Élan Dance to perform at outdoor venues
The menu of free outdoor performing arts events in Naperville this summer is expanding to include Naperville Park District's Élan Dance Company. Élan will present a full schedule of outdoor performances around Naperville and will debut at a Chicago Bandits softball game in Rosemont.
Parents and caregivers are invited to bring their children to two free dance performances at 11 a.m., immediately prior to the Tuesday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 28, shows in the Children's Lunch Hour Entertainment series.
The June 30 show will feature acoustic guitarist and children's entertainer Super Stolie at 11:30 a.m. at Frontier Park, 3415 Book Road. The July 28 performer is Istvan and His Imaginary Band, with interactive rock 'n' roll, country, pop punk and singalongs.
The show will take place at the Riverwalk Grand Pavilion, 500 W. Jackson Ave. Élan dancers will perform on the lawn near the audience in each location, giving children an up-close view of a variety of dance styles.
"Élan dancers enjoy performing for children, knowing that many have never seen a live dance performance and some may be inspired to begin a dance program themselves," Artistic Director Chesney Murphy said.
Élan Dance Company will bring their engaging dance performances to the Millennium Carillon concerts again this summer, continuing a tradition begun in 2008.
Preshow dance performances are scheduled at 6:30 p.m. prior to the Tuesday, July 21, and Tuesday, Aug. 11, carillon performances. The July 21 concert will feature guest carillonneur Toru Takao from Emmerich, Germany. The Aug. 11 guest carillonneur is Jonathan Hebert from Ottawa, Canada.
On Saturday, July 25, Élan Dance Company will perform a preshow at the Chicago Bandits softball game, 27 Jennie Finch Way, Rosemont. The game is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Élan Dance Company will wrap up the summer performing season at Naperville's Last Fling on Saturday, Sept. 5. Details will be announced closer to the event.
Élan's mission is to be a creative, accessible and inclusive pre-professional dance company, offering young dancers an entry point into the world of dance performance. For information, visit napervilleparks.org.