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M3 Dance presenting 'The Nutcracker' in Elgin on Dec. 4-5
M3 Dance and Synergy Dance Academy will present Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 and 7 p.m.; and on Sunday, Dec. 5, at 2 p.m. at Elgin's Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 ...
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Ivan Aguayo brings eclectic background to 'evolution' of dance
By Cris Villalonga-Vivoni
In the center of the A&A Ballet studio stood the Mouse King. His long, felt tail trailed behind him as he made attempts to pose both for the camera and the numerous other ballet performers in ...
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TV JoJo Siwa in finale of 'Dancing with the Stars' and the winner is…
Queer social-media and reality-show figure JoJo Siwa made history on this season of Dancing with the Stars by being part of the series' first same-sex couple (with partner Jenna Johnson)—and the twosome made it all the ...
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Joffrey announces return of reimagined classic, The Nutcracker
--From a press release
CHICAGO (November 8, 2021)— The Joffrey Ballet's critically acclaimed reimagined classic, The Nutcracker, by Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, will be a part of the Joffrey's first-ever season at the historic Lyric ...
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Joffrey names new head of studio company and trainee program
Abbott Academy Director of the Joffrey Academy of Dance Raymond Rodriguez announced that Christopher Marney is the new head of studio company and trainees at the academy. Marney begins his new role Nov. 3, just eight ...
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Hubbard Street Dance back on the stage with 'RE/TURN'
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) will present Fall Series: RE/TURN to herald its return to the stage at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. The program will feature new premieres as well as audience favorites ...
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MOVIES 'Bolshoi Ballet' series to start locally Nov. 7
The "2021-2022 Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema" series is set to begin Sunday, Nov. 7 with Bolshoi Ballet: Spartacus—LIVE. Spartacus is considered a ballet tour de force, set to Aram Khachaturian's score. Bolshoi Ballet: Spartacus—LIVE is set t ...
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Visceral Dance Chicago bringing world premieres to Athenaeum Theatre
--From a press release
CHICAGO, Oct. 5, 2021 — Visceral Dance Chicago—a contemporary company committed to the progression of diverse artists, programs and community collaborations—announced its Fall Engagement 2021 program. The dance company returns ...
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LGBTQ History Month: Until legal ruling, Disneyland banned same-sex dancers
Deemed the "Happiest Place on Earth," Disneyland sadly didn't live up to that billing for same-sex couples during its first three decades. Opened in 1955 by the late Walt Disney, the family-oriented amusement park was built ...
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Joffrey's Nutcracker returns for the holidays
--From a press release
(Chicago) — The Joffrey Ballet's reimagined holiday classic, The Nutcracker, by Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, returns to Chicago during the Joffrey's first-ever season at the historic Lyric Opera House ...
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DANCE Hubbard Street presenting drive-in edition of 'Inside/Out' Oct. 2
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago will hold its annual "Inside/Out" choreographic workshop, "Drive-In(side Out)," on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. at ChiTown Movies, 2343 S. Throop St., preceded by a welcome party and DJ starting at ...
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Chicago Dance History Project moving to Ruth Page Center
Chicago Dance History Project (CDHP)—which investigates, documents and presents the individual and institutional past of Chicago dance—plans to move into The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., as an artist in residence. ...
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Joffrey welcomes four dancers from South Korea, Spain and the U.S.
The Joffrey Ballet's Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE, The and President and CEO Greg Cameron announced the addition of four dancers to the Joffrey roster for the 2021-22 season: Brian Bennett (Lanham, Maryland), ...
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DANCE Ensemble Espanol to open Auditorium Theatre season Oct. 16
Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater, in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, will return to the Auditorium Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m. The company will mark the finale performance of its 45th-anniversary "Zafiro Flamenco ...
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Footwork dancers to be featured Sept. 10 in Art on theMART event
"Dance Down by The River"—an evening of Chicago dance and music—is coming to the Riverwalk in conjunction with Art on theMART thanks to a Chicago Presents grant awarded by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and ...
