Hubbard Street dances into Overture’s 20th anniversary season

As Overture Center marks its 20th anniversary season, we are thrilled to welcome back some of the most popular artists and groups from the past two decades. Among them is a true audience favorite—Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. This renowned contemporary dance company has graced the Overture stage six times, with their last performance in 2015.

“For our 20th season, I was intentional about bringing back some of the greatest artists,” said Tim Sauers, Chief Artistic Experiences Officer at Overture. Sauers, who curates performances for Broadway and Overture Presents shows, explained, “Certain shows return year after year because they resonate deeply with audiences. People feel something special when they see these performances, sparking excitement that keeps them coming back.”

Meet Dancer Simone Stevens

One of this season’s highlights is Hubbard Street’s return to Overture Hall on Saturday, Oct. 5. The company, which kicked off its 2024/25 season with rehearsals in August, includes talented dance artist Simone Stevens. This is Stevens’ fourth season with Hubbard Street.

Originally from Stone Mountain, Georgia, Stevens grew up surrounded by dance. She began lessons at age three and eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and minor in anthropology from Kennesaw State University. After moving to Chicago, she trained on scholarship at the Lou Conte Dance Studio and worked with various dance companies before joining Hubbard Street Dance in 2021.

“I enjoy contemporary dance because it features a lot of styles, not just one genre of dance,” explained Stevens. “I get to use all the skills and tools I’ve learned over the years. There’s a lot I can relate to and engage with in the music.”

About Hubbard Street Dance

Hubbard Street Dance has 14 full-time company artists and, this year, two seasonal artists and two swings. Their season is comprised of a series of performances in fall, winter and spring. Harris Theatre on Chicago’s Loop is their home performance space, but they will appear at the Steppenwolf Theatre for the first time this winter. They also tour the country with stops in Santa Barbara in September, Madison in October, three Utah cities in February and New York City in March.

Stevens is excited to perform in Madison as part of Overture’s 20th-anniversary celebration. She hopes the audience will not only enjoy the performance but also feel inspired to take a class, try something new or simply get up and dance.

“Dancing is taxing physically and mentally, but the people I dance with are incredibly inspiring, truly top-tier human beings,” she said. “Dancing is more than the techniques and proficiency of the craft. You’ll see the humanity and how we look out for each other.”

What You Can Expect

On what Madison audiences can expect, Artistic Director Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell had the following to say: “We are thrilled to return to Madison for Overture’s 20^th anniversary season. With the full spectrum of contemporary dance on display, this stunning program is going to blow audiences away. Especially considering it’s been almost 10 years since we have performed at Overture Center, we cannot wait to share the evolution of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago with Overture’s patrons.”

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s return to Overture Hall promises to be a highlight of this milestone season, as we celebrate 20 years of bringing world-class performances to Madison. We look forward to sharing this special moment with our community and continuing to create unforgettable artistic experiences for years to come.

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