Preview: Fall 2008 Chicago Dance Season

As fall descends upon Chicago so too does another dance season, which will include both standard engagements and rare visits. From classical ballet to modern dance to cultural specialties, a wide range of styles will be represented in the brief yet active fall dance season in the Windy City. The month-long extravaganza Dance Chicago dominates the schedule, while the Joffrey Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago make their obligatory fall appearances at the Auditorium and Harris Theaters, respectively. Although River North Chicago Dance Company will be missed, since it is embarking on its first international tour, there will still be plenty of inspiring performances taking place throughout the city this fall.

Kirov Ballet, October 2-5, 2008, Auditorium Theater, 50 E. Congress Parkway

Chicago audiences have the opportunity to enjoy one of the world's greatest classical ballet companies, the Kirov Ballet, from St. Petersburg, which will be performing the full-length ballet "Giselle" at the Auditorium Theater. This nineteenth-century classic portrays forbidden love, betrayal, and forgiveness from beyond the grave-the archetypal ballet story. The company's impeccable technique and the ballet's embodiment of classicism make this a must-see for any ballet lover. It's not every year that the Kirov visits Chicago, and their exquisite production of this favorite, which includes a full orchestra, should not be missed.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, October 9-12, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph in Millennium Park

A standard framework, a new innovation, all quick and to the point-this characterizes Hubbard Street's fall program, which consists of three pieces performed just four times. Fleeting though it may be, this should still be a crowd-pleasing engagement by one of the preeminent modern dance companies in the world, which is celebrating its 30^th season. The program features two well-received pieces, "Minus 16" by Ohad Naharin and "Extremely Close" by Alejandro Cerrudo, the latter having debuted just this past March. But there's a surprise too: Toru Shimazaki, whose piece "Bardo" was also performed last spring, will present a world premiere during this short but intense program.

The Joffrey Ballet, October 15-26, Auditorium Theater, 50 E. Congress Parkway

Like HSDC, the Joffrey is keeping its fall offering short and sweet, with old favorites and premieres mixed together. "Postcards," by company co-founder Robert Joffrey, will be revived for the first time in almost 20 years. The company will perform "In the Night" by Jerome Robbins for the first time, which consists of three pas de deux exploring different natures of love. Lastly, "Age of Innocence," choreographed by Edwaard Liang, will be a world premiere. Based on Jane Austen's novels, this piece portrays women's lives and struggles during Austen's era. The score by Philip Glass and Thomas Newman should lend a modern edge to it at the same time. This program of contemporary ballets offers choreography from 20^th century stalwarts and an up-and-coming star, thereby providing a well-rounded arrangement.

DanceAfrica 2008, October 31, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph in Millennium Park

For the first time in three years, DanceAfrica returns to Chicago in the fall of 2008. This one-night-only performance will feature three companies performing West African dance. Few things are as exhilarating as African dance, and this promises to be a rich and invigorating experience for dance enthusiasts.

Dance Chicago, November 7-30, Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport Ave

Now in its 14^th year, Dance Chicago remains an eclectic festival that features everything from classical ballet to performance artists to reality-show-style audience participation. Viewers will love certain pieces and be disinterested in others. One can either explore the schedule thoroughly and buy tickets accordingly, or, if you're looking for something new, throw caution to the wind and choose a performance at random.

The opening weekend embodies the festival's diversity: The Moscow Ballet, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance and the Trinity Irish Dancers will all perform in the same program. In addition to that gamut, New York's Ajkun Ballet Theater, South Korea's Kim Geung-soo Ballet Company, and Houston Metropolitan Dance Company will all make their Chicago premieres. DanceWorks Chicago, Concert Dance Inc. and LehrerDance (a contemporary company from New York) will also take part in the tremendously varied program.

Throughout the month of November, Dance Chicago will continually feature unique programs. Dance Slam on November 12^th and 19^th gives the audience the chance to vote for its favorite performers, kind of like a "Dancing with the Stars" for the festival. Dance Romance on November 16^th will showcase duets in a range of styles, such as modern, jazz and ballroom. The Fringe Carnival on November 21^st will present improvisation and the most avant-garde performers in the festival. But these are just a few of the programs slated for Dance Chicago. New Chicago choreographers, a jazz cabaret, urban dance and children's programs will all be in the spotlight at different times. The two-day Grand Finale will encompass all styles for the festival's last hurrah, a fitting send-off for this dizzying spectacle of dance.

Lar Lubovitch Dance, November 21-22, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph in Millennium Park

Lar Lubovitch's eponymous company is one of the top modern dance companies in America, and it will appear in Chicago as part of its 40^th anniversary tour with an interesting yet male-centric program. "Men's Stories" explores the (obviously male) characters in the piece, while the second offering is "Little Rhapsodies," a dynamic piece for three male soloists. Lubovitch's powerful choreography will be a treat, albeit a brief one since the evening of the 22^nd features the only full performance. There will be a family matinee performance on the 22^nd, however, and a shortened lunch performance the day before.