Dancers take over SGI-USA Peace Concert series

Nieh, center, with Sarah Robers and Luna Negra Dance Theater. Photo: Jacob Laub

Despite the fact that the mercury has finally reached shot past seasonal levels, and a three-day weekend is just around the corner, BP continues to grease the Gulf, and there are reports that, for some, six years of faithful TV viewing ended not with a bang, but with a whimper. Well, no matter how you’re feeling come this probably-gorgeous Friday evening, a brief, free dance performance featuring an impressive roster of talent beckons with a message for any mood: Peace.

SGI–USA, a network of Nichiren Buddhist neighborhood centers, has held monthly concerts at its South Loop location since 2004; for its next, dancer (and Buddhist) Hamilton Nieh—terrific over the weekend as a guest on Ballet Chicago’s spring bill—has gathered friends and colleagues to put on a show. “Ceremony in the Air” features performances by Abigail Simon of the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Benjamin Wardell, Nieh and Kirsten Shelton of Luna Negra Dance Theater, and others in work from Theater Regensburg (Germany), Bodystories/Teresa Fellion Dance (NYC), George Balanchine, Daniel Duell, Eduardo Vilaro and Viktor Kabaniaev. The hour-long concert also includes a tribute to Pascual Olivera and Angela del Moral, storied flamenco artists who passed away in 2003 and 2006, respectively. “Dance is a universal language with a transcending power to open the human heart,” says Nieh. We couldn’t agree more.

Friday, May 28 at the SGI–USA Chicago Culture Center, 1455 S Wabash Ave (312-913-1211, sgi-usa-chicago.org). El: Red, Orange, Green to Roosevelt. Bus: 1, 3, 4, 129. Metra Elec Main: Roosevelt Road Station. Doors 6:30pm, show 7pm. Parking and admission are FREE!