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AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS:

DANCE FOR LIFE CHICAGO (August 19, 7:30 PM, Auditorium Theatre) is arguably the Chicago dance community’s single most significant event of the year. Unique in its scope, it serves as a model for the arts community throughout the country, uniting the very highest levels of artistic achievement with the very noblest of humanitarian endeavors in its annual showcase of what makes Chicago dance, and Chicago’s dancers, so very special.

As Thodos Dance Chicago (TDC) shifts its structure, embarking on new and exciting projects, it closes out the final performances of the season with New Dances 2017. The New Dances initiative began in 2000 and gives the dancers a chance to switch hats and take a turn at being not only the choreographer, but also the director. “For a three-month period, it’s like they’re running their own company,” said founder and artistic director Melissa Thodos.

Strike up the band for July! Tap Dance dominates with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s annual Rhythm World Festival (July 17-23) and Chicago Tap Theatre’s extended run of “Changes” (June 30-July 16). Joining the midsummer Chicago dance roster are three programs devoted to the development of new choreography: Cerqua Rivera (July 13), Thodos Dance Chicago (July 15-16) and DanceChance (July 28).

A dancer dies twice – once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the most painful. ~Martha Graham

As Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) takes the Landmark Stage at the Auditorium Theatre this weekend, they will be saying goodbye to two company dancers. But, unlike Ms. Graham’s quote above, there will not be pain – there will be nothing but joy, love, and gratitude. Rachael Lynn Berube and Joshua Blake Carter will take their final bows with full hearts and eyes open expectantly toward the future. 

The month of June kicks off a summer of Chicago dance with neighborhood festivals, company seasons, and single events, with dance styles ranging from contemporary to jazz and tap, multi-disciplinary to culturally-specific, musical theater to hip-hop. Check out our highlights, and try something new in June! 

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS:

The Merry Month of May is blooming with dance in Chicago.

Go crazy! Whether you’re a dancing fool or a fool for dance, April is Dance Month in Chicago, so kick up your heels and head out for a month that showers the city with the breadth, diversity and artistic richness of the Chicago dance community. In addition to the dozens of dance performances and classes taking place throughout the month, Chicago Dance Month Open Doors, Open Spaces partners are offering FREE events that welcome dance fans to an open rehearsal, a site-specific performance in an unusual venue or a discussion about the creation and presentation of dance.

Funky, steely-strong, soft and seductive, hip, cool, gutsy, or slinky, Giordano Dance Chicago hits all notes on the jazz scale for its Spring Engagement  at the Harris Theater Friday, March 31st and Saturday, April 1st at 7:30 PM. 

Hailed as America’s original jazz dance company, Giordano Dance Chicago continues to expand its founding director Gus Giordano’s original vision of bringing jazz dance to the concert dance stage in all its many permutations. 

PBS.org’s Child Development Tracker lists the characteristics of an average five year old: creative and enthusiastic problem-solvers, language is well-developed, speak in complex and compound sentences, and recognize that art can tell a story. As Chicago Repertory Ballet (CRB) celebrates its fifth anniversary, it is tracking right along in its development. Artistic Director Wade Schaaf is nothing if not creative and enthusiastic, and by keeping his ensemble functioning, clearly he is a problem solver.

There is enough wonderful dance happening in Chicago to keep you on your toes almost every night throughout the month of March. Local and touring companies from out of town grace stages small and large throughout the city. The town is fairly bursting with new, creative collaborations between choreographers, dancers, musicians, filmmakers, videographers, actors, poets and more.