Author: Fred Cummings

Joffrey-Winning-Works-Choreographer-Kameron-Saunders
Dance

Joffrey Academy of Dance to Present New Slate of “Winning Works”

Fred Cummings , 

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, School of The Joffrey Ballet, will present four world premieres in the culmination of Joffrey’s national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists to submit applications for their Winning Works Choreographic Competition. This year’s Competition winners—Natasha Adorlee, Christian D’Ariano, Kameron N. Saunders, and Mike Tyus (Recipient of the Zach Lazar Winning Works Fellowship)—each have choreographed an original work created for the Joffrey Academy Trainees and Studio Company to a commissioned score by a chosen composer collaborator. An additional performance has been added to the program this year due to popular demand.

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Bass-Baritone-Ryan-Speedo-Green
Classical MusicMusic

Chicago Philharmonic to Welcome Ryan Speedo Green in Orchestra Debut

Fred Cummings ,  , 

The Chicago Philharmonic Society has announced it will welcome two-time Grammy Award winning bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green in a concert showcasing selections from opera and musical theater, one night only; Saturday, October 14 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Featuring repertoire from every era of opera and musical theater, Green will make his debut with the dynamic, musician-led orchestra under the baton of Chicago Philharmonic artistic director Scott Speck.  

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Alvin-Ailey-American-Dance-Theatre
DanceWinter 2023

Coming Home: Alvin Ailey Returns to the Auditorum Theatre This Spring

Fred Cummings ,  , 

If ever there was a “cultural ambassador” Chicago could call our own, it’s the beloved Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The world renowned and resplendently talented company of diversely gifted dancers has performed for an estimated 25 million people in 71 countries on 6 continents—as well as millions more through television broadcasts, film screenings, and online platforms—promoting the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance tradition. 

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Laurie-Anderson
Music

CYSO’s “Women in Music” Gala to Honor Laurie Anderson

Fred Cummings , 

Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) hosts its 2023 gala “Women in Music” at The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne Avenue, on Saturday, Feb. 25 beginning at 6 p.m. This is CYSO’s largest fundraising event of the year. Attendees will enjoy cocktails, gourmet dinner provided by Boka Catering, live auction, and performances from more than 100 of CYSO’s talented young musicians, including orchestra, steelpan, and jazz ensembles. Proceeds from the evening directly support CYSO’s award-winning music education programs for dedicated young musicians from across the Chicago region.

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Congo-Square-Theatre
Dance

Congo Square to Partner with Lookingglass Theatre to Remount “What’s to Send Up When it Goes Down”

Fred Cummings , 

Congo Square Theatre Company, one of the nation’s premier African American ensemble theater companies, and Lookingglass Theatre Company announce that single tickets are now on sale for the remount of Congo Square’s production of What to Send Up When It Goes Down in residence at Lookingglass Theatre Company’s historic Water Tower Water Works theater, 821 N Michigan Ave.

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Dancing-With-The-Giordano-Dance-Stars
Dance

Giordano Dance to Host Dancing with the Giordano Dance Stars

Fred Cummings

Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) hosts its wildly popular “Dancing With The Giordano Stars” ballroom dance competition to benefit GDC’s Jazz Dance/Science & Health outreach program, company operations, and jazz dance advocacy and mentorship programs 7 -11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6. The event will take place at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave. This annual gala, patterned after the hit ABC series “Dancing With The Stars,” teams GDC professional dancers with partners from the who’s who of Chicago’s civic, social and business communities to vie for “Best Male Dancer” and “Best Female Dancer” honors before a panel of celebrity judges. WGN’s Anna Davlantes will emcee.

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Singer-Dan-Navarro
MusicSummer 2022

LUMINARY: Q&A with Singer/Songwriter Dan Navarro

Fred Cummings , 

Saying singer/songwriter Dan Navarro is a versatile artist is like saying the past two years were kind of challenging for live music. It’s an understatement of epic proportions. Navarro is as prolific a master of all trades as they come. In addition to singer and songwriter, he routinely excels as producer, voice-over actor and all-around “road warrior,” all mounting a convincing argument for Navarro as the Hercules of the performing arts.
For years, he worked prolifically as part of the acoustic duo, Lowen & Navarro, releasing 14 albums and performing 1,500 gigs before Eric Lowen’s retirement in 2008 and subsequent passing from ALS in 2012.

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Kyiv-City-Ballet
BalletDanceSummer 2022

Voice of Resistance

Fred Cummings , 

One sleepy evening this past February, the full company of the Kyiv City Ballet boarded a flight out of its home city of Ukraine to embark upon a long-planned European tour. Little did anyone know at the time that it would be one of the last flights out of the country as Russia would invade its borders the very next day. That flight made its way to Paris, a city and its country that would adopt the ballet company in the wake of the Russian invasion. There and throughout Europe, the Kyiv City Ballet has performed since and now embarks upon a US tour that will bring them to the landmark Auditorium Theatre stage this fall. 

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