Harris Theater presents dynamic duo program by The Joffrey Ballet, Nov. 6-9, 2025

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE PRESENTS 

JOFFREY AT THE HARRIS: MATTERS OF THE HEART

 

Image credits (from top left, clockwise): Chanel DaSilva (credit: Stephanie Diani), The Main Squeeze, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa (Joe Shults), Broken Wings (Rosalie O’Connor)

Dynamic two-act program showcases World Premiere of Wabash & You, a Chicago love story by Chanel DaSilva with on-stage funk band, along with Midwest debut of Frida Kahlo-inspired Broken Wings, by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa

FIVE PERFORMANCES ONLY, NOVEMBER 6-9, 2025

The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance proudly presents what is certain to be a highlight of its Harris Theater Presents 2025-26 season – Joffrey at the Harris: Matters of the Heart – a dynamic program featuring The Joffrey Ballet performing works by two of today’s top female choreographers, Chanel DaSilva and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.

Drawing on themes of love and resilience, The Joffrey Ballet will perform the world premiere of DaSilva’s Wabash & You, a love story set in Chicago featuring live, on-stage accompaniment by The Main Squeeze funk band.

In addition the Company will perform the Midwest debut of Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings (2024), inspired by the life and art of Frida Kahlo and set to a score by in-demand UK-based ballet composer Peter Salem performed live by the Chicago Philharmonic, a Harris Theater Resident Company.    

“This collaboration with the Joffrey, our neighbors whose flagship home is just down Randolph Street from the Harris, feels both natural and long overdue,” said Harris Theater President and CEO Lori Dimun. “At a time when the arts – and our world – are navigating new challenges, dynamic collaboration is essential to sustaining a healthy future. To have a partner like the Joffrey, willing to embrace the opportunity and risk of sharing such vital work, is a gift. The Joffrey was a founding resident company of the Harris, helping to shape the Theater’s design and stage accommodations in its earliest days. This partnership reflects not only that shared history, but also our shared commitment to Chicago, to elevating important choreographic voices in dance.”

"When Chicago's cultural institutions come together, the city is at its most inspired," added Joffrey Ballet President and CEO Greg Cameron. "Partnering with the Harris Theater for Matters of the Heart reflects the strength and unity of our cultural landscape and is a testament to what's possible when organizations work in concert: beautiful storytelling, creative spirit, and powerful connections between artists and audiences. This is Chicago at its best: collaborative, creative, and committed to community."

"Welcoming back Chanel DaSilva and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa is a celebration, and a reunion, of two visionary artists whose stories pulse with fearlessness and beauty," said Joffrey Ballet Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE. "In Matters of the Heart, Chanel and Annabelle's works speak in two different choreographic languages, but both strike the same universal chord: heartbreak is timeless. Matters of the Heart illustrates how powerfully women shape the stories dance can tell.”

The world premiere of DaSilva’s Wabash & You, set in downtown Chicago, is a modern twist on the classic girl-meets-boy love story, reminding audiences that love can find us anywhere at any time. But… does that mean that love will last forever? Wabash & You is a love letter both to the city of Chicago and to the hopeless romantics that live within us all. Notably, the music will be performed live by the dynamic and soulful Bloomington, IN-based funk band, The Main Squeeze. The band will be onstage with the dancers, both playing the soundtrack for the piece and being a part of the experience.

Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings tells the story of iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, highlighting her connection to her Mexican heritage through a unique blend of classical and contemporary dance. Originally commissioned by the English National Ballet, the work incorporates Mexican folk songs and draws on Kahlo’s paintings for its vibrant set and costume design. Broken Wings aims to capture Kahlo's spirit of resilience, pain, and love, transforming her story into a visual and emotional performance.  

Joffrey at the Harris: Matters of the Heart will be presented in five performances only, November 6-9, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Street: Thursday and Friday, Nov. 6 and 7, at 7:30 PM; Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 PM and 7:30 PM; and Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2:00 PM.  Single tickets start at $46 (including all service charges) and are available at harristheaterchicago.org or by calling 312.334.7777. ASL interpretation and Audio Description will be available on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 PM.

Leadership support for the 2025-2026 Harris Theater Presents season is provided by: Irving Harris Foundation and Joan W. Harris, Abby McCormick O'Neil and D. Carroll Joynes, Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation, The Harris Family Foundation, Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Family Foundation and Alexandra C. Nichols, Jack and Sandra Guthman, ITW, Gregory J. O'Leary and Patricia A. Kenney, Nancy Dehmlow, William Blair & Company and Alaina Anderson, Reed Smith LLP and Peter M. Ellis, Marilyn F. and David J. Vitale, Bank of America, Gail Eisenhart Belytschko, Pamela Crutchfield, Ted A. Grady and Dr. Ross Slotten, Christine and Glenn Kelly, Merrillyn J. Kosier and James F. Kinoshita, Helen Hall Melchior, Frank Modruson and Lynne Shigley, The A. Montgomery Ward Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Co-Trustee, and Fifth Third Bank.

Joffrey at the Harris: Matters of the Heart is generously supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Patricia A. Kenney and Gregory J. O’Leary, Gary Metzner and Scott Johnson, Courtney C. Shea, and Penelope R. Steiner, with additional support from Ted A. Grady and Dr. Ross Slotten, Merrillyn J. Kosier and James F. Kinoshita, Phil Lumpkin and Bill Tedford, and Mr. and Mrs. Alejandro Silva.

