The Auditorium’s Dance Programming and Challenges

The fall line-up at the Auditorium Theatre is a standout in the dance world this season, significantly shaped by Marisa Santiago. Santiago, the producing director of artistic programming, plays a vital role in curating the dance events at this 135-year-old venue on Chicago’s Loop southern edge.

Notable Dance Companies Return

Santiago has orchestrated the return of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, a historic Black ballet company, to perform in Chicago after a decade. Their performance is set for October. Additionally, Ballets Jazz Montréal will debut in Chicago come November. This Canadian company plans to present ‘Dance Me,’ inspired by Leonard Cohen’s music, marking the end of its touring run.

Successful Programming Decisions

Previous successful programs at the Auditorium include the Martha Graham Dance Company’s centennial year performance, Parsons Dance Company, and the celebrated ‘Tiler Peck and Friends.’ The Auditorium maintains a long relationship with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, a staple of its programming for over fifty years. This season emphasizes North American dance, featuring the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballets Jazz, Alvin Ailey, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and Ballet Folklorico de Mexico in the spring.

Programming Challenges

Programming decisions are influenced by audience dynamics and financial considerations. Dance audiences tend to be smaller, and staging performances can be expensive. Breaking even is sometimes a success. Competing with the Joffrey Ballet, which has a strong presence in the city, adds complexity. Despite these challenges, the Joffrey had long ties with the Auditorium, dating back to its touring days before becoming a Chicago-based company in the mid-1990s.

The Transition of the Joffrey Ballet

In 2017, the Joffrey Ballet started a shift to the Lyric Opera House due to its larger stage and backstage space, completing this move in 2021 after a pandemic delay. This greatly impacted the Auditorium, necessitating innovative approaches to maintain and fill program slots.

Dance belongs here. Dance has a history here, and we need to continue that.

Innovative Solutions

New strategies include segmenting the venue with a ‘curtain cap’ system for more intimate settings, focusing audience members in front, and encouraging sellouts. This allows reopening of additional sections when needed.

• Dance Partners, a donor group, heavily influenced bringing ‘Dance Me’ to Chicago.
• Santiago moved away from the ‘Made in Chicago’ series, integrating local dance companies more broadly.

Local and Artistic Balance

The Auditorium balances local representation and audience size, with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater securing a regular annual performance slot. While Santiago advocates for Chicago’s dance scene through various roles, her primary focus ensures consistent artistic quality and audience engagement.