A world without borders

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They leap in the air, feet moving in fast motion as they follow the rhythm of the legs before landing softly on the hard surface. They twirl, swan-like arm movements filling the air, fingers interlocked in one continuous movement until signaled to break. They dance.

In celebration of the 35th anniversary of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Portland’s White Bird Dance organization will bring the contemporary dance group to the City of Roses once more.

Next Wednesday, White Bird will host Illinois-based Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Israeli dancers Ohad Naharin and Sharon Eyal choreographed the performance, which showcases contemporary Israeli choreography, according to a press release.

Paul King, co-founder and president of White Bird, explains the motives behind the themed event.

“We do not have an Israeli company [performing] this year,” he said. “It seemed like a very good idea to us to put together an all-Israeli program with a very much American dance company.”

The Hubbard troupe will be performing Eyal’s “Too Beaucoup” and Naharin’s “Three to Max.” Though they are featured in the same event, both choreographers have different styles of dance and attire and of conveying a mood.

“Naharin’s work is more stripped down, and his costuming is more basic: They wear different colored T-shirts and dark leggings. It’s very simple,” King said. “When you look at Eyal’s work and the piece that’s going to be on it, the dancers look otherworldly—they look like aliens. They powder their faces, they even have white wigs on, and she has her dancers wear contact lenses so they look like they’re from outer space. It’s going to be a fascinating comparison between the two choreographers and the work in the program.”

White Bird last hosted Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 2010. White Bird co-founder Walter Jaffe explained the reasoning behind bringing the group back to Portland and what an audience can expect from the performers themselves.

“This is a very elite group of dancers, who are very professional, from all over the world,” he said. “They’re at the highest level; you’re going to see a lot of amazing artistry and very refined work by [the] dancers. They’re at the very top level of their form and in their rank.”

This will mark the fifth performance White Bird has held so far this year. Both King and Jaffe are pleased with the company’s season thus far.

“I’m feeling very good about this season,” Jaffe said. “We have a lot coming up. The next few weeks are basically nonstop dance for us, and it’s hard to choose what we’re most excited about because, it sounds a little cliche, but we’re excited about everything.”

King hopes to honor White Bird’s anniversary season by reaching out to as many fans, both new and old, as possible.

“In our 15th anniversary we were hoping to visit old friends and go places in this journey with our amazing audience,” King said. “We have 1,500 subscribers and a 70 percent renewal rate. We have a very loyal following so we want to lead, stimulate and engage them.”