The 2009 free Chicago Dancing Festival (not to be confused with Chicago Summer Dance) will take place August 18-22, 2009 across 3 different venues. The Chicago Dancing Festival 2009 is a free celebration of dance that takes place in the heart of Chicago Aug. 18-22 and is presented in association with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the City of Chicago-Millennium Park. See the festival lineup.
Tickets are free but required for the Tuesday, Aug. 18 “New Voices” and the Thursday, Aug. 20 “Modern Masters” free events at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance; and the Wednesday, Aug. 19 “Artists Up Close” free lecture/discussion event at the MCA Stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art. 
Advance reservations begin Friday, June 12 for these three free events. No tickets or advance registration are required for the free Saturday, Aug. 22 outdoor performance “A Celebration of American Dance” at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park.
The free Chicago Dancing Festival kicks off Tuesday Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Dr., with “New Voices,” a free performance of works by a hot new generation of contemporary choreographers. The program will include Baryshnikov protégé Aszure Barton’s “Ah! Crudel” performed by dancers from the New York-based Aszure Barton and Artists; Jessica Lang’s Elysian movement poem, “To Familiar Spaces in Dream,” performed by Virginia’s Richmond Ballet; Robert Battle’s percussive “Train,” performed by River North Chicago Dance Company; Edwaard Liang’s Victorian Age-inspired “Age of Innocence,” performed by the Joffrey Ballet; and Trey McIntyre’s lush “Just,” performed by dancers from Oregon Ballet Theatre.
The Harris is also the site for “Modern Masters,” a free performance of repertoire by contemporary master choreographers, Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harris Theater. The evening will feature William Forsythe’s “Slingerland” pas de deux performed by dancers from Aspen Santa Fe Ballet; Nacho Duato’s sensual and mystical “Gnawa,” performed by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; José Limón’s “There is a Time,” inspired by the great Ecclesiastes passage, performed by Chicago’s Luna Negra Dance Theater; Lar Lubovitch’s lyrical and kinetic “Jangle (Four Hungarian Dances)” performed by the New York and Chicago-based Lar Lubovitch Dance Company; Jerome Robbins’ haunting “In the Night,” performed by the Joffrey Ballet; and Christopher Wheeldon’s bold and emotion-filled pas de deux “After the Rain,” performed by New York City Ballet guest artists Wendy Whelan and Craig Hall.
Free tickets for both the Tuesday, Aug. 18 and Thursday, Aug. 20 performances are available beginning at 12 noon Friday, June 12 at the Harris box office or by calling at 312.334.7777. Limit two free tickets per performance. Tickets are subject to availability. 
Reservations and seating will be accommodated on a first come/first served basis. The Festival continues with “Artists Up Close,” an enlightening free lecture/ discussion event featuring choreographers and performers appearing in the Festival Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. at the MCA Stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Free tickets are available beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, June 12 by calling the MCA box office at 312.397.4010 or by visiting www.mcachicago.org. Limit two tickets per reservation. Service charges may apply. Reservations will be accommodated in the order received. Tickets are subject to availability. All seating is general admission.
The Festival culminates with “A Celebration of American Dance,” a free performance under the stars at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park Saturday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Programming will include an all-star lineup of dancers from some of the country’s most acclaimed dance companies including Dayton Contemporary Dance Company performing Ulysses Dove’s powerful and stark “Vespers;” Alvin Ailey’s acclaimed solo work “Cry,” performed by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater guest artist Linda Denise Evans; the Houston Ballet performing William Forsythe’s neoclassical showpiece “The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude;” Hee Seo and Cory Stearns, guest artists with American Ballet Theatre, performing the ever-popular “Le Corsaire” Pas de Deux. Rounding out the program, Chicago Human Rhythm Project will appear in a collaboration with Step Afrika, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company will perform “Coltrane’s
Favorite Things,” and the all male Les Ballets Grandiva will perform “Star-Spangled Ballerina.” No advance reservations are required for this free public event. Seating opens two hours before curtain.
“We encourage everyone to mark their calendars now for our third annual, free celebration of dance,” says Lubovitch. “This year, Jay and I, with the invaluable support of our generous sponsors and presenting partners, have pulled together an extraordinary roster of world-renowned dancers and companies for an expanded and still completely free dance festival that promises to thrill and entertain everyone from the long term dance lover to the new.”
The Chicago Dancing Festival is free and open to the public. For additional information, visit the official Chicago Dance Festival website.
20th Century Masters Performance Event
Monday, Aug. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
205 E. Randolph Dr.
Modern Dance Lecture Demonstration
Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Ave.
A Celebration of American Dance Performance Event
Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Millennium Park
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