Luna Negra Presents Moniquilla and the Thief of Laughter 12/3-4

Luna Negra Dance Theater launches Luna Niños, a new dance series designed for enjoyment by the whole family. The inaugural program of Luna Niños is titled Moniquilla and the Thief of Laughter, presented at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue, in four performances only: Saturday, December 3 at 10 am and 1 pm and Sunday, December 4 at 1 pm and 4 pm.

Moniquilla and the Thief of Laughter is a one-hour show choreographed by Luna Negra Artistic Director Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, using dance to tell the story of Moniquilla and her friends, Matias and Veronica, who must solve a dizzying puzzle: all the children in the world have lost their ability to laugh, but nobody knows why. A spectacular adventure follows, filled with flying pendulums, jungle spies, bursting water balloons, secret laboratories and other mystifying obstacles.

"We created Luna Niños for one the most important audience groups - the future audience," said Sansano. "I felt it was important to design something specifically for kids, not a rearrangement of our main stage repertoire, but a narrative story that engages them and makes them curious about dance and theater. I also want to make the audience a part of the story. In Moniquilla and the Thief of Laughter, the kids in the audience actually help Moniquilla solve the mystery and they are a part of the show."

Tickets are $15 and are available by calling 773-327-5252 or online at www.lunanegra.org. Moniquilla and the Thief of Laughter is sponsored by Discover and the Richland Summit Foundation.

Since its inception in 1999, Luna Negra Dance Theater has established itself as a significant and vital component of Chicago's arts and cultural community. Founded by Cuban-born dancer and choreographer Eduardo Vilaro, Luna Negra celebrates the richness and diversity of Latino culture through the creation of works by contemporary Latino choreographers and through intensive, hands-on education programs that encourage discovery and exploration of personal and community identity. Steering away from stereotypes and folkloric representations, the company performs works of contemporary Latino dance with energy, power, and passion. Luna Negra makes its home in Chicago at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park, and tours nationally and internationally. Now under the leadership of award-winning Artistic Director Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, Luna Negra has risen to the forefront of American contemporary dance. The company currently has works in the repertory by choreographers from Argentina, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela. In addition to performing, Luna Negra conducts extensive outreach and education programs, serving annually over 10,000 students in the Chicago area. Luna Negra's company includes Renée Adams, Stacey Aung, Nigel Campbell, Moníca Cervantes, Veronica Guadalupe, Joseph Kudra, Sayiga Eugene Peabody, Kirsten Shelton, Diego Tortelli and Eduardo Zuñiga.

For more information on Luna Negra Dance Theater please visit www.lunanegra.com.

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