2022 Year of Chicago Dance Continues this Summer with Hundreds of Performances and Events Across the City

May 05, 2022 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

Chicago SummerDance Returns for its 25^th Year!

Celebrate with Free Dance Lessons and Music Throughout the City

June 18 – September 17 (select dates)

SummerDance is back with a robust lineup and expanded programming

in Chicago neighborhoods

CHICAGO—Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced the lineup for Chicago SummerDance, a beloved summertime tradition hosted in parks across the city and downtown. After two years of virtual and reduced offerings, this year Chicago SummerDance returns in full force with an incredible array of in-person dance lessons by professional instructors followed by music and dancing. Dancers of all ages and skill levels are invited to enjoy this free programming.

SummerDance takes place on select dates between June 18 – September 17, 2022. Free admission. Schedule enclosed, visit ChicagoSummerDance.org for updates.

“With 2022 being the ‘Year of Chicago Dance’ we are more excited than ever to get back on the outdoor dance floor and celebrate how movement and music can bring us together,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “SummerDance is truly unique to Chicago and the expansive, diverse lineup of dance styles bring joy and healing to all neighborhoods of our city.”

SummerDance brings an exciting lineup of dance styles and music to its flagship location in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park. In addition, the festival expands its footprint to reach more neighborhoods than ever before including Austin, Roseland, Morgan Park, Pullman and Humboldt Park, as well as programming at other DCASE events including Taste of Chicago and the Maxwell Street Market. For many of the neighborhoods, SummerDance is collaborating with community partners to curate content, including The Firehouse Community Arts Center, Free Street Theater, Move Me Soul, and others.

Among the many new collaborations this year, SummerDance is working with Tanji Harper, Artistic Director of The Happiness Club, a diverse group of Chicago kids who encourage positive values and social change through original hip-hop, to co-create the activities for the July 27^th Palmer Park SummerDance. Details enclosed; programming to be shared in the coming weeks.

Tanji Harper shared, “It’s been two years since our young people have had any outside program opportunities. I am most excited to find out what they want to experience at SummerDance in Palmer Park. I think merging some of the activities we participated in as kids with any ideas our young creatives have will be a fun generational bridge to build together.”

“As we mark the 25^th year of dancing together at Chicago SummerDance and 2022 being the Year of Chicago Dance, we’re especially proud to bring the joy of dance to dozens of neighborhoods this summer. We’ve collaborated with local partners and dance studios to curate lineups that each community can be excited about. These relationships are long-lasting, and we look forward to building on them over the festival’s next 25 years,” said DCASE Commissioner Erin Harkey.

Nino DiGiulio of May I Have This Dance, longest running social dance studio in Chicagoland, has been teaching SummerDance classes since its inception. He shared, “SummerDance has become part of what defines Chicago in my eyes. It’s such a strong tradition and something that people of all skill levels, walks of life and music and dance tastes look forward too. Whether you’re dancing or just listening to the music, there’s no substitute for in-person and we can’t wait to strut our stuff under the sun, stars, and city lights together this summer!”

Not only is it the Year of Chicago Dance but See Chicago Dance, the city’s leading dance service organization, celebrates the 10th anniversary of Chicago Dance Month this June. Featuring a rich schedule of performances, classes, and events throughout June (many of which are free or deeply discounted through Hot Deals). More details at SeeChicagoDance.com.

In honor of the Year of Chicago Dance and the nationwide “National Dance Day,” there will be a special day-long SummerDance Celebration in Millennium Park on September 17. Details to be announced.

2022 Chicago SummerDance Schedule

Subject to change. Updates (including weather-related announcements) will be shared on Facebook, Twitter @SummerDanceChi and ChicagoSummerDance.org

Saturday, June 18 | 12 – 4pm

Chicago SummerDance at Taste of Chicago Pullman

Pullman Park, 11101 S Cottage Grove

12pm Salsa / Urbanity Dance Chicago

1pm Line Dancing / Fre2Dance

2pm Steppin’ / TBA

3pm Footwork / The Urban Ark

Music by The Urban Ark

Wednesday, July 6 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Welles Park, 2333 W Sunnyside Ave

Haki Kino / Hawaiian fitness and dance exercises

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Aloha Center Chicago with Lanialoha Lee, Kuma Hula (Master Hula Teacher) of Ke Kula Kupa`a O Ka Pakipika

Music by Pacific Soundz & Friends of Aloha (Music of Hawaii and South Pacific)

Friday, July 8 | 12 – 4pm

Chicago SummerDance at Taste of Chicago – Kicking off a bite-sized Taste with four dance styles born in Chicago!

