FREE TICKETS FOR 7th ANNUAL CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL BECOME AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK #dance #multicultural

Ticket Release: July 16, 17 & 18
Chicago Dancing Festival: August 20–24

Tickets for the 7th annual Chicago Dancing Festival, the “Free-to-All” Festival at venues across downtown Chicago, become available to the general public next week, beginning Tuesday, July 16 at noon.  During the Festival’s five-day run there are five completely free performance showcases, though tickets for indoor events must be reserved in advance.  Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, the 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival features top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country, set to take place August 20 – 24.

Tickets will be released in a staggered format so that each venue releases its tickets on a different day, as follows: 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 12 Noon
Tickets for the “The Harris at 10! Anniversary Special” performance on Tuesday, August 20 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance will be available in person at the Harris Theater Box Office, 205 E. Randolph Drive or by calling (312) 334-7777.  Limit two (2) tickets per order.

Wednesday, July 17 at 12 Noon
Tickets for the “Dancing in Chicago” performance on Thursday, August 22 at the Auditorium Theatre will be available in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office, 50 E. Congress Parkway, online at www.ticketmaster.com/auditorium or by calling (800) 982-ARTS.  Not available at Ticketmaster Outlets.  Limit two (2) tickets per order.

Thursday, July 18 at 12 Noon
Tickets for the “Solitaire – A Game of Dance” performances on Friday, August 23 at the Museum of Contemporary Art will be available in person at the MCA Stage Box Office, 220 E. Chicago Avenue or by calling (312) 397-4010.  Limit two (2) tickets per order.

No tickets are needed for the outdoor “Celebration of Dance” Grand Finale performance at the Pritzker Pavilion, Saturday, August 24. 

Any tickets unclaimed at 15 minutes prior to curtain time will be released to those in a Stand-by line.  Stand-by lines begin one hour before the performance, in person only.  All tickets will be held at Will-Call.  All seating for all venues is general admission. 

The full 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival schedule is below – program updates include the addition of Brooklyn Mack from the Washington Ballet and Tamako Miyazaki from Columbia Classical Ballet/Dortmund Ballet to the Tuesday and Saturday programs.

CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL 2013 SCHEDULE

Tuesday, August 20, 7:30 pm – “The Harris at 10! Anniversary Special”
Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive
·        Brian Brooks of Brian Brooks Moving Company, I’m Going to Explode by Brian Brooks
·        Chicago Human Rhythm Project, In the beginning…^ by Lane Alexander and Bril Barrett (Premiere)
·        Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Little mortal jump by Alejandro Cerrudo
·        The Joffrey Ballet, Son of Chamber Symphony by Stanton Welch
·        Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Crisis Variations+ by Lar Lubovitch
·        Brooklyn Mack from the Washington Ballet and Tamako Miyazaki from Columbia Classical Ballet/Dortmund Ballet, pas de deux from Diana and Actaeon by Agrippina Vaganova.

Wednesday, August 21, 6:30 pm – “Solitaire – A Game of Dance” (Gala Performance & Benefit)
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue
·        The Chicago Dancing Festival celebrates seven years with its annual Gala, an evening celebrating solo artists from the world of classical, contemporary, Bharata Natyam and Flamenco dance.  This fundraising benefit includes a performance and benefit with an opportunity to mingle with many of this year’s participating artists.  Tickets are $250 per person and can be purchased by emailing info@chicagodancingfestival.com.  Space is limited.

Thursday, August 22, 7:30 pm – “Dancing in Chicago”
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway
• Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater* in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, Bolero by Dame Libby Komaiko
·        Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, piece to be announced
·        The Joffrey Ballet, Episode 31^ by Alexander Ekman (Chicago Premiere)
·        Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Transparent Things+ by Lar Lubovitch

Friday, August 23, 6 pm and 8 pm – “Solitaire – A Game of Dance” (The Art of the Solo)
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue
·        Samuel Lee Roberts of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In/Side by Robert Battle
·        Brian Brooks of Brian Brooks Moving Company, I’m Going to Explode by Brian Brooks
·        Camille A. Brown of Camille A. Brown & Dancers, The Real Cool (a solo excerpt from Mr. Tol E. Rance) by Camille A. Brown
·        Julia Hinojosa of Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater*+, Ensueños de mi Caribe by Julia Hinojosa
·        Johnny McMillan, David Schultz and Jonathan Fredrickson of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, PACOPEPEPLUTO by Alejandro Cerrudo
·        Victoria Jaiani of The Joffrey Ballet, The Dying Swan by Mikhail Fokine
·        Krithika Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Theatre*, Sthithihi by Krithika Rajagopalan

Saturday, August 24, 7:30 pm – “Celebration of Dance”
Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph Street
·        Samuel Lee Roberts of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In/Side by Robert Battle
·        Chicago Human Rhythm Project, In the beginning…^ by Lane Alexander and Bril Barrett
·        Giordano Dance Chicago, Two Become Three by Alexander Ekman (2012 CDF Commission)
·        Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater*, Bolero by Dame Libby Komaiko
·        The Joffrey Ballet, Interplay by Jerome Robbins
·        Philadanco*, Wake Up by Rennie Harris
·        Brooklyn Mack from the Washington Ballet and Tamako Miyazaki from Columbia Classical Ballet, pas de deux from Diana and Actaeon by Agrippina Vaganova.

