The Joffrey Ballet presents "Rita Finds Home," a free public performance at Navy Pier

Navy Pier wil host the world premiere of Joffrey Ballet’s “Rita Finds Home,”on Saturday July 9 – Sunday, July 10 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the Navy Pier Lake Stage, located in Polk Bros Park. The family-friendly ballet performance is free for all to attend.

“Rita Finds Home” is a 45-minute production centering around a young artist named Rita who dreams of one day living in the big city, despite the lush tropical island in which she lives. When a hurricane forces her and her mother into a new life in an urban metropolis, Rita struggles to adapt to her new environment and starts to have feelings of loss. She then embarks on a journey to redefine what home means to her. Written with young audiences in mind, but suitable for all ages, the piece conveys universal themes about community, belonging and resilience.

The story is accompanied by original watercolors, created by award-winning children’s book author Elisa Chavarri, that come to life in the performance and become an immersive set design. Props include dancing butterflies, palms trees and costume transformations into landmarks of Chicago, such as Buckingham Fountain, John Hancock Tower and Willis Tower.

"Rita Finds a Home" is conceived by a nationally recognized, women-led creative team including Amy Hall Garner, a featured choreographer of the Joffrey’s Winning Works Choreographic Competition in 2011 and Karla Estela Rivera, the Chicago-based author and Executive Director of Free Street Theater (West Town) and will be danced by the Joffrey Studio Company and Academy Trainees of the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet.

The above performances will take place outside, weather permitting. Any changes to the performance schedule can be found at www.joffrey.org.