Dance Top 5: October 2021

Joffrey Ballet in “Swing Low.” From left to right: Hyuma Kiyosawa, Stefan Goncalvez, Fernando Duarte, Edson Barbosa, Evan Boersma/Photo: Todd Rosenberg Photography

1
Home: A Celebration
(Lyric Opera House)
After much delay, the Joffrey Ballet makes its inaugural appearance on the Lyric Opera stage with a mixed-rep program including a piece by co-founder Gerald Arpino and new works created during the pandemic by Joffrey rehearsal director Nicolas Blanc and emerging choreographers.
October 13-24

2
GRASS
(Dance Center of Columbia College)
Turf grass and cannabis—the environmental implications of each and how they’re used to judge, control and oppress behavior—is the subject of The Seldom’s newest dance theater work, created in collaboration with writer-director Seth Bockley.
October 14-16

3
Roots & Wings
(Auditorium Theatre)
The conclusion of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater’s twenty-fifth anniversary season is aptly named, with short pieces by co-founders Kevin Iega Jeff and Gary Abbott and a premiere by new artistic director Nicole Clarke-Springer. 
October 23

4
Illuminate
(Harris Theater)
Giordano Dance Chicago returns to the stage after two years with lively classic and contemporary jazz pieces by Adam Houston, Marinda Davis, Autumn Eckman and Ray Mercer.
October 22-23

5
When Day Comes
(Ruth Page Center for the Arts)
Winifred Haun & Dancers premiere a new piece by Haun, restage a few short pieces, host a short premiere by Banks Performance Project and offer an optional pre-show masterclass.
October 1-2