Print all In new window Chicago Dancing Festival Announces Repertoire for 10th Anniversary Celebration – Free Tickets Released July 19-21

Print all In new window Chicago Dancing Festival Announces Repertoire for 10th Anniversary Celebration – Free Tickets Released July 19-21 1 The Chicago Dancing Festival, the nation’s largest dance festival, proudly announces repertoire for its 10th annual series with George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco(performed by Pennsylvania Ballet in its Chicago Dancing Festival debut), Alexander Ekman’s Episode 31 (The Joffrey Ballet, originally commissioned in 2013), Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain (The Joffrey Ballet) and a new work by world-renowned choreographer Randy Duncan set to an original score by five-time Emmy Award-winning, Chicago-based composer Andy Mitranas as part of Chicago Dancing Festival’s first-time collaboration with Chicago Dancers United, among program highlights. This year’s event will present five unique programs in five days across Chicago’s top downtown venues - the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, the highly anticipated return to the Auditorium Theatre, and for the first time at Navy Pier in celebration of the Festival’s 10th anniversary - August 23-27, 2016.

The Chicago Dancing Festival, the nation’s largest dance festival, proudly announces repertoire for its 10th annual series with George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco(performed by Pennsylvania Ballet in its Chicago Dancing Festival debut), Alexander Ekman’s Episode 31 (The Joffrey Ballet, originally commissioned in 2013), Christopher Wheeldon’s After the Rain (The Joffrey Ballet) and a new work by world-renowned choreographer Randy Duncan set to an original score by five-time Emmy Award-winning, Chicago-based composer Andy Mitranas as part of Chicago Dancing Festival’s first-time collaboration with Chicago Dancers United, among program highlights. This year’s event will present five unique programs in five days across Chicago’s top downtown venues – the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, the highly anticipated return to the Auditorium Theatre, and for the first time at Navy Pier in celebration of the Festival’s 10th anniversary – August 23-27, 2016.

Co-produced by renowned choreographer Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, Chicago Dancing Festival will also present an inaugural, evening-length program devoted to “Modern Men” featuring performances by all male dancers including the Chicago Premieres of Concerto by international choreographer and founder of MOVE: the company, Joshua Beamish(2016 Festival Debut), Desire Liar by Bessie Award-winning modern dancers Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener (2016 Festival Debut) and solo excerpts from Some of a Thousand Works by Choreographer in Residence at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Brian Brooks. Modern Men will also feature the popular return of the Chicago Dancing Festival audience favorite,Students of the Asphalt Jungle by Rennie Harris and selections from Aszure Barton’s Awáa.

As part of its 10th year celebration, the Chicago Dancing Festival will also make its Navy Pier debut with a world-themed dance program entitled Planet Chicago featuring, for the first time, an evening devoted entirely to Chicago-based ensembles including the Festival debut of Forward Momentum Chicago plus the popular returns of Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Natya Dance Theatre and Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. Planet Chicago will kick off at Polk Bros Park before inviting audience members to join a rhythmic processional along the south dock of Navy Pier with stops at the Pier’s outdoor stages. The performance will culminate with a vibrant and interactive performance in the new Polk Bros Fountain and Plaza which invites audience members to dance along.

Supported by the Polk Bros. Foundation, Planet Chicago is also presented as part of Navy Pier’s Arts & Discovery programming initiative dedicated to presenting vibrant, Chicago-based arts, cultural and community programming in honor of the Pier’s centennial year and to continue its commitment to welcoming people of all backgrounds in its second century. Planet Chicago is the first major dance event presented as part of this initiative.

All Chicago Dancing Festival programs are free and seating is general admission, but tickets for indoor events must be reserved in advance. Tickets for the Festival will become available to the general public July 19- 21.

 

Chicago Dancing Festival 2016 Schedule

 

 *Chicago Dancing Festival debut

 

Tuesday, August 23 – 7:00 p.m.

Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress

Opening Night Celebration

Immediately following the Opening Night Celebration, audience members are invited to join dancers from Stars of American Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, Pennsylvania Ballet and The Joffrey Ballet for a 10th Anniversary Festival Fundraiser at the Chicago Athletic Hotel to celebrate a decade of presenting superior dance programming featuring cocktails, dinner and desserts. Tickets for the post-show event are on-sale now with individual tickets starting at $250. Details can be found at the Chicago Dancing Festival’s website.

Wednesday, August 24 – 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Avenue

Modern Men

 

Thursday, August 25 –7:30 p.m.

Harris Theater for Music and Dance at Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph Street

Dancing at the Harris

 

Friday, August 26 – 5:30 p.m.

Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue

Planet Chicago

 

Polk Bros Park – 5:30 p.m.

A traditional South African Gumboot dance featuring over 80 young dancers from Chicago    Public Schools, Chicago Park District, and schools and studios throughout Chicago.

East Performance Platform – 6:00 p.m.

A performance of contemporary and ancient African, African-American and Caribbean dance, music, and folklore.

Center Performance Platform – 6:30 p.m.

A tap and percussive dance piece performed by Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s resident performance ensemble

A contemporary performance of the classical Indian dance-theatre art of Bharata Natyam

Polk Bros Park Fountain – 7:00 p.m.

A cumulating performance of the Gumboot dance which invites all audience members to join the dancers for a participatory event in the newly created Polk Bros Park Fountain.

 

Saturday, August 27 – 7:30 p.m.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph Street

Dancing Under the Stars