Chicago Dancing Festival Announces 2012 Schedule

The Chicago Dancing Festival, co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and Chicago native Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, today announced the program for its sixth season of free dance performances and events, set to take place August 20–25, 2012.

The 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival (CDF) will once again expand to include a sixth consecutive day of programming. An "all Chicago" evening at the Harris Theater; a robust "East to West" performance at the Auditorium Theatre; a film festival and a lecture/demonstration presentation at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago; and the Festival's signature Grand Finale on the stunning outdoor stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, all combine to make this annual festival the premiere destination for dance this summer.

"The Chicago Dancing Festival continues to grow as one of the country's most amazing dance showcases, bringing the best dancers and choreography from around the world to our stages," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "The Festival enriches life throughout the city and in our neighborhoods, and shines a global spotlight on the wonderful culture that Chicago has to offer."

A centerpiece of this year's Festival is the World Premiere of Bolero Chicago by Keigwin + Company, led by New York-based innovator Larry Keigwin, which combines trained dancers with 50-75 non-dance members of the community. Set to Maurice Ravel's iconic score, Bolero Chicago examines and de-constructs local movement traits for a work that uniquely speaks to Chicago's diverse cultural identity. Created over a two-week residency, Bolero Chicago will serve as a way to deepen audiences' experience with dance, allowing participants to explore their own creativity and physicality and transform themselves into performers.

Another Festival highlight is the debut of After School Matters, an arts and community enrichment program for Chicago high school students. After School Matters will perform a new work by post-modern hip hop choreographer Nicholas Leichter, commissioned by the Festival to honor the memory and legacy of beloved arts champion and former Chicago First Lady, Maggie Daley.

Additionally, the Chicago Premiere of Two Become Three by contemporary Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman, also a CDF commission, will be performed by local troupe Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago in its CDF debut.

Festival newcomers this year include Ballet Arizona and guest artists from Pacific Northwest Ballet. Returning national companies include the Brian Brooks Moving Company, Houston Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, stars from New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and local favorites Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and The Joffrey Ballet.

"Each year the Festival grows in quality, scope and scale, due in no small part to Chicago audiences' pure love of dance. What makes this year's program particularly unique is that our wonderful audience will become an important part of the Festival itself through Larry Keigwin's Bolero project," said Franke. "We are also pleased that the extraordinary students of After School Matters will hold their own with the best dance professionals from around the country, as they help honor the incredible legacy of Maggie Daley."

Past seasons have attracted new and returning audiences of thousands with the highest quality offerings in ballet and modern dance from companies from all across the nation and outside of the United States. Since its inaugural event in 2007, more than 40 different companies have performed for 50,000+ audience members-an average of 10,000 people each year-all at no charge.