This year’s Global Rhythms program—an annual feast of international percussive performance groups presented by the Chicago Human Rhythm Project—is all about the rhythm, adrenaline-pumping, head-bobbing, bang-on-the-closest-available-surface rhythm. CHRP hosts a visit from Vancouver-based ScrapArtsMusic, a five-drummer ensemble who pound out complex, driving beats on handmade instruments from reclaimed materials—industrial-grade stuff, welded from “accordion parts and artillery shells,” perfect mediums for a quintet that defines their work as “quirky, retro-futuristic percussion by super humans.” The virtuosity of the ScrapArts crew does indeed push the boundaries of speed, energy and precision, and their playful choreography and steampunk aesthetic makes the show a visual treat too. When buying your tickets, be sure to mention one of the fifty non-profits CHRP sponsors with this performance. You’ll get ten percent off your ticket and half the proceeds will go to the named charity. (Sharon Hoyer)
At the Harris Theater, 205 East Randolph, (312)334-7777. Saturday, November 24 at 8pm and Sunday, November 25 at 3pm. $15-$55.
The Rhythm of Life: A Preview of "Joffrey for All Celebration" in Millennium Park As part of its larger effort to make dance accessible to a wider audience, the Joffrey Ballet is putting on a free, one-day performance at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park this Sunday. “Joffrey for All Celebration” is the first time the renowned company will serve up an evening-length performance gratis. The program is a mix of old and new…
