A whole lot of soul is the goal every time Giordano Dance Chicago commands the stage.

The award-winning, Chicago-based jazz dance company even has its own technique: the Giordano Technique, which is credited with promoting jazz dance technique around the world. It was developed by Gus Giordano after founding the company in 1963.

The company will perform Friday at Ent Center for the Arts.

“It’s power coming from within,” said artistic director Nan Giordano about the method. Gus was her father. “It’s elegance, it’s grounded. It’s from the center, which is in the pelvis in our technique, which is where everything comes out. It’s soulful. Our dancers possess a certain spark that’s different than others.”

Ten dancers will perform six jazz pieces, including four full company works and one solo choreographed by Nan and associate artistic director Cesar G. Salinas.

“It’s a high energy feeling,” Nan said. “You don’t just see our dancers are beautiful but you feel it. We are a very athletic company and joyful.”

Choreographer Brock Clawson’s piece, “Give and Take,” is a sensuous dance that explores the dynamics of relationships through five repartnering couples.

Liz Imperio’s “La Belleza de Cuba” pays tribute to her Cuban roots and showcases the jazz of the country’s streets and nightclubs. The choreographer has worked with Jennifer Lopez and other celebrities and done dance direction on such programs as “Dancing With the Stars” and the “American Music Awards.”

The solo piece, “333,” choreographed by Nan and Salinas, refers to an angel number that resonates with Nan and represents three generations of Giordanos: her father, herself and her son, who died last year. It’s a refresh of a piece by Gus that uses Otis Redding’s song “Try a Little Tenderness” and features dancer Erina Ueda, who joined the company five years ago as its first female Asian dancer. She appeared in the 2018 Netflix film “Driven to Dance” and last year was named in Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch.

“It’s like Sports Illustrated’s top of the top,” Nan said.

Very few jazz dance companies exist today, Nan said, which means it’s even more important to preserve the historical art form.

“The roots stem from Africa where it was used for celebration, tragedy, love, marriage, the birth of a child,” she said. “It’s an art form with a lot of soul to it, and we need more soul and more energy, unity and beauty. These are all things our company, wherever we go, they (audience) don’t just see it, they feel it. A lot of these things are missing in our world. It’s essential.”

A whole lot of soul is the goal every time Giordano Dance Chicago commands the stage.

The award-winning, Chicago-based jazz dance company even has its own technique: the Giordano Technique, which is credited with promoting jazz dance technique around the world. It was developed by Gus Giordano after founding the company in 1963.

The company will perform Friday at Ent Center for the Arts.

“It’s power coming from within,” said artistic director Nan Giordano about the method. Gus was her father. “It’s elegance, it’s grounded. It’s from the center, which is in the pelvis in our technique, which is where everything comes out. It’s soulful. Our dancers possess a certain spark that’s different than others.”

Ten dancers will perform six jazz pieces, including four full company works and one solo choreographed by Nan and associate artistic director Cesar G. Salinas.

“It’s a high energy feeling,” Nan said. “You don’t just see our dancers are beautiful but you feel it. We are a very athletic company and joyful.”

Choreographer Brock Clawson’s piece, “Give and Take,” is a sensuous dance that explores the dynamics of relationships through five repartnering couples.

Liz Imperio’s “La Belleza de Cuba” pays tribute to her Cuban roots and showcases the jazz of the country’s streets and nightclubs. The choreographer has worked with Jennifer Lopez and other celebrities and done dance direction on such programs as “Dancing With the Stars” and the “American Music Awards.”

The solo piece, “333,” choreographed by Nan and Salinas, refers to an angel number that resonates with Nan and represents three generations of Giordanos: her father, herself and her son, who died last year. It’s a refresh of a piece by Gus that uses Otis Redding’s song “Try a Little Tenderness” and features dancer Erina Ueda, who joined the company five years ago as its first female Asian dancer. She appeared in the 2018 Netflix film “Driven to Dance” and last year was named in Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch.

“It’s like Sports Illustrated’s top of the top,” Nan said.

Very few jazz dance companies exist today, Nan said, which means it’s even more important to preserve the historical art form.

“The roots stem from Africa where it was used for celebration, tragedy, love, marriage, the birth of a child,” she said. “It’s an art form with a lot of soul to it, and we need more soul and more energy, unity and beauty. These are all things our company, wherever we go, they (audience) don’t just see it, they feel it. A lot of these things are missing in our world. It’s essential.”

A whole lot of soul is the goal every time Giordano Dance Chicago commands the stage.

The award-winning, Chicago-based jazz dance company even has its own technique: the Giordano Technique, which is credited with promoting jazz dance technique around the world. It was developed by Gus Giordano after founding the company in 1963.

The company will perform Friday at Ent Center for the Arts.

“It’s power coming from within,” said artistic director Nan Giordano about the method. Gus was her father. “It’s elegance, it’s grounded. It’s from the center, which is in the pelvis in our technique, which is where everything comes out. It’s soulful. Our dancers possess a certain spark that’s different than others.”

Ten dancers will perform six jazz pieces, including four full company works and one solo choreographed by Nan and associate artistic director Cesar G. Salinas.

“It’s a high energy feeling,” Nan said. “You don’t just see our dancers are beautiful but you feel it. We are a very athletic company and joyful.”

Choreographer Brock Clawson’s piece, “Give and Take,” is a sensuous dance that explores the dynamics of relationships through five repartnering couples.

Liz Imperio’s “La Belleza de Cuba” pays tribute to her Cuban roots and showcases the jazz of the country’s streets and nightclubs. The choreographer has worked with Jennifer Lopez and other celebrities and done dance direction on such programs as “Dancing With the Stars” and the “American Music Awards.”

The solo piece, “333,” choreographed by Nan and Salinas, refers to an angel number that resonates with Nan and represents three generations of Giordanos: her father, herself and her son, who died last year. It’s a refresh of a piece by Gus that uses Otis Redding’s song “Try a Little Tenderness” and features dancer Erina Ueda, who joined the company five years ago as its first female Asian dancer. She appeared in the 2018 Netflix film “Driven to Dance” and last year was named in Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch.

“It’s like Sports Illustrated’s top of the top,” Nan said.

Very few jazz dance companies exist today, Nan said, which means it’s even more important to preserve the historical art form.

“The roots stem from Africa where it was used for celebration, tragedy, love, marriage, the birth of a child,” she said. “It’s an art form with a lot of soul to it, and we need more soul and more energy, unity and beauty. These are all things our company, wherever we go, they (audience) don’t just see it, they feel it. A lot of these things are missing in our world. It’s essential.”