Chicago Celebrates Dance With Its Very Own Festival

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 17, 2012 6:00PM

The Chicago Dancing Festival pirouettes into downtown next week, and it has a jam-packed schedule with Chicago premieres, original commissioned works, local troupe showcases and ballet companies visiting from around the country. The best part is that all the events are free of charge. Mayor Emanuel has been known to go on about making a Chicago a world class city and destination for the arts, and free events like this like this ensure that our world class entertainment is open to everyone.

Some of the CDF’s indoor performances below, while still free, require tickets which have already “sold out”, but you can still score entry by waiting in a standby line at the venue. All tickets that are not claimed 15 minutes before start time will be up for grabs. (That should also serve as a note to those holding tickets: arrive early.)

Since we’ve got six full days of performances, films, panels and more to get though, we’ve decided to take it day by day. Let’s get started with Harris Theater’s opening night program.

Monday, August 20:

Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph) kicks things off Monday evening with a local focus. This mixed program includes Giordano Dance Chicago’s CDF debut with Two Become Three, a duet commissioned especially for the festival by Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman, as well as a Twyla Tharp piece performed by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The Joffrey Ballet will also be on hand performing William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, a contemporary piece we saw as part of their Winter Fire program. Two other unique performances on the bill are Larry Keigwin’s community influenced Bolero Chicago (starring upwards of 50 volunteers from the area) and After School Matters’ Hip Hop Culture Dance Ensemble. We’ll take a closer look at both of these next week. 7 p.m. *Standby line only.

Tuesday, August 21:

The Museum of Contemporary Art (always free to residents on Tuesdays) plays home to the film portion of the festival on Tuesday. OK Go’s music video for “All is Not Lost” will be on repeat all day in the atrium, greeting guests as they arrive. The band, known for their unique and ambitious music videos, teamed with Pilobolus Dance Theatre for the colorful, surreal video. A couple of documentaries will show throughout the day, including one we’re excited to finally see, First Position. The feature length has been screening at various film festivals and follows six young ballerinas through the rigorous Youth America Grand Prix competition. Also on the bill is Fanfare for Marching Band, a short film starring Chicago’s own Mucca Pazza. For showtimes, visit the MCA’s website. 220 E. Chicago Ave. *No ticket required.

Wednesday, August 22:

Wednesday is another performance heavy evening featuring guest companies all the way from New York City to the Pacific Northwest, earning the name “Dancing East & West of Chicago.” Roosevelt’s Auditorium Theater (50 E. Congress) hosts the Martha Graham Dance Company (the oldest dance company in America), Ballet Arizona, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and the Brian Brooks Moving Company performing the Chicago Premiere of Brooks’ Descent. 7:30 p.m. *Standby line only.

Thursday, August 23:

Thursday marks your opportunity to hit the dancefloor as CDF partners with SummerDance for a night of “Dancing Under the Stars.” As usual at SummerDance, an hour of dance lessons precedes a dance party set to live music, and this week’s specialty has a Latin heat. Mixed Motion’s Del Domingeuz leads the salsa and mambo lessons beginning at 6pm on the 4,900 square-foot open-air dance floor at the Spirit of Music Garden (601 S. Michigan Avenue), and then DJ El Caobo keeps the beats going until you drop (or until 9:30 p.m). *No ticket required.

Friday, August 24:

Friday night is panel night as the festival returns to the MCA for a discussion on the current state of dance in Chicago. “Chicago Now” is moderated by dancer and journalist Zac Whittenburg and panel members include Lane Alexander (Chicago Human Rhythm Project), Ron De Jesus (Ron De Jesus Dance), Carrie Hanson (The Seldoms) and Julie Nakagawa (DanceWorks Chicago). They’re not all talk though--entertainment will be provided by The Seldoms, Ron De Jesus Dance and FootworkKINGz. 6 p.m. *Standby line only.

Saturday, August 25:

Bolero Chicago and After School Matters return to close out the festival with a “Celebration of Dance” at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Local and visiting companies share the stage for the grand finale. Martha Graham Dance Company and the San Francisco Ballet stick around to perform along with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and the New York City Ballet and the Houston Ballet join in on the fun with separate pieces. 7:30 p.m*No ticket needed.