Dance Chicago Center

Join us this Saturday, 12/7/24, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave. at 11 am for our annual DUKE IT OUT! This unique Nutcracker performance pits the classical (Tchaikovsky) and jazz (Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn) versions of the holiday favorite in a spectacular side-by-side showdown. Curated by Dance Chicago, the program features members of Braeburn Brass and Music Institute of Chicago Ensemble-in Residence, Quintet Attacca.

Duke it Out! Nutcracker Perfect for families, this unique Nutcracker performance pits the classical (Tchaikovsky) and jazz (Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn) versions of the holiday favorite in a spectacular side-by-side showdown, curated by Dance Chicago, and featuring live music from Braeburn Brass and Quintet Attacca. A f...

As a choreographer, I’m not telling you how to move. You are telling me how you move.

In 1989, I was just finishing work in Chicago as gm of the Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble, before moving to manage Ballet Chicago. We were offered free tix to American Ballet Theatre’s Chicago premiere of In the Upper Room by Twyla Tharp at the Civic Opera House. I was stunned by the mysterious rapture of this 39 minute dance. It changed my life planting the seeds of Dance Chicago. Watch the entire 39 minutes. We still design all Dance Chicago lighting with the black, infinite upstage disappearing background. The “build” in this dance has never been duplicated, but always attempted.

Watch the entire dance please!

In The Upper Room Philip Glass Modern Dance Ballet