Élan Dance Company gives free summer shows
Élan Dance Company, the Naperville Park District's pre-professional performing ensemble, is heading outdoors this summer, offering free performances for the community at a variety of events throughout Naperville.
The dancers will perform at the Millennium Carillon pavilion at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, prior to the 7 p.m. carillon recital, which will feature carillonneur Wylie Crawford, president of the World Carillon Federation. The outdoor setting has become a favorite performance venue for the company, overlooking the spacious lawn of Rotary Hill, 443 Aurora Ave., Naperville.
The audience has plenty of room to set up chairs or blankets and enjoy a picnic. The nearby Riverwalk Café is open before, during and after the carillon recitals, offering patio seating or the option of ordering any menu item "to go."
Élan Dance Company will perform a pregame show at the Chicago Bandits professional softball game at 7:10 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at the Ballpark at Rosemont. Tickets are $7.25 and can be purchased online at chicagobandits.com. The dancers also will sing a song during the fifth inning stretch.
On National Dance Day, Élan Dance Company will join the celebration by performing the National Dance Day choreography at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Millennium Carillon. The dancers then will teach the moves to anyone who would like to learn it. The final performance will be video recorded and submitted to the Dizzy Feet Foundation to be shared on social media and considered for inclusion in a National Dance Day recap on TV's "So You Think You Can Dance."
The event is free and open to all ages. In the event of inclement weather, check the park district's Rainout Line at napervilleparks.org/cancellations for an indoor location. Participants should wear athletic clothing; dance shoes are optional.
Élan Dance Company will return to the Millennium Carillon for a performance at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, before the recital, which will feature guest carillonneur Lynnli Wang from Washington, D.C.
Élan's summer schedule will conclude with a performance at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, during the Last Fling at the Family Fun Land Entertainment Stage at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville.