PARIS OPÉRA BALLET MAKES FIRST EVER CHICAGO APPEARANCE, LAUNCHES 2012 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR AT HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE

World’s finest company makes first American appearance in more than a decade

CHICAGO (March 8, 2011) – The Harris Theater for Music and Dance is honored to present the first ever Chicago appearances of the Paris Opéra Ballet, considered ―one of the world’s greatest companies‖ (Ballet News UK). The June 26 – July 1, 2012 engagement launches the company’s 2012 North American Tour, with their first American performances in more than a decade. The full 154-member company will perform three diverse programs—Giselle, a program of mixed repertoire to include Suite en blanc by Serge Lifar, Roland Petit’s L’Arlésienne, and Le Boléro by Maurice Béjart, and a special Gala program on June 29, 2012—all accompanied by the Grant Park Orchestra in a first-ever collaboration with the Harris Theater.   

―There is only one Paris Opéra Ballet, said Michael Tiknis, President and Managing Director of the Harris Theater.

―This engagement offers the opportunity of a lifetime to see the world’s finest company perform Giselle—a trademark of their repertoire since 1841—in their first American performance in more than a decade. Without question, this will be the highlight of Chicago’s dance season.

Tiknis continued, ―We are so pleased to have the opportunity to present this iconic company’s first appearance in Chicago, providing not only the city, but the entire Midwest its first opportunity to experience this world-class ensemble here at home, and are grateful to our hometown airline, United Airlines for making a large portion of this tour possible.

This engagement is also a momentous occasion for the city of Chicago. ―The Paris Opéra Ballet’s decision to launch their 2012 American Tour with its first-ever appearance in Chicago secures the city’s stature as one of the nation’s preeminent destinations for dance, said Abby McCormick O’Neil, Chairman of the Harris Theater Board of Trustees, ―and also underscores the Harris Theater’s role as the city’s premier venue to experience groundbreaking dance in an intimate setting.‖ She continued, ―This weeklong engagement by one of the world’s oldest and most renowned dance companies highlights the Harris Theater’s mission and its continuing commitment both to present world-renowned Page 2 of 10 artists and innovative programming that otherwise would not be seen in Chicago, and to simultaneously reach out to new audiences and build support for the thirty-five emerging and mid-size organizations that call the Harris Theater home.

―The Grant Park Orchestra is thrilled to have this wonderful opportunity to accompany one the world’s finest companies and looks forward to our first ever collaboration with our friends and neighbors, the Harris Theater, said Beth Clark Rodriguez, President of the Grant Park Orchestral Association Board. ―This truly will be a citywide celebration of culture and we are proud to be a part of this incredible artistic partnership.

United Airlines continues as the exclusive airline of the Harris Theater, and is making a large portion of the Paris Opéra Ballet’s 2012 North American Tour possible. The Harris Theater gratefully acknowledges the Irving Harris Foundation for its leadership support of the Presenting Fund.