Skip to main content
Home
Spotlight on Lake
  • Login

Giordano Dance Chicago Presents Season 63 "Ignite The Soul"

  1. Home

Sun, 08/10/2025 - 7:23pm by laughingcat

Giordano Dance Chicago, America’s original jazz dance company, is poised to “Ignite The Soul” with their 2025-2026 Season. Highlights of the season include a fall 2025 engagement at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, a spring 2026 engagement at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance featuring two world premieres, performance and residency engagements in nearly a dozen U.S. locations and a tour to Latvia. The company will also host their popular “Dancing With The Giordano Stars” Competition Benefit and “Studio 63” Gala. Also new for this season: a new partnership with DanceOne/DancerPalooza.

“Season 63 promises to be filled with endless possibilities,” says Giordano Dance Chicago Artistic Director Nan Giordano. “From robust touring which includes our first international tour since COVID to Latvia, for the Baltic Ballet Festival (our third appearance in Latvia), to our new partnership with DanceOne, it’s going to be an exciting year.”

GDC Company Dancers in "Sana" Choreographed by Al Blackstone - Photo by Anderson Photography

Chicago Concert Performances

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18 & 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025
9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, Ill.
Tickets are on sale now and are $40.30-$83.40. For tickets and more information: www.northshorecenter.org.

Works will include an encore performance of Al Blackstone’s “Sana” hailed by Third Coast Review as “healing for the soul.” Ray Leeper’s sizzling hot “Red & Black” and the mesmerizing “333” by Nan Giordano and Cesar G. Salinas.

Harris Theater for Music and Dance
7:30 p.m., Friday, April 10 & Saturday, April 11, 2026
205 E. Randolph, Chicago
Tickets go on sale December 2025. For tickets or more information: www.harristheaterchicago.org.

Works will include the world premiere of a new work by Giordano Dance Chicago
Resident Choreographer Al Blackstone, and Emmy Award-winning choreographer Tessandra Chavez, plus popular works from the company’s repertoire.

Chicago Area Dance Community Events

Dance for Life, Auditorium Theatre
6 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025
50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., Chicago
Tickets: $52.52-$466.10. For tickets and more information: www.auditoriumtheatre.org

Giordano Dance Chicago is featured in this annual vibrant testament to the spirit of Chicago's dance community. Since its inception, the incredible talent of more than 50 local dance companies has united choreographers, artists and designers in a night of spectacular performances.

Chicago Live at Navy Pier
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
Free Admission. For schedule and more information: www.navypier.org.

Giordano Dance Chicago is one of the popular Chicago dance companies featured in the Midwest’s largest free performing arts festival.

Touring Engagements and Residencies

Giordano Dance Chicago’s 2025-2026 touring engagements and residencies will take the company across the country with events in Colorado Springs, Colo., Huntsville Ala., La Mirada Calif., Marquette, Mich., New York, N.Y., Owensboro K.Y., San Francisco, Calif., San Louis Obispo, Calif. and Stevensville, Mich.

The company will also tour to Latvia Oct. 31-Nov. 7, 2025, as part of the Baltic Ballet Festival. Since it was first held in 1996, the Festival has brought together artists who have performed in the most prestigious concert halls and festivals around the world. This will mark the third time the Giordano Dance Chicago has performed in Latvia.

Of special note: Giordano Dance Chicago kicks off their new partnership with DanceOne with a summer intensive in Burbank Calif. with DancerPalooza (July 29 Aug. 2, 2025). This event will give dancers an exciting opportunity to explore the world of concert dance and learn original repertoire from GDC. Company members will lead both classes and rehearsals leading into the final Intensive Showcase. There will also be a full performance by the company on the evening of Aug. 2. Founded in 2023 and based in Los Angeles, DanceOne is the world’s largest family of dance brands. DanceOne’s elite roster of conventions and competitions includes Jump, Nuvo, 24 Seven, RADIX, KĀOS, The Dance Awards, RADIX Nationals, and Aftermath by KĀOS, along with premier events like Dance Teacher Summit and DancerPalooza.

Fundraising Events

“Dancing With The Giordano Stars” Competition Benefit
7-11 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025
Park West, 322 W Armitage Ave., Chicago
Tickets on sale July 29. For more information: www.giordanodance.org.

