You may have read the Chicago Magazine article about Bolero Chicago – the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival’s first ever community-based work featuring YOU! (if you haven’t seen it, scroll down a bit…)
This weekend we will be holding FOUR community meetings for you to come and learn about how you can be a performer in Bolero Chicago and dance on the stages of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park! You only need to attend one of the meetings — Have you signed up to attend? If not, this is our reminder to RSVP now and join us – it’s not too late! No dance experience necessary, and people of all ages and backgrounds are welcomed! This is going to be a spectacular opportunity to showcase YOU, our amazing Chicagoans, who have helped grow our Festival into national recognition. We’ve even thrown in a chance for those who RSVP, and attend, to receive two VIP tickets to a performance of this year’s Festival!
Information to attend the workshops are listed below. Find the time and location that works for you, and please join us in this amazing initiative!
The Details:
- Friday, July 13th at 4.30 pm at The Dance Center of Columbia College In the Theater: 1306 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60605
- Saturday, July 14th 11:00 at the National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago 60608
- Saturday, July 14th 2:00 at PINT: 1547 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago 60622
- Sunday, July 15th 2:00 at the Beverly Arts Center: 2407 W. 111th Street, Chicago 60655
- RSVP via e-mail to [email protected], and you will be entered for a chance to win TWO VIP TICKETS to a performance of the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival.
We hope to see you this weekend!
Chicago Dancing Festival 2012: Giordano Dance Chicago Rehearsal
Wednesday, July 11th, 2012
Rehearsals have begun for the CDF commission and Chicago premier of renowned choreographer Alexander Ekman’s Two Become Three with Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC)! GDC was kind enough to send us pictures of their first rehearsal with Mr. Ekman at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. We didn’t think it’d be possible, but now we’re even more excited for the upcoming Festival!
Check out the rest of the photos on our Facebook Page and Pinterest account. Want more information on the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival? Click here for the event listings and mark your calendars as tickets are available beginning July 17th!
You Think You Can Dance? Come Out and Show Us!
Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
What about your friends? — Your neighbors? — Your colleagues? We think all of you can and the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival (August 20-25) invites you to show us! No dance experience necessary (really!). OPEN CASTING CALL is fast approaching – join us for one of our meetings and sign-up to be a part of Bolero Chicago!
The Chicago Dancing Festival will host four community meetings for you to come and learn about how you can be a performer in our first ever community-based work, Bolero Chicago, which combines trained dancers with YOU for two performances in the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival! There has never been an opportunity like this with the Chicago Dancing Festival – be among the first of your friends to share the stage with top performers from Chicago and across the country by joining us at one of these neighborhood meetings to sign-up and be a part of this exciting opportunity!
- Friday, July 13th at 4.30 pm at The Dance Center of Columbia College In the Theater: 1306 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60605
- Saturday, July 14th 11:00 at the National Museum of Mexican Art: 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago 60608
- Saturday, July 14th 2:00 at PINT: 1547 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago 60622
- Sunday, July 15th 2:00 at the Beverly Arts Center: 2407 W. 111th Street, Chicago 60655
Advanced RSVP is encouraged via e-mail to [email protected] and those who do will be entered for a chance to win TWO VIP TICKETS to a performance of the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival!
Each community meeting, led by Keigwin + Company member Ashley Browne, will address what participants can expect in the Bolero Chicago rehearsal and performance process and what would be expected of them if they choose to commit to the project. At the end of each meeting there will be a sign-up opportunity to join the Bolero Chicago cast. There will not be a formal audition process. Created over a two-week residency, rehearsals for Bolero Chicago will take place Monday through Friday evenings, August 6-11 and 13-18. Participants will also need to attend dress rehearsals August 19 and 24. Additional information about time commitments will be provided at each community meeting. We welcome people of all ages, backgrounds and ability levels to participate and no prior dance experience is necessary!
The on-stage performances of Bolero Chicago occur at Chicago Dancing Festival’s opening program, “Chicago Dancing” at the Harris Theater, Monday, August 20 and again as part of the Festival’s grand finale program, “Celebration of Dance” at the Pritzker Pavilion on Saturday, August 25.
From August 20-25, 2012, the Chicago Dancing Festival will present six days of FREE dance programs by artists from Chicago and across the country, to an anticipated audience of 20,000! Our mission is to elevate awareness of dance in Chicago and increase accessibility to the art form by presenting a wide variety of excellent dance that will enrich the lives of the people of Chicago, provide aspiration for local and future artists and raise the national and international profile of Chicago, furthering Chicago as a dance destination.
Chicago Dancing Festival 2012 Blogger Partnership Program Commences
Monday, June 25th, 2012
We are fast approaching the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival (August 20-25) and in addition to announcing the 2012 six day line-up, the Chicago Dancing Festival is also launching its Blogger Partner Program for the second year running! Your responses to the blogs were so positive last year that we’ve not only brought it back, but we’ve expanded the program by adding bloggers AND blogging right alongside them!
