Giordano Dance Chicago Honors Jazz Dance At The Auditorium Theatre

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) closes out its 55th Anniversary season, and the Auditorium Theatre's 2017-18 Season, at the National Historic Landmark on June 9 with an exhilarating mixed repertory program that honors the stylistic heart of American jazz dance.

"We are so looking forward to ending our fantastic season with a high-energy, thrilling performance from Giordano Dance Chicago, a company that has defined jazz and contemporary dance in the city," says Auditorium Theatre CEO Tania Castroverde Moskalenko. "We will kick off the summer months in style with this fiery evening that features jazz dance in all forms."

Two works featuring choreography by GDC founder Gus Giordano showcase the classic Giordano Technique: Giordano Moves (2005), a work for 14 dancers recently restaged by Nan Giordano, pays homage to Giordano choreographic output. Wings (1978), performed by GDC Artistic Programs Manager Cesar G. Salinas, features a soulful live performance of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" by the acclaimed family singers The Bournés.

The evening also features Ray Leeper's Feelin' Good Sweet (2014), a work called "flat out fun [and] over-the-top sexy, stylishly cool" by the Chicago Tribune, set to music by Michael Bublé, Aretha Franklin, and Michael Brennan; Grusin Suite (1993), choreographed by River North Dance Chicago's Frank Chaves; Take A Gambol (2018), by former GDC dancer and current Operations Manager Joshua Blake Carter; and former Ailey American Dance Theater dancer Christopher Huggins' electrifying Pyrokinesis (2007), which "more than lives up to its title with its 'can you top this?' vibe" (Chicago Tonight).

"How fitting to conclude our 55th season at the Auditorium," says Nan Giordano, GDC's Artistic Director. "It was always my father's [Gus Giordano's] dream to have his company perform on the stage of this landmark theatre, and we are excited to return for our fourth full-length performance on the historic stage."

This "Made in Chicago" Dance Series performance also commemorates Nan Giordano's 33 years of GDC leadership and 25 years as artistic director. Under Nan's direction, GDC has developed a large, diverse repertoire and a high-profile reputation for excellence in the international dance community.

"Nan Giordano has established Giordano Dance Chicago as a strong force in Chicago and beyond," says Castroverde Moskalenko. "It is an honor for us to celebrate her at the Auditorium Theatre."

Nan Giordano has been at the helm of GDC since 1985, when she was appointed Associate Director after performing with the company for many years; in 1993, she became the company's Artistic Director. Today, she is the preeminent authority on the Giordano Technique, a style pioneered by her father and developed with a strong focus on core control, regal lines, and powerful spatial resistance. Please join us in celebrating the influence of Nan Giordano's tenure in the world of dance and in the Chicago community.

About Giordano Dance Chicago

Giordano Dance Chicago is America's original jazz dance company, captivating audiences worldwide with dynamic performances and the diversity and wide appeal of its repertoire. The mission of Giordano Dance Chicago is to create and present new and innovative jazz dance choreography, often redefining and expanding the very definition of jazz dance, and to bring this invaluable American art form to audiences and students of all ages and from all ethnic backgrounds. Whether on the stage or in the classroom, the company, led by Artistic Director Nan Giordano and Executive Director Michael McStraw, strives to enrich lives through dance. Known for its high­-energy, high-­impact artistry, GDC continually receives critical and audience acclaim worldwide.

Performance Information

Giordano Dance Chicago

Saturday, June 9 | 7:30PM

Tickets start at $29 and are available online at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by phone at 312.341.2300, or in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E Congress Pkwy). Discounts available for groups of 10+.

The Auditorium Theatre also offers $15 student rush tickets to full-time college students, and $5 tickets to young people ages 13-19 with Urban Gateways' Teen Arts Pass program. The Auditorium Theatre's ADMIT ONE program, launched in 2016, offers complimentary tickets to Chicago area community groups.

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