The largest annual outdoor live music and dancing series in the United States, the 21st Annual Chicago SummerDance invites dancers of all abilities to flock to the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park and Chicago Park District locations throughout the city. SummerDance is the city’s premier dance festival, bringing communities together in a unique, urban dance space all summer long. New for 2017, the city-wide SummerDance-Off will search for Chicago’s greatest amateur footwork and steppin’ dancers at a series of competitions held throughout July at Chicago Park District locations, and the SummerDance Celebration will present a day-long dancing festival on August 26 in Millennium Park.

The SummerDance-Off invites residents to show off their footwork and steppin’ skills at a series of city-wide amateur competitions on July 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Chicago Park District locations as part of the SummerDance in the Parks program. The winners of each local contest will then compete at the Dance-Off finale at the SummerDance Celebration in Millennium Park on August 26. The new dance festival also brings a full day of dance competitions, social dancing and performances from noon to 9:30pm. Additional highlights include a DJ Dance Party at Cloud Gate, Circle Dance Lessons on the Great Lawn, professional dance performances at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and much more. Admission to all Chicago SummerDance events is free, and more details will be announced in June.

Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), SummerDance brings people of all ages and skill levels together in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden (601 S. Michigan Ave.) on a 4,900-square-foot, open-air dance floor made of 100% recycled material. The series offers free, introductory one-hour dance lessons by professional instructors followed by live music and dancing. The diverse lineup showcases various traditional and modern dance styles from all corners of the globe. The FREE programs take place each Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to 9:30pm and Sunday afternoons from 4 to 7pm, on most dates between June 23 and September 10 (see schedule below). In 2017, SummerDance events in Grant Park will be part of each evening of Taste of Chicago, July 5–9, and the opening weekend of World Music Festival Chicago, September 8–10.

Chicagoans can also enjoy SummerDance in the Parks, July 13–September 14, at eight different neighborhood parks throughout the city including the Humboldt Park Boathouse and Washington Park Refectory. Unless otherwise noted, dance lessons begin at 6pm, with live music and dancing from 7 to 9pm. SummerDance in the Parks is presented as part of an ongoing collaboration between the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Chicago Park District at Night Out In the Parks. For more information about the Night Out in the Parks initiative, visit nightoutintheparks.com. 

Updates and announcements (including weather-related announcements) will be shared on Facebook and on Twitter @SummerDanceChi. For more information, visit chicagosummerdance.org or call the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events at 312.744.3316.

 

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts businesses; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors. For more information, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.

 

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 2017 CHICAGO SUMMERDANCE SCHEDULE

Includes Chicago SummerDance, SummerDance in the Parks, SummerDance-Offs, Taste of Chicago Dates and World Music Festival Chicago Dates

Schedule is Subject to Change

 

June

Friday, June 3, 10am–9pm

SummerDance Preview at The 606 Block Party

Humboldt Boulevard and other locations

• 12:30pm  The Volo Bogtrotters (Contra + Square Dance)
• 2:30pm  Sons of Susan (Swing)
• 5:30pm  Mr. Mojo and the Bayou Gypsies (Zydeco)
• 7:15pm  Cumbanchero: A Big Band Tribute to Rafael Hernandez (Salsa + Cumbia)

 

Friday, June 23, 6–9:30pm

Swing

The Outcast Jazz Band (Big Band Swing)

Margot Toppen and Riley Wimes, Jr. (East Coast Swing)

 

Saturday, June 24, 6–9:30pm

Motown + R&B

Lynne Jordan + The Shivers (Motown + R&B)

Dawud + Lura Shareef (Chicago Bop)

 

Sunday, June 25, 4–7pm

Afrobeat

Alma Afrobeat Ensemble (Afrobeat)

Idy Ciss (Traditional West African Dance)

 

Friday, June 30, 6–9:30pm

Marching Band Music + Dances

Mucca Pazza (A Little Marching Band)

Mucca Pazza will perform + teach creative marching, freestyle cheerleading and Chicago Dweebstep

