SummerDance Celebration in Millennium Park Full Schedule

1–6pm   Dance Village with See Chicago Dance in Wrigley Square
The “Dance Village” will highlight various local dance companies, schools, artists and advocacy groups in an expo style fair with a performance area. The Dance Village is curated by See Chicago Dance, a dance service organization dedicated to building and engaging dance audiences in Chicago and advocating for Chicago dance.

1–2pm   Salsa Footwork and Partner Workshop with Blanca Aviles of Latin Rhythms at Cloud Gate Stage
Blanca Aviles of Latin Rhythms will teach a Latin dance workshop focusing on salsa footwork and partner work. The workshop will culminate with social dancing to the rhythm of the music. All levels welcome.

2–3pm   Urban Line Dancing Workshop with Fre2Dance at Cloud Gate Plaza
Learn line dancing with the instructors from Fre2Dance, featuring “Before I Let Go” choreography. The Fre2Dance Line Dance group was formed in 2011 by Frieda Carter-Smith. Group members enjoy line dancing and encourage others to join.

3–4pm   “The Most Versatile Dancer Contest”® with May I Have This Dance at Cloud Stage
Registration will start at 2:30pm
May I Have this Dance hosts “The Most Versatile Dancer Contest”® competition – an amateur dance contest that tests who knows how to dance in a variety of styles. To stay alive, couples must dance to a 20 to 30 second song clip in whatever style is announced by the emcee, showing at least 3 basic steps, the correct timing and clear knowledge of each dance style. The winner is the last couple not tapped out.

3–4pm   Dance Party with Bollywood Groove at The Great Lawn
Get your BollyGroove on! Dance to the infectious rhythms with fun and upbeat moves by Bollywood Groove. No prior experience needed, just bring a big smile. Bollywood instructors will take you on a rhythmic journey of India as they teach dances from around the country with tidbits of stories behind the dances to make them more meaningful.

4–5pm   Afro Fusion Workshop with Imania Detry of Ayodele Drum and Dance at The Great Lawn

Be prepared for 60 minutes of energetic exciting movements to soulful house music with Ayodele Drum and Dance. Movement and vibes derived from African dance styles, dances of the diaspora and Chicago Footwork.

4–6pm   WBEZ’s Curious City reporter Monica Eng interviews pioneers of Polka Hop, El Pasito Duranguense and Footwork, PLUS dance lessons and dance-off at Cloud Gate Stage
WBEZ’s Curious City reporter Monica Eng looks at dance forms born in Chicago. She will be joined by the creators and pioneers of Polka Hop, el Pasito Duranguense and Footwork to talk about the origin stories and teach attendees the styles’ signature moves. Afterwards, attendees can show off their new skills at the “CHICAGO DANCES DANCE-OFF”!

5–6pm   “Old Town Road” Line Dancing Workshop at The Great Lawn
How many line dancers want to join us on the Great Lawn for a little two-step? Dance instructor Jasnena Marie will teach new choreography to “Old Town Road,” the 2019 dance hit by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus. Fans can learn the line dance moves in advance.

Procession with Mucca Pazza
Millennium Park
5:45–6:15pm
Join Mucca Pazza an intrepid interdisciplinary instrumental music ensemble from Chicago for an unforgettable danceable procession through Millennium Park leading to the Pritzker Stage. From blaring trumpets, slithering saxophones, clarinets, trombones, and tubas, the band boasts a drumline that seems to share a single nervous system, an entire section of disparate instruments that don’t belong anywhere near a marching band (electric guitars, accordion, violin, and yes, a cello), and contains within its multitudes a cheer squad that performs absurdist cheers and asymmetrical, impressively low-to-the-ground pyramids.

 
6:30–7:30pm   Chicago Dance Showcase featuring Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Joel Hall Dancers, Rated ‘E’ Dance Crew, Urban Vibe Dance Company, Diosas and The Future Kingz at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Hosted by original "Fly Girl," actor and producer Jossie Thacker, some of Chicago's most popular and acclaimed dance companies will present signature works on the main stage. Featured companies include: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Joel Hall Dancers, Rated ‘E’ Chicago Dance Crew, Urban Vibes Dance Company Chicago, Diosas and The Future Kingz.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
The famed company will present an excerpt from Decadance/Chicago choreographed by Ohad Naharin , the world-renowned Israeli choreographer and former artistic director of Batsheva Dance Company. The full-length piece has been called “Spectacularly immersive” by the Chicago Tribune and “a journey that you want to experience over and over” by the New York Times. Decadance/Chicago was curated specifically for Hubbard Street in 2018 and features excerpts from Naharin’s most popular pieces.

Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
ROOT: mwanzo wa mwili ni roho was created in 2018 by 3Arts award-winning choreographer Monique Haley and company co-founder and composer Joe Cerqua. Inspired by Monique’s own life and heritage, the work explores a modern African American experience through traditional African modes. In its early debut at the 2018 fall concert series, audiences were entranced by the athletic movement and the soulful soundtrack.

Joel Hall Dancers
The Joel Hall Dancers will perform Y2 Day, a performance based on the “communal chaos” of New Year’s Eve in 1999. Debuting in 2000 at the Chicago Cultural Center, the work was choreographed by Joel Hall, who envisioned representatives from the world’s nations in colorful and elaborate masks gathered around a table discussing the current state of affairs and how to change them for the better. The award-winning performance incorporates urban jazz, modern, ballet, hip hop and traditional African dance set to a dramatic mix of Japanese Kodo drums.

Rated ‘E’ Chicago Dance Crew
The Rated ‘E’ Chicago Dance Crew is a hip hop dance group from Columbia College Chicago. Founded in 2016, the group showcases what hip hop means to them through the positive movement of Dance. The dancers on the team come from diverse backgrounds and are skilled in many different styles of dance.

 
7:30–8pm   Social Dance Party with DJ Selah Sey at The Great Lawn
Selah Say is a Chicago-based DJ, performer, and co-founder of Make Weekdays Great™, a lifestyle brand and creative collective. Selah Say blends music from many genres, from 90s R&B to Classic Rock, 60s Nigerian Funk, Soul and more.