Dance Top 5: September 2023

Jonas Becker’s “New Normal,” part of “Chicago Performs” at the MCA/Photo: Courtesy the artist

1
Harris Fest: Music + Dance in the Park
(Millennium Park)
Harris Theater resident companies take over Millennium Park in an all-day festival of dance and music, culminating in an epic performance at the Pritzker Pavilion bandshell.
September 9

2
Arpino Chicago Centennial Celebration
(Auditorium Theatre)
Seven top American ballet companies perform two evenings of work by Joffrey Ballet co-founder, choreographer and perennial showstopper Gerald Arpino on the occasion of his hundredth birthday.
September 23 & 24

3
Evolution
(Ruth Page Center for the Arts)
Street dance specialists Chicago Dance Crash celebrate the career of founder and artistic director Jessica Dhear as she hands the creative reins to rehearsal director KC Bevis. Includes a freestyle piece by Bevis, inspired by the cyphers and battles inherent to the form.
September 8 & 9

4
Chicago Performs
(MCA)
The annual mini-festival of local performing artists returns with a weekend of new works by Jonas Becker, Anjal Chande and Irene Hsiao.
September 7-10

5
Instigation Festival
(multiple venues)
Jazz musicians and dancers from Chicago and New Orleans convene in an annual festival of improvised live art, including a first-time day of programming at Hyde Park Jazz Festival.
September 21-24