 

July

Saturday, July 1, 6–9:30pm

Salsa + Mambo

Luis Palermo + Brasa All Stars (Salsa)

Dance Academy of Salsa (Mambo)

 

Sunday, July 2, 4–7pm

Zydeco

Terrance Simien + The Zydeco Experience (Zydeco Two-Step)

Buddy Bates + Monica Vachlon (Zydeco Two-Step)

 

Wednesday, July 5, 6–9pm

Irish Folk Music + Dancing

Bua (Irish Folk Music)

Trinity Irish Dance (Irish Folk Dancing)

Part of Taste of Chicago at the regular location in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden

 

Thursday, July 6, 6–9pm

Steppin’ – Tribute to Herb Kent

DJ Eric “ET” Taylor (Chicago Steppin’)

Majestic Gents (Chicago Steppin’)

Part of Taste of Chicago at the regular location in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden

 

Friday, July 7, 6–9pm

House

Steve ‘Miggedy’ Maestro

Part of Taste of Chicago at the regular location in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden

 

Saturday, July 8, 2–5pm

Footwork SummerDance-Off

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Garfield Park Golden Dome, 100 N. Central Park Ave.

 

Saturday, July 8, 6–9pm

Salsa

Orquesta El Macabeo (Salsa)

Latin Rhythms (Salsa)

 

Sunday, July 9, 4–7pm

Country

Lawrence Peters Outfit (Honky-Tonk Country)

Jeffrey Cannon and Meg Kindelin (Country Two-Step, Waltz)

 

Thursday, July 13, 6–9pm

Bomba

Bomba con Buya (Bomba)

Ivelisse Diaz with La Escuelita Bombera de Corazon (Bomba)

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N. Sacramento Ave.

 

Friday, July 14, 6–9:30pm

Footwork

The ERA (Footwork)

Following a lesson covering basic moves from 6 to 7 p.m., the ERA Footwork Crew will perform as a crew to their mixtape “In the Wurkz”

 

Saturday, July 15, 2–5pm

Steppin’ SummerDance-Off

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Washington Park Refectory, 5531 S. Russell Dr.

 

Saturday, July 15, 6–9:30pm

Salsa

Timba Brava (Timba Salsa)

Chicago Dance (Salsa)

 

Sunday, July 16, 4–7pm

Italian Folk Music + Dancing

Newpoli (Italian Folk Music + Dance)

Newpoli will teach Pizzica, a traditional tarantella from Apulia called “Salento”

 

Thursday, July 20, 6–9pm

Salsa + Bachata

El Caobo (Salsa, Mambo, Bachata)

Denita Inez & Desueño (Salsa + Bachata)

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Ping Tom Memorial Park, 300 W. 19^th St.

 

Friday, July 21, 6–9:30pm

Swing

The Fat Babies (‘20s and ‘30s Jazz and Swing)

Big City Swing (East Coast Swing)

 

Saturday, July 22, 2–5pm

Footwork SummerDance-Off

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Hamilton Park Cultural Center, 513 W. 72^nd St.

 

Saturday, July 22, 6–9:30pm

Salsa, Mambo + Cha-Cha

Charanga Tropical (Salsa with Strings)

Mixed Motion Art (Mambo, Cha-cha)

 

Sunday, July 23, 4–7pm

Ballroom

May I Have this Dance Presents Ballroom + more!

Nino DiGiulio (Cha-cha + Waltz)

 

Thursday, July 27, 6–9pm

Salsa

Aguzate (Vintage Salsa DJ set)

Dance Academy of Salsa (Salsa, Cha-cha)

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N. Sacramento Ave.

 

Friday, July 28, 6–9:30pm

Blues + West Coast Swing

The Cash Box Kings (Chicago Blues)

May I Have This Dance (West Coast Swing)

 

Saturday, July 29, 2–5pm

Steppin’ SummerDance-Off

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Austin Town Hall Park, 5610 W. Lake St.

