Spring Brings Dance to Chicagoland

Dance Month doesn't officially begin until April, but Chicagoland dancers are already kicking up their heels-literally.

This past weekend, members of the Joffrey Ballet's Studio Company and the Academy Trainee Program performed "Winning Works 2018" at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The program premiered four dances collectively choreographed by Telmo Moreira, Omar Román De Jesús, Claudia Schreier and Luis Vazquez - all of whom were chosen from the Winning Works competition which provides emerging ALAANA (African, Latino(a), Asian, Arab and Native American) with a platform to showcase their talent. To learn more, visit www.joffrey.org/joffreyacademy.

The 16th Chicago Flamenco Festival is currently underway at the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago, where Flamenco music and dance is being celebrated through March 21. For tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, visit www.chicago.cervantes.es.

The Giordano Dance Chicago will debut new works choreographed by Davis Robertson and GDC's Joshua Blake Carter at the Harris Theater at Millennium Park on March 23-24. For details, visit giordanodance.org. For tickets, visit harristheaterchicago.org. On the same nights, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago will return to the Auditorium Theatre for a co-presented evening featuring choreography by Alejandro Cerrudo. For tickets and more information, visit www.auditoriumtheatre.org.

In Lincolnshire, dance is expressed through classic American musical productions at Marriott Theatre. Boasting choreography by Kenneth L. Roberson, "Ragtime" performs through March 18. It is followed in April by the 75th anniversary production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Tickets and additional information can be found at www.marriotttheatre.com.

Similarly, Drury Lane Theatre will present Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award-winner "South Pacific" this April. To learn more about the Oakbrook Terrace venue and its shows, visit www.drurylanetheatre.com.