Chicago's Harris Theater to Welcome Baryshnikov, Battle and Lang Lang in 2009-2010
By PlaybillArts Staff
30 Jul 2009




Mikhail Baryshnikov, photo by Janet Mayer

Building on the critical success of its Fifth Anniversary season, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance will commence its sixth season this fall 2009 with a diverse selection of performances in classical, jazz, world music and dance.



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The schedule for the Harris Theater fall 2009 season includes a variety of acclaimed Chicago favorites, Chicago premieres and performances by individuals and organizations that are seldom seen in Chicago. Joining such popular and acclaimed Chicago institutions as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Music of the Baroque, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Fulcrum Point New Music Project and Chicago Jazz Ensemble is highly anticipated return of ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov, performing the Chicago premiere of Three solos and a duet with his long-time dance partner and collaborator Ana Laguna; a distinctive holiday engagement with the great American soprano Kathleen Battle and the Chicago Children’s Choir; and an exciting new program by the acclaimed all-male ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. Additionally, the Harris recently announced an exciting new lunchtime performance series, Eat to the Beat, which will feature midday dance performances by DanceWorks Chicago and tickets priced at just $5.00 each.
This fall the Harris Theater will introduce Tix @ Six, a new discounted ticket program for audience members. As part of the program, a set number of $10.00 Tix @ 6 performance tickets will be available to the public while supplies last 90 minutes prior to the start of a performance at the Harris; tickets must be purchased with cash and in person only. Tix @ 6 tickets will be applicable for all performances at the Harris – both Harris Theater Presents events as well as performances by the resident companies.
Subscriptions to the Harris Theater Presents performances are on sale now; single tickets to Harris Theater Presents performances will go on sale August 1, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.; and tickets to all Harris Theater performances will be on sale by August 15, 2009 at noon.
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.


PROGRAM


Harris Theater presents
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Chicago Premiere of “Three solos and a duet”
Friday, September 25, 2009 and Saturday, September 26, 2009, 7:30 pm; Sunday, September 27, 2009, 3:00 pm
Tickets: $55, $65, $75
Hailed by The New York Times as “one of the greatest dancers in history,” ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov will perform the Chicago premiere of "Three solos and a duet" with dance partner and collaborator Ana Laguna. Baryshnikov toured Three solos and a duet throughout Europe this summer. Marking his first appearance in Chicago since he thrilled audiences with his performance with Hell’s Kitchen Dance at the Harris in 2007, Three solos and a duet will give Chicago audiences a rare opportunity to see Baryshnikov dance solo. The program features Valse-Fantasie, a new work by Russian choreographer Alexei Ratmansky; Solo for Two and Place by Swedish choreographer Mats Ek; and a radically reworked version of Years Later by Benjamin Millepied of France, which Baryshnikov premiered at the spring gala fundraiser for his Baryshnikov Arts Center on April 14.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
FALL SERIES: October 1-4, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 7:30 pm; Friday, October 2, 8:00 pm; Saturday, October 3, 8:00 pm; Sunday, October 4, 3:00 pm
Tickets: $25-$90
Critically acclaimed for its exuberant, athletic and innovative repertoire by world-renowned choreographers, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's ensemble of dancers displays unparalleled versatility and virtuosity. The company's Fall program features a wide range of works that will inspire, awe and amaze, including a return of audience favorite Jardi Tancat by Nacho Duato, the "slinky-meets-sensual" Lickety Split by HSDC Resident Choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo, Lucas Crandall's whimsical and entertaining The Set, and a world premiere by esteemed choreographer Jorma Elo. Under the leadership of newly announced Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton, HSDC is bringing new strength and energy to Chicago's own world-renown contemporary dance company.

Luna Negra Dance Theater - Celebrating 10 Years
Noche De Luna
Friday, October 9, 6:30 pm*
Tickets: $250-$500 for gala tickets (includes performance); $25 to $55 for performance only
Luna Negra celebrates its 10th Anniversary with Noche de Luna, a tribute to founder Eduardo Vilaro. The evening will begin with a memorable performance featuring a retrospective of company favorites with special guest Welz Kauffman of Ravinia Festival and the World Premiere of Eduardo Vilaro’s Danzуn, with Latin jazz legend Paquito D’Rivera and Turtle Island Quartet performing live. The program will then be followed by a gala reception in The Modern Wing of The Art Institute of Chicago.
*A gala reception in the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute will follow the performance. For more information, please contact Luna Negra at 312-337-6882.

Luna Negra Dance Theater
Saturday, October 10 at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $25-$55
Enjoy an extraordinary evening of Latino contemporary dance infused with flamenco, mambo and tango movements, featuring Eduardo Vilaro’s new Danzуn with live accompaniment by Paquito D’Rivera and Turtle Island Quartet; Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s reflective and comical Nube Blanco (White Cloud); and Alejandro Cervera’s Tango Vitrola, a sizzling work that blends the distinctive qualities of the Tango with ballet and contemporary movement.

LADO
National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia
October 21, 2009, 7:30 pm
Tickets: $55 - $115
Celebrating its 60th Anniversary, LADO will present Croatia's rich music and dance tradition.

Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
Move!
October 23 and 24, 2009, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $20 - $60
Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago presents two signature evenings of athletic dance virtuosity featuring world premieres by legendary American choreographer Rennie Harris and the emerging Chicago choreographer Autumn Eckman!

Dance Africa
Saturday, October 30, 2009, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $25 - $54
Southern Africa comes to life through a blend of contemporary and traditional dance with live song and percussion. Experience the fabric that is life and dance, DanceAfrica 2009!

River North Chicago Dance Company
Saturday, November 7, 2009, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $30-$65
The 20th anniversary season opens with a world premiere by Artistic Director, Frank Chaves, and, a new twist on the Company's classic signature piece, Reality of a Dreamer, re-envisioned by Co-Artistic Director Emerita, Sherry Zunker. Last season’s hit Uhuru by Company member Monique Haley will return to the stage, along with other repertoire favorites including the colorful full ensemble piece Habaneras, the Music of Cuba.

Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Global Rhythms featuring Step Afrika!
Thursday, November 19* Opening night "JUBALEE" Gala, 7:30 pm; Friday, November 20, 8:00 pm; Saturday, November 21, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $15 - $55 (general public; available all three nights); JUBALEE benefit tickets $150 - $500
Chicago Human Rhythm Project's 20th Anniversary Season bursts onto the stage with the Chicago debut of Washington D.C.'s celebrated Step Afrika! featuring stepping, gumboot, African and contemporary percussive arts!

Harris Theater Presents Eat to the Beat:
DanceWorks Chicago featuring Yuri Lane
Beat in the Box
Tuesday, November 17, 2009, noon
Tickets: $5 for each performance; $10 for a subscription to all three performances
A quirky, full company piece, Beat in the Box blends contemporary dance, improvisation and everyday movement with the exciting sounds of beatbox music to create an energetic dance with a hip, urban feel. Beat in the Box, featuring Chicago actor, musician and beatboxer Yuri Lane, was created for DanceWorks Chicago by choreographer Brian Enos.

Thodos Dance Chicago featuring “Fosse Trilogy”
Saturday, November 28, 2009, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $40 regular; $25 seniors & students; $15 children & groups of 10 or more
A highly-charged evening of contemporary dance by established American choreographers including Artistic Director Melissa Thodos and featuring a very special repertory addition, “Fosse Trilogy.”

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
WINTER SERIES: December 3-6, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 7:30pm; Friday, December 4, 8:00 pm; Saturday, December 5, 8:00 pm; Sunday, December 6, 3:00 pm
Tickets: $25-$90
Critically acclaimed for its exuberant, athletic and innovative repertoire by world-renowned choreographers, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's ensemble of dancers displays unparalleled versatility and virtuosity. The company's Winter program features the tender and oddly beautiful Tabula Rasa, set to the haunting music of Arvo Pдrt by Ohad Naharin, the must-see hit Off Screen by HSDC's Resident Choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo, and Johan Inger's Walking Mad, propelled by the rhythmic ‘Bolйro’ by Maurice Ravel.

The Dance Center of Columbia College presents
Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan
Moon Water
Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23, 2010, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $30 Balcony; $45 Lower Level; $65 Orchestra
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Asia ’s leading contemporary dance company, returns to Chicago blending Eastern and Western dance styles with Lin Hwai-min's internationally renowned signature work, Moon Water. Lauded worldwide for its innovation, grace and extreme physical fluidity, Moon Water is a contemporary exploration of the Tai Chi Tao Yin movement, set to JS Bach’s exquisite Six Suites for Solo Cello. During this breathtaking performance, water sweeps across the entire stage and is reflected by a wall of mirror suspended midair, creating a stunning on-stage work of art. The company, made up of two dozen dancers with training in Tai Chi Tao Yin, meditation, martial arts, Chinese Opera movement, modern dance, ballet and calligraphy, execute Lin Hwai-min's choreography beautifully – varying from the weighty stillness of a stone sculpture, to floating lyricism, to fierce martial-art like attacks. “Mr. Lin has accomplished what creative artists rarely succeed in doing today: challenging the audience with a work unlike any other,” says The New York Times. “Moon Water is not about meditation but is a meditation in itself.”

Harris Theater presents
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 7:30 pm
Tickets: $45, $55, $75
Following an appearance in the UK, including a performance in celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Royal Variety Performance which Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo promise to delight Chicago audiences with an exciting new program demonstrating their playful, entertaining view of classical ballet in parody form and en travesti. Hailed as “wholly spectacular” and “stunning” by The New York Times, the Trocks, as they are affectionately known, will amuse and inspire Chicagoans with their blend of their loving knowledge of dance, their comic approach, and the astounding fact that men can, indeed, dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces! The fact that men dance all the parts--heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, sylphs, water sprites, romantic princesses, angst-ridden Victorian ladies--enhances rather than mocks the spirit of dance as an art form, delighting and amusing the most knowledgeable, as well as novices, in the audience. This Harris Theater presentation of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is back by popular demand after a sold-out engagement at the Harris in 2007.
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Additional programming includes springtime engagements with Lang Lang, Stephen Sondheim, Christine Ebersole, Bella Voce Chamber Choir, Sharon Isbin and Mark O’Connor. Tickets go on sale August 1 at 10 a.m.
Subscriptions and single tickets will be 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.