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park

12pm Line Dancing, featuring the Cha-Cha Slide / Janelle E. McGhee

1pm Steppin’ / Shaun Ballentine

2pm Polka Hop / TBA

3pm Footwork / Christopher “Mad Dog” Thomas

Music by DJ Mwelwa

Guest emcee Jennifer Billock, author of “Here Are 4 Dance Styles Born In Chicago To Mark The ‘Year Of Chicago Dance’” (Block Club Chicago; April 18, 2022), and Historic Chicago Bakeries (Arcadia Publishing; 2021)

Saturday, July 9 | 11:30am – 4pm

Chicago SummerDance at Taste of Chicago

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park

11:30am – 1pm A Walkie Talkie Dancey Party! Presented by Chicago Children’s Theatre & The Q Brothers

Followed by 30-minute dance lessons every hour and more music

1pm Ballroom Basics (for kids and families) / Dancing With Class

2pm East Coast Swing / May I Have This Dance

3pm Merengue / May I Have This Dance

Sunday, July 10 | 12 – 4pm

Chicago SummerDance at Taste of Chicago

Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park

12pm Salsa / La Mecca Dance Chicago

1pm Kizomba / Shafeeha Monae

2pm Bachata / Chicago Dance

3pm Afrobeat / Stacy “Jukeboxx” Letrice

Music by DJ Kimani Rashad

Wednesday, July 13 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Douglass Park, 1401 S Sacramento Dr

Latin + Hip Hop

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Dance Instructors TBA

6pm Music Artist TBA

Wednesday, July 20 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Willye B White Park, 1610 W Howard St

Peace, Love and Unity Dance Party

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Andrea Vinson from NAJWA Dance Corps (Boogaloo)

6pm Chicago Soul Spectacular (60s/70s Soul, Rock, R&B)

Sunday, July 24 | 11am – 3pm

Chicago SummerDance at Maxwell Street Market

Maxwell Street Market, 800 S Desplaines St

11am Bachata / Latin Street

12pm Salsa / Latin Street

1pm Rueda de Casino (Cuban Salsa) / Latin Street

2-3pm Open Dance

Music by Vintage Wed DJ Papi

Wednesday, July 27 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Palmer Park, 201 E 111th St

Neighborhood youth curated programming

Tanji Harper, Artistic Director of The Happiness Club, will lead community engagement with Kids Off The Block, The Urban Ark and Dance and Cheer of Excellence Academy to co-create the content of the overall program.

Wednesday, August 3 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks

Levin Park, 5458 W. Kinzie Pkwy

Afrobeat + House

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Move Me Soul (Afrobeat, House)

6pm Music Artist TBA

Wednesday, August 10 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N Humboldt Dr

Salsa

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Mayambo Dance Company (Salsa)

6pm Music Artist TBA

Thursday, August 11 | 6 – 9pm

Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

Cumbia

6pm Latin Street (Cumbia)

7pm Quinto Imperio (Cumbia)

Friday, August 12 | 6 – 9pm

Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

Swing

6pm May I Have This Dance (Foxtrot, East Coast Swing)

7pm Alan Gresik Swing Orchestra (1936 Pop Music)

Saturday, August 13 | 6 – 9pm

Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

Steppin’

6pm Dawud and Lura Shareef (Steppin’)

7pm DJ Eric “ET” Taylor (Steppin’)

Wednesday, August 17 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Ogden Park, 6500 S Racine Ave

Steppin’

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Majestic Gents (Steppin’)

6pm DJ Myron (Steppin’)

Thursday, August 18 | 6 – 9pm

Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

Country & Western

6pm Jeffrey Cannon & Meg Kindelin (Country Two-Step, Waltz, Polka)

7pm Wild Earp & The Free For Alls (Country & Western)

Friday, August 19 | 6 – 9pm

Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

Salsa

6pm Latin Rhythms (Salsa)

7pm Afinca’o (Salsa)

Saturday, August 20 | 6 – 9pm

Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

A Dance Party for Every Body!

