CHICAGO (May 30, 2013) – The Chicago Dancing Festival is pleased to announce the programming schedule for its seventh season. Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, this "Free-to-All" Festival is set to take place August 20 – 24, featuring top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country.

Just as the Festival draws from top dance companies across the nation, this year's program will once again be featured in top venues across Chicago's downtown summer playground. Audience members looking to plan their Festival week have a number of outstanding opportunities to choose from, including:

The Festival kicks off Tuesday, August 20, with a performance at the Harris Theater. The Harris Theater is proud to be the Opening Night Presenting Sponsor of the 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival in celebration of The Harris at 10! anniversary season.

Wednesday, August 21, dance enthusiasts looking to celebrate while helping keep the Festival free-to-all are invited to attend the Chicago Dancing Festival's Gala Benefit at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Reservations for this intimate performance and benefit are limited and can be reserved today. The only paid ticket event during the festival, this program will be presented free to the public in two performances Friday, August 23.

Thursday, August 22, the Festival travels to Chicago's historic Auditorium Theatre. "As a critical tenet of our mission, the Auditorium Theatre is committed to providing the finest the artistic world has to offer to the people of our great city, and we are honored to partner with the Chicago Dancing Festival, whose dedication to this sublime art form is simply unparalleled—and truly inspiring," said Brett Batterson, Executive Director of the Auditorium Theatre.

Friday, August 23, sees the Museum of Contemporary Art host two performances of the program featured at the Festival's Gala Benefit.

Saturday, August 24, the Festival concludes with its signature Grand Finale on the stunning outdoor stage of the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

Highlights this year include two Chicago Dancing Festival Commissions, the Chicago Premiere of Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman's Episode 31 performed by The Joffrey Ballet and the Premiere of Lane Alexander's and Bril Barrett's In the beginning… performed by Chicago Human Rhythm Project. This year also sees more live music throughout the Festival, as the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company and festival newcomer Ensemble Español (contemporary Flamenco) both perform to live accompaniment. Philadelphia-based company Philadanco and Chicago-based Natya Dance Theatre (contemporary Bharata Natyam) will also be seen for the first time in the 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival.

"This year the Festival turns lucky number seven, and we're indeed lucky that the city of Chicago, our amazing presenting venues and incredible sponsors, the dance artists of Chicago and from across the country, and most importantly, the fans, have all embraced the Festival and return each year to ensure its continued success," said Franke. "We're grateful for this ongoing support and look forward to presenting a rich and varied program."

CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL 2013 SCHEDULE

Tuesday, August 20, 7:30 pm – "The Harris at 10! Anniversary Special"
Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive

· Brian Brooks Moving Company, I'm Going to Explode by Brian Brooks

· Chicago Human Rhythm Project, In the beginning…^ by Lane Alexander and Bril Barrett (Premiere)

· Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Little mortal jump by Alejandro Cerrudo

· The Joffrey Ballet, Son of Chamber Symphony by Stanton Welch

· Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Crisis Variations+ by Lar Lubovitch

Wednesday, August 21, 6:30 pm – "Solitaire – A Game of Dance" (Gala Performance & Benefit)
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue
· The Chicago Dancing Festival celebrates seven years with its annual Gala, an evening celebrating solo artists from the world of classical, contemporary, Bharata Natyam and Flamenco dance. This fundraising benefit includes a performance and benefit with an opportunity to mingle with many of this year's participating artists. Tickets are $250 per person and can be purchased by emailing info@chicagodancingfestival.com. Space is limited.

Thursday, August 22, 7:30 pm – "Dancing in Chicago"
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway

· Ensemble Español*, Bolero by Dame Libby Komaiko

· Giordano Dance Chicago, Two Become Three by Alexander Ekman (2012 CDF Commission)

· Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, piece to be announced

· The Joffrey Ballet, Episode 31^ by Alexander Ekman (Chicago Premiere)

· Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Transparent Things+ by Lar Lubovitch

Friday, August 23, 6 pm and 8 pm – "Solitaire – A Game of Dance" (The Art of the Solo)
Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue

· Samuel Lee Roberts of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In/Side by Robert Battle

· Brian Brooks of Brian Brooks Moving Company, I'm Going to Explode by Brian Brooks

· Camille A. Brown of Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Mr. Tol E. Rance by Camille A. Brown

