Chicago SummerDance Celebration Schedule
SummerDance Celebration > Schedule
SummerDance Celebration is a daylong festival of live dance performances representing the variety of dance styles and cultures found throughout Chicago. In addition to performances, dancers of all ages and skill levels are invited to take part in introductory dance lessons by professional instructors followed by live music and dancing. This year’s SummerDance Celebration will occur on National Dance Day.
Schedule |
12-12:30pm – Round Dance / Great Lawn
The Black Hawk Performance Company will celebrate the songs and dances of the many tribal people who have danced life into Chicago for thousands of years. Dance demonstrations begin the program and are followed by an invitation for the audience to participate in a round dance with the artists.
12:45-5:15pm – Pop Up Performances / Central Promenade
Pop-up dance performances occur throughout the afternoon, featuring dancers who seemingly emerge from the crowds to surprise and delight viewers. Participating dance companies include Chicago Rueda, Dance Force Elite, Meher Dance Company, Tango 21 Dance Theater and Nejla Yatkin.
1-5pm – SummerDance Village / North Promenade
More than 30 SummerDance community partners will be featured in a “village” setting to celebrate their contributions to cultural experiences in Chicago. In addition, SummerDance Village is where professional instructors will offer free dance lessons in varied styles:
1pm: Bollywood with Bollywood Groove & Culture Groove
2pm: Swing with May I Have This Dance
3pm: Peruvian Folk Dance with Center of Peruvian Arts
4pm: Samba with Dill Costa
1-5pm – Teen Village / South Promenade
Open to all youth ages 14-21
hosted by SocialWorks, whose mission aims to empower youth through the arts, education and civic engagement. The Teen Village will feature music and dancing, food, games, footwork instruction by Open the Circle, a performance by Goon Squad, and SocialWorks’ 60th OpenMike.
5:15pm – West African Drum and Dance / Great Lawn
Led by Ayodele Drum and Dance, a sisterhood of 20 women that learn, perform and share African drum and dance, this program includes an exhibition of styles followed by an invitation to dance together.
6-8pm – Jay Pritzker Pavilion performances
Scheduled to perform:
Maritza Garcia and Sergio Ceron
Maritza Garcia (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians) will perform a Jingle Dress Dance. She will be accompanied by singer Sergio Ceron (Otomi-Pame peoples of Central Mexico) who will also play the hand drum.
M.A.D.D. Rhythms featuring Creation Global
This tap dance collective whose “SOLE” purpose is to spread the love and joy of tap worldwide is composed of versatile tap dancers, ages 15 to 44, from all over Chicago. M.A.D.D. Rhythms is “Making A Difference Dancing Rhythms,” and collaborates with footwork crew Creation Global for Celebration.
Lajkonik Polish Folk Song & Dance Ensemble
Founded in 1991, Lajkonik celebrates Polish culture and tradition in the United States. Their performances at Celebration will focus on the lively songs and dances of Spisz, one of the many highlander regions of Southern Poland.
An ensemble dance-theater company committed to provoking an immediacy of presence shared by performers in real time with audiences, Lucky Plush’s work is recognized for its layered choreography, nuanced dialogue, surprising humor, and socially relevant content.
MOMENTA Dance Company was founded in 1983 and is a physically-integrated dance company based in Oak Park. MOMENTA is the only professional performance company in the state of Illinois that includes dancers with and without disabilities.
Shubukai (Asian Improv aRts Midwest)
Formerly known as Fujima Ryu of Chicago, this dance troupe has maintained its presence in Chicago and the Japanese American community for more than 45 years performing Japanese classical dance and providing training in Fujima-style nihon buyo, Bon odori, and festival dances.
Founded in 2008 by Ayesha Jaco at Austin High School, Move Me Soul continues to be a community-based company that empowers young people through pre-professional dance training, character development, college and career readiness and health and wellness.
Founded in 2020 by award-winning choreographer, Stephanie Martinez, PARA.MAR celebrates identity and creates community by providing programming rooted in artistic excellence and radical accessibility. Meaning together, with, and for, "PARA" represents the vision, purpose, and commitment to empowering diverse voices in contemporary ballet.
Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council Ballet Folklorico
The BYNC Ballet Folklorico engages families from the Back of the Yards community in the traditional art of Mexican Ballet Folklorico, using the dance forms to educate audiences about Mexican history and culture. Their companies perform locally, regionally and nationally.