 

ABOUT THE JOFFREY BALLET

The Joffrey Ballet is one of the premier dance companies in the world today, with a reputation for boundary-breaking performances for 70 years. The Joffrey repertoire is an extensive collection of all-time classics, modern masterpieces, and original works. Founded in 1956 by pioneers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, the Joffrey remains dedicated to artistic expression, innovation, and first-rate education and engagement programming. The Joffrey Ballet continues to thrive under The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE and President and CEO Greg Cameron. For more information on The Joffrey Ballet and its programs, visit joffrey.org. Connect with the Joffrey on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

ABOUT THE JOAN W. AND IRVING B. HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE

The Harris Theater is Chicago's home for music and dance, connecting diverse audiences with artists from across the city, the nation, and the world. An anchor institution of Millennium Park and the first multi-use performance venue built in downtown Chicago since 1929, the Harris was established in 2003 to create a much-needed home for the city's vibrant community of midsize performing arts organizations. Today, the nonprofit Harris Theater features some of the most diverse arts and culture offerings in the city, from its Chicago-based Resident Companies to the world-renowned visiting artists who perform on its stage through the Harris Theater Presents series. The signature Harris Theater Presents series has featured acclaimed artists and ensembles including Joyce DiDonato, Batsheva Dance, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New York City Ballet, English National Ballet, Joshua Bell, Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras, Angelique Kidjo, and Paris Opera Ballet. The Theater's education and community engagement initiatives build bridges between artists and community members, providing master classes, artist talks, and free tickets for more than 35 partner organizations throughout Chicago.

To learn more about the Harris Theater, Chicago's home for music and dance in Millennium Park, visit harristheaterchicago.org and follow us on Facebook, lnstagram, and Linkedln.

WEEKEND PICKS: XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE TOUR COMING TO CHICAGO’S HARRIS THEATER AT MILLENNIUM PARK SATURDAY, MARCH 30 AT 7:30 P.M.

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

XQ AND POP-UP MAGAZINE PRODUCTIONS LAUNCH THE XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE TOUR

COMING TO CHICAGO’S HARRIS THEATER AT MILLENNIUM PARK SATURDAY, MARCH 30 AT 7:30 P.M.

An immersive and innovative tour across America will combine the power of storytelling and theater, inspiring communities to reimagine high schools.

Host committee includes Ava DuVernay, Sophia Bush, Jimmy Iovine, Yo-Yo Ma, Hebru Brantley, Geoff Canada, and over 100 community organizations including Chicago CRED, Generation All, Chicago Unity for Equity and Urban League of Chicago.   

XQ and Pop-Up Magazine Productions announce XQ Super School Live — a new, one-of-a-kind, immersive storytelling tour to inspire people to reimagine high schools in their own community. This innovative tour is coming to Chicago’s Harris Theater at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr.,  Saturday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. for a night of high school drama — full of stories, selfie confessionals, viral gratitude, and multimedia adventures that celebrate the everyday heroes transforming America’s high schools. 

General admission tickets are available for $19 at HarrisTheaterChicago.org or by phone at 312.334.7777.

“From Homer to hip-hop, storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to connect people to possibilities” says Russlynn Ali, executive producer, XQ Super School Live and CEO, XQ. “XQ Super School Live will take people on a multi-media journey, using true stories to show how high schools can foster curious, creative and collaborative students. Today all too many don’t. It’s up to us to change that - for every student, no matter their race, gender or zip code. Our students deserve nothing less.”

“Pop-Up Magazine is one of the most vibrant and exciting storytelling platforms of our day,” says Marc Ecko, producer, XQ Super School Live and Chief Creative and Strategy Officer, XQ. “Bringing this blend of live performance journalism and theater to the public is powerful —especially in these times. We’re building a new platform for community engagement and civic empowerment.”

Contributors on the tour include Chris Duffy (Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas), Clio Chang (Splinter, New Republic), Dana Bialek (Panoply, Slate), Christina Esquivel (education activist, Communities in Schools), and Andrew Boryga (New York Times, New Yorker). Stories will be accompanied by illustration, animation, photography, an original score performed onstage by Magik*Magik Orchestra, and 17-year-old DJ Prince.

“We’re thrilled to partner with XQ on this innovative, one-of-a-kind tour that brings Pop-Up Magazine Productions’ signature storytelling to life — live, multimedia, reported — to help shape the way we think about our high schools,” says Derek Fagerstrom, producer, XQ Super School Live and Director of Special Projects at Pop-Up Magazine Productions.

Stories such as Mike Floyd, a Texas teenager who in his senior year of high school decided to run for school board. And won. Or Gary Chery, a student whose hilarious cafeteria reviews amazed his teacher — a future professional comedy writer who celebrated Gary’s creativity — but who struggled in a traditional high school environment.

“XQ Super School Live brings the power of storytelling and theater together to ignite a spirit of social change,” says filmmaker Ava DuVernay. “Stories unlock our imagination and this innovative theatre tour celebrates all those working tirelessly to transform our education system — community leaders, business leaders, parents, teachers, and students.”

From the minute the audience walks into the theater, they will be immersed in XQ Super School Live — greeted with art installations by world-renowned artist and XQ Super School Live Creative Chair Hebru Brantley. Brantley is creating special-edition versions of his iconic, youthful Flyboy and Lil Mama. Brantley’s work challenges the traditional view of the hero with his iconic characters and XQ Super School Live saw parallels with the work needed by everyday heroes to reimagine high schools. This innovative and immersive night continues, from the audience receiving an “Orientation Pack” when they enter to being integrated into the actual show (with phones off!), to a reception after the show that fosters network and community-building to help people connect and take on the work of changing our high schools.

