A Community Unveiled by Elaina Fletcher

A Community Unveiled by Elaina Fletcher

“the Mo(ve)ment Performance Showcase as a whole, as it was a journey not just throughout different styles of dance, but an engagement unveiling the sundry ways of what a dance performance can look like and captivate those watching. And most notably, it unveiled a community in which I am avid in becoming a part of”

A Celebration of West African Rhythms and Movements: The Ayodele Drum & Dance Experience by Marisol Hernandez

A Celebration of West African Rhythms and Movements: The Ayodele Drum & Dance Experience by Marisol Hernandez

“As a dancer myself, witnessing Ayodele Drum & Dance’s performance really reinforced the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context of the dances I perform. West African dance is more than just a series of steps; it's a means for preserving the traditions of a people, for conveying their stories and emotions.”

American Dancing Bodies Symposium - Movement though the Soul by Demetrius Gordon

American Dancing Bodies Symposium - Movement though the Soul by Demetrius Gordon

“Although they are overshadowed by the contents of a performance, the structure and layout can make a huge difference in the impact left on the attendee and engaging the audience to be a part of the community being presented is guaranteed to make a performance stand out.”

Review calls the Dance Center “arguably the best venue to see dance in Chicago!”

Review calls the Dance Center “arguably the best venue to see dance in Chicago!”

Recent praise for FLOCK & Artists’ Somewhere Between calls the Dance Center -- “arguably the best venue to see dance in Chicago!”:

Sometimes in duets, and most often as a six-dancer ensemble, Flock’s Somewhere Between continues to mesmerize with seamless transitions. We lose track of time. It’s not unlike the hypnotizing effect of a lava lamp. All is fluid. Transitions are so seamless we only realize they have happened in retrospect….

Announcing the fall lineup for our 49th Presenting Series!

Announcing the fall lineup for our 49th Presenting Series!

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago announces its 2022 Fall Season, which includes two performance series—Elevate Dance Chicago and B-Series B-All-Access: Celebrating Accessibility and Inclusion in Hip-Hop and Street Dance Culture featuring guest artist Bill Shannon. “At the Dance Center, we are honored to be able to hold the space for this work to take place, and for the coming together of community in celebration of the dancing body,” says Lisa Gonzales, Associate Professor and Chair of Dance at Columbia.

On the Ground

On the Ground

Expanding our blog to take the pulse on our dance communities

In 2021, through the support of The Walder Foundation, we were able to expand the On the Ground series on our blog. We checked in on the dance communities in our city and beyond by taking the pulse of the moment during the covid pandemic. On the Ground became an online dance journal-magazine that featured interviews with Chicago dance artists, shared work from virtual residencies that we hosted with choreographers, and took deep dives into our video archives.