Ray Leeper News

Giordano Dance Chicago will bring its 63rd Ignite the Soul season to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie on October 18–19, 2025. The program will include Al Blackstone’s Gershwin in B, Brock Clawson’s Give & Take, Simon Schuh’s Interlinked, and more.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) is pleased to present its Season 46 finale and Pride concert, DANCING QUEENS! This musical tribute will feature over 20 iconic songs spanning every genre, performed by GMCLA’s 200-member Chorus on Saturday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 22 at 3:30 p.m. at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.

Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will present the final concert of Season 46, DANCING QUEENS, on Saturday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 22 at 3:30 p.m. at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. Learn more!

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) continued its 2024-2025 mainstage season with RHINESTONE COWBOYS for two concerts only. Check out photos here!

The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) continues its 2024-2025 mainstage season with Rhinestone Cowboys for two concerts only -- March 22 at 8 p.m. and March 23 at 3:30 p.m. at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills (8440 Wilshire Blvd.).

Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, now in its 46th year, will present RHINESTONE COWBOYS as part of its 2024-2025 Season. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC), America's original jazz dance company enters their 62nd season SOARING! with an exhilarating program at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25 and Saturday, Oct. 26.

See sneak-peek video of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles' highly-anticipated concert, WE LOVE BOY BANDS! Enjoy chart-topping hits from iconic boy bands, led by Music Director Ernest H. Harrison and choreography by Ray Leeper.

GMCLA presents WE ❤️ BOY BANDS! at the Saban Theatre - MAR 23 & 24. Don't miss this exciting performance by the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles celebrating the music of boy bands.

Watch every performance from the Dancing With the Stars finale! Marvel star Xochitl Gomez took home the Len Goodman mirrorball trophy for season 32, with runnersup being Jason Mraz, Ariana Madix, Charity Lawson, and Alyson Hannigan. Watch videos of dances to songs from Mariah Carey, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Beyoncé, and more!

The episode will feature dances to music from Mariah Carey, Jason Mraz, Rick James, Frank Sinatra, Spice Girls, Astor Piazzolla, Katy Perry, Gloria Estefan, C2C featuring Derek Martin, Beyoncé, Ciara, Destiny’s Child, Sam i & Jarina De Marco featuring Anitta & BIA, District 78, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Lopez.

Chicago Dancers United has announced the lineup for Dance for Life 2020: United as One, a digital event showcasing Dance for Life (DFL) performances from the past 29 years and a world premiere finale.

 Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) Artistic Director Nan Giordano and LA-based choreographer Ray Leeper team up for the first ever virtual jazz dance experience on Zoom 2 - 3 p.m. (CT), on Gus Giordano Day, Saturday, April 25. Active participants and observers alike are welcome.

MOVES at The Montalban's Dance Festival Opens with the Capezio A.C.E. Awards Finalists' Performances and Erik Saradpon's Extraordinary Dance Company FORMALITY LIVE! The first two of four nights of the Annual Dance Festival, MOVES, smartly and efficiently produced by Break the Floor Productions, were filled with high energy, creativity abounding, energy-charged and inspired performances, including promising talent both new and emerging. Wednesday, January 15, 2020. Capezio A.C.E. Awards Finalists and Award Ceremony The Capezio A.C.E. Awards crowned a 2020 winner, playing to a jam-packed house at the historic Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood as part of the MOVES at The Montalbán dance festival produced by Break the Floor Productions and presented by Capezio. The illustrious panel of chosen judges, all esteemed dancers/choreographers, included Marguerite Derricks, Vincent Paterson, Anita Mann, Ray Leeper, Tony Selznick and Tessandra Chavez. All well-established and widely respected by their peers, these judges are the cream of the crop in the dance world and industry.

The Capezio A.C.E. Awards crowned a 2020 winner at last night's ceremony that played to a packed house at the historic Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood as part of the MOVES at The Montalbán dance festival produced by Break the Floor Productions and presented by Capezio. The winner of the 2020 Capezio A.C.E. Award for outstanding choreography is choreographic team Grayson McGuire & Shiori Kamijo. Grayson and Shiori will receive a cash prize of $15,000 to be used towards the production of their own show at next year's MOVES at The Montalbán. The runner-up for this year's award, and the recipient of a $5,000 cash prize, is Noelle Marsh. There was a tie for second runner-up, each receiving $3,000, between Sarah Steben and Brandon Croisetiere. Hosted by hip-hop legend Kenny Wormald, the esteemed judging panel included such dance industry icons as Anita Mann, Marguerite Derricks, Ray Leeper, Vincent Paterson, Tony Selznick and Tessandra Chavez. Capezio and Break the Floor would like to thank all 26 choreographer finalists and their amazing dancers for competing in this year's awards.

Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) delivers on its mission to provide an unparalleled arts and academic education to a diverse student body passionate about the arts through its 2019-2020 Master Artist Series and Creators & Innovators Series. In addition to the school's 16 arts conservatories, these unique programs provide students the opportunity to learn from real-world experts in a variety of industries. Acclaimed artists, educators and industry leaders visit OCSA's campus in Santa Ana to share their expertise and provide students with exclusive advice through demonstrations, residencies, panel discussions, master classes and more. This season's Master Artist Series kicked off with a culinary arts master class with internationally celebrated chef, Jet Tila, who is a best-selling author and host on a?oeIron Chef America.a??

Dance for Life Chicago announces a lineup of popular companies and artists returning to the stage August 17 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., Chicago. Dance for Life, which mobilizes Chicago's dance community by raising funds through dance, presents this annual benefit performance, which this year is followed by a gala reception at the Hilton Chicago.

In the Auditorium Theatre's 129th year of existence, we honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 13th annual Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah; asked "What's This?" on Halloween with a special screening and the Midwest premiere of Disney in Concert's The Nightmare Before Christmas; and sang along to timeless classics like "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" and "Grease" with Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. We reveled alongside the dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; celebrated Ballet Nacional de Cuba's return to Chicago following a 15-year absence; highlighted top local dance companies, including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Giordano Dance Chicago; and got transported to Mexico with the colorful music and dance of Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez. We also hosted the 14th  year of our Hearts to Art summer camp, a performing arts camp for young people who have experienced the death of a parent; welcomed over 5,000 students to our Student Matinees; and brought thousands of people from across the city to the theatre through our ADMIT ONE program.

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. 

The Auditorium Theatre welcomes Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) back to its landmark stage as the final performance of the season's 'Made in Chicago' Dance Series, Saturday, June 11 at 7:30PM. The company, led by Artistic Director Nan Giordano, returns after last year's dynamic engagement and will perform five works from the company's 157-piece repertory, including Crossing/Lines, Feelin' Good Sweet, Can't Take This Away, Sneaky Pete, and Sing, Sing, Sing. Tickets start at $28, 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 Parkway).