Eat to the Beat is back, with a twist…

In an effort to attract new audience members, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance has been working to develop programs that draw from the thousands of working professionals in the loop.

DanceWorks Chicago in 'From Here to There'  | photo by Vin Reed
DanceWorks Chicago in ‘From Here to There’ | photo by Vin Reed

Premiering this Thursday is a spinoff of the successful lunchtime series Eat to the Beat. Artist-y types have really gotten behind the series that brings together local food trucks and local dance companies – as they should! The business-y people seem to like it to, and the Harris recently announced that Crain’s Chicago Business will act as the season sponsor for the event.

Essentially, the spinoff series takes a really good idea (food on lower Randolph and a short dance show), and makes it better by adding cocktails. Plus, the happy hour time slot means it’s possible for those of us who don’t work downtown to join the fun more frequently. Bringing a sense of community to the loop isn’t easy, but the Harris has certainly got the right idea.

The inaugural Eat (and Drink) to the Beat kicks off with DanceWorks Chicago, in its first performance since the tragic event that took the life of DWC dancer Marco Huicochea-Gonzalez. In what should be a lively and upbeat performance, Eat (and Drink) to the Beat is likely to be a wonderful way to honor Marco’s memory and support this excellent group of dancers.

Eat (and Drink) to the Beat kicks off Thursday, Jan. 24 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Dr.) at 5:00pm. DanceWorks Chicago performs at 5:30pm. Tickets are $5; subscriptions for the rest of the 2013-2014 Eat to the Beat series are $20, available at HarrisTheaterChicago.org, or by calling the Box Office at 312.334.7777.

Author: Lauren Warnecke

Lauren Warnecke is a freelance dance critic, contributing to the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Magazine. She is senior editor of See Chicago Dance. Lauren covers dance across the Midwest and writes regularly for Dance Magazine and Pointe with additional bylines in Milwaukee Magazine, St. Louis Magazine and Dance Teacher. Forthcoming publications include essays on ballet training in Chicago (University of Illinois Press) and Shirley Mordine (University of Akron Press). In 2020, Lauren published an opinion piece on the impact of COVID-19 on the arts in the South African journal Agenda. Lauren holds degrees in dance and kinesiology and has presented research on dance training practices at the National Dance Education Organization and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. She has co-facilitated critical dance writing intensives in Chicago and Durban, South Africa, and participated in writing residencies at the National Center for Choreography, Bates Dance Festival and JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience. Lauren teaches dance history and kinesiology for dancers, with part-time appointments at Loyola University Chicago and Illinois Wesleyan University.