Chicago A-listers with their Giordano Dance CHicago dancer partner will compete before a panel of celebrity judges including Al Blackstone, Emmy-Winning Choreographer, Candace Jordan, Crain's Chicago Business/Chicago Star Media and Corey McPherrin, Former Fox 32 News & Sports Anchor for a shot at winning the coveted disco ball. Emcee for the evening is Lisa Felding, Anchor/Reporter WBBM Newsradio. Tickets include a 4-hour open bar and light bites.

Studio 63 Gala
7-11 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 21, 2026
Ravenswood Event Center, 4011 N. Ravenswood, Chicago
Tickets go on sale at a later date. For more information: www.giordanodance.org.

This fun-filled, dance-fueled, must-attend gala patterned after the legendary NYC Studio 54 will celebrate 63 years of the company in this benefit to support the Giordano Dance Chicago's Dancers Fund. Sandy and Lee Golub will be honored with the Legacy Award. Gala Chair is Brandon Stith.

“Giordano on Giordano”
6:00 & 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Ruth Page Center for the Arts 1016 N. Dearborn St.
Tickets on sale at a later date. For more information: www.giordanodance.org.

This annual event features close and personal world premieres performed by the artists of Giordano II and choreographed by Giordano Dance Chicago Company members and artistic staff

For a full list of performances, residencies and other special engagements visit www.giordanodance.org.

Also new for 2025-2026: Former 14-year veteran of Giordano Dance Chicago, Zach Heller, has been named the new Director for Giordano II. Heller performed with Giordano Dance Chicago for 14 seasons. He also held the role of rehearsal captain for four seasons with the company. Heller is on faculty for dance conventions including Grand Prix International, The Star Dance Alliance's PowerPak and Studio Invasion Tour, and WILD Intensive. He also teaches and choreographs for studios and youth companies in the Chicago area and throughout the U.S. and Canada. Heller is certified in all five levels of Giordano Technique and applies classic Giordano jazz to his jazz styles.

America's original jazz dance company electrifies into their 63rd season with radiance and infinite horizons. Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) is an iconic cultural institution with deep roots in Chicago and around the globe (28 countries, 47 states, and more than 1,300 cities). From founder Gus Giordano's vision, the company continues to honor the past while pushing the art form forward. Nan Giordano celebrates 41 years as an artistic leader responsible for commissioning innovative choreographic works and mentoring thousands of dancers. Alongside Nan, Associate Artistic Director, Cesar G. Salinas and the magnificent dancers are an integral part of the GDC legacy. Erica L. Edwards brings a fresh lens as Executive Director. Al Blackstone serves as Resident Choreographer, truly a testament that the art form of jazz dance is thriving. The company is one of the few in the world that has a foundational technique, Nan Giordano Certification Program® with certified teachers in 9 countries and 36 states. GDC is committed to Youth Arts Education at home and on tour through mentorships, scholarships, and our free Chicago Public Schools and park programs. GDC is proud to be one of the longest running dance companies in the world, continuing to enrich lives through dance
 

Entertainment Spotlight
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Shore News
    • Arts, Dance, Music Spotlight
    • Entertainment Spotlight
    • Event Spotlight
    • Family & School Spotlight
    • Food Spotlight
    • News Spotlight
    • Sports News
    • Spotlight on Reviews
      • Reviews by Carol Moore
      • Opera and Dance Reviews
      • Other Professional Theater Reviews
      • Community Theater Reviews
      • Interviews, Non-Theater Reviews, Stories, Whatever
    • Theater Spotlight
  • Theater This Week
  • Entertainment This Week
  • Theater Openings This Month
  • What's Happening Online
  • Meetings & Stuff This Week
  • Search

Upcoming Events

August 24 - August 30 * This Week in Indiana History

Join Us For An Exclusive Garrison Brothers Bourbon Dinner... 🥃

The Auditorium presents Motown Magic

COMEDIAN WANDA SYKES IS COMING TO HARD ROCK LIVE

Sunday in the Park with Lyric 2025

more

© 2005-2035 Spotlight on Lake - All rights reserved. facebook Laughing Cat Production