IN THE LIMELIGHT:
2014 Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival | January 6-12, 2014 | Experience genre-defying national & international circus for daringly moving full-length contemporary circus shows, late-night cabaret & more. Shows at the Athenaeum & Links Hall. Tickets for all shows available through the Athenaeum box office 773-935-6875 or online.
JANUARY NEWSLETTER
By Vicki Crain
Winter is officially here and with it comes a bit of a lull in the city's dance schedule. With all The Nutcracker's wrapped up for the year, we are excited to look forward to what 2014 has in store. So make your resolutions -- hint: see more dance! -- and join us in ringing in the new year.
The City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) launches a new free dance series, OnEdge, focusing on experimental dance and theater with performances and workshops throughout the month at the Cultural Center and the Storefront Theater.
From Jan. 6-12, the 2014 Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival brings seven circus companies to town for the first time. The week will feature shows, cabaret-style performances, workshops, seminars and discussions.
The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) holds its Winter Tap JAMboree with master classes, scholarship auditions and a panel discussion. Some of the teachers include Ayodele Casel and Sarah Savelli who are currently dancing with Savion Glover.
Speaking of Savion Glover, don't miss the Broadway stars new show STePz at the Harris Theater on Friday, Jan. 24. A Chicago premiere, STePz recently received four stars from The Huffington Post.
Archipelago: An evening of solos and duets is a collaboration with choreography from eight local contemporary artists, who each created a solo or duet and worked together to mesh them into an "island" to forge a new evening-length work. The performances run Jan. 24-26 at Stage 773.
January also boasts some great deals on classes. The American Rhythm Center (ARC) is hosting the second annual Free-4-All, a week of free classes including tap, jazz, hip hop, flamenco, Indian, modern, swing and much more. You can "Tour the ARC" and enter to win prizes such as a free 10-class card.
On MLK Day (January 17), The Joffrey Academy of Dance hosts an African dance Master Class with Andrea Vinson, Associate Artistic Director of Najwa Dance Corps for $15.
Stay tuned! There's a plethora of fantastic dance in the months ahead from our hometown favorites big and small, as well as some stellar touring performances.
Happy New Year!