Saturday, October 5, 2024
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Author: Fred Cummings

BalletDance

The Joffrey Ballet Mounts North American Premiere of Cathy Marston’s Atonement this Fall

Fred Cummings

The Joffrey Ballet opens its 69th season with the North American premiere of Cathy Marston’s poignant interpretation of Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel-turned-Academy Award®-winning film Atonement. The full-length narrative ballet follows Briony Tallis, revealed in the book as its author and now portrayed as a celebrated choreographer, as she grapples with the haunting echoes of her past through a breathtaking dance of redemption. Atonement will be presented at the historic Lyric Opera House, in ten performances only, from October 17–27, 2024. Tickets are on sale starting August 1.

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Classical MusicMusic

Merit School of Music Announces New Merit Near North Branch in Old Town Neighborhood  

Fred Cummings

Chicago’s Merit School of Music– a nationally accredited music school headquartered in the West Loop – proudly announces the opening of Merit Near North branch in the Old Town neighborhood at 458 W Eugenie Street. Merit will begin offering private music lessons, group classes, and early childhood music classes at Merit Near North this Fall. As part of Merit’s multi-year growth-focused strategic plan, the new expansion is grounded in Merit’s mission to transform the lives of Chicago-area young people by removing barriers to a high-quality music education. The bold strategic plan also encompasses a new Merit South Shore branch which launched this past summer through a partnership with Bryn Mawr Community Church.

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Red-Clay-Dance-Theatre-in-Unconditional-Conditions
Dance

Dozens of Chicago Arts Organizations Boosted by over $500,000 in Cash Reserve Grants from Donnelley Foundation

Fred Cummings

The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation—which supports land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago metro area and the Lowcountry region of South Carolina—has announced it has expanded its commitment to Chicago’s small arts organizations by offering Cash Reserve Challenge Grants of $10,000-$25,000 to eligible arts grantees across the city, increasing the sector’s financial stability and sustainability.

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Millennium-Park-Festivities-Gospel-Music-Festival
MusicSpring 2024

Millennium Park Unveils an Avalanche of Performances and Festivities for Big 20th Anniversary Season Celebration

Fred Cummings

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) have announced the 2024 Millennium Park 20th Anniversary Summer Season—bringing free world-class arts programming to the Midwest’s number 1 attraction celebrating its milestone anniversary this season. Artist lineups were recently announced for the popular Millennium Park Summer Music Series (most Mondays and Thursdays, July 1 – August 8) featuring some of the biggest names in music including Corinne Bailey Rae, Terrace Martin, Charlie Musselwhite, Buscabulla, GZA, Protoje, Seun Kuti, the NPR Tiny Desk Contest Winner, and others. This seven-part music series showcases a wide range of genres at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Pre-shows for each concert begin at 5:30 p.m.; concerts start at 6:30 p.m.

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Tast-of-Grace-by-Choreographer-Zavier-Nunes
Dance

Par.Mar Dance Theatre Unveils New Works by Latin Choreographers in Spring Series

Fred Cummings

The Chicago-based contemporary ballet company PARA.MAR Dance Theatre returns to Epiphany Center for the Arts (201 S. Ashland) this May for their fourth annual Spring Season Series, MONOLITH. The program features world premieres choreographed by Cuban-born Beatriz García Diáz, Puerto Rican-born Xavier Nuñez and Bryan Arias and PARA.MAR’s founder and artistic director Stephanie Martinez. 

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Gustavo-Ramirez-Sansano
Dance

Visceral Dance Taps Choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano for Two Company Premieres

Fred Cummings

Windy City contemporary dance company Visceral Dance Chicago will perform the company premieres of two works by acclaimed Spanish choreographer Gustavo Ramírez Sansano this spring. The former artistic director of Chicago’s Luna Negra Dance Theater, who has choreographed works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Nederlands Dans Theater, Compañía Nacional de Danza, Chicago’s own Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Hispánico, and many others, is working with Visceral for the first time.

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All-of-Mankind-Installation-at-Joffrey-Ballet-Studios
Autumn 2023Dance

The Joffrey and Chicago Architecture Bienniel Partner to Present Poignant “All of Mankind” Installation

Fred Cummings

In partnership with the Chicago Architecture Biennial, The Joffrey Ballet recently announced the completion of Jan Tichy’s installation, All of Mankind, on the windows of Joffrey Tower, which is home to The Joffrey Ballet and the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet. Located in the center of downtown Chicago at 10 E. Randolph Street, The Joffrey Ballet is one of 14 venues taking part in CAB 5: This is a Rehearsal, a city-wide program including site-specific installations and presentations at ten outdoor city sites and four cultural and civic institutions, including the Chicago Cultural Center, the James R. Thompson Center, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, the Chicago Architecture Center. The most geographically expansive Biennial to date, CAB offers opportunities not just for concentrated cultural engagement with the city, but also the space for citizens and visitors alike to consider their relationship with the city at large, through historic, civic, and personal lenses. The Chicago Architecture Biennial is on view now through February 11, 2024. 

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