40 Years Strong
"Mordine & Co., eight dancers strong, continues to sparkle with the richness of her choreography."
- Lynn Shapiro, Dance Magazine, June 2009
Selections from Critical Reviews
"SoloWorks: In the Company of Courage ... was a minimalist masterpiece."
— Lucia Mauro, Chicago Tribune Critic
"Shirley Mordine's Edge Mode ... bursts with invention and clarity ... full of risk, it has all the marks of a master statement."
— Chicago Tribune
"Mordine is a choreographer clearly capable of remarkable freshness and originality."
— Dance Magazine
"Choreographer Shirley Mordine long ago established her reputation as one of the most accomplished craftsmen in Chicago. Her canny manipulation of the raw material of dance - sheer movement of space and time - knows no peer."
— The Reader, Chicago
"Adventurous, audacious, gutsy and energetic, are words frequently used to describe a dance choreographed by Mordine."
— Evanston Review
"Shirley Mordine's artfully crafted dances convey wit, sensitivity and a flair for the theatrical. They speak with choreographic authority, and her company interprets them with articulate technique."
— Chicago Sun Times
Recent Audience Responses
I Haven't Gone There (Premiere, May 2010)
"I Haven't Gone There is a magical performance experience... a vivid and captivating journey to a dusty Italian countryside via infrequently-traveled thoroughfares of the imagination... Fillini-esque, with a touch of Dick Van Dyke..." — Teresa Pankratz
"Particularly wonderful venue for a tale of travelers and one that involved a welcoming collaboration of artists. A lovely world and dynamic story. Huge kudos for such a new & delightful undertaking." — Timothy Heck
"I loved it and was moved to tears at one point. I Haven't Gone There was incredibly thought-provoking, moving and intelligent—one of the most unique and innovative pieces I've seen this year." — Madison Palffy
"Wonderful overall show, with the last piece being a clear standout—an excellent, engaging, moving example of theater-musical-movement integration." — Marc LeMay
"I enjoy seeing Mordine & Co. because there is always something experimental, something uplifting, something to ponder…"
— C. Zucco
"Incredibly engaging performers. Beautiful costumes. Great interaction with live music." — Genevieve Garcia
"Thank you for providing a thrilling live experience in an interesting and engaging space." — Jim Manganello
"Eclectic and magnificent". — Chris Nelson
"This work created a very different experience for me with the story telling, music, movement, use of space, theatrics…"
— Alitra Cartman
"Amazing show" — Kelsey Quinn
The 800 lb. Gorilla in the room
"This (The 800 lb. Gorilla in the room) was one of the most intriguing evenings I've spent in the theater in a long time. The work was so diverse, and yet the artists were really dealing with huge subjects; the fraying of society, Hurricane Katrina, female stereotypes ... my husband and I talked about it for over an hour after we got home!"
"I attended The 800 lb. Gorilla on the first truly snowy night of 2007 and I am so glad I did."
"... it was provocative, hence the name of the program."
"This was my first Mordine event but it won't be my last."
"Great concept for a production. Collaboration for many voices is key."
"A wide spectrum of theater/dance disciplines and depth of subject matter..."
"Loved it."
"Thank you."