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MUSIC Upcoming 'Carmen' featuring queer lead, male drag
On Sept. 16 and 18 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago audiences will have the rare opportunity to hear two world-class dramatic mezzo-sopranos debut new roles opposite one another ...
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TV 'Dancing with the Stars' to feature first same-sex partnership
ABC's Dancing With the Stars will be breaking new ground in the upcoming 30th season—with its first same-sex partnership. According to Deadline, on Aug. 26, host Tyra Banks and executive producer Andrew Llinares revealed that the ...
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Feds expand insurers' requirements for PrEP coverage
Insurers and service-providers have until September to comply with a new federal guidance requiring insurance companies to cover the entire cost of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) interventions. Many insurers have been ...
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MUSIC Diplo, Galantis part of Spring Awakening
The organizers of the Chicago electronic dance music (EDM) festival Spring Awakening have added the acts Diplo and Galantis to the Oct. 2-3 event. Spring Awakening will take place in Addams/Medill Park, 1301 W. 14th St. ...
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Guidance on COVID-19 booster shots
--From a Howard Brown Health press release
At this time, most people do not qualify for a third COVID-19 shot. Recently the Biden Administration unveiled a plan for wider availability of a third COVID-19 vaccine regimen and the FDA updated the emergency use ...
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Joffrey Ballet's "Home: a Celebration" opens inaugural season at Lyric Opera House
--From a press release
August 18, 2021 (Chicago) — The Joffrey Ballet opens its inaugural season at the Lyric Opera House and marks its return to live performances with Home: a Celebration, a triumphant mixed repertory program that spotlights original ...
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COVID Pritzker: Masks required for pre-K-12 schools, long-term care facilities
As COVID-19 infection rates across the state continue to increase and with a number of school districts not yet adopting CDC guidance on masking, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike announced masks ...
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Aug. 12 dance film to explore gender, queerness in South Asian arts
Ashwaty Chennat, a Chicago Dancemakers 2021 Digital Dance grantee, has continued her collaboration with Abhijeet Rane to explore gender, queerness and the body in South Asian arts and traditions. An excerpt of Chennai and Rane's ...
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CDC: Some vaccinated people should wear masks indoors
To prevent further spread of the Delta variant, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance on July 27 to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors when in areas with ...
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Winifred Haun & Dancers announces 2021-22 season, return to live performances
--From a press release
Chicago & Oak Park, IL — Winifred Haun & Dancers will return to in person theater events and live programming for the upcoming 2021|22 Season. The Company will be presented at the Pritzker Pavilion, Ruth Page ...
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DANCE Deeply Rooted named to INFLUENCERS Cohort
Chicago's Deeply Rooted Dance Theater is one of five dance companies (and the only Midwestern one) named to the International Association of Blacks in Dance's (IABD's) INFLUENCERS Cohort for the 2021 COHI/MOVE program. The five ...
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Lightfoot announces 27 Neighborhood Opportunity Fund Grant finalists
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today announced 27 new Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) grant finalists. A Greater Grand Crossing shared kitchen, a Calumet Heights dance studio, and a Humboldt Park juice bar are among the ...
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Dance for Life to present 10 companies, world-premiere finale
Chicago Dancers United (CDU), which supports the health and wellness of Chicago's professional dance community, announced an expanded lineup and program for the 30th anniversary of its annual fundraiser, Dance for Life, which takes place in ...
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AIDS ballet movie coming to Chicago on July 16
The movie Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters will open Friday, July 16, in virtual cinemas in Chicago at Gene Siskel Film Center and Music Box Theatre. "Can You Bring It"—co-directed by Rosalynde LeBlanc and ...