6pm Desueño Dance and MOMENTA Dance Company (No Limits Latin/Fusion Adaptive Dance)

7pm

Calculated Discomfort (Disability-Led Fusion Grooves)

** Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) live captioning and ASL offered.

Wednesday, August 24 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Davis Square Park, 4430 S. Marshfield Ave

Cumbia + House

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Dance Instructors TBA

6pm Music Artist TBA

Thursday, August 25 | 6 – 9pm

Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

Global Music and Dance Traditions

6 – 9pm Dance lessons and music by Surabhi Ensemble (Global Fusion)

Dance styles to be taught throughout the night: Kinnari Vora (Indian Classical Hharatanatyam); Leticia Aravena (Flamenco); Phaedra Darwish (Dabke); Lorena Iniguez (Mexican Folk)

Friday, August 26 | 6 – 9pm

Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

House

6pm DJ Wayne Williams (House)

Wednesday, August 31 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Ada Park, 11250 S Ada St

House

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm DJ Sundance (House)

Wednesday, September 7 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave

Rueda de Casino (Cuban Salsa)

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Edson de Cuba (Rueda)

6pm Orquesta Charangueo (Salsa, Guaracha, Son Montuno)

Wednesday, September 14 | 4:30 – 7:30pm

Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Jackson Park, Grove 6B, 1700 Columbia Dr (south of Museum of Science and Industry)

Swing

4:30pm Creative activities

5:30pm Louie Stallone & Susan Fox (East Coast Swing)

6pm Sam Fazio Quintet (Jazz)

Saturday, September 17

National Dance Day – SummerDance Celebration

Millennium Park

Daylong celebration of free performances and activities. Details TBA.

Accessibility

All programming in the Spirit of Music Garden and Chicago SummerDance in the Parks events will have ASL interpretation. The Sat Aug 20 performance will also have Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) live captioning. For more information, visit ChicagoSummerDance.org.

Year of Chicago Dance

In deep partnership with the local dance community, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) have designated 2022 as the Year of Chicago Dance. This citywide, year-long focus on dance is the first of its kind in the U.S. The collaborative initiative will activate Chicago’s dance industry to address critical issues facing dancers and the field of dance including funding, space, and capacity building — and to consider the sustainability of this work. The Year of Chicago Dance, of course, includes dance performances, social dancing, and special events for the public in dozens of venues throughout the city.

2022 Year of Chicago Dance follows the successes of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020/21 initiatives, which highlighted Chicago’s public art, our creative youth, and the city’s vibrant theatre and music scenes. Partners include dance service organizations Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Chicago Dancemakers Forum, and See Chicago Dance — as well as Art on theMART, Night Out in the Parks at the Chicago Park District and many other presenters and funders. For updates throughout the year, visit YearofChicagoDance.com and join the conversation using #YearofChicagoDance.

Chicago Park District

The Chicago Park District has served Chicago residents for more than 85 years. It is a Gold Medal Award-winning organization, which recognizes excellence in park and recreation management across the nation. For more information about the Chicago Park District’s more than 8,800 acres of parkland, more than 600 parks, 26 miles of lakefront, 12 museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, nearly 50 nature areas, thousands of special events, sports and entertainment programs, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or contact the Chicago Park District at 312/742.PLAY or 312/747.2001 (TTY). Want to share your talent? Volunteer in the parks by calling, 312/742.PLAY. Follow us at facebook/chicagoparkdistrict, on Instagram/chicagoparks and on Twitter @chicagoparks.

Year of Chicago Healing

The Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice is proud to present Year of Healing 2022, an extension of the city’s Together We Heal initiative to build racial healing and transformation in Chicago. The Year of Healing 2022 also includes a series of engagements aligned with three pillars: Reflect on Our Past, Reclaim Our Present, Reimagine Our Future as well as $6 million in funding for community-based activities to advance racial healing. SummerDance is collaborating with the Year of Healing to offer crossover programming at the Palmer Park and Douglass Park

locations this summer; visit ChicagoSummerDance.org for updates.

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