· Julia Hinojosa of Ensemble Español*+, Ensueños de mi Caribe by Julia Hinojosa

· Johnny McMillan, David Schultz and Jonathan Fredrickson of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, PACOPEPEPLUTO by Alejandro Cerrudo

· Victoria Jaiani of The Joffrey Ballet, The Dying Swan from Swan Lake by Mikhail Fokine

· Krithika Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Theatre, Sthithihi by Krithika Rajagopalan

Saturday, August 24, 7:30 pm – "Celebration of Dance"
Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph Street

· Samuel Lee Roberts of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In/Side by Robert Battle

· Chicago Human Rhythm Project, In the beginning…^ by Lane Alexander and Bril Barrett

· Ensemble Español*, Bolero by Dame Libby Komaiko

· The Joffrey Ballet, Interplay by Jerome Robbins

· Philadanco*, Wake Up by Rennie Harris

All programs are subject to change.

*CDF Debut

^CDF Commission

+Presented with live music

Ticket Information

All performance showcases are free, but tickets for indoor events must be reserved in advance. Tickets will be released as follows:

Ticket Release: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 12 Noon

Tickets for the "The Harris at 10! Anniversary Special" performance on Tuesday, August 20 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance will be available in person at the Harris Theater Box Office, 205 E. Randolph Drive or by calling (312) 334-7777. Limit of two (2) tickets per order.

Ticket Release: Wednesday, July 17 at 12 Noon

Tickets for the "Dancing in Chicago" performance on Thursday, August 22 at the Auditorium Theatre will be available in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office, 50 E. Congress Parkway, online at www.ticketmaster.com/auditorium or by calling (800) 982-ARTS. Not available at Ticketmaster Outlets. Limit of two (2) tickets per order.

Ticket Release: Thursday, July 18 at 12 Noon

Tickets for the "Solitaire – A Game of Dance" performances on Friday, August 23 at the Museum of Contemporary Art will be available in person at the MCA Stage Box Office, 220 E. Chicago Avenue or by calling (312) 397-4010. Limit of two (2) tickets per order.

Any tickets unclaimed at 15 minutes prior to curtain time will be released to those in a Stand-by line. Stand-by lines begin one hour before the performance, in person only. All tickets will be held at Will-Call. All seating for all venues is general admission.

No tickets are needed for the outdoor "Celebration of Dance" Grand Finale performance at the Pritzker Pavilion.

About the Chicago Dancing Festival
Established in 2007, the Chicago Dancing Festival was founded to elevate awareness of dance in Chicago, to increase accessibility to the art form and to provide inspiration for local artists. Its mission is to present a wide variety of excellent dance, enrich the lives of the people of Chicago and provide increased accessibility to the art form, thereby helping create a new audience. Its vision is to raise the national and international profile of dance in the city, furthering Chicago as the "dance capital of the world" (as Mayor Rahm Emanuel put it at the 2012 Chicago Dancing Festival).

Lar Lubovitch (Founder, Artistic Director) is one of America's most versatile and highly acclaimed choreographers and founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company 45 years ago. In the years since, he has choreographed more than 100 dances for his New York-based company, which has performed in nearly all 50 American states as well as in more than 30 foreign countries. Born in Chicago, Mr. Lubovitch was educated at the University of Iowa and the Juilliard School in New York.

Jay Franke (Founder, Artistic Director) began his formal training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas. In 1993, he was selected as a Finalist for the Presidential Scholar in the Arts and accepted into the Juilliard School. Upon receiving his BFA in Dance from the Juilliard School, Mr. Franke went to work with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, "THARP!" Mr. Franke has since danced with The 58 Group, Lyric Opera Ballet Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and was a leading dancer in the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company from 2005 to 2010.

The Chicago Dancing Festival is grateful for its 2013 supporters including: InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, Official Hotel Partner; Chicago Sun-Times, Print Media Sponsor; Museum of Contemporary Art; Harris Theater for Music and Dance; City of Chicago, Millennium Park; The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University; The Robert and Jamie Taylor Foundation; David Herro and Jay Franke; Illinois Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Chicago Community Trust; Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development; The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; and the Irving Harris Foundation.

For more information on the Chicago Dancing Festival, its history and 2013 offerings, check out the newly redesigned www.chicagodancingfestival.com.