NYC Ballet in Chicago for First Time in Over 25 Years
The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph, will present the first Chicago appearance of the New York City Ballet ( NYCB ) in more than 25 years.
The Oct. 17-21 engagement features the 90-member company and full orchestra in three diverse programs featuring 10 works by five choreographers. The program for New York City Ballet's rare Chicago appearance was specially selected by NYCB's Ballet Master-in-Chief Peter Martins. The company was founded by the incomparable George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein in 1948.
The first program, A Portrait of Balanchine, will feature four signature works by NYCB's co-founder George Balanchine, set to music by Tchaikovsky, Bach, Stravinsky and Bizet. Masterworks will feature three classics created for the company by Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. Lastly, the Gala Program will showcase work created for the company since 1990 by choreographers Ulysses Dove, Christopher Wheeldon and Martins.
Ticket prices range from $65-$112. For tickets or more information about the schedule, call the Harris Theater for Music and Dance box office at 312-334-7777 or see the Web site www.harristheaterchicago.org .
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In other dance events this month, the Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli—a Mexican folkloric dance troupe from Veracruz—stops at the Center for the Performing Arts, Governors State University, on Oct. 15 in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The venue is in University Park, 45 minutes south of the Loop of I-57 at Sauk Trail. There's free parking; 708-235-2222; $19-$28.
Kevin Iega Jeff's Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre offers Classical Roots: An Evening in Three Acts as its autumn program, Oct. 26-29 at the Dance Center of Columbia College, 1306 S. Michigan. The long weekend includes new works, a gospel night, a professional women's brunch and an HIV/AIDS awareness event. The classical roots referred to in the multi-part program's title are European, gospel and contemporary African-American musical themes. The HIV/AIDS awareness program takes place following the first night's performance. Deeply Rooted will host an event with the Black Gay Men's Caucus and Chicago State University's HIV/AIDS Policy Department. Details of performances and special events: 312-344-8300; $30 ( some special events at additional cost ) .
The same weekend, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago presents its fall engagement at the Harris Theater, showcasing five repertory works and two world premieres in Oct. 27-28 performances. The new pieces are Impulse, choreographed by Tony Powell to a score of existing music snatches he has compiled, and Loose Cannon, a light-hearted take on Pachobel's most famous work, set by John Lehrer. 312-344-7777; $15-$45.
October ends with performances by a small dance troupe new to us, the four-year old Khecari Dance Theatre, recently transplanted from New Mexico to Chicago. The company will offer Dyad, October 27-29 at Links Hall ( 3425 N. Sheffield at Newport ) ; 773-281-0824; $15. Dyad is rather poetically described as a dance work of 'beings struggling to meet each other in fulfilling needs we barely understand, and when we least expect it, falling into the redemption we couldn't foresee.' Don't know what that means, but it sounds like sex followed by absolution for having sex, although we don't believe absolution is required after sex.
As previously noted in Dancin' Feats, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan makes a major appearance at the Harris Theatre, Oct. 13-14, with the American premiere of Wild Cursive, the final chapter in a dance trilogy co-commissioned by the Dance Center of Columbia College. Also, as previously noted, the Kirov Ballet returns to Chicago after a 16-year absence to dance Swan Lake at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress, on Nov. 1-5, with its own 66-piece orchestra playing the still-dazzling Tchaikovsky score.
November also brings the 12th season of the month-long Dance Chicago festival at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, on Nov. 4-Dec. 3. Dance Chicago 2006 will offer 26 performances featuring hundreds of dancers, scores of choreographers and dozens of local dance troupes in styles ranging from traditional to experimental, and disciplines ranging through ballet, modern, jazz, folk, hip-hop and ethnic dance. The most complete source for info is at www.dancechicago.com .
Finally, the excellent Luna Negra Dance Theater appears at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph, on Nov. 10-11, with the world premiere of Mi Corazon Negro, set by Luna Negra artistic director Eduardo Vilaro to life music by Afro-Peruvian singer Susana Baca. The program also offers Ron DeJesus' The Last 12 Minutes; Maray Gutierrez's Eterno Despertar, a work for four dancers set to Portuguese fado music; and a sensual tango/ballet duet, Enamorados, by choreographer Pedro Ruiz. The overall title for the Luna Negra program is Muevete! ( Move! ) . 312-334-7777; $25-$50.
FYI: There are two excellent Web sites for local dance aficionados. Those seeking performance calendars, program details, ticket prices and links should be able to find them at chicagoperformances.org and/or at seechicagodance.com . The former includes information on both dance and serious music events. The latter has a more specific dance focus and offers hot deals, listings, links and e-newsletter sign-ups.
