Top Chicago Companies 'Dance For Life' This Weekend

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 13, 2014 6:00PM

You may know about dancers who “dance for their life” to avoid elimination on the TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance, but at Saturday’s Dance For Life event at the Auditorium Theatre, the stakes are much more real. Now in it’s 23rd year, this performance event raises money—and awareness—for AIDS care, prevention and education while showcasing some of the best dancers in Chicago. This year’s performances benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago as well as The Dancers’ Fund, a program providing financial assistance to professional dancers with HIV/AIDS or other life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

Six of Chicago’s top dance companies are contributing this year’s program which will feature two world premieres from choreographers Randy Duncan, Harrison McEldowney and Jeremy Plummer. Giordano Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, River North Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater and Visceral Dance Chicago are all donating their time and efforts to this important cause. Hubbard Street in particular will perform from One Thousand Pieces, an emotional, original work by resident choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo, while Giordano Dance will present assistant artistic director Autumn Eckman’s caffeinated, fast-paced piece JOLT.

Tickets for the performance at Auditorium Theatre range from $25 to $75. If you’re interested in attending the Gala Reception at the Hilton Chicago beforehand, tickets begin at $250 and include admission to the performance with premier seating. Performance time is 8pm, and the Gala begins at 5 p.m. The Auditorium Theatre is located at 50 E. Congress Pkwy.