Chicago, IL —Now in its 12th season of introducing families to the world of contemporary dance, The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago presents its FamilyDance Matinee Series, featuring a variety of dance traditions and styles. And for the first time, children’s admission is free.

 

For spring 2011, FamilyDance Matinees will be presented by Joe Goode Performance Group (February 5), Robert Moses‘ Kin (February 26) and Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre (March 12). The Dance Center also will present regular evening performances by both companies during the same weeks as their FamilyDance Matinees.Each FamilyDance Matinee features a special 45-minute family-oriented performance preceded by a free workshop that encourages parents and children to move with the artists.

 

 

“Since its inception, FamilyDance has become a very popular event, introducing new people to The Dance Center and new artists to our loyal FamilyDance audience members,” said Dance Center Executive Director Phil Reynolds, “It’s an opportunity to show kids and parents that dance is fun by letting them get up and move with the artists. Once they’ve tried it themselves, they’ll enjoy watching it even more. We hope we’re nurturing the development of the next generation of dancers and audience members as well.”

 

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, named “Chicago’s best Dance Theatre” by Chicago magazine and “Best Dance Venue” by the Chicago Reader, is the city’s leading presenter of contemporary dance, showcasing artists of regional, national and international significance. Programs of The Dance Center are supported, in part, by Alphawood Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince, New England Foundation for the Arts, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Boeing Company, The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, The Irving Harris Foundation and Arts Midwest. Additional funding is providied by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council. Special thanks to Friends of The Dance Center. All programming is subject to change.

 

Family Dance Matinees begin at 3 p.m.; the free movement workshops begin at 2:15 p.m., all at The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave. Single tickets are free for children 12 and younger, $15 for adults. The theatre is accessible to people with disabilities. Call 312-369-8330 or visit colum.edu/dancecenter.