Chicago Dancing Festival Celebrates Ten Years in 2016
In 2016, the Chicago Dancing Festival celebrates ten years of presenting audiences in Chicago the opportunity to view dance performances by exceptional dance companies. This year's festival runs from Tuesday, August 23, through Saturday, August 27.
For the first time in its history, the festival will have an evening of dance performances at Navy Pier. Four Chicago-based dance companies, Forward Momentum Chicago, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and Natya Dance Theatre, will present a program with a global focus.
Making Chicago Dancing Festival debut performances in 2016 are Pennsylvania Ballet, Joshua Beamish, Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener, and Forward Momentum Chicago. To learn more about the above dance companies, please visit their websites via the links provided below.
All performances are free. No tickets are required for outdoor performances. For indoor performances, tickets are required and must be reserved in advance. For indoor performances that no longer have advance tickets available, standby tickets will be available on the day of the performance. Standby will begin one hour prior to each performance. At 15 minutes prior to curtain, empty seats and unclaimed tickets will be released to those in the standby line.
Opening Night Celebration
When: Tuesday, August 23, at 7 p.m.
Where: Auditorium Theatre, 50 East Congress Parkway, Chicago
Tickets: Ticket information
Performances:
- Who Cares? by George Balanchine performed by Stars of American Ballet
- Appalachian Spring by Martha Graham performed by Martha Graham Dance Company
- Concerto Barocco by George Balanchine performed by Pennsylvania Ballet
- Episode 31 by Alexander Ekman performed by Joffrey Ballet
Modern Men
When: Wednesday, August 24, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Tickets: Ticket information for 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances
Performances:
- Awáa by Aszure Barton performed by Aszure Barton & Artists
- Solo excerpts from Some of a Thousand Words by Wendy Whelan and Brian Brooks performed by Brian Brooks
- Concerto by Joshua Beamish performed by Joshua Beamish
- Desire Liar by Rashaun Mitchell and Silas Riener performed by Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener
- Students of the Asphalt Jungle by Dr. Lorenzo (Rennie) Harris performed by Rennie Harris Puremovement
Dancing at the Harris
When: Thursday, August 25, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Harris Theater, 205 East Randolph Street, Chicago
Tickets: Ticket information
Performances:
- Awáa by Aszure Barton performed by Aszure Barton & Artists
- Diversion of Angels by Martha Graham performed by Martha Graham Dance Company
- Solo Echo by Crystal Pite performed by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
- Othello duet by Lar Lubovitch performed by Joffrey Ballet
- Students of the Asphalt Jungle by Dr. Lorenzo (Rennie) Harris performed by Rennie Harris Puremovement
Planet Chicago
When: Friday, August 26, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago
Performances:
- Forward Momentum Chicago | Polk Bros. Park at 5:30 p.m.
- Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago | East Performance Platform at 6 p.m.
- Chicago Human Rhythm Project and Natya Dance Theatre | Center Performance Platform at 6:30 p.m.
- Forward Momentum Chicago | Polk Bros. Fountain and Plaza at 7 p.m.
Dancing Under the Stars
When: Saturday, August 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago
Performances:
- A new work by Randy Duncan performed by Chicago Dancers United
- One Flat Thing by William Forsythe performed by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
- After the Rain by Christopher Wheeldon performed by Joffrey Ballet
- Concerto Barocco by George Balanchine performed by Pennsylvania Ballet
- Romeo & Juliet, pas de deux by Kenneth MacMillan performed by Guests Artists of The Royal Ballet
- Students of the Asphalt Jungle by Dr. Lorenzo (Rennie) Harris performed by Rennie Harris Puremovement
To learn more about the festival, please visit the Chicago Dancing Festival website.