All proceeds from ticket sales benefit local non-profit organizations.

ABOUT XQ 
XQ is a growing and passionate network of educators, students, families, and civic-minded citizens reimagining high school education in the United States. Our mission is to fuel America’s collective creativity to transform high school, so every student succeeds, no matter their race, gender, or zip code. We want to see that change underway in every high school and in every community — in all 14,000+ school districts.

XQ launched in September 2015 as an open call to the nation to reimagine the American high school. More than 10,000 people from all 50 states took part. More than 700 teams created unique ideas for innovative, student-centered high schools. From these, 18 Super Schools are now turning their visions into reality. 

Super Schools are just one element to XQ’s work. We offer free, open source tools and materials so that every community can rethink their high schools. And because we believe that great high schools for all are a hallmark of a great nation, we are carrying that message into homes, schools, and neighborhoods across the country to tell stories that show how innovative and creative high schools can and should be.

XQ is led by Co-Founder and CEO Russlynn Ali, former Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights under President Barack Obama, and Co-Founder and Board Chair Laurene Powell Jobs, president of Emerson Collective. Board members include Geoffrey Canada, Marc Ecko, Jimmy Iovine, Michael Klein and Yo-Yo Ma.
www.xqsuperschool.org
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram

ABOUT POP-UP MAGAZINE PRODUCTIONS 
Pop-Up Magazine Productions brings unforgettable multimedia storytelling to major theaters across the nation with the acclaimed live event, Pop-Up Magazine, called “a sensation” by The New York Times and “beautiful” by the Los Angeles Times. Renowned writers, photographers, radio and podcast producers, and filmmakers perform new, true stories onstage, accompanied by a live band and original score. Pop-Up Magazine Productions also publishes The California Sunday Magazine, the national magazine featuring ambitious reported features and photography from across California, the West, Asia, and Latin America. The California Sunday Magazine, founded at the end of 2014, has been named a finalist for 10 National Magazine Awards, including Magazine of the Year and General Excellence, and won three, including the National Magazine Award for Design and the National Magazine Award for Photography two years in a row. 

For more information visit popupmagazine.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

INCOMING: Cirque Éloize: Saloon March 8th & 9th, 2019 at Harris Theater Chicago

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

Cirque Éloize: Saloon

March 8, 2019 / 6PM (adult)

March 9, 2019 / 2PM (families)

 

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we first covered Cirque Éloize in 2011, when they came through Chicago. We adore circus arts and Cirque Éloize is a must see. They're back at The Harris, for two shows only, so don't miss this!  

Artist Profile:

A driving force in the circus art reinvention movement, Cirque Éloize has been creating award-winning entertainment content for nearly 25 years and ranks among the world’s leading contemporary circuses. Cirque Éloize has taken part in numerous prestigious international festivals and has seduced both New York’s Broadway and London’s West End. Its productions are crafted for a wide range of audiences and have been embraced by over fifty cultures.


In the last 24 years, Cirque Éloize’s twelve productions have proudly boasted more than 5,500 performances in over 500 cities and have been seen by over 3,5 million spectators. iD, Cirkopolis and Saloon are respectfully the eighth, ninth and eleventh touring shows under the Cirque Éloize banner. In addition to its touring shows, more than 1,500 Cirque Éloize-designed events have taken place worldwide.

Adult Night Out: 
Mix at Six: Cirque Éloize

Beginning at 6PM, Mix at Six is the series the Chicago Tribune said “ups the cultural ante considerably” features high energy, fast-paced programs after work and opportunities for audiences to engage with featured performers. Each patron (of age) will receive one complimentary beer with ticket, with specialty cocktails and pop-up food truck fare available for purchase in the lobby.


Also in this Series:

Family Friendly Fun:

Bring your family to the Wild West animated with music, choreography, and circus arts. Watch a preview video below or click here to learn more.

The wild west comes alive in a Family Series matinee featuring excerpts from Cirque Éloize’s newest creation, Saloon. Audiences will enter a mythical world where theater and circus collide, combining live folk music with the incredible strength, agility, and original choreography of the boundary-breaking ensemble. 

The Exelon Family Series offers high-quality, engaging programming designed to cultivate the next generation of arts lovers. These hour-long performances are designed for children ages 4-12. Children will have the opportunity to meet and interact with artists following the performance. And as always, audiences are encouraged to laugh, clap, and experience the theater in their own way — no shushing allowed!


The approximate run time of this performance is 60 minutes with no intermission.

WIN A Pair of Tickets (Up To $320 Value) To Jamie Allan's iMAGICIAN High-Tech Magic at Chicago's Harris Theater

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar
U.S. premiere of 
Jamie Allan’s iMagician

Enter below for you chance to 
WIN A Pair of iMagician Ticket 
(Up To $320 Value) 
to the matinee show at 2pm Sunday 12/23 from ChiIL Mama 

& ChiIL Live Shows. 

All our reader also qualify for a 25% discount on all tickets throughout the Chicago run! 

Promo code HERON provides an exclusive 25% off discount.

My family adores magic. My teens have mastered a few card tricks and illusions themselves and we enjoy catching the pros in action. I'll be out with the family Sunday the 23rd for the press opening, so check back soon for my full review. In the meantime, ChiIL Mama's pleased to partner up with iMAGICIAN and the Harris Theater on a stellar ticket giveaway for our readers. 

