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2022 Year of Chicago Dance Continues this Summer with Hundreds of Performances and Events Across the City
Chicago SummerDance Returns for its 25th 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 27th 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 25th 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!”
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., offering performances, events and artist opportunities throughout the year. Learn more at YearofChicagoDance.com.
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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