Tune into June! This month, the official herald of summer breathes its balmy spirit of fun and frolic into the heart of Chicago Dance.
HIGHLIGHTS:
The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) returns to the Auditorium Theatre June 4th with some of Chicago’s best percussive dance companies in “The Chicago Rhythm Fest,” the finale performance of the citywide celebration, STOMPING GROUNDS. CHRP’s resident ensemble BAM!, alongside the Trinity Irish Dance Company, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago, and Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater perform original choreography that showcases each company’s unique cultural traditions. This exceptional collaboration is part of the Auditorium Theatre’s “Made in Chicago” Dance Series. 
Chicago Rhythm Fest
Treat yourself to something new and different. If you didn’t catch Hubbard Street and The Second City’s grand experiment in dance and sketch comedy last year, don’t miss the reprise of their hilarious “The Art Of Falling,” at the Harris Theater June 9-19.
The Art of Falling
Giordano Dance Chicago returns to the Auditorium Theatre June 11th for the final performance of the season's "Made in Chicago" Dance Series. Led by Artistic Director Nan Giordano, the company will perform five works from the company's 157-piece repertory, including Crossing/Lines, Feelin' Good Sweet, Can't Take This Away, Sneaky Pete, and Sing, Sing, Sing.
Check out Pivot Arts Festival, an annual celebration of innovative performance throughout Chicago’s Uptown & Edgewater neighborhoods. Over the course of two weeks, audiences have the opportunity to see and hear unique music, theater, dance, puppetry, all ages shows, comedy and more. Featured dance events include Peter Carpenter at 7:30 PM June 3rd at Loyola University’s Mundelein Center as part of the “Festival Tapas Night,” and at 10 PM, “Hip Hop Celebration” curated by Drunken Monkee. Kristina Isabelle Dance Company will Perform “And The Spirit Moved Me” June 4-5. “Revival” Performance Art Dance Party takes place June 11th at Preston Bradley Center.
Pivot Arts Festival
Chicago Tap Theatre presents "We Will Tap You," a night of rock and tap June 25th at the Athenaeum Theatre, exclusively featuring the music of the legendary Queen. Freddie Mercury, lead vocalist and songwriter, and Queen entertained fans for more than four decades with their powerful vocals and musical fusion of hard rock and glam rock. This one night only event will be a bright, heartfelt and over the top celebration of this iconic band, as interpreted by Music Director Schweitz and Chicago Tap Theatre. Playing during Pride Week in Chicago, this is the perfect time to recognize and honor Queen’s contribution to the music world. In addition guest artists Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, Lakeside Pride Freedom Marching Band and Chicago Spirit Brigade join CTT on stage and the performance marks the debut of an unprecedented concert aerial tap piece, in collaboration with C5, in this large-scale extravaganza.
Chicago Tap Theatre
ADDITIONAL JUNE EVENTS:
Concert Dance Inc (CDI) performances June 2-3 at Ravinia will highlight a preview of Artistic Director Venetia Stifler’s critically-acclaimed full-length work, originally created in 1985 but reimagined for the 21st Century, “The Chicago Project: Future Present.” In addition, featured guest company, the Ruth Page Civic Ballet, will perform “Movements,” created as part of its cultural exchange program with Cuba’s Escuela Nacional de Ballet in 2015. Also on the program are audience favorites "When All Is Said and Done/German Songs," and last year's premiere "Fly Me To The Moon."
Matter Dance Company presents “Page Turner: Choose Your Own Adventure” June 2-4 at Stage 773. The audience decides what story is told every night. In this groundbreaking performance, Matter Dance Company combines unique and awe-inspiring dances with a classic choose your own adventure storyline.
“Openwork” June 3-5 at Links Hall is Synapse Arts’ new performance piece that challenges the distinction between craft and art by magnifying the activity of knitting into a dance. An elaborate landscape is formed by dancers who use their limbs as knitting needles to create floor-to-ceiling textiles.
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre continues its Inside/Out series of collaborative music, dance and visual art with Wilfredo Rivera and “American Catracho” June 3rd at the Box Theater.
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater presents a Music and Dance Concert June 8th at Old Town School of Folk Music. “Flamenco Passion,” June 17-19 at North Shore Center For The Performing Arts, will commemorate the Ensemble’s 40th anniversary. Ensemble Español is Chicago's world class Spanish dance company under the dynamic leadership of Founder and Artistic Director, Dame Libby Komaiko and Associate Artistic Director, Irma Suarez Ruiz.
Perceptual Motion, Inc. presents “River/Sky/Lake/Clouds June 11th at the Ruth Page Center. Join three women at the sea in the early morning in Lin Shook's "Where the Sky Meets the Sea". Experience the intersections of energy, Tai Chi, calligraphy, and modern dance in "Ener-Chi". Roll in the aisles with laughter as 4 feisty women confront stereotypes associated with aging in "Babes in Babushkas". Learn - in just five minutes! - how the universe was created in "Unbiting the Apple". Remember a past love in "Across Time and Space". Hear how a jock fell in love with dance in "Dance 101."
SET FREE, June 20th at Links Hall, aspires to increase influence and overlapping appreciation among emerging and experienced artists working within the structures of SET composition and FREE improvisation. The four artists participating in this new series are Peter Carpenter, Lisa Gonzales, Jessica Marasa and Ysaye McKeever.
For details and tickets, go to seechicagodance.com and click on “Upcoming Events.”