The Ninth Chicago Dancing Festival returns to the city August 25–29 with a diverse lineup of indoor and outdoor performances at venues including the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This year’s program spotlights the new Modern Woman series, featuring works by Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham alongside pieces by contemporary female choreographers.
Festival highlights also include a world-premiere commission from the Chicago Human Rhythm Project and appearances by special guests from Ensemble Español and Trinity Irish Dance. The roster of companies and performances spans a wide range of styles and traditions, offering something for both longtime dance fans and newcomers.
Featured presentations include The Black Rose by the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company; work from Pam Tanowitz Dance; a program by Ballet Hispánico; a performance by Lori Belilove & The Isadora Duncan Dance Company; and Martha Graham Dance Company’s Deep Song. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago will present A Picture of You Falling, and soloists from American Ballet Theatre will appear as part of the festival lineup. Miami City Ballet will perform George Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, and the Joffrey Ballet will present Maninyas.
The festival will conclude with a free outdoor celebration, Dancing Under the Stars, at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, bringing together artists and audiences for an evening of music and movement under the sky.
With performances across historic and contemporary stages, the Ninth Chicago Dancing Festival showcases a broad cross-section of choreography—from classical ballet and modern dance to tap and international traditions—creating a vibrant, citywide celebration of dance.