Season 53
Prime in Motion
September 24, 2026 - May 15, 2027
"53 marks a prime year—a number that stands whole and undivided. Season 53 at the Dance Center celebrates artists who carry that same singular force. Each artist who takes our stage brings a distinct movement language, shaped by lived experience, cultural lineage, and creative vision."
-- Meredith Sutton, Artistic Director
Coming up
Michelle Haskell: Empty Are My Hands
photo by: William Frederking.
Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
A contemporary and tap dance show combining styles to bring communities together!
With live music by Chien-An Yuan to guide, concepts such as childlike wonder, abuse, resilience, sacrifice, and responsibility will be explored throughout.
Shirley Mordine, photo by: Richard Kein.
The Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Awards
A prolific artist, Shirley Mordine founded and led the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago from 1969 to 1999 and served as Artistic Director of Mordine & Company Dance Theater from 1969 to 2019. Her contributions sparked and encouraged a vibrant, enduring Chicago dance community.
The Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Awards are a living legacy to honor Shirley Mordine’s dedication and prolific contribution to Chicago and contemporary dance, and her prodigious and life-long love of dance making.
Join us on September 24 for the opening night of Season 53 - MATADORA by INSÉKTA to learn more!
David Rousseve/REALITY, from Stardust, photo by Yi Chun.
Urban Bush Women in Hep Hep Sweet Sweet, photo by Rick McCullough.
About
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago is the city’s leading presenter of contemporary dance – bringing international, national, and local artists to Chicago audiences. The Dance Center has served as a focal point for dance and performance in Chicago since 1974.
Donate
We could not do our work without the generous support of our individual supporters, the Friends of the Dance Center, and institutional funders. Your donation directly supports the artists that we present.
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Banner image: from Issa Bop choreographed by Monique Haley; pictured: Courtney Cooper, Milenka Aurelio, CJ Triche, Sophia Peck, Grace Butt, Erica Jones, Mikaylah Williams, Ava-C. Winfrey, Lizeth Hernandez, Nia Durlacher, Areli Ramirez, Diamond Turner; photo by William Frederking.
