Nejla Yatkin presents a site-specific piece for the Garden of the Phoenix at Jackson Park in September 2017 featuring dancers from the newly formed South Chicago Dance Theatre. The dance moves the audience through the Garden to transform audiences perceptions and engage with the park in new ways.
Similar to writer Milan Kundera, as a dance maker Nejla Y. Yatkin is going into a place and time, exposing it, exploring it, penetrating it and then transcending it through movement. For Dancing with the Garden Of the Phoenix at Jackson Park, Yatkin worked with the dancers from the South Chicago Dance Theatre and local community members to choreograph a one of a kind interactive site specific dance piece. Yatkin spend the summer in the Garden of the Phoenix observing, talking, dancing and documenting community members in a dialogue about transformation and what they wish to happen in their community. The time in Garden and the exchanges with the community informed and inspired the final dance. Free public performances were be held on September 14th, 15th and 17th, 2017 from 6pm to 7pm.

Dancing With The Garden Of The Phoenix” at Jackson Park is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Arts programming in neighborhoods across the city advances the goals of the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Cultural Plan. Now in its fifth year, the 2017 Night Out in the Parks series will host over 1,000 cultural events and programs at more than 250 neighborhood parks throughout the city, making community parks a safe haven and hubs of activity. Projects will vary from traditional performances and concerts, to movies, peace rallies, community workshops, nature based programs, dance pieces, festivals, and more. The Chicago Park District has partnered with more than 100 arts and community organizations to expand and produce this successful initiative.”

About South Chicago Dance Theatre
"The South Chicago Dance Theatre is a multicultural organization aiming to preserve the art of dance through quality performances and educational opportunities. The diverse repertoire of the Company seamlessly fuses Classical and Contemporary Dance styles. More info see www.southchicagodancetheatre.com