See Chicago Dance, the dance industry's nonprofit service organization, is proud to announce that its popular annual offering, Chicago Dance Month, returns this June. Now in its eleventh year, Chicago Dance Month provides more than 60 performance opportunities for artists and companies to celebrate the myriad talents that make Chicago’s dance scene so strong. This Chicago Dance Month sees the return of Pier Dance and Wave Wall Moves at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. and On the Move at Promontory Point, 5491 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. and two new initiatives including Open Studio at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. and Live at Lunch! on The Green at 320 S. Canal. See Chicago Dance hosts a Chicago Dance Month Kick-Off Celebration, Saturday, June 3 at 3 p.m. at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.. More information may be found at SeeChicagoDance.com.
“Each year Chicago Dance Month gets bigger and bigger. In 2023, we have more presenting partners (which means more performing opportunities), more companies and artists interested in participating and more audiences eager to see what the Chicago dance community has to offer.” said See Chicago Dance Executive Director Julia Mayer. “All of the artists and companies presented this year have deep roots in Chicago and represent a marvelous array of international traditions, in addition to American forms like Tap, Hip Hop and Modern Dance.”
In addition to the events listed below, See Chicago Dance will spotlight the work of scores of artists and organizations during this citywide celebration. Chicago Dance Month events and Hot Deal discount offers will be added to future releases and updated regularly at SeeChicagoDance.com events.
EVENTS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED INCLUDE*:
Chicago Dance Month Kickoff Celebration
- Navy Pier’s Lake Stage, 600 E. Grand Ave.
- Saturday, June 3
- 3 - 4:30 p.m.
- FREE
Chicago Dance Month kicks off with an opening celebration featuring a dynamic mix of performances from companies and artists that span genres and countries. Audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket and have a picnic while enjoying the performances.
Featuring performances by Ajumma Rising, Center of Peruvian Arts, Chicago Korean Dance Company, Hedwig Dances, MADD Rhythms, MOMENTA Dance Company and Surabhi Ensemble.
Pier Dance
- Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Platform, 600 E. Grand Ave.
- Wednesdays, June 7 - 21
- 6 - 7:30 p.m.
- FREE
Pier Dance returns after its inaugural season at the 2022 Chicago Dance Month.
Each free session includes dance lessons at the Wave Wall Stage every Wednesday in June followed by an hour of instruction with a DJ and dancing.
- June 7: Latin Street Music and Dancing
- June 14: Bria Fit Dance
- June 21: Bellydance by Phaedra
- June 28: TBD
Wave Wall Moves
- Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Platform, 600 E. Grand Ave.
- Saturdays, June 10 - September 2
- 3 - 4 p.m.
- FREE
In partnership with Navy Pier, dance comes to the Wave Wall stage across from the iconic Ferris Wheel grand staircase with pop-up performances featuring a rotating roster of dance companies and artists each Saturday throughout the summer. New this year: an expanded schedule with two companies/artists taking the stage each Saturday.
- June 10: Chicago Human Rhythm Project and FUNKBOTNOT
- June 17: Movement Revolution Dance Crew and Dance In the Parks
- June 24: Moonwater Dance Project and TBD
- July 8: Yin He Dance Company and Delve Dance Chicago
- July 15: Indian Dance School and Meadows Dance Collective
- July 22: Black Girls Dance and LBP School of Dance
- July 29: Ruth Page School of Dance and BOOM CRACK! Dance Company
- August 5: Desueño Dance and Amanda Saucedo
- August 12: Maywood Fine Arts and Culture Shock Chicago
- August 19: Chicago Ballet Arts and Matter Dance Company
- August 26: Shubukai and Fusion Dance Company
- September 2: The Launch and TBD
On the Move
- Promontory Point, 5491 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.
- Tuesdays, June 13 and June 27
- 4:30 - 6 p.m.
- FREE
In partnership with the Chicago Park District and Night Out in the Park, On the Move is a roaming, episodic, curated series of site-specific dance and movement performances. Viewers wind their way through and around spaces at Promontory Point Park, with a map, and discover hidden pockets of surprising, engaging performances by some of Chicago's most vibrant dance companies and performers. In this beautiful public outdoor setting, audiences are able to learn about and experience a vast array of dance genres.
Tuesday, June 13 On the Move participants are:
- Dropshift Dance
- Identity Performing Arts
- Little Fire Artist Collective
- Mandala South Asian Performing Arts
- Mordine Legacy Project and
- Perceptual Motion, Inc.
