographers and dancers found supporters in then-general manager Dwight Jenson, and among Chicago Yacht Club members who sponsored their rental of Belmont to continue creating (in rotating small groups to ensure safe distancing). “Working at Belmont Harbor was integral to continuing COMMON conservatory’s year-long research and performance project,” Marling said. “It was a necessary step for the growth of the individual artists. Through the tough winter pandemic months, Belmont Harbor became a place where individual connections were made that strengthened our group of artists as a collective.”

The result of COMMON’s creativity was “Chronicle,” a performance filmed live at Illinois Wesleyan University, since in-person event restrictions remained in place, and which began streaming on Vimeo June 5. Nearly every dance in the show owes part of its creation to time aboard Belmont. Choreographer Alysia Johnson worked with COMMON’s dancers to create three pieces entirely in what members usually know as Belmont’s dining room.

For more information about COMMON, please visit www.commondance.com.