I have a great 25% off code for my readers good for all tickets throughout the Chicago run at Harris Theater. And one lucky reader will WIN a pair of tickets! Enter below. Tickets make great clutter busting, experiential gift ideas for the holidays. Make memories, not messes! 


Don't miss one of this season’s hottest production coming to Chicago. The producers of Jamie Allan’s iMagician, a show combining trickery and illusion with technology, are delighted to announce the U.S. premiere in Chicago at the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph) for a limited two-week engagement beginning Dec. 22, 2018 through Jan. 6, 2019. Perfect for a unique twist on your holiday shopping this year!

Some of the incredible highlights of this production include:

·The Laser Levitation: A jaw-dropping illusion in which performers fly over the stage, supported only by laser beams.

·Houdini 2.0: Tackles the legendary Harry Houdini’s most dangerous illusions while incorporating modern technology, such as combining immersive video mapping technology with a thrilling underwater escape.

Enter HERE for you chance to WIN A Pair of iMAGICIAN Tickets (Up To $320 Value) to the matinee show at 2pm Sunday 12/23 from ChiIL Mama 

& ChiIL Live Shows. 

ENTER HERE

Disclosure: We have been given complimentary tickets for review purposes and for our giveaway. As always, all opinions are my own. 

WIN A Family 4 Pack of Tickets ($120-$160 value) To RAFFI's “Beluga Grads” Concert at the Harris Theater in Chicago

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:

RAFFI Announces “Beluga Grads” Concert

at the Harris Theater in Chicago on 

Sunday, April 8th

One of the greatest joys of parenting littles is introducing them music you loved as a child. It's heartwarming to see your own kids laughing, singing and dancing to songs you fondly remember, and to relive your own childhood, enjoying old favorites and making new memories together. Raffi has been making children's music for 40 years now, and many of his #BelugaGrads are now parents themselves. His shows are always love-fests, where everyone sings and plays along to Raffi's Singable Songs. Raffi, North America’s preeminent family entertainer, turns 70 this year, and he is marking the occasion with a new album and a series of #belugagrads concerts including a return visit to the Harris Theater in Chicago! ChiIL Mama's even giving away free tickets to one of our lucky families. It's a joy to partner up with Raffi on this stellar opportunity. 

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List:

• Harris Theatre, Chicago April 8 at 1 pm
• Tickets are on sale now - $29.50 to $75. The VIP $75 tickets will include an opportunity to meet Raffi in person after the show. Proceeds benefit The Centre for Child Honouring.

**ENTER HERE for your Chance to WIN Tickets and a career spanning Raffi "Best of" CD!**

ENTER HERE 

WIN A Family 4 Pack of Tickets ($120-$160 value) To RAFFI's “Beluga Grads” Concert at the Harris Theater in Chicago on Sunday, April 8th AND the Best Of Raffi Compilation CD ($15). Winner will be notified by e-mail and posted here and on our social media outlets. Enter through midnight April 2nd, 2018. Winners are chosen by Rafflecopter random number generator. Enter early and often. 

Raffi is a singer, songwriter, producer, author, lecturer, and tireless advocate for children.  He is best known for his work as a children’s entertainer and advocate whose string of gold and platinum-selling recordings includes his iconic song, “Baby Beluga,” Once called “the most popular children’s singer in the English-speaking world” (Washington Post) and “Canada’s all-time children’s champion” (Toronto Star), Raffi is also a recipient of the Order of Canada and the United Nations’ Earth Achievement Award.  He has published three books for adults and holds four honorary degrees.




Raffi has never advertised to children or made any commercial endorsements aimed at kids. His commitment to treating his young fans with respect changed society’s outlook on music made for children. His latest albums (on Rounder Records) include Owl Singalong and Best of Raffi, and he plans a new album release this summer.

“I love singing with and for children and families,” says Raffi. “In 2018, I look forward to hearing more ‘Beluga Grads’ and their kids singing favorites like “Baby Beluga,” “Down By The Bay,” “Bananaphone!” plus more from my recent Best of Raffi album.”

In 2010, Raffi founded the non-profit Centre for Child Honouring. With the motto “Respecting Earth & Child,” the Centre is at the heart of a global movement that views honoring children as the best way to create sustainable, peacemaking societies. For more about Raffi or the Centre, visit www.raffinews.com or www.childhonouring.org.

INCOMING: Peking Acrobats at Harris Theatre This Friday & Saturday Only

Click here for tickets.

This entertaining, all-ages spectacle thrills with astounding feats of mind-boggling talent. The troupe’s gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists, and tumblers blend ancient tradition with modern-day stagecraft for a wild, unforgettable journey of the Far East.

Feb 6, 7:30PM | Feb 7, 2PM

“. . . AT NO TIME HAVE WE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THE PEKING ACROBATS. FEATS OF CLOWNING, DEXTERITY, GRACE, STRENGTH, AND COORDINATION RIPPLED FROM THE STAGE IN A SERIES OF PLEASURABLE WAVES. ONE WAS LEFT WATERLOGGED IN WONDER.” —CHICAGO TRIBUNE

The high-flying thrills and awe-inspiring stunts of The Peking Acrobats have dazzled audiences in the United States for more than two decades, ever since the troupe’s Western debut in 1986. This entertaining, all-ages spectacle thrills with astounding feats of mind-boggling talent, a modern twist on ancient Chinese techniques spanning 2,000 years of history. 

The troupe’s gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists, and tumblers blend ancient tradition with modern-day stagecraft for a wild, unforgettable journey of the Far East. Since their Western debut in 1986, THE PEKING ACROBATS® have redefined audience perceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They perform daring  maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs; they are experts at trick-cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting, and gymnastics. They defy gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility, and control. 

