Theatre News Wire

The Academy Trainees of The Joffrey Ballet perform a riveting, contemporary dance program featuring a collection of inspirational World Premiere works by Francisco Avina and Amy E. Hall in Creative Force Spring Showcase. Avina and Hall are winners of Creative Force: The Joffrey's Choreographers of Color Award, the goal of which was to identify two choreographers of color and offer them the unique opportunity to create a work with the most advanced dancers at the Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet. Three additional stunning works will be performed, each choreographed by Academy Artistic Director, Alexei Kremnev. The Sara Lee Foundation is the sponsor of Creative Force: The Joffrey's Choreographers of Color Award. Two performances take place at the Harris Theater at Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago, on Sunday, March 6 at 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm.

The program for Creative Force Spring Showcase will include the World Premiere of Broken Strings by Aviña, the World Premiere of Breakthrough by Hall, the World Premiere of Signature. Solo in Black by Kremnev, as well as Kremnev's Modern Times and Blue Velvet.

Amy E. Hall is one of America's most unique and diverse emerging talents. A graduate of the Juilliard School, she has had the privilege of working with several iconic figures of stage and screen, including Ann Reinking, Susan Stroman, Chita Rivera and Savion Glover. For many years, Hall worked as a choreographic assistant with choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie nationally and abroad at major artistic institutions. Hall has taught on faculty at American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, Broadway Dance Center, LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, and in 2009 joined the faculty at Rosie O' Donnell's Marvel Arts Center. Hall has choreographed, coached and worked as a creative consultant on such projects including Law & Order: Trial by Jury, The Dave Chappelle Show, DRA: Solstice in the Square, and Kidz Bop Live! (national tour and QVC telecast). In 2007, she co-choreographed and staged the two-man musical revue Mr. Bojangles: The Ultimate Entertainer, honoring the late Sammy Davis Jr. Hall was selected as one of six emerging Broadway choreographers for DanceBreak 2008, a premier showcase attended by industry professionals held in New York City. Currently Hall's work can been seen in the theatrical production of The Ohmies at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City.

Francisco Aviña has worked as a dancer in such projects as Celine Dion's A New Day, Newsies, Batman and Robin, Michael Jackson's Sisterella, Fame L.A the TV series, and The World Billboard Music Awards. Moving to Chicago he began his company career with Hubbard Street 2 for one year, moving on to River North Dance Chicago and subsequently into Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for three years. His choreography credits include a Giannai Versace fashion show in Singapore, the 10th Annual American Choreography Awards in Los Angeles, Nickolodeon's Kid's Choice Awards with Justin Timberlake, and three pieces for Hubbard Street 2. Last summer while in Mexico City he choreographed Disney's High School Musical La Seleccion which led to Disney's High School Musical Mexico: The Movie. Other choreographic credits include work for Danceworks Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theater and Thodos Dance Chicago.

Tickets for either the 4:00 pm or 6:30 pm performance of Creative Force Spring Showcase at the Harris Theater are $10 each, and are available by calling the Harris Theater Box Office at 312-334-7777 or online at www.harristheaterchicago.org.