Harris Theater Continues Eat To The Beat Series 3/25

The Harris Theater's wildly successful Eat to the Beat lunchtime series continues on Friday, March 25, 2011 at 12 pm featuring the high-energy, high-impact performance of that defines Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (GJDC), one of Chicago's most ethnically diverse dance companies. Designed to help break up the monotony of the workday, audience members are encouraged to enjoy their brown bag lunch while experiencing Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago's "technical mastery and stamina" (Chicago Sun-Times) that has captivated audiences for nearly 50 years. Individual tickets are priced at $5 ensuring that anyone is able to enjoy live performance. Park Grill box lunches are available for advance purchase.

Tickets are available at the Harris Theater box office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr., by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting www.harristheaterchicago.org.

Geared towards those who live, work, attend school, or find themselves in the vicinity of the Harris during the workday lunch hour, the second season of the popular Eat to the Beat lunchtime series features an expanded lineup of four programs. The series' first program in November featurEd Harris Theater resident company River North Chicago Dance Company, followed by the extremely gifted students of ChiARTS (Chicago High School for the Arts) on January 21. The series concludes on May 13 with the Chicago premiere of the exciting Chicago Academy for the Arts Repertory Dance Company. The inaugural 2009-2010 series featured three different performances by DanceWorks Chicago.

About Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago

Currently in its 48th season, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago continues to bring the excitement of American jazz dance to cheering audiences in Chicago, across the United States and around the world. Founded by the late Gus Giordano, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, under the current leadership of Artistic Director Nan Giordano, continually expands the boundaries of jazz dance, and its new works consistently receive critical and audience acclaim. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago "now belongs in the front ranks of this city's resident companies," and "for sheer kinetic excitement and technical wizardry, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago simply can't be beat." And the Chicago Tribune critic was impressed with "artistic director Nan Giordano's shrewd instincts for choreographic talent and excellent dancers." GJDC was honored to receive a Chicago Dance Award for its production and performance of Ron De Jesus' Prey "representing the vital new directions taken by the company." Educational Outreach is an integral part of the company's mission. The company has an extensive Science and Health program in three underserved Chicago public schools. Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago aspires to be a leader and innovator in the world of dance. The company weaves a universal thread through all communities by engaging on the stage, in the classroom, and through events...enriching life through dance.

Program information for the final Harris Theater's 2010 - 2011 Eat to the Beat Series performances is:

Eat to the Beat: Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago

Friday, March 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Tickets are $5.

Program:

Excerpt from A Ritual Dynamic (2008)

Choreography: Jon Lehrer

Music: White Derbakeh, Egyptian Disco

Costume Painting: Laura Wade

Lighting Design: Kam Hobbs

Sanza (2011) Special Preview Performance

Choreography: Autumn Eckman

Costume Design: Virgil Sanner

Lighting Design: Kam Hobbs

Sabroso (2011) Special Preview Performance

Choreography: Del Dominguez, assisted by Laura Flores

Music: Monguito Santamaria, Tito Rodriguez, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Machito

Costume Design: Branimara Ivanova

Lighting Design: Kevin Dreyer

Excerpt from Pyrokinesis (2007)

2008 Black Theater Alliance Award for Best Choreography

Choreography: Christopher Huggins

Music: George Winston, United Future Organization

Costume Design: Branimira Ivanova

Lighting Design: Kevin Dreyer

Sanza and Sabroso are made possible, in part, from generous contributions from Tremaine Atkinson and Susan and Kevin Flynn. Pyrokinesis has been generously funded, in part, by Pam Crutchfield. Additional funding provided by The Boeing Company.

Eat to the Beat: Chicago Academy for the Arts

Friday, May 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Tickets are $5.

Witness the future of dance when Chicago's most thrilling young talent from the area's most acclaimed performing arts academy take the stage of the Harris Theater. Don't miss the stars of tomorrow in the debut of the Chicago Academy for the Arts Repertory Dance Company, performing works by Randy Duncan, Joseph Holmes, Eddy Ocampo, and other renowned choreographers.

Individual tickets for the Harris Theater Eat to the Beat lunchtime series are $5 each. Tickets are available at the Harris Theater box office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr., by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting www.harristheaterchicago.org