Harris Theater Brings Back River North Dance Company & Giordano Jazz Dance

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance is pleased to announce the return of two of its most successful programs. A fourth program has been added to expand the acclaimed Eat to the Beat lunchtime series, which now includes performances by Harris resident companies River North Chicago Dance Company and Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. By popular demand, the highly celebrated Family Series returns for a fourth season, offering families the opportunity to enjoy exceptional programming for children of all ages.

2010-2011 Eat to the Beat Lunchtime Series
"The Harris Theater is honored to take a leadership position in providing accessible and affordable arts programming to the community," said Michael Tiknis, President and Managing Director of the Harris Theater. "With the overwhelming success of the Eat to the Beat series last season, we introduced thousands of new people to live dance through a unique opportunity in the middle of their work day. This season, we are pleased to expand this energizing programming through collaboration with more of our renowned resident companies and arts education partners."
In 2009-2010, the Harris launched the wildly popular Eat to the Beat series featuring DanceWorks Chicago. The crowd-pleasing lunchtime series returns for a second season with an expanded lineup of four performances, to include celebratEd Harris Theater resident companies River North Dance Company and Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, performers from the Chicago High School for the Arts and the Chicago premiere of the exciting Chicago Academy for the Arts Repertory Dance Company.

Geared towards those who live, work, attend school, or find themselves in the vicinity of the Harris during the workday lunch hour, this series features four unique dance programs, each one hour in length. Audience members are encouraged to enjoy their brown bag or purchased lunches while watching these spectacular performances. (Park Grill box lunches are available for advance purchase.) A trademark of this acclaimed program is accessibility; with individual tickets priced at only $5 each or $10 for a subscription to all four performances, anyone can experience live dance and break up the monotony of a work day.

Program information for the Harris Theater's 2010 - 2011 Eat to the Beat Series is as follows:
Eat to the Beat: River North Chicago Dance Company

Friday, November 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Tickets are $5.

With an eclectic repertoire which spans "from ballroom to ballet....this is a company that can do it all." (Chicago Sun-Times) Come experience for yourself the great variety of this renowned jazz-based company with this artistically diverse performance-including a sneak preview of a world premiere work by emerging choreographer Sidra Bell, and highlights from works to be performed on their upcoming November and February programs at the Harris Theater.

Eat to the Beat: Chicago High School for the Arts
Friday, January 21, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Tickets are $5.

With an incredible interdisciplinary tour-de-force, the brilliant young students from the renowned Chicago High School for the Arts will showcase their extraordinary talents in a performance featuring each of the school's artistic areas of concentration. From the stage of the Harris Theater, ChiArts students of dance, theatre, choral and jazz music will exhibit their exceptional skill, while an installation by the school's visual artists will be displayed in the lobby.

Eat to the Beat: Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
Friday, March 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Tickets are $5.

Experience the high-energy high-impact performance and the enthralling art that defines one of Chicago's most ethnically diverse dance companies. Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago captivates audiences with "technical mastery and stamina that had [the] packed house audibly gasping." (Chicago Sun-Times) From traditional jazz dance to the contemporary works of today, their incredible canon of repertoire spans nearly 50 years.

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.

Subscription packages for the Harris Theater Eat to the Beat lunchtime series are $10 for four performances and individual tickets 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.

The Chauncey & Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation is the Lead Foundation Sponsor of the Eat to the Beat Lunchtime Series.

2010-2011 Family Series
"Children and families are at the heart of The Harris Theater's commitment to arts education," said Michael Tiknis, President and Managing Director of the Harris Theater. "Our Family Series provides inventive programming to cultivate Chicago's next generation of arts lovers. We understand that kids are a discerning audience, and deserve the same quality performances as adults. Through our Family Series, our goal is to create a family experience that is interactive and educational for all ages."