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Taste of Chicago To-Go" starts Wednesday
--From a press release
Taste of Chicago To-Go" starts Wednesday with food vendors and food trucks; Chicago City Market vendors; Chicago SummerDance instructors; House City DJs; author Marisel Vera; Taste of Chicago favorites Eli's Cheesecake, Robinson's No. 1 Ribs and ...
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Billy Masters
"like the song is literally about gay sex what y'all want me to do play the piano while baking a cake?"—Lil Nas X tweets a response to criticism of kissing one of his male dancers on the BET Awards. Call me ...
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Move your body! "House City" music series starts Sunday
"House City" (kicking off July 4) is a new, 10-part series of free events popping up throughout the summer in the neighborhoods that helped create the House music genre over 35 years ago. DJ Jes, El ...
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DANCE Deeply Rooted to perform in person July 16-17
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater's Summer Dance Intensive (SDI)—which takes place in a hybrid format combining in-person and virtual instruction this year—will culminate with in-person performances of new works Friday and ...
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VISIT Shedd Aquarium has many attractions, one distraction
Nature lovers can rejoice. Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr., in accordance with State of Illinois and City of Chicago guidelines, has fully reopened. (Guests are still ...
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Billy Masters
"Ballet dancers and hairdressers and drag queens made it safe for football players to come out and not the other way around."—Dan Savage puts Carl Nassib's coming out into the context of those who came before ...
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ARC Music Festival to take place Sept. 4-5 in Union Park
ARC Music Festival has announced the complete lineup for its Labor Day Weekend 2021 debut at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. The dance event will feature acts such as Channel Tres, Derrick Carter, DJ Heather, ...
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Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Season 43: A Virtual Homecoming June 24
--From a press release
CHICAGO CHICAGO — Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's (HSDC) Season 43: A Virtual Homecoming will conclude with the world premiere of Greener Grass, a full-company work choreographed and directed by former HSDC company dancer Jie-Hung Connie S ...
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DANCE Joffrey Academy seeking submissions from minority applicants for competition
The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, has announced a national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists to submit applications for The Joffrey Academy's Twelfth Annual Winning ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Red Hot' album, 'Drag Race,' 'L Word,' Qveen Herby, Lee Daniels
The Red Hot organization, which raises funds to fight HIV/AIDS, announced Red Hot + Free—a mixtape of dance beats, electro grooves and global anthems, a press release noted. Out July 2 and helmed by producer-provocateur Bill ...
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Gov. Pritzker aligns Illinois with CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people
--From a press release
SPRINGFIELD — Following guidance from the CDC that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing a mask and practicing social distancing in most indoor and outdoor settings, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public ...
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DANCE Joffrey Ballet expands to South Loop
The Joffrey Ballet announced the establishment of new studio space and training facilities at 1920 S.Wabash Ave. (formerly the Chicago Dance Academy studios)—expanding the Joffrey's reach to the South Loop and beyond, and marking a major ...
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Dance for Life to take place in person (and for free) Aug. 26
Chicago Dancers United (CDU)—which supports the health and wellness of Chicago's professional dance community—announced that its primary annual fundraiser, Dance for Life, will take place live and in person Thursday ...
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DANCE Hubbard Street's 'Half of Us' debuting May 20
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's (HSDC) 43rd season will be completed with the virtual world premiere of new work by choreographer/director Robyn Mineko Williams entitled "Half of Us," on Thursday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. The 16-minute ...
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CDC updates mask-wearing guidelines
On April 27, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance on outdoor mask use for fully vaccinated Americans, CNN.com noted. Fully vaccinated people can now unmask at small outdoor gatherings, or ...
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Joffrey Ballet presents world premiere of Nicolas Blanc's "Under the Trees' Voices"
--From a press release
THE JOFFREY BALLET PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE OF NICOLAS BLANC'S UNDER THE TREES' VOICES World Premiere streamed online: April 30 at 7:00 PM CST Audiences are invited to experience a rehearsal via livestream TODAY: April 7 at ...
