STOMPING GROUNDS is a free and affordable two-month citywide celebration of authentic, rhythmic dance companies from a variety of world cultures, including American tap, Spanish, Mexican, African, Indian, Native American, Urban Hip Hop, and Irish dance. The series culminates with the grand finale at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on Thursday, June 7.
The program kicks off its fourth year on Monday, April 2nd at the Chicago Cultural Center's Claudia Cassidy Theater. This opening event will feature all of the companies participating in 2018 (see below for a list). Our events offer a mix of free and affordable seats for the entire family. Reservations for free seats will be honored on a first come, first serve basis starting 30 minutes prior to each event's starting time. The $5 seats are held until each event starts. Unclaimed reservations are released to people on the waiting list.
Each STOMPING GROUNDS event, known as a "Performalogue," features the performers and Artistic Directors of selected companies in a narrated performance and Q&A with the audience. And each event features a different lineup! For a list of locations and lineups, please see below.
The featured Chicago companies are:
- Black Hawk Performance Company
- Chicago Human Rhythm Project's "Stone Soup Rhythms"
- Chicago Dance Crash
- Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater
- Mexican Folk Dance Company of Chicago
- Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
- Natya Dance Theatre
- Trinity Irish Dance Company
- Trinity Irish Dance Ensemble
NOTE:
Free Tickets: Reservations for free seats will be honored on a first come, first served basis starting 30 minutes prior to each event’s starting time. At 10 minutes before showtime, all unclaimed free reservations will be released to people on the waiting list.
$5 Supporter Tickets: $5 Supporter seats will be held until showtime. Supporter seats will not be guaranteed after the show has begun.
Seating capacity is limited and guests and patrons will be seated in the order in which they arrive. The box office will open one hour before showtime; the auditorium will open for general admission seating approximately 30 minutes before showtime.
Locations and Lineups for STOMPING GROUNDS events:
Monday, April 2 - 6:00 PM
Chicago Cultural Center (Kick-Off!) -- SOLD OUT! WAIT LIST AVAILABLE
featuring all Chicago companies
Saturday, April 14 - 7:30 PM -- FREE TICKETS SOLD OUT! $5 SUPPORTER TICKETS AVAILABLE
Beverly Arts Center
featuring Chicago Human Rhythm Project's "Stone Soup Rhythms" and more
Saturday, April 21 - 7:30 PM
Irish American Heritage Center
featuring Trinity Irish Dance Company and more
Saturday, April 28 - 7:30 PM -- FREE TICKETS SOLD OUT! $5 SUPPORTER TICKETS AVAILABLE
National Museum of Mexican Art
featuring Mexican Folk Dance Company of Chicago and more
Saturday, May 5 - 7:30 PM
DuSable Museum of African American History
featuring Muntu Dance Theatre and more
Wednesday, May 23 - 6:00 PM
Garfield Park Conservatory
featuring Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, Chicago Dance Crash, and more
Thursday, June 7 - 6:30 PM (Time Subject to Change)
Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (Grand Finale!)
featuring all Chicago companies
For a complete list of Eventbrite registration links, please click here!
To support world-class, free and affordable cultural programs throughout Chicago throughout the year, please visit https://chicagotap.org/support/donate-now/.
STOMPING GROUNDS is Supported By:
STOMPING GROUNDS Partner Companies:
STOMPING GROUNDS Partner Venues: