Chicago is a city that loves to dance and you will surely enjoy viewing all of the moves! Famed Chicago dance companies Hubbard Street Dance and The Joffrey Ballet represent some of the best national dance companies around. The unique dance performances range from glamorous to quirky and off-beat, but are always classic Chicago traditions to attend.
To help you keep track of all of the amazing talent coming into town, The Chicago Community Trust’s Excellence in Dance Initiative developed www.SeeChicagoDance.com, the most comprehensive source of information on Chicago’s vibrant and varied professional dance scene.
The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University annually hosts a plethora of dance performances that will knock the socks off any visitor! The upcoming dance season includes classics like Swan Lake and Don Quixote and Chicago's very own Joffrey Ballet presents The Antony Tudor Centennial, February 20 - March 2. This show celebrates the 100th anniversary of the genius of Antony Tudor who is the first choreographer to marry psychology to ballet, performed in a multi-faceted program that explores the inner landscapes of three of his seminal works as they journey from love and loss to laughter.
Don’t miss the State Ballet of Georgia - Don Quixote and Mixed Repertory, March 5-9. Nina Ananiashvili, star dancer with The Bolshoi Ballet and American Ballet Theater, returned home to the Republic of Georgia to create a world-class national ballet company. Ananiashvili leads the company on its first international tour and will perform in the March 5, 7 and 9 performances. The program consists of Don Quixote on March 5, 8 & 9, and a mixed repertory program March 7.
Hailed by The New York Times as “wonderfully imposing” and possessing the “most powerful blend of acting and dancing,” The Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theater presents Swan Lake, March 21 and 22. This is one of Russia’s most distinguished artistic companies which, since 1926, have produced a growing number of classical and contemporary works with an emphasis on the operas and ballets of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
An annual highly anticipated feature of the Auditorium’s season is the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, returning April 16-20. This show will once again dazzle audiences with a unique combination of spirituality, energy, grace and agility. A highlight of this performance is the Company’s revival of Talley Beatty’s The Road of the Phoebe Snow. A certified American masterpiece of dance, Alvin Ailey’s compelling and riveting production combines a haunting story of life and love with the impeccable, captivating choreography of the legendary Talley Beatty.
“River North Chicago Dance Company…is now right up there in the very top ranks of this city's dance elite,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Audiences of all ages are captivated by the theatrical, accessible style. The Valentine's weekend performance, February 14-15 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, will showcase an eclectic contemporary/jazz dance repertoire that speaks to the heart of its audience through works that are spiritual, emotional and entertaining. With passionate, varied choreography and dancers with stunning technical ability, River North Chicago performances have something for everyone, guaranteed.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, also performing at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, is celebrating 30 years as one of the most renowned dance institutions in the world, annually performing for more than 100,000 people. The two performances this spring (program 1, March 26-30; program 2, April 1-5) have been critically acclaimed for their exuberant, athletic and innovative repertoire. The company features dancers who display unparalleled versatility and virtuosity in performances that inspire, challenge and engage audiences worldwide.