 

Saturday, July 29, 6–9:30pm

Salsa

Gerardo Contino y Los Habaneros (Cuban Son, Salsa)

Arthur Murray Dance Center (Salsa)

 

Sunday, July 30, 4–7pm

Ballroom

Teddy Lee Orchestra (Ballroom)

Fred Astaire Dance Studio - West Loop (Fox-Trot, Rumba)

 

August

Thursday, August 3, 6–9pm

Salsa

Carpacho y Su Super Combo (Colombian, Salsa)

Denita Inez & Desueño (Salsa)

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.

 

Thursday, August 10, 6–9:30pm

Swing

Petra van Nuis Quintet (‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s Classic Swing)

Dancing with Class (East Coast Swing)

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Jackson Park Grove 6B, 1700 Columbia Dr.

 

Friday, August 11, 6–9pm

House

Tyree Cooper

 

Saturday, August 12, 6–9:30pm

Steppin’

National Steppers Society (Steppin’)

Kenneth Watkins (Steppin’)

 

Sunday, August 13, 4–7pm

Swing

The Main Stem Orchestra (‘30s & ‘40s Pre-Bop era Swing)

Kasper Dance Studio (Swing/Jive)

 

Thursday, August 17, 6–9pm

Salsa

Orquesta Charangueo (Afro-Cuban Jazz, ChaChachá, Cuban Son and Mambo)

May I Have This Dance (Salsa)

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.

 

Friday, August 18, 6–9:30pm

Kizomba + Bachata

DJ Just Jacob (Kizomba, Modern Bachata)

Latin Street Dancing (Kizomba, Bachata)

 

Saturday, August 19, 6–9:30pm

Cumbia

SONORAMA DJ Collective (Cumbia)

Latin Rhythms (Cumbia)

 

Sunday, August 20, 4–7pm

Cajun

The Revelers (Cajun, Zydeco + Swamp Pop)

Louie Stallone + Monica Vachlon (Cajun Two-Step + Waltz)

 

Thursday, August 24, 6–9pm

Salsa + Cha-Cha

Angel d’Cuba (Salsa)

Latin Street Dance (Salsa)

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Willye B. White Park, 1610 Howard St.

 

Friday, August 25, 6–9:30pm

Line Dancing

The Thomas Twins (Line Dancing)

 

Saturday, August 26, noon–10pm

SummerDance Celebration

Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.

 

Sunday, August 27, 4–7pm

Bollywood

DJ Naveen Kumar (Bollywood)

Bollywood Groove (Bollywood)

 

September

Friday, September 1, 6–9pm

House

Dwayne “Diz” Washington

 

Saturday, September 2, 6–9:30pm

Argentine Tango

Redwood Tango Trio (Argentine Tango)

Tango 21 (Argentine Tango)

 

Sunday, September 3, 6–9:30pm

Contra + Square Dance

Volo Bogtrotters (Country and Square Dance)

Paul Tyler (Caller)

 

Thursday, September 7, 6–9pm

Swing

The Flat Cats (Jump Blues, Swing)

Fred Astaire Dance Studio - West Loop (Jitterbug)

Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Ping Tom Memorial Park, 300 W. 19^th St.

 

Friday, September 8, 6–9:30pm

Afrobeat

Underground System (Afrobeat)

Kimosha P. Murphy (Dances from the African Diaspora)

Part of World Music Festival Chicago

 

Saturday, September 9, 6–9:30pm

Argentine Tango

Duo Scofano-Minetti (Argentine Tango)

American Tango Institute (Argentine Tango)

Part of World Music Festival Chicago

 

Sunday, September 10, 4–7pm

Cajun

Feufollet (Cajun)

Louie Stallone + Monica Vachlon (Cajun Two-Step + Waltz)

Part of World Music Festival Chicago

 

Thursday, September 14, 6–9pm

Bhangra

Kalapriya presents Bhangra Blowout with DJ + Live Dhol

Kalapriya (Bhangra)

Part of World Music Festival Chicago + Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Willye B. White Park, 1610 Howard St.