Catherine Tully

The Royal Ballet is returning to Chicago this summer after a 37-year hiatus with Carlos Acosta’s production of Don Quixote at the Auditorium Theatre. The world-renowned British ballet company will dance five performances of this well-known classic, accompanied by the Chicago Sinfonietta, June 18 through 21. This updated version of the popular story ballet was created specifically for the Royal Ballet by Acosta in 2013. It follows the adventures of the knight Don Quixote and his squire, Sancho Panza, as they search for the “ideal woman." On their journey, they come across lovers Kitri and Basilio, and the famed love story begins to unfold. Don Quixote offers both humor and romance, and is set to a beautiful score by Ludwig Minkus.The Royal Ballet, led by director Kevin O'Hare, is Britain’s largest ballet company, and it is considered one of the finest in the world. "Seeing the company perform on our landmark stage will be a memory of a lifetime for all of us," says Brett Batterson, executive director of the Auditorium Theatre. Chicago is one of only three cities in the U.S. where the Royal Ballet will perform as they tour the critically-acclaimed production. Tickets range from $32 to $137 and are available on the Auditorium’s website. The ballet concludes the Auditorium’s 125th Anniversary International Dance Series.

Have you ever considered taking a dance class as an adult? Maybe you used to take dance in college, or perhaps you’ve always wanted to give it a try.Regardless of why you have the itch, it can be hard to know where to begin. You may have to try a few studios to find the right fit, but when you connect with one you enjoy it can be a really fun way to exercise. Here's a short list of Chicago studios where you can find basic dance classes for adults. While it is by no means comprehensive, it gives you a few places to start.Visceral Dance Center Here you’ll find six-week beginner sessions in ballet, jazz and modern dance. The cost is $90, and the sessions are ongoing. You may watch a class if you like, just check in with the person at the desk. (This might be a good idea before jumping in, as here you can't just take one beginner class.) American Rhythm Center You'll find a wide range of options at ARC, including beginners classes in Flamenco and tap. Drop in classes are $15 and the four-week classes run $50. Lou Conte Dance Studio LCDS offers single classes at $15 each, and they have basic-level modern, jazz and ballet classes. Sign in at the desk if you want to watch a class, or just go ahead and try one out. The Joffrey Academy of Dance - Adult Open Division Classes at Joffrey cost $15 as well, and they have a basic ballet and basic tap classes that are ongoing. While you aren’t able to observe a class ahead of time, you can take a single class to see if you like it. Old Town

If you’re looking to stay on top of what’s going on in the Chicago dance scene, social media can be a big help. Here's a short list of Twitter accounts to follow—from dance venues to companies to performers and beyond. Link up to make sure you don’t miss some of the amazing dance performances going on around town. Are we missing one of your favorites? Feel free to add to this list by leaving a comment below with any additional resources you’d like to share. We know there are a lot more out there! See Chicago Dance This is a pretty comprehensive resource for dance in the city. Follow for all kinds of info on the local scene—from jobs to performances, reviews and more. A great source for keeping your finger on the pulse of Chicago's dance community. Tweets by @SeeChicagoDance // !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); // The Joffrey Ballet Stay on top of the Joffrey's performance schedule and keep an eye out for special ticket discounts. They also tweet when there's a new post up on the company's blog, j-Pointe. Tweets by @joffreyballet // !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fj