The Auditorium Theatre, henceforth known simply as The Auditorium (50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive), has announced its calendar of dance performances for the 2025-26 season. The five performances, all by female-led dance companies, open in November with Chicago’s own Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater and conclude next spring with the annual visit by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater (7:30 p.m. Nov. 15; tickets $30-$90): The company devoted to traditional Spanish dance, founded in 1975 by the late Dame Libby Komaiko, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year under artistic director Irma Suárez Ruiz.
Martha Graham Dance Company (7:30 p.m. Jan. 24, 2026; tickets $35-$130): In another notable milestone, the contemporary Martha Graham Dance Company of New York dates back to 1926 and is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Trinity Irish Dance Company (7:30 p.m. Feb. 28; tickets $35-$95): Chicago’s most-celebrated Irish dance company plans three world premieres next spring: founding artistic director Mark Howard and associate artistic director Chelsea Hoy’s reinvention of the 1991’s “Johnny” and new works by guest choreographers Michelle Dorrance, and Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland of BodyVox.
“Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends” (7:30 p.m. March 7 and 3 p.m. March 8, 2026; tickets $35-$130): New York City Ballet dancer Tiler Peck will direct performances including Peck’s own “Thousandth Orange,” set to live music by Caroline Shaw.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (7:30 p.m. April 24-26, 2026, plus matinees at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; tickets $40-$150): The longtime favorites make their annual visit under new artistic director Alicia Graf Mack.
Ticket packages and more information at auditoriumtheatre.org.
dgeorge@chicagotribune.com