Four Chicago debuts highlight Dance Center’s 2016-17 Season

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago has announced its 43rd season of presenting diverse international, national and regional contemporary dance. For the 2016-17 Season, four companies make their Chicago debut with new work, two from outside the United States.

The season opens with a one-night-only performance by Butoh master Endo in September, continuing with Chicago companies Lucky Plush Productions and The Seldoms. Fall programs also feature Nora Chipaumire, joined by Senegalese performer Kaolack, and Tere O’Connor Dance.

The spring half of the season opens with the co-presentation of France’s Ballet de Lorraine with the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and continues with Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Malpaso Dance Company from Cuba and Liz Gerring Dance Company.

Families will have the opportunity to participate in a free movement workshop, followed by a 45-minute family-oriented performance, with two Chicago companies this season: The Seldoms and Chicago Human Rhythm Project. The latter will offer the audience a chance to watch its American Tap Performance and Choreography Competition.

In addition, discussions with the artists follow most Thursday performances, and some programs feature pre-performance talks with artists and Dance Center personnel or guest lecturers. All out-of-town artists provide learning opportunities for Dance Center students and conduct community-based residency and educational activities, which might include masterclasses, lecture/demonstrations, in-school and community-based workshops, professional development workshops for educators and service providers and panel discussions.

For further information, visit www.colum.edu/dance-center/performances. Subscriptions are officially on sale for those wishing to attend all nine or just a handful of the season’s programs. Single tickets go on sale July 16. All performances, unless noted otherwise, take place at The Dance Center, located at 1306 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

Photo: Ballet de Lorraine in Fabrications. Photo by Bernard Prud’homme.