They push the envelope of human possibility with astonishing juggling dexterity and incredible balancing feats, showcasing tremendous skill and ability. They are masters of agility and grace. Often accompanied by live musicians skillfully playing traditional Chinese instruments and high-tech special effects that coalesce with the music and awe-inspiring feats to create an exuberant entertainment event featuring all the excitement and festive pageantry of a Chinese Carnival.

Renowned for their grace, artistry and feats of seemingly impossible physical daring, perennial favorites The Peking Acrobats are a marvel to behold. 

FREE TICKETS RELEASE THIS WEEK, JULY 8 & 9 Chicago Dancing Festival: August 20-23, 2014

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCED FOR 

CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL

Chicago Dancing Festival founders Lar Lubovitch and Jay Franke are pleased to announce today additional works being added to the 2014 Festival lineup, including two more World Premieres, plus plans for a pre- and post-performance sponsors party around the “Celebration of Dance” Grand Finale performance, Saturday, August 23. Free tickets for the Festival’s indoor performances become available to the public this week, July 8 and 9.  The 2014 Chicago Dancing Festival, featuring top ballet, modern and hip-hop companies from Chicago and across the country, is set to take place August 20 – 23.

The Joffrey Ballet 

in 'Bells' by Yuri Possokhov

Dancers: Temur Suluashvili and Victoria Jaiani

Photo by Cheryl Mann

Additional Programming

Chicago-based choreographer Ron De Jesus, a former dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and now Artistic Director of Ron De Jesus Dance, has been commissioned by the Dancing Festival to create a new duet for the dancing male pair of Ben Wardell (Nexus Project, Lucky Plush Productions, formerly Hubbard Street Dance Chicago) and Michel Rodriguez (Nexus Project, formerly Hedwig Dances). Transition Zone will premiere as part of the Festival’s “Dances for 2” at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., in two performances, Friday, August 22.

New York-based choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie, who has set work on and collaborated with pop stars like Beyoncé as well as highly regarded institutions like The Juilliard School, the Alvin Ailey B.F.A. Program and tap legend Savion Glover, has been commissioned by the Festival to create a new work for the student dancers of After School Matters, to premiere on the Pritzker “Celebration of Dance” program, August 23.

These new commissioned works are in addition to the previously announced World Premiere the Festival has commissioned from New York mixed-genre choreographer Kyle Abraham for the dancers of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, entitled Counterpoint. This work, to be performed at the Harris Theater as part of the “Classics and Creations” program August 20, is set to Tu Non Mi Perderai Mai by Peter Gregson and Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor: Third Movement, performed by Arthur Rubinstein.   The full schedule of performances follows below.

“Last Dance” Sponsors Party

This year, the Chicago Dancing Festival hosts “Last Dance,” a party to acknowledge the sponsors whose support is crucial to keeping the Festival’s performances free for the public.  “Last Dance” takes place Saturday, August 23, on the Terrace at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Street.  The evening includes pre-show cocktails beginning at 6 pm followed by reserved seating for the performance at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, then a post-show picnic with cocktails and a chance to mingle with the artists.  Those interested in donating or learning more about sponsorship opportunities can visit www.chicagodancingfestival.com or, for questions, call 773-609-2335.

Ticket Release This Week

Tickets for the indoor performances at Harris Theater and Museum of Contemporary become available this week.  All tickets are free but tickets for indoor events must be reserved in advance through each venue’s box office. 

Tickets for the August 20 program at the Harris Theater will be released Tuesday, July 8 at noon, available in person at the Harris Theater Box Office, 205 E. Randolph Drive, or by calling (312) 334-7777.  Limit two (2) tickets per order; tickets ordered by phone will be held at Will-Call.

Tickets for the August 22 programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art will be release Wednesday, July 9 at noon, available in person at the MCA Stage Box Office, 220 E. Chicago Avenue, or by calling (312) 397-4010.  Limit two (2) tickets per order; tickets ordered by phone will be held at Will-Call.

No tickets are needed for the outdoor Pritzker Pavilion events, including the Opening Night Simulcast presented by the Harris Theater on August 20 and the Grand Finale performance on August 23. 

Any empty seats or tickets unclaimed at 15 minutes prior to curtain time will be released to those in a Stand-by line.  Stand-by lines begin one hour before each performance, in person only. All seating is general admission. 

Chicago Dancing Festival 2014 Schedule

Wednesday, August 20 – 7:30 pm

Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Street

“Classics and Creations”

The Chicago Dancing Festival opening night program will be simulcast on the outdoor screen of the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, thanks to Presenting Sponsor, the Harris Theater. 

• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Counterpoint, CDF original commission by Kyle Abraham          
• The Juilliard School, The Jig Is Up by Eliot Feld
• Martha Graham Dance Company, Errand into the Maze by Martha Graham
• Stars of American Ballet*, Fancy Free by Jerome Robbins
• The Joffrey Ballet, Bells (excerpt) by Yuri Possokhov

Chelsea Bonosky 

in 'Belladonna' by Adam Barruch

Photo by Nel Shelby

Friday, August 22 – 6 pm and 8 pm

Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue

“Dances for 2”

• Adam Barruch, Belladonna by Adam Barruch
• The Joffrey Ballet, Bells (excerpt) by Yuri Possokhov
• Martha Graham Dance Company, Errand into the Maze by Martha Graham
• Ron De Jesus Dance*, Transition Zone, CDF original commission by Ron De Jesus
• Pam Tanowitz Dance*, Passagen by Pam Tanowitz (live music)

