5 free things to do this weekend | Jan 4-6

Photo: SquareMoose New York

Winter Dance 2013
Following in the footsteps of the city's popular SummerDance is this new festival. In case you forgot, here’s how the public series operates: Partake in an hour of free lessons taught by the pros. Right after, show off your moves on the dance floor. Before juking to the Flat Cats in Friday's installment, pick up tips from Big City Swing instructors.
Chicago Cultural Center, Yates Gallery; 77 E Randolph St, 4th floor (312)-742-1190. Fri/Sat 6 pm- 9:30 pm, Sun 4 pm- 7 pm; free.

Geoff Farina at The Whistler
The former Karate frontman calls Chicago home now, and we can't think of a cozier place for his signature guitarwork than this Logan Square cocktail lounge.
The Whistler, 2421 N Milwaukee Ave (773)-227-3530. Fri 6 pm; free.

D.I.L.F.
Finally, a party for men over 35 and the pups who want them. Warning: By 10:30 this place is packed!
SoFo Tap, 4923 N. Clark St (773)-784-7636. Sat 9 pm; free.

International Contemporary Ensemble
The outstanding ensemble presents a mash-up concert featuring two musical revolutionaries separated by centuries. Chicago native George Lewis—a trombonist, composer and improv guru with roots in the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians—has two works on the program. His Shadowgraph 5 (1977) and Artificial Life (2007) elevate chamber music to new levels by allowing musicians to find new methods of communication and interaction. Franz Schubert's 1824 Octet also takes listeners on a wild ride, and starts out with understated melodies before rollicking to the finishing line with jolly, rhythmically tricky gestures.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St (312)-744-6630. Sun 3 pm; free.

“R.H. Quaytman: Passing Through the Opposite of What It Approaches, Chapter 25”
In 2001, Quaytman began making installations of painted panels called "chapters," through which she explores ideas about painting, photography and site specificity. The New York–based artist's new work draws on the history of the Renaissance Society during the 1970s and ’80s, when its director, Susanne Ghez, curated important exhibitions of conceptual art at the beginning of her 40-year career. Opens Sunday Jan. 6, 4–7 pm, includes artist's talk at 5 pm.
Renaissance Society, 5811 S Ellis Ave (773)-702-8670. Sun 4 pm- 7pm; free.