- Raks Inferno
- The MetDown.
Tuesday, June 27 On the Move participants are:
- Banks Performance Project
- Darvin Dances
- Hot Crowd
- J.Lindsay Brown Dance
- Ramya Ravi – Kalakriti Dance
- Simantikos Dance Chicago
- Unfolding Disability Futures
- Wildest Productions.
Open Studio
- Chicago Cultural Center Dance Studio, 78 E. Washington St.
- Friday, June 9 - 30
- 12 - 1 p.m.
- FREE
In partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), four artists take up residency in the studio on a Friday in June. Visitors may see a rehearsal in progress, ask questions or enjoy a brief look into the creative process of artists at work. This is a casual, drop-in program and attendees should feel free to bring their lunch and spend the hour with the artists.
Featured Artists include:
- June 9: Such Creatures
- June 16: Helen Lee/Momentum Sensorium
- June 23: Shalaka Kulkarni
- June 30: Jamila Kinney.
Live at Lunch
- The Green at 320 S. Canal
- Wednesdays, May 31 - September 13
- 12 - 1 p.m.
- FREE
See Chicago Dance returns to The Green at 320 S Canal for Live at Lunch! This lunchtime event offers a chance to experience a curated hour of dance classes and performances. For 10 weeks throughout the summer, a different dance genre and artist will be featured. Whether one is a professional or just looking to try something new, Live at Lunch is the perfect way to get your dance fix. Part performance, part class and totally fun, the Live at Lunch! dances will leave participants feeling invigorated and energized.
- May 31: Praize Productions
- June 14: RE|Dance Group
- June 28: Dance Avondale
- July 12: Utkalaa Center for Odissi
- July 26: TBD
- August 9: Noumenon Dance Ensemble
- August 23: Synapse Arts
- August 30: Chicago Tap Theatre
- September 6: Ballet 5:8 and
- September 13: Silvita Diaz Brown Acrodanza
*See Chicago Dance will follow all current safety protocols from national, state, and local governments. Programs and performers may change due to any updates without notice.
ABOUT JULIA MAYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEE CHICAGO DANCE
Julia Mayer became See Chicago Dance’s executive director in August 2020. Mayer has been involved in and influencing Chicago’s cultural scene in a variety of capacities for more than 20 years, having worked at 3Arts Inc., The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Chicago Humanities Festival, Morrison-Shearer Foundation, and Museums In the Park. In addition, she has chaired and served on numerous committees from Links Hall to Chicago Dancemakers Forum to the Chicago Park District. For more than two decades, Mayer has been a choreographer, teacher or consultant at Columbia College, University of Chicago and in Indiana at Valparaiso University and Saint Mary’s College. She has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Chicago.
ABOUT SEE CHICAGO DANCE
See Chicago Dance is a nonprofit service organization with the mission to advocate for the dance field and strengthen a diverse range of dance organizations and artists through services and programs that build and engage audiences. Its vision is to fearlessly inspire an ever-growing inclusive community to share in and spread the power of dance in Chicago.
See Chicago Dance is the source for all things dance with the city’s most comprehensive resource for dance information and one of the largest websites in the United States dedicated to the art form. Its two-pronged approach focuses on building audiences while developing a more cohesive dance community.
For audience members, See Chicago Dance offers a dynamic calendar of dance performances and experiences, Hot Deal ticket discounts, professionally written reviews and previews, and listings for more than 200 dance organizations.
For dance artists and organizations, See Chicago Dance provides a full range of Programs and Industry Resources to help build audiences, improve skills, and foster appreciation of dance in all its forms.
The 2023 Chicago Dance Month sponsors and program partners include The City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), The Farley Family Foundation, The Green at 320 S Canal (CBRE), Navy Pier and Chicago Park District’s Night Out In The Parks.
Ayodele Drum and Dance from Chicago Dance Month 2022. Photo by Frank L Konrath
Chicago Tap Theatre from Chicago Dance Month 2021. Photo by Philamonjaro
Hot Crowd from Chicago Dance Month 2022. Photo by Philamonjaro
Joel Hall Dancers from Chicago Dance Month 2022. Photo by Frank Konrath
Mandala South Asian Dance from Chicago Dance Month 2022. Photo by Philamonjaro
Maywood Fine Art from Chicago Dance Month 2022. Photo by Frank Konrath
Sleeves from Chicago Dance Month 2022. Photo by Jeff Yin
Wave Wall Performance as Part of Chicago Dance Month 2022 from Meadows Dance Collective. Photo by Philamonjaro
