Preview: In This Place/Elements Contemporary Ballet

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Watching willowy stems en pointe in Chicago usually means a journey downtown, into the cavernous golden belly of the Auditorium Theatre and the attendant pomp associated with classical dance (including a sizeable ticket price for the sweet seats). Among the few exceptions are performances by Elements Contemporary Ballet, the young Evanston-based company that presents new dance works in the classical vein with impressive technicality and grace. For the next two weekends, the eleven-member company presents an evening-length program in the intimate Ruth Page Center, including a new work by artistic director Mike Gosney and a company premiere by guest choreographer James Gregg from the innovative and sexy BJM Danse Montreal. (Sharon Hoyer)

At the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn (312)337-6543. April 9-10 and 16-17 at 8pm. $20-25.

Perception Is Reality: A Preview of the Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg’s “The Pygmalion Effect” at the Auditorium Theatre Boris Eifman reimagines this antiquated tale through his unique, sensationalistic style of psychological ballet theater that philosophizes about the complex, emotional realities of human existence.
Modern Masterpiece: A Preview of English National Ballet in Akram Khan’s “Giselle” at the Harris Theater Akram Khan's highly collaborative and unorthodox reimagining of the classic ballet has yielded a modern masterpiece.
Their Future is Our Future: A&A Ballet Presents an Art Deco Nutcracker and Trains the Next Generation of Ballet Dancers The Studebaker provides a unique stage for A&A's vision: one large enough to put up a spectacle of scenic design and a massive cast, while intimate enough a house to afford every audience member a view of facial expressions and movement nuances without use of opera glasses.
Exploring the Digital Wilderness: A Review of Annie Dorsen’s “The Great Outdoors” at the Museum of Contemporary Art Annie Dorsen's performance sparks a line of ontological inquiry about the nature of how our digital and corporeal existences dovetail begets more and more questions.
A Little Bit of This, A Little Bit of That: Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival Provides a Sampling of Indie Work from… This festival's sampler-style short performances make it an un-intimidating point of entry for folks unfamiliar with contemporary dance and the many things that can mean.
Whole and Connected: The Joffrey Ballet presents Justin Peck's "The Times Are Racing" Youth culture is at the heart of Peck’s ballet, which is danced in sneakers and streetwear to the second half of electronic musician Dan Deacon’s “America” album.

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