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Spring Series

"Falling Angels" Dress Rehearsal by Jiri­ Kylian 

Photo by Todd Rosenberg Photography

Saturday, August 23 – 7:30 pm

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

“Celebration of Dance” Grand Finale

• After School Matters, CDF original commission by Darrell Grand Moultrie
• The Joffrey Ballet, Nine Sinatra Songs by Twyla Tharp
• The Juilliard School, The Jig Is Up by Eliot Feld
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Falling Angels by Jiří Kylián
• Rennie Harris Puremovement*, Students of the Asphalt Jungle by Dr. Rennie Harris
• Stars of Washington Ballet Brooklyn Mack and Maki Onuki, pas de deux from Le Corsaire by Marius Petipa

All programs are subject to change.

*CDF Debut

About the Chicago Dancing Festival

Established in 2007, the Chicago Dancing Festival was founded to elevate awareness of dance in Chicago, to increase accessibility to the art form and to provide inspiration for local artists.  Its mission is to present a wide variety of excellent dance, enrich the lives of the people of Chicago and provide increased accessibility to the art form, thereby helping create a new audience.  Its vision is to raise the national and international profile of dance in the city, furthering Chicago as the “dance capital of the world” (as Mayor Rahm Emanuel put it at the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival). 

Lar Lubovitch (Founder, Artistic Director) is one of America's most versatile and highly acclaimed choreographers and founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company 45 years ago.  In the years since, he has choreographed more than 100 dances for his New York-based company, which has performed in nearly all 50 American states as well as in more than 30 foreign countries.  Born in Chicago, Mr. Lubovitch was educated at the University of Iowa and the Juilliard School in New York.

Jay Franke (Founder, Artistic Director) began his formal training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas.  In 1993, he was selected as a Finalist for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts and accepted into the Juilliard School.  Upon receiving his BFA in Dance from the Juilliard School, Mr. Franke went to work with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, “THARP!”  Mr. Franke has since danced with The 58 Group, Lyric Opera Ballet Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and was a leading dancer in the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company from 2005 to 2010.

The Chicago Dancing Festival is grateful for its 2014 supporters including: InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, Official Hotel Partner; Museum of Contemporary Art; Harris Theater for Music and Dance; City of Chicago, Millennium Park; The Robert and Jamie Taylor Foundation; David Herro and Jay Franke; Illinois Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Chicago Community Trust; Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development; The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust; and the Irving Harris Foundation. The Harris Theater is proud to have the support of The Northern Trust Company as its 2014-2015 season sponsor.

For more information on the Chicago Dancing Festival, its history and programs, visit www.chicagodancingfestival.com.

FREE TICKETS FOR 7th ANNUAL CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL BECOME AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK #dance #multicultural

Ticket Release: July 16, 17 & 18 Chicago Dancing Festival: August 20–24

  Tickets for the 7th annual Chicago Dancing Festival, the “Free-to-All” Festival at venues across downtown Chicago, become available to the general public next week, beginning Tuesday, July 16 at noon.  During the Festival’s five-day run there are five completely free performance showcases, though tickets for indoor events must be reserved in advance.  Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, the 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival features top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country, set to take place August 20 – 24.

Tickets will be released in a staggered format so that each venue releases its tickets on a different day, as follows:  Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 12 Noon Tickets for the “The Harris at 10! Anniversary Special” performance on Tuesday, August 20 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance will be available in person at the Harris Theater Box Office, 205 E. Randolph Drive or by calling (312) 334-7777.  Limit two (2) tickets per order. Wednesday, July 17 at 12 Noon Tickets for the “Dancing in Chicago” performance on Thursday, August 22 at the Auditorium Theatre will be available in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office, 50 E. Congress Parkway, online at www.ticketmaster.com/auditorium or by calling (800) 982-ARTS.  Not available at Ticketmaster Outlets.  Limit two (2) tickets per order. Thursday, July 18 at 12 Noon Tickets for the “Solitaire – A Game of Dance” performances on Friday, August 23 at the Museum of Contemporary Art will be available in person at the MCA Stage Box Office, 220 E. Chicago Avenue or by calling (312) 397-4010.  Limit two (2) tickets per order.

No tickets are needed for the outdoor “Celebration of Dance” Grand Finale performance at the Pritzker Pavilion, Saturday, August 24. 

Any tickets unclaimed at 15 minutes prior to curtain time will be released to those in a Stand-by line.  Stand-by lines begin one hour before the performance, in person only.  All tickets will be held at Will-Call.  All seating for all venues is general admission.  The full 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival schedule is below – program updates include the addition of Brooklyn Mack from the Washington Ballet and Tamako Miyazaki from Columbia Classical Ballet/Dortmund Ballet to the Tuesday and Saturday programs.

  CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL 2013 SCHEDULE

Tuesday, August 20, 7:30 pm – “The Harris at 10! Anniversary Special” Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive · Brian Brooks of Brian Brooks Moving Company, I’m Going to Explode by Brian Brooks · Chicago Human Rhythm Project, In the beginning…^ by Lane Alexander and Bril Barrett (Premiere).  Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Little mortal jump by Alejandro Cerrudo · The Joffrey Ballet, Son of Chamber Symphony by Stanton Welch · Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Crisis Variations+ by Lar Lubovitch · Brooklyn Mack from the Washington Ballet and Tamako Miyazaki from Columbia Classical Ballet/Dortmund Ballet, pas de deux from Diana and Actaeon by Agrippina Vaganova.

