The inaugural Chicago Dancing Festival, an unprecedented free concert, will occur on August 22 at the Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Companies to perform include soloists from American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Florida, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago and San Francisco Ballet.

The festival is presented by the Chicago Dancing Company in association with the Museum of Contemporary Art and City of Chicago, Millennium Park.

Two subsequent performances, also free, are scheduled at Millenium Park in the weeks following the festival.

Dancing in the Park on August 28 will feature Chicago-based companies Najwa Dance Corps, M.A.D.D Rhythms, Lucky Plush Productions, Matthew Hollis, The Dance COLEctive and AMEBA Acrobatic & Aerial Dance in performances of African, tap, contemporary and acrobatic works. These will take place on the Great Lawn and Wrigley Square, the BP Bridge, the North Terrace, at the Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate.

Dancing in the Park is a part of the Chicago Office of Tourism's Art of Play campaign.

In Millenium Park's third free dance performance, The Joffrey Ballet launches the 2007 Blockbuster Week on September 5 with Cool Vibrations, a performance of three works choreographed by Donald Byrd, Laura Dean and Twyla Tharp.

"We are proud to present these three distinct programs, where the people of this city and their visitors can experience these incredible performances absolutely free of charge," said Millennium Park executive director Helen Doria.

By Kevin Shihoten