All programs are subject to change.

*CDF Debut
^CDF Commission
+Presented with live music

About the Chicago Dancing Festival
Established in 2007, the Chicago Dancing Festival was founded to elevate awareness of dance in Chicago, to increase accessibility to the art form and to provide inspiration for local artists.  Its mission is to present a wide variety of excellent dance, enrich the lives of the people of Chicago and provide increased accessibility to the art form, thereby helping create a new audience.  Its vision is to raise the national and international profile of dance in the city, furthering Chicago as the “dance capital of the world” (as Mayor Rahm Emanuel put it at the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival). 

Lar Lubovitch (Founder, Artistic Director) is one of America's most versatile and highly acclaimed choreographers and founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company 45 years ago.  In the years since, he has choreographed more than 100 dances for his New York-based company, which has performed in nearly all 50 American states as well as in more than 30 foreign countries.  Born in Chicago, Mr. Lubovitch was educated at the University of Iowa and the Juilliard School in New York.

Jay Franke (Founder, Artistic Director) began his formal training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas.  In 1993, he was selected as a Finalist for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts and accepted into the Juilliard School.  Upon receiving his BFA in Dance from the Juilliard School, Mr. Franke went to work with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, “THARP!”  Mr. Franke has since danced with The 58 Group, Lyric Opera Ballet Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and was a leading dancer in the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company from 2005 to 2010.

The Chicago Dancing Festival is grateful for its 2013 supporters including: InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, Official Hotel Partner; Chicago Sun-Times, Print Media Sponsor; Museum of Contemporary Art; Harris Theater for Music and Dance; City of Chicago, Millennium Park; The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University; The Robert and Jamie Taylor Foundation; David Herro and Jay Franke; Illinois Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Chicago Community Trust; Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development; The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; and the Irving Harris Foundation.

Click here for more information on the Chicago Dancing Festival, its history and 2013 offerings. 

Multicultural Dance: KARIM TONSY “CURFEW” PRODUCTION 12/6 & 7

Karim Tonsy is excited to announce his upcoming show “CURFEW,” as he embarks on the creation of his 21st theatrical production with the ever-evolving “Karim Tonsy Egyptian Physical Dance Company” (KTED). From Italy to Egypt, London, Lebanon and now America, Karim has captured the hearts of those who share his love and passion of Dance and the Performing Arts.

“CURFEW” examines the boundaries and the liberties of “freedom” in its many forms- physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Karim seeks to provoke thoughtful contemplation of how we become at peace with what we can control and what we cannot. This will be a personal and intimate poetic journey as Karim recalls the recent, heartbreaking loss of his father and the restrictive circumstances that prevented Karim from reaching him in his final days. Karim reflects on the turmoil and constraints in his beloved homeland, Egypt, coupled with the hope of the freedom he aspires to in making a new home in America. Karim seeks a harmonious marriage of the two countries he loves.  The mission of KTED is to connect the cultures through the universal expression of dance and movement.

KTED celebrates six years of cross cultural dance theatre in Chicago. As a part of the company’s outreach agenda, KTED, a non‐profitorganization, is committed to broadening cultural awareness through ancient and modern dance movement.

Karim Tonsy is an international choreographer from Cairo, Egypt. After finishing his studies in theatre and movement at the American University in Cairo, Karim attended London Contemporary Dance School for further training in contemporary dance. He began his career with the establishment of his dance company, KTED, and directed his first performance in Cairo, Egypt. Karim has experience working with directors in Egypt, Italy, London, Lebanon, and Chicago, and teaches classes at the renowned Equinox Fitness Clubs.

“Curfew” runs Thursday Dec. 6th and Friday Dec. 7th at Ruth Page Center of the Arts, Chicago IL. Purchase tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com. General tickets are $25.00, Seniors/Students are $20.00, and Children under 12 are $10.00.

Check out the main page at Ruth Page Center for the Arts for further information.

Flamenco Weekend-Multicultural Magic-A Traves Del Espejo-Through The Mirror

SHOWS ON OUR RADAR THIS WEEK:

It's that once a year chance to catch the annual flamenco dance show from Studio Mangiameli "A Traves Del Espejo (Through The Mirror)."  It runs May 18-20th.  




