The Chicago Dancing Company was founded by internationally renowned choreographer Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke to produce and promote the finest of dance to Chicago. It was founded on the philosophy that good dance cultivates more dance, and that free and affordable ticket prices encourage new audience. Its mission is to present a wide variety of excellent dance, enrich the lives of the people of Chicago and provide increased accessibility to the art form, thereby helping create a new audience. Its vision is to raise the national and international profile of dance in the city, furthering Chicago as a dance destination.

One of America's most versatile and highly acclaimed choreographers, Lar Lubovitch founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company 40 years ago. In the years since, he has choreographed more than 100 dances for his New York-based company, which has performed in nearly all 50 American states as well as in more than 30 foreign countries. Born in Chicago, Lar was educated at the University of Iowa and the Juilliard School in New York. lubovitch.org

Jay Franke first danced with the Lubovitch company in 2005. Jay began his formal training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas. In 1993 he was selected as a Finalist for Presidential Scholar in the Arts and accepted into the Julliard School. Upon receiving his BFA in Dance from the Julliard School, Franke went to work with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, “THARP!” Franke has since danced with The 58 Group, Lyric Opera Ballet Chicago, and most recently Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Gregory Russell danced professionally for 18 years with San Francisco Ballet, Basel Ballet and The Joffrey Ballet. He earned a bachelors degree cum laude in economics from Northwestern University and worked for five years in commercial real estate finance, investment and advisory services before joining Chicago Dancing Company. He is active in Dance USA, has completed nonprofit management courses at Kellogg School of Management, and currently serves on the Illinois Arts Council advisory panel.

Millennium Park is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. The result of a unique partnership between the City of Chicago and the philanthropic community, the 24.5-acre park features the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists and designers. Among Millennium Park's prominent features are the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States; the interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa; the contemporary Lurie Garden designed by the team of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel; and Anish Kapoor's hugely popular Cloud Gate sculpture. Each year, the Park hosts hundreds of free concerts, activities and events. Since its opening in July 2004, Millennium Park has welcomed more than 12 million people, making it one of the most popular destinations in Chicago.

The MCA is proud to partner with Chicago Dancing Festival, and enjoys working year round with numerous arts and community organizations, making the MCA a shared resource for the cultural life of our city. The MCA is an innovative and compelling center of contemporary art where the public can directly experience the work and ideas of living artists, and understand the historical, social and cultural context of the art of our time. One of the few museums in the United States to illuminate today’s culture by actively integrating the performing and visual arts, the MCA presents more than ninety extraordinary dance, theater, music, and multimedia performances thrilling audiences year round in an intimate 300-seat theater. For more information contact the MCA Box Office at 312-397-4010 or by visiting www.mcachicago.org