  Wednesday, August 21, 6:30 pm – “Solitaire – A Game of Dance” (Gala Performance & Benefit) Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue · The Chicago Dancing Festival celebrates seven years with its annual Gala, an evening celebrating solo artists from the world of classical, contemporary, Bharata Natyam and Flamenco dance.  This fundraising benefit includes a performance and benefit with an opportunity to mingle with many of this year’s participating artists.  Tickets are $250 per person and can be purchased by emailing info@chicagodancingfestival.com.  Space is limited.

Thursday, August 22, 7:30 pm – “Dancing in Chicago” Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway • Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater* in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, Bolero by Dame Libby Komaiko · Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, piece to be announced ·        The Joffrey Ballet, Episode 31^ by Alexander Ekman (Chicago Premiere) ·        Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Transparent Things+ by Lar Lubovitch

Friday, August 23, 6 pm and 8 pm – “Solitaire – A Game of Dance” (The Art of the Solo) Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue ·        Samuel Lee Roberts of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In/Side by Robert Battle · Brian Brooks of Brian Brooks Moving Company, I’m Going to Explode by Brian Brooks · Camille A. Brown of Camille A. Brown & Dancers, The Real Cool (a solo excerpt from Mr. Tol E. Rance) by Camille A. Brown · Julia Hinojosa of Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater*+, Ensueños de mi Caribe by Julia Hinojosa · Johnny McMillan, David Schultz and Jonathan Fredrickson of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, PACOPEPEPLUTO by Alejandro Cerrudo · Victoria Jaiani of The Joffrey Ballet, The Dying Swan by Mikhail Fokine · Krithika Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Theatre*, Sthithihi by Krithika Rajagopalan

Saturday, August 24, 7:30 pm – “Celebration of Dance” Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph Street · Samuel Lee Roberts of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In/Side by Robert Battle · Chicago Human Rhythm Project, In the beginning…^ by Lane Alexander and Bril Barrett · Giordano Dance Chicago, Two Become Three by Alexander Ekman (2012 CDF Commission) · Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater*, Bolero by Dame Libby Komaiko · The Joffrey Ballet, Interplay by Jerome Robbins ·        Philadanco*, Wake Up by Rennie Harris · Brooklyn Mack from the Washington Ballet and Tamako Miyazaki from Columbia Classical Ballet, pas de deux from Diana and Actaeon by Agrippina Vaganova. All programs are subject to change. *CDF Debut ^CDF Commission +Presented with live music

About the Chicago Dancing Festival Established in 2007, the Chicago Dancing Festival was founded to elevate awareness of dance in Chicago, to increase accessibility to the art form and to provide inspiration for local artists.  Its mission is to present a wide variety of excellent dance, enrich the lives of the people of Chicago and provide increased accessibility to the art form, thereby helping create a new audience.  Its vision is to raise the national and international profile of dance in the city, furthering Chicago as the “dance capital of the world” (as Mayor Rahm Emanuel put it at the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival). 

  Lar Lubovitch (Founder, Artistic Director) is one of America's most versatile and highly acclaimed choreographers and founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company 45 years ago.  In the years since, he has choreographed more than 100 dances for his New York-based company, which has performed in nearly all 50 American states as well as in more than 30 foreign countries.  Born in Chicago, Mr. Lubovitch was educated at the University of Iowa and the Juilliard School in New York.

  Jay Franke (Founder, Artistic Director) began his formal training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas.  In 1993, he was selected as a Finalist for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts and accepted into the Juilliard School.  Upon receiving his BFA in Dance from the Juilliard School, Mr. Franke went to work with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, “THARP!”  Mr. Franke has since danced with The 58 Group, Lyric Opera Ballet Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and was a leading dancer in the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company from 2005 to 2010.

  The Chicago Dancing Festival is grateful for its 2013 supporters including: InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, Official Hotel Partner; Chicago Sun-Times, Print Media Sponsor; Museum of Contemporary Art; Harris Theater for Music and Dance; City of Chicago, Millennium Park; The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University; The Robert and Jamie Taylor Foundation; David Herro and Jay Franke; Illinois Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Chicago Community Trust; Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development; The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; and the Irving Harris Foundation.

  Click here for more information on the Chicago Dancing Festival, its history and 2013 offerings.

Play Locally: A Double Dose of Shakespeare & Afro Beats!

Shakes your soul indeed!    You could travel the globe and be hard pressed to find a resource as amazing as Chicago Shakespeare Theater.   Check out our photos from Witches, Wizards, Spells and Elves-their recent family friendly partnership with Chicago chamber musicians.

 

Taming of the Shrew opens today at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at 11am.   We adore short Shakespeare and will have a full review for you soon.   They're also currently playing A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of our favorites, and one of Shakespeare's plays most accessible and appealing to kids.   Check in with ChiIL Mama this week for our tie ins with great kids' book versions, to read together before Shakespeare shows.  We'll also have details up about our free family 4 pack ticket give away for Taming of the Shrew!   In the mean time, check out Chicago Shakespeare's show page for fun activities, show shots, and more.

Afro-Beats! LIVE Multicultural Music Fun Today (Feb 25th) at Harris Theater at 2pm 

Click here for our past Afro-Beats! coverage and full show details.   If you've been excitedly counting down....today's the day.   The show's a very affordable $10 and family friendly!

