Lyric Theatre In Downtown Stuart

The key ingredient in dance is fearlessness. The young performers of the Chicago-based Hubbard Street 2 company live, breathe, sleep — and dance — this credo. The Windy City’s Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has become so successful, so established, with sell-out performances across America and around the world, they’ve sprouted an offshoot: Hubbard Street 2. It’s a company of six vibrant and hungry young dancers — between ages 17 and 25 — who perform a repertory of works by some of the country’s most promising up-and-coming choreographers. “Pure bliss, pure movement, and pure joy,” raves the Chicago Sun-Times. Founded in 1977 by choreographer Lou Conte, Hubbard Street quickly became an important force in contemporary American dance, premiering innovative and exciting pieces that required the dancers to be both athletic and fragile, and the audience to remain open to things they might not have seen before. Conte forged a partnership with the legendary Twyla Tharp in 1990, acquiring six of her major works and commissioning a brand new one for the Hubbard Street company. Hubbard Street 2 celebrates its 10th anniversary this season. “The second company has become a place for emerging dance talent, overall dance talent, not just choreographers,” said former Hubbard Street Executive director Gail Kalver. “It’s really kind of a playground for emerging talent.” From the Village Voice: “Hubbard Street 2 ... may be chamber-size, but its young dancers possess enough exuberance to fill a stadium.” An integral component of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Education & Community programs, with a mission to identify and nurture young choreographers, Hubbard Street 2 initiated a National Choreographic Competition in the summer of 1999. Every summer, the competition provides three winners each with a one-week residency to create an original work.