The time has finally come: Chicago Dance Month returns, May 30–June 27! For 13 years, this celebration of dance has introduced countless dance forms, groups, and artists to dance lovers across our amazing city through inspiring performances, engaging classes, site-specific dances, and more! The tradition of amplifying dance continues this year with familiar programming and brand new offerings.
Following a record-breaking increase in artist applications, this year’s festival will feature approximately 35 dance artists and companies across 12 free events citywide, celebrating the breadth of Chicago’s dance community across genres and cultural traditions. Highlights include a kickoff celebration at Navy Pier and the debut of NeighborhoodMOVES, a new initiative bringing dance directly into neighborhoods through community-centered programming and cultural partnerships.
Festivities continue at Navy Pier with Pier Dance every Wednesday in June, 6:30–8 p.m., on Navy Pier’s Ferrara Candy Wave Wall Stage. Leave it all on the dance floor with these pop-up dance classes! Classes include:
- JUNE 3: Turkish Dance with Rhythm of Anatolia
- JUNE 10: Afro-Cuban with Hedwig Dances
- JUNE 17: Salsa Partnerwork with Latin Street Music & Dancing
- JUNE 24: Street Jazz (90’s Themed) with Hips and Heels
Stick around after each dance class to experience Navy Pier’s award-winning fireworks display, one of the largest in North America!
Take in a dynamic mix of performance groups during Wave Wall Moves every Saturday in June, 4–5 p.m., on Navy Pier’s Ferrara Candy Wave Wall Stage. Two companies share a stage for one jam-packed hour of energizing and culturally diverse dance performances.
- JUNE 6: LEVELdance & Ruth Page’s Professional Dance Training Program
- JUNE 13: Malhaar Dance Company & We Are Collective
- JUNE 20: Redd’s Angelz Entertainment & Uptown Rockers
- JUNE 27: Bellydance by Phaedra & Orenda Dance Company
New this year, we proudly present NeighborhoodMOVES, a uniquely curated series of sessions that provide space for dance artists to share their processes and ideas with an engaged audience. These programs are presented in collaboration with three community partners. Sessions include:
JUNE 8 | 6–9 PM
COLLABORACTION THEATRE AT KIMBALL ARTS CENTER
The Dance Network: Community Conversations & Collaborations
JUNE 16 | 6–9 PM
INSTITUTO CERVANTES
Dance Exchange: Global & Local Community In Motion
JUNE 26 | 6–9 PM
REVA & DAVID LOGAN CENTER FOR THE ARTS
CrossCurrents: Where Dance Styles, Ideas, And Artists Meet
More details on specific sessions are forthcoming for NeighborhoodMOVES; stay tuned!
We will celebrate the conclusion of the festival on Friday, June 26, in the Logan Center for the Arts' penthouse with a blowout Chicago Dance Month Wrap Party and dance celebration, where all are welcome to sweat it out and leave all on the dance floor to the infectious, bassy beats of DJ Salem!
We hope you will join us for this celebration of the great artists, companies, crews, collectives, and groups who keep Chicago dancing year-round.
Learn More: Chicago Dance Month >
2026 Chicago Dance Month programs are generously supported by:
See Chicago Dance is generously supported by:
City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, The Service Club of Chicago, and numerous generous individuals!
Join this network of support, make a tax-deductible donation today!