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See Chicago Dance Open Call: Dance For Life 2021
--From a press release
Chicago Dancers United is a nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the lives of Chicago-area dance professionals by cultivating pathways to holistic wellness of the body, mind, and spirit. Our primary annual fundraiser, Dance for ...
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Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre announces revised 2020-2021 season
--From a press release
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre is a multicultural company that creates new dance and music to explore strong personal narratives. We build partnerships across Chicagoland to engage a diverse audience: sparking ...
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k.d. lang to release dance-remix album 'makeover' on May 28
In celebration of Pride Month, Nonesuch Records is releasing k.d. lang's makeover—a new collection of classic dance remixes of some of her best-loved songs—on May 28. The album brings these remixes, made between 1992 and 2000, ...
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DANCE Hubbard Street season to resume with 'In Any Event'
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's (HSDC's) 43rd season will resume Thursday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. with a virtual world premiere of new work by choreographer and former HSDC dancer Penny Saunders. The piece will also be ...
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New dance film features 46 dancers from 20 countries
Films.Dance—a global film series produced by and under the creative direction of LA-based Jacob Jonas The Company—continues with Match, the single most expansive collaboration in the 15-film series. Match features ...
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Queer musician Ari Gold dies at 47
New York City-based dance artist Ari Gold has died at age 47 after a long battle with cancer, according to out.com. Gold—who was also known as Sir Ari and GoldNation— released seven albums as a part ...
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Wizard World Chicago moved from June to August
Wizard Brands, Inc. announced that its scheduled 2021 live event in Chicago has been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions and in continued accordance with federal, state and local guidelines. Instead of the original dates of June ...
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Hubbard Street Dance Chicago names new artistic director
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) announced that former company member Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell has been named artistic director of the contemporary dance company, effective March 1. A native of Baltimore, Fisher-Harrell ...
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Joffrey Ballet artists create video installation
The Joffrey Ballet announced that a dynamic video installation featuring members of the company will animate the acclaimed 150 Media Stream public art exhibition at 150 N. Riverside Plaza as the inaugural output of Action Lines. ...
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Chicago Dancemakers Forum announces the 2021 Digital Dance Grantees
--From a press release
CHICAGO, IL, 2/1/2021 — To support the growth of local Chicago dancemakers in the era of COVID-19, Chicago Dancemakers Forum is pleased to grant $10,000 each to ten dance creators and their collaborators for the development ...
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LGBTQ+ Americans greet the Biden-Harris era with hope, hesitancy
Kate Sosin, 19thnews.org
To many, the moment marks a new dawn, the end of deeply distressing four years. Others are simply exhausted. A lot of kids spend their teenage years worrying about dates and dances. Eli Bundy has spent ...
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Joffrey Ballet announces Feb. 12 world premiere of 'Bolero'
The Joffrey Ballet announced the world premiere of Bolero—named after the acclaimed orchestral piece by composer Maurice Ravel and choreographed by Joffrey company artist Yoshihisa Arai—on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. Bolero, to be performed by ...
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Chicago Dance History Project's Interview Marathon on Jan. 31
Chicago Dance History Project (CDHP) has confirmed the lineup and schedule for its Interview Marathon on Sunday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Interviewees will appear live from international locations and ...
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New Joffrey Studio Series offers interactive virtual season
--From a press release
The Joffrey Ballet is pleased to introduce the Joffrey Studio Series, a comprehensive roster of virtual programming — from livestream performances and company rehearsals to ...
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Hubbard Street Dance presents surrealist film online Dec. 3, 5 and 6
--From a press release
CHICAGO — Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) continues its 2020/21 43rd season with a virtual premiere presentation of new work from former Hubbard Street dancer and acclaimed choreographer Jonathan Fredrickson ...
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Theater community to offer online plays, musicals, dance, comedy for holidays
--From a press release
Chicago, IL (November 10, 2020)— The Chicago theater community will produce a wide variety of online festive plays, musicals, dance and comedy offerings this Holiday season. Theatre venues in Chicago and across the world remain closed ...