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in Uneven. Photo Credit: Cheryl Mann Photography
We have partnered with five Chicago-area bloggers who write for varying audiences, to educate and excite people on what the Festival is all about and how our patrons can take advantage of all the festivities! Starting now through the end of August, you will have access to regular content from our bloggers including Festival interviews, behind-the-scenes access and of course, event coverage. Stay tuned here as we will be posting excerpts of each of the blogs under the blog category “Chicago Dancing Festival 2012.” We also invite you to follow along with them on their sites and Twitter using the hashtag #CDF12!
Martha Graham Dance Company in Diversion of Angels. Photo Credit: Cheryl Mann Photography
Meet our Bloggers!
Rogue Ballerina: The ‘voice’ behind this Chicago-based dance blog is Vicki Crain, who will bring you highlights of dancers, choreographers, directors and “all-around artsy performance folk.” Vicki will be providing you with an ‘insider’s look’ into the Festival.
ChicagoNow: Get Out and Have Fun Around Chicagoland: Blogger Shari Schmidt writes with a focus on family-friendly events in Chicago. She will be sharing information on the Festival events and how your family can enjoy them (as she’s bringing her own family as well!). Shari also writes for the Chicago Moms blog.
Contrapuntist: Dance isn’t just about the dancers – it’s also about the music. Miguel Cano is a classically trained guitarist and music lover. His wife, Erin Cano, is a classically trained violist and Suzuki certified music instructor. During the Festival, Miguel and Erin are going to feature the sounds behind the Festival in this blog.
Chicago Photo Blog: Araceli Arroyo has taken gorgeous photographs depicting Chicago and its wonders. Now she’s going to capture the Chicago Dancing Festival purely through photographs. The dancers, the patrons, the venues…and you can see them all on her blog and her Flickr account.
Adventures in Yes: Written by Scott Silberstein – multi-Emmy-Award winning producer, composer for HMS Media and a company member of the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company – is an avid fan of the arts. His blog is a collection of his thoughts from a ‘regular guy’s’ perspective. It’s his way of getting away from behind the stage and into the audience. Read along with him during the Festival to watch, listen, and enjoy the show!
The Joffrey Ballet artists Victoria Jaiani and Temur Suluashvili in the White Swan pas de deux by Lev Ivanov. Photo Credit: Cheryl Mann Photography
When the Festival is underway (August 20-25, 2012), be sure to let your friends know which events and/or days you are attending by checking-in on Foursquare and mentioning the hashtag #CDF12 on Twitter (we’ll make sure to retweet you)! You can see all the updates from our Foursquare page!
We can’t wait to see you at the Festival!
Questions? Comment below and we’ll try to help!
Announcing the Chicago Dancing Festival 2012 Line-Up
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
The time has come. The dates are here. The Chicago Dancing Festival is about to commence! From Monday, August 20th through Saturday, August 25th, you will once again be able to enjoy world-class dance throughout the city of Chicago. Last year was another amazing year, including recognition and attendance by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a newly-launched blogger outreach program, and completely sold-out performances. This year we are looking to raise the barre even higher (pun intended)!
Below are the companies scheduled to perform for the Chicago Dancing Festival 2012. Mark your calendars now. It’s going to be one amazing summer!
Monday, August 20 – “Chicago Dancing”
Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Drive
· Bolero Chicago
· Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
· The Joffrey Ballet
· After School Matters
· Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
Tuesday, August 21 – “Dancing Movies”
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue
· A day of screenings of dance on film highlights innovative collaborations between contemporary dance artists, filmmakers and musicians.
Wednesday, August 22 – “Dancing East and West of Chicago”
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway
· Pacific Northwest Ballet guest artists
· Ballet Arizona
· Stars of San Francisco Ballet Sofiane Sylve and Vito Mazzeo
· Martha Graham Dance Company
· Brian Brooks Moving Company
· Stars of New York City Ballet Gonzalo Garcia and Ana Sophia Scheller
Thursday, August 23 – “Dancing Under the Stars”
Chicago Dancing Festival partners with SummerDance Chicago – specific program to be announced at a later date.
Friday, August 24 – “Chicago Now”
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue
A discussion of the state of dance in Chicago today moderated by lead dance journalist and former dancer Zac Whittenburg, featuring three local companies performing in a lecture-demonstration format.
Saturday, August 25 – “Celebration of Dance”
Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park
· Houston Ballet
· Martha Graham Dance Company
· Stars of San Francisco Ballet, Sofiane Sylve and Vito Mazzeo
· Bolero Chicago
· After School Matters
· Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
All programs are subject to change.
Ticket Information
All events are free but tickets for the indoor performance showcases must be reserved in advance and “sell out” quickly. No reservations are needed for the film screenings at the MCA or the outdoor “Celebration of Dance” performance at the Pritzker Pavilion. Tickets will be available to the general public the week of July 16 in a staggered format so that each venue releases its tickets on a different day.
Keep up-to-date with the Festival and all relevant information on our Chicago Dancing 2012 Festival Web page, and through Twitter by following #CDF12.