Aimed at the young and young at heart, the Harris Theater's Family Series provides families an opportunity to introduce and further the live performance experience with innovative and imaginative programming that inspires conversation well beyond the program. The celebrated multi-disciplinary series is back with a whole new season of engaging and family-friendly dance and music performances. As part of its Family Enrichment Initiative, the Harris Theater's 2010 - 2011 exciting season line-up will feature Harris Theater resident company Midwest Young Artists, the internationally heralded Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, a new program by last season's hit-maker Francesco Milioto and his New Millennium Orchestra, and the return of acclaimed tap dancer Derek Grant in this special program featuring the high-speed hoofer and his kids!

A hallmark of the Theater's Family Series is affordability; with individual tickets just $10 each or a subscription to all four performances (including the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra add-on performance) for only $25, the whole family can attend and experience the benefits of music and dance to enrich their lives. Due to the unique, one-time only performances, tickets for these shows are in high demand!

Program information for the Harris Theater's 2010 - 2011 Family Series is as follows:

Hip Hop-era!
New Millennium Orchestra
Francesco Milioto, Conductor
Bill McMurray, Baritone
Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are $10.
What do The Black Eyed Peas and Giuseppe Verdi have in common? Join the charismatic and clever conductor Francesco Milioto and his dynamic orchestra for an urban musical journey as they explore the intersection of popular music and classical opera in this fun musical program for kids and tweens. The creator of last season's coolest kid's concert, DJ Beethoven, Milioto will launch the Harris Theater Family Series with this awesome new program also featuring singer Bill McMurray and special guests-including a live DJ!

Green Eggs and Hamadeus
Rob Kapilow, conductor/composer
Musicians from Midwest Young Artists
Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Tickets are $10.
"I would not eat green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am." It's one of the most beloved and recognizable declarations from one of the most popular children's books of all time-Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham." Join musicians from Midwest Young Artists for a magical hour of interactive family fun as they perform composer and conductor Rob Kapilow's musical setting of this Dr. Seuss classic-woven together with Mozart's delightful A Little Night Music. Discover how music tells its own stories in this Chicago premiere of the Lincoln Center blockbuster series!

Once Upon a Tap
Derek Grant and the Grant Family Tappers
Sunday, May 15, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Tickets are $10.

It is not one, not two, but THREE GRANTS on stage this Harris Theater stage this time! Derek Grant, the creator and star of Imagine Tap! returns with his dazzling, virtuosic, high speed hoofing. But Dad's not dancing by himself! Joining him centerstage are his kids Lulu and Kaleo and members of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, who will help him create a visual bedtime story through dance, bringing to life the action packed adventures of its characters in this foot stomping, tap-dancing extravaganza. Be prepared for a super fast, energy packed, electrifying hour of tap, that is sure to get your feet moving!

Special add-on performance for families:
Sphinx Chamber Orchestra
Harlem Quartet
Monday, October 18, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $10.
The internationally heralded Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, a 25-musician ensemble comprised of alumni winners of the prestigious Sphinx Competition for emerging pre-professional African-American and Latino musicians returns for a special one-night only performance.
Inspired by Sphinx's mission to increase participation of Blacks and Latinos in music schools; as professional musicians; and as classical music audiences; SCO works to advance diversity in classical music while engaging young and new audiences through performances of varied repertoire. The unique group's highly acclaimed debut at Carnegie Hall was called "first-rate in every way" by The New York Times.
The program for their return to the Harris is:

Jean Sibelius Andante Festivo

Sergei Prokofiev Sonata for 2 Violins IV

Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson Sinfonietta No. 1: III. Rondo: Allegro Furioso

George Walker Lyric for Strings

Antonin Dvorak Serenade, Movement IV

Gabriella Lena Frank Coqueteos from Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout

Tillis Spiritual Fantasy "Wade in Water"

Joaquin Turina The Bullfighter's Prayer

Robert and Joan Feitler are the Presenting Sponsors of the Harris Theater's Presentation of the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra.

Target Corporation is the Lead Corporate Sponsor for the Harris Theater's Presentation of the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra.

Subscription packages for the Harris Theater Family Series are $25 (including Sphinx Chamber Orchestra add-on performance) and individual tickets are $10 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.

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