See Chicago Dance Hosts Chicago Dance Month

Chicago dance is in the spotlight this spring when See Chicago Dance, the dance industry's nonprofit service organization founded as Audience Architects, presents a robust Chicago Dance Month, showcasing the city's numerous, vibrant, and diverse opportunities to enjoy professional dance in Chicago.

Chicago Dance Month highlights the breadth, variety, and artistic richness of the Chicago dance community. In addition to the dozens of dance performances and classes taking place throughout the month, Chicago Dance Month Hot Deal ticket partners are offering at least 25 percent off full-price tickets to their performances with offers available beginning March 19.

Numerous FREE special events are taking place in partnership with Chicago Dance Month Sponsors. Events and participating companies to date include:

Chicago Dance Month Kickoff Celebration, Tuesday, March 27, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street: a free afternoon performance in Preston Bradley Hall followed by a reception; participating companies include Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Winifred Haun & Dancers, Natya Dance Theatre, Project Bound, and Visceral Studio Company. A post-performance VIP reception is free for See Chicago Dance members, $25 for the general public, with public tickets available at seechicagodance.combeginning March 1

Moving Dialogs: Culture in Motion, Tuesday, April 3, 6-8 p.m., Haitian American Museum of Chicago, 4654 N. Racine: an interactive performance featuring Chicago Dance Crash with new choreography inspired by works and cultural objects from the museum's collection; produced in partnership with the Chicago Cultural Alliance, this event includes a reception and conversation with the artists, moderated by Zachary Whittenburg, communications and engagement director, Arts Alliance Illinois

Mid-Month Pop-up Performances, April 10, 4:30-6 p.m., Block 37, 108 N. State Street, Pedway: site-specific performances by Cattywampus Dance, Cocodaco Dance Project, Concert Dance Inc, Desueño Dance, Meher Dance Company, Nomi Dance Company, Noumenon Dance Ensemble, Simantikos Dance Chicago, and South Chicago Dance Theatre

Chicago Dance Month Celebration and Scavenger Hunt, April 30, 4:30-6 p.m.: a progressive event that starts on the steps of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street, and continues down Michigan Avenue, with site-specific performances by Ballet 5:8, Movement Revolution Dance Crew, Perceptual Motion Inc., RE|dance group, Sildance/AcroDanza, and Trifecta Dance Collective along the way, and concluding along the Riverwalk

Open Studio Fridays, March 23-May 11, 4:30-6 p.m., Chicago Cultural Center Dance Studio,78 E. Washington Street: a variety of Chicago dance companies will offer performances, mini dance classes, and other activities every Friday during Chicago Dance Month; light refreshments provided

Since its founding as Audience Architects, the organization has worked behind the scenes to hostSeeChicagoDance.com, a comprehensive website promoting Chicago dance performances and classes through its events calendar, previews, reviews, special deals, and discounts that has become one of the largest dance-specific sites in the country. In conjunction with Chicago Dance Month 2018, the organization is streamlining its identity with a name and brand evolution to match the website-Audience Architects becomes See Chicago Dance. Simultaneously, the organization is unveiling a refreshed website that simplifies navigation and offers even more information about the wealth of opportunities to enjoy dance in Chicago, featuring expanded reviews, more discounts, and enhanced services, such as job postings and audition notices..

"See Chicago Dance is thrilled to offer the public the sixth annual Chicago Dance Month and connect Chicagoans with our city's most innovative, world-class dance organizations and artists," said Executive Director Heather Hartley. "April is always brimming with a tremendous range of dance offerings, making Dance Month the ideal time for the public to go out and explore new and exciting dance experiences, with many options available free or at great discounts.

"April is our most high profile and busiest time of the year, making it the perfect moment for our organization-a small business undergoing a significant brand change and implementing a multi-year strategic plan-to launch new endeavors, such as a refined identity, name change, and refreshed website."

An anticipated 60-80 events will occur during the citywide, month-long celebration.
Chicago Dance Month events and Hot Deal discount offers will continue to be added and updated at seechicagodance.com/festival/chicago-dance-month-2018.

Audience Architects-to be known henceforth as See Chicago Dance (SCD)-founded as a nonprofit in 2006, is a dance service organization with a mission to build and engage dance audiences in Chicago and advocate for Chicago dance. SCD provides Chicago dance organizations and artists with increased visibility, expansive resources and forums to showcase and share their talents. Its flagship program, the audience development website SeeChicagoDance.com, drives ticket sales and has grown to become the most comprehensive source of information on dance in Chicago, offering feature stories and reviews, discount ticket offers and in-depth information on more than 200 dance companies and organizations. SCD also offers Moving Dialogs, a discussion series for artists and audiences, and professional development opportunities. For more information, visit SeeChicagoDance.com.

Programs of Audience Architects/See Chicago Dance are made possible with support from the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust, the Joyce Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Sage Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Chicago Seminar on Dance and Performance, The Saints Chicago, and numerous generous individuals.

Additional funding for Chicago Dance Month 2018 is provided by the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and Ginger Farley and Bob Shapiro.

Moving Dialogs: Culture in Motion is produced in partnership with the Chicago Cultural Alliance and is funded by the Joyce Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the Chicago Seminar on Dance and Performance.

Photo: Same Planet Performance Project at the Block 37 pop-up performance during Chicago Dance Month 2017. Photo by Philamonjaro.

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