A Través Del Espejo (Through The Mirror)
Adventure Stage Chicago



A friend of ours is performing with thirty flamenco
students from Studio Mangiameli and many of Chicago's flamenco scene's finest live musicians.   She's a Chi town mom, a pediatrician, and a flamenco dancer.   Here at ChiIL Live Shows/ChiIL Mama we love to highlight parents pursuing their passions in the creative arts--music, dance, theatre, visual arts and beyond.   There IS life after birth.   

We also had the great pleasure to snap stills and shoot the Q & A at another accomplished flamenco dancer/ Chicago mom show a few weeks back.  Wendy Clinard's work was a joy to see, and originally inspired by her travels with her young daughter.

Chi, IL Live Dance-Multicultural-"From the Arctic to the Middle East (Broken Narratives by an American Flamenco Dancer)"   We're still editing and building a feature and will have that for you shortly. 

Here's the scoop on this weekend's show --Studio Mangiameli "A Traves Del Espejo (Through The Mirror)" from their official release:

Mirrors are a dance student's best friend and worst enemy, exposing moments of beauty and clarity as well as missteps and faulty technique. A Través Del Espejo is about those occasional magical and transcendent moments when a dancer looks not just into the mirror but through it, where one inhabits one's fantasy and is transformed by the power of one's imagination. Those moments are what keep us going through  countless classes and rehearsals, hours of frustration and fatigue.

Developed by Artistic Director Chiara Mangiameli, whom The Chicago Tribune calls a "formidable flamenco dancer" for her work alongside master chef Rick Bayless in the current production of Cascabel,  A Través Del Espejo brings together and ensemble of nearly thirty flamenco students from Studio Mangiameli with some of the most accomplished professional musicians in Chicago's flamenco scene such as members of Las Guitarras De España and El Payo.


True to flamenco and its emphasis on personal expression, the student body displays a large age range, each dancer interpreting  the various moods and emotions behind each piece.

Featuring
Chiara Mangiameli, dance and vocals
Carlo Basile, classical and flamenco guitar
David Chiriboga, flamenco guitar
David Gonzalez, vocals
Kinan Abou-afach, cello and oud
Omar Almusfi, percussion

Note: Free parking is available on Friday and Sunday in the Roman Polish Catholic Union lot on 984 Milwaukee Ave.
Street parking on Saturday.

Tickets are $20, $25 cash only at the door (no discounts will be given at the door).

Minimum Age: 7
Kid Friendly: Yes!

Email:  studiomangiameli@gmail.com
Web:  http://www.studiomangiameli.com

Click here to purchase tickets

Chi, IL Live Dance-Multicultural-"From the Arctic to the Middle East (Broken Narratives by an American Flamenco Dancer)"

Shows on our radar this week:

This sounds like an amazing collaboration.   Check it out for 3 nights only!   Seating is limited and all proceeds will benefit Clinard Dance Theatre, a not-for-profit organization.

Clinard Dance Theatre is proud to present "From the Arctic to the Middle East (Broken Narratives by an American Flamenco Dancer)" on April 20 and 21 at 8:00 p.m. (CST), and April 22 at 7:00 p.m. (CST) at Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield Avenue, Suite 207, in Chicago.

Artistic Director Wendy Clinard will lead audiences on a journey inspired by travels with her daughter to Syria while reading the Arctic travel epic, "Kaloona" The work fuses connections between the ancient and the modern, the spiritual and the physical and those between the essences of struggle and celebration. Clinard questions the forces that shape human history and interdependence.

From the Arctic to the Middle East (Broken Narratives by an American Flamenco Dancer) is an interdisciplinary multimedia work that includes an original score by composer and music director Steve Gibons, performed on contrabass, guitar, oud, percussion, violin and voice. The work presents contemporary flamenco dancers in unique context with live video projections by Marco Ferrari.

From the Arctic to the Middle East (Broken Narratives by an American Flamenco Dancer) uses the timeless tools of story, song, music and dance to provide an odyssey and a sense of transcendence, which gives the feeling that the journey has just begun.

Find out why Lucia Mauro of the Chicago Tribune says "Clinard places the intricate presentational aspects of flamenco in a vital, contemporary context."

Tickets are $20; $15 for seniors and students and are available through the Clinard Dance Theatre and Links Hall Websites.

BONEdanse-This Is A Damage Manual (photo filled feature)

BONEdanse--This is a Damage Manual was so excellent I came back for the closing performance in Theater Wit's space and brought Sagezilla, too. 
   

There were quite a few kids in the Sunday afternoon audience and she thoroughly enjoyed the show (and the bone candy & skull shaped lollipops at the afterparty).  

I figured she'd dig the show, since at age 8, she's all about 80's punk, grrrl power, and being mighty, and Atalee Judy and her troupe are some of the mightiest. 

We also did a little shop therapy and increased our BONEware wardrobes by another tee and a fleece.



Their run at The Wit is over, but they do have some exciting shows coming up at Viaduct Theatre and in conjunction with the Chicago Park District.  




Check out their main site for details and follow them on Facebook, to stay up to date.