FULCRUM POINT NEW MUSIC PROJECT PERFORMS
AFRO-BEATS! FELA, MONK, AND THE ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC,
PRESENTED BY THE HARRIS THEATER FAMILY SERIES,
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 25, 2012

*Tickets are available for only $10*
 
Fulcrum Point New Music Project, the city’s leader in new art music and inventive collaborations between traditional music and popular culture, commemorates Black History Month with Afro-Beats! Fela, Monk, and the Roots of American Music in one performance only at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Saturday, February 25, at 2 p.m. This performance is presented by the Harris Theater Family Series.

All tickets for Afro-Beats! Fela, Monk, and the Roots of American Music are available for only $10. To purchase tickets, please visit www.harristheaterchicago.org or call 312-334-7777. 

Afro-Beats! LIVE Multicultural Music Fun Feb 25th at Harris Theater

FULCRUM POINT NEW MUSIC PROJECT PERFORMS
AFRO-BEATS! FELA, MONK, AND THE ROOTS OF AMERICAN MUSIC,
PRESENTED BY THE HARRIS THEATER FAMILY SERIES,
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 25, 2012

*Tickets are available for only $10*
 
Fulcrum Point New Music Project, the city’s leader in new art music and inventive collaborations between traditional music and popular culture, commemorates Black History Month with Afro-Beats! Fela, Monk, and the Roots of American Music in one performance only at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Saturday, February 25, at 2 p.m. This performance is presented by the Harris Theater Family Series.

All tickets for Afro-Beats! Fela, Monk, and the Roots of American Music are available for only $10. To purchase tickets, please visit www.harristheaterchicago.org or call 312-334-7777.

The concert program, which includes works by Fela Kuti, Thelonius Monk, Paquito D’Rivera, John Coltrane and more, explores West African music and dance, which still dramatically influences American culture today. Recognized for its percussive beat, the West African rhythms and dance are used to show the interconnectedness of different cultures through music. Children of all ages are invited to participate in drumming circles, traditional African dances, and soulful songs in this spirited one-time-only event.

Guest musicians and dancers for Afro-Beats! include Idy Ciss (dancer and former member of the National Ballet), Jim Gailloreto (accomplished jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer), John Knecht (a master drum player), Morikeba Kouyate (master of the kora and West African oral tradition), and students from the Woodlawn Elementary Band and Djemble Ensemble, who participate in Fulcrum Point’s Sound Tracks PLUS Chicago Public School program.

Idy Ciss is a teaching artist from Senegal, a former member of the National Ballet and current member of the Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. In addition, Ciss teaches West African Dance classes at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Lycee Francais de Chicago, Soulistic Studio & Spa and Joel Hall Dance Center. He was recently awarded the Joseph Holmes Award for Best Choreography in a Music/Dance Program for his choreography of “Dekkal Thiossane” (Rebirth of Culture) by the Black Theater Alliance Awards.

A griot (“carrier of the oral tradition”) and kora master, Morikeba Kouyate is known throughout West Africa for his electrifying performances and virtuosity with the kora, a 21- string instrument from the West African countries of the Gambia, Senegal, and Mali. Kouyate, who has received grants from the Illinois Arts Council the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs Community Arts Assistance Program, has given workshops around the country and has taught at Harvard, DePaul, Northwestern, Xavier, and many other universities.

Jim Gailloreto is an accomplished jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer.  He has performed with Bill Russo's Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Chicago Chamber Musicians along with Fulcrum Point. His string quartet arrangements can be heard on Kurt Elling's CD "Dedicated To You."  Also, he recently performed a Chicago premiere of Marc Anthony Turnage's "Scorched" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and John Scofield.

John Knecht is a professional percussionist who has traveled to over 25 countries to master the art of drumming. He has studied and performed with legends in jazz, rock, funk, classical and African styles, with an emphasis on drum set and African percussion. Knecht, and the fellow drummers in his company Pulse Beat Music, believe in the power of teamwork and leadership to bring student groups closer together.

Also joining the performance are members from the Woodlawn Community Elementary School Band as part of Fulcrum Point’s Sound Tracks PLUS program which is an advanced, 100% participatory program for 5th & 6th graders who learn to make music using drums, keyboard percussion, traditional dance, and song.  At the end of their five workshops, all the students are required to demonstrate their skills through a final performance together with Fulcrum Point musicians--and this concert marks the students’ final performance!

Formed by trumpet virtuoso and conductor Stephen Burns in 1998, Fulcrum Point New Music Project champions new classical music and highlights contemporary composers who are inspired and influenced by popular culture, including literature, film, dance, folk, rock, jazz, blues, Latin and world music.  Through multi-disciplinary concert performances and educational programs, the Fulcrum Point ensemble seeks to encourage audiences to make cross-cultural connections between new music, art, technology and literature, gaining greater insight into today’s diverse world.  Burns, himself, has been acclaimed on four continents for his widely varied performances encompassing recitals, orchestral appearances, chamber ensemble engagements, and innovative multi-media presentations involving video, dance theatre, and sculpture.

Fulcrum Point New Music Project's year round programs are supported in part by: the Chicago Tribune, a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, Columbia College Chicago, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., The Earl and Brenda Shapiro Foundation, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, The Irving Harris Foundation, Heitman, LLC., The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, JNL Graphic Design, The Anne & Burton B. Kaplan Fund of The Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Neisser Family Fund, public funds from the Netherlands Cultural Services, The Polk Brothers Foundation, The Daniel and Genevieve Ratner Foundation, The Seneca, The STEP Foundation, and The Zuckerman Family Foundation.

For more information on Afro-Beats! or the Fulcrum Point New Music Project, please visit www.fulcrumpoint.org.