The Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker first premiered in Chicago in 1996, and is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary at The Auditorium Theater with 20 performances from Dec. 9 till Dec. 27 more ›

All that's stands between Joffrey Ballet and a new labor deal with its dancers is a majority vote. more ›

Add Joffrey Ballet to the list of companies engaged in labor strife. more ›

Judging from the extremely high percentage of Christmas music being played at this season's holiday concerts, it looks like the godless Left and the Jews are losing the War on Christmas. But fear not, infidels, the battle may be lost, but the war is far from over. Courage! more ›

Joffrey Ballet co-founder Gerald Arpino died yesterday from complications involving prostate cancer at the age of 85. As Artistic Director of the company from Robert Joffrey’s death in 1988 until the succession of Ashley Wheater in 2007, Arpino’s guidance and utter commitment were pivotal in helping Joffrey to become what is now an esteemed international ballet company. Taken a stroll down State Street lately? The huge signage for Joffrey Ballet’s new permanent home glows blue, three stories above the corner of State and Randolph. Pedestrians can even look up and see dancers rehearsing at the barre, a symbolic testament to the company’s growing relationship with the city. More importantly, the high-profile location is a major sign that Joffrey Ballet is finally enjoying prosperity as a dance company, which hasn’t always been the case. more ›

Despite being one of the city’s most notorious warm-weather tourist hubs, Millennium Park just keeps bangin’ out some rather impressive locally oriented programming. This week is no exception, as the Park celebrates Blockbuster Week, a celebration of some of Chicago’s “most beloved cultural gems.” Two highlights, both of which come at no charge to you: more ›

We all know that Chicago has a little something for everybody. As far as dance classes go, there are bountiful opportunities throughout the city to try something new, develop a new skill, or just plain old embarrass yourself in front of your significant other. We went ahead and found some of the more interesting offerings in the way of dance classes: more ›

We've been digging SceneUnseen's photos all week. Al fresco dining during a free Pritzker Pavilion show (a.k.a. stuffing your face while the Joffrey Ballet grooves) On any given weekend, there's always something new and worth seeing on a Chicago stage. Tried-and-true shows like Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and Improvised Shakespeare, perfect for treating out of town guests to a laugh. Friendly, helpful people are running the tawniest art galleries. Free... more ›

We reported on Wednesday sales have been sinking at the flagship State Street store--nostalgic epicenter for Field’s lovers. Meanwhile, Field’s Fans continue to protest. A group of concerned Field's Fans showed up on Saturday to “protest against Macy's business practices here in the Chicago area.” They have scheduled special “leaflet” events on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving, as well as another rally “Under the Great Clock” at noon on Saturday, December 2. Wednesday’s Trib... more ›

The Joffrey Ballet has been on a hunt. Not for dancers, or choreographers, or even the folks that run the follow spotlights. Joffrey co-founder Gerald Arpino and his board have been looking for a new artistic director, and it seems that they've found one. Ashley Wheater has a dancer's resume that's full of big names in dance — Nureyev, The Royal Ballet, Fred Ashton, Helgi Tomasson, and more. He was appointed to the position of... more ›

Here’s what you missed while you were sneezing and burning: Guest #18, your comments are hilarious, but how do you fare with a live audience? If you think you’ve got the chops, submit a 1-2 minute video to Time Out Chicago by September 20. Best entries will be screened online for their discerning website visitors. The top four will compete live for the chance to be crowned “Chicago’s Funniest Person.” (... at least according to... more ›

Here’s what you missed while you were gawking at fallen trees and the troubled lives of Michael Vick and Owen Wilson: The first signs that fall’s on the way: cooler temps, fading leaves and university gallery art openings. Two shows open today at Columbia College’s Glass Curtain Gallery and C33, and a new exhibit of Carol Jackson’s ‘signatureless’ work opens at UIC’s Gallery 400 tomorrow. When Thursday’s storms cut power to Belmont Avenue businesses, Bailiwick... more ›

How bad do you need to make money that this is the scheme you come up with? More than 1,000 tubes of illegal toothpaste, including some that is potentially poisonous, were found and confiscated during a two-week investigation of more than 248 retail outlets and 22 wholesale distributors in Chicago. Oh, hell no -- The City of Chicago is fighting back against a plan that allows an oil refinery in Whiting, Ind., to dump... more ›

Dance’s big guns prance around Chicago each spring, so we won’t have to. That’s for the best, since a few too many evenings on the couch and bar stool have robbed us of our best stage leaps. At least these folks haven’t lost a step: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Auditorium Theater this weekend, bringing new work and a few of their gorgeous, athletic favorites. Influences range from traditional Indian and West... more ›

We tend to keep the 10 p.m. local news on for background noise as we work on perfecting our next blogging masterpiece. Night after night, the stories tend to be about the same – a few robberies, some new business merger, speculation about the Bears future, and a health piece about how some food that will really make us fat may also help us fend of diseases. But on Tuesday night, our ears perked up... more ›

We are very sad to hear news that Robert Altman, one of our favorite filmmakers, has died at age 81. His last film A Prairie Home Companion was one of his few to deal overtly with death, so we can't help thinking that it was on his mind. At last year's Oscars, the long-overdue presentation of a lifetime acheivement award to Mr. Altman filled us with pride. A true maverick who directed everything from M*A*S*H to Popeye, The Player, Nashville, Short Cuts and Gosford Park, Altman was known for making films exactly the way he damn well felt like making them. As irrational as it sounds, to this day we have a soft spot for Popeye and often still hum "He Needs Me," as sung in the film by Shelley Duvall. more ›

Not to be outdone by Ravinia, the Grant Park Music Festival has released their 2006 summer schedule. Bringing a nice mix of classical standards, contemporary orchestral favorites, and pop goodness to Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, the festival offers thrills comparable to their Highland Park cousins at much lower cost. The lawn and most pavilion seats are free. Make a reasonable donation to ensure that we cheapskates can continue to freeload, and the best seats are... more ›

Interview: Joanna Wozniak, Ballerina more ›

It's been ten years since the Joffrey Ballet, nearly broke and in an artistic rut, left their Manhattan home for Chicago’s broad shoulders—and deep pockets. Forty seasons into their existence, the troupe was still working to put down roots and cement their national identity. Ten years prior, founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino were stirring up the dance world with productions more athletic and overtly sexual than typical ballet. Ten years since, the company has overcome massive debt and the occasional harsh critic to become a firmament in the Chicago dance community and the stars of a major motion picture. more ›

Through Dec. 26 more ›

Now in its 13th year, Dance For Life has raised over $2 million in the fight against HIV & AIDS by bringing together Chicago's premiere dance companies for an evening of performances. This event, which takes place on August 28, benefits the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Chicago House, Project VIDA and the Dance for Life Fund. The dance companies participating include Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, and River North Chicago Dance Company. Hosting the show will be Dean Richards, the entertainment critic and reporter for WGN Radio and Television. more ›