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Joffrey Ballet to offer virtual Nutcracker
--From a press release
CHICAGO — With the cancellation of The Joffrey Ballet's annual engagement of Christopher Wheeldon's critically acclaimed version of The Nutcracker in 2020, the Joffrey is pleased to announce a myriad ...
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Hubbard Street piece to examine Chicago's racial disparities
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's (HSDC) 43rd season (2020-21) will begin Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. with a virtual premiere presentation of new work from former Hubbard Street dancer and acclaimed choreographer Rena Butler. The piece ...
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Joffrey Ballet halts season, launches digital series, '25 FOR 25' initiative
--From a press release
The Joffrey Ballet announced the cancellation of all remaining performances for the 2020-21 season, including the world premiere of Cathy Marston's Of Mice and Men and the Joffrey premiere of George Balanchine's ...
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Cerqua Rivera revises 2020 schedule
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre has unveiled a restructured performance schedule for 2020. A livestreamed benefit performance honoring longtime friend of the company Sandra McNaughton will take place Sunday, Oct. 25, at 7:30 p.m. The show will ...
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NATIONAL Lambda Litfest, #BiWeek, whistleblower, Equality Awards, Blade
The 4th annual Lambda Litfest (Oct. 5-9) has been transformed into a specially curated, virtual event celebrating Black LGBTQIA+ excellence and abundance, a press release noted. The opening night will set the stage by bringing panelists ...
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PASSAGES Computer programmer/Chi-Town Squares member Bill Klein passes away
Longtime Chi-Town Squares member and COBOL computer programmer William "Bill" Michael Klein died Sept. 5 due to health complications after he fell down in his home a few days prior. He was 70. Klein was born ...
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WORLD Vancouver protest, dating apps, Budapest Pride, N. Ireland marriages
In Canada, protesters held a beach dance party in Vancouver's West End night in a bid to disrupt an event by a Toronto preacher who has been accused of anti-LGBTQ hate speech, CBC.ca reported. David Lynn, ...
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SHOWBIZ #ReadOutProud, Mj Rodriguez, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Lopez
Non-profit organization Pride and Less Prejudice (PLP) has launched a #ReadOutProud fundraising campaign video with LGBTQ celebrities including Adam Rippon, Nicole Maines, Darryl Stephens, Patrik-Ian Polk, Theo Germaine, Nikki Blonsky ...
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Dance for Life exceeds fundraising goal
Chicago Dancers United (CDU) announced that "Dance for Life 2020: United as One," which took place Aug. 10—15, exceeded its financial goal, raising more than $170,000 in contributions from nearly 700 donors. Dance for Life 2020: ...
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Deeply Rooted launches 25th-anniversary season
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater which diversifies the aesthetics of contemporary dance by uniting modern, classical, U.S. and African-American traditions in dance and storytelling announced initial plans for Deeply 25: Beyond Dance ...
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Dining Out for Life Chicago on Sept. 24
Dining Out for Life Chicago will take place Thursday, Sept. 24. People can dine in, order takeout or delivery from your favorite restaurants to support TPAN's mission to serve people affected by HIV. This year's co-chairs ...
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Open House Chicago taking place Oct. 16-25
The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) announced the return of Open House Chicago (OHC) for a 10th consecutive year. It will take place Oct. 16-25, and the festival has been reconfigured for both in-person and remote attendance. ...
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Cerqua Rivera Dance unveils new schedule
After some restructuring, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre has announced its plans to develop work in this time, about this time. Cerqua Rivera's 2020 new work creatively responds to and utilizes social distancing. Work will be created ...
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Five Worth Finding: Bill T. Jones book, Music Box thriller and more
—Story/Time: The Life of an Idea: This book came out in 2014, but this is an excellent time to appreciate this tome. In it, out gay African American dancer, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones reflects ...
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