Artists of all disciplines spend time in that grey area between amateur and professional. Climbing from one plateau to the next can be confusing and stressful—unless you have a guide to lead you. Luckily, there are dancers and organizations set up to help others take that leap from studio kid to full-fledged pro.

Now in their fifth season, Moonwater Dance Project debuted “Moonwater V” on June 30 at the Ruth Page Center, featuring past repertoire and world premieres by Braeden Barnes, Shannon Alvis, Robyn Mineko Williams, company Executive Director, Celine Spinka O’Brien and Founder and Artistic Director, Mackenzie King.

Past performances have combined creative movement, fantastic imagery from the imagination, high levels of technical prowess and strict rhythmic acuity. Last year’s Moonwater IV set a high bar, but would the company be able to top their previous performance?

Ensemble Español’s “Flamenco Passion 2023” lit up the stage of Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts this past weekend, July 16-18, with precision rhythms, full-body flair, and the vibrant colors and sounds of Spain.

Into the mix was a blend of American jazz, blues, and popular music with movement to match, inspiring choreographic forays into a hybrid of flamenco, contemporary, ballet, jazz and modern dance genres that might by dubbed “flamenco re-imagined.”

This week, "New Dances,” a local incubator for choreographic talent, ends its three-week, intensive process with three performances at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Six brand new works from six emerging choreographers featuring a troupe of 16 dancers in a Chicago dance landmark…what a great way to continue celebrating Chicago Dance Month. And all thanks to two women from Evanston.

A “synesthete” is someone who associates one sensory quality to describe another; For instance, if someone says that the syncopated rhythms of a tap dancer filled the stage with swirling colors and bright lights, that would be a synesthete.

South Chicago Dance Theatre made its Auditorium Theatre debut with the World Premiere of executive artistic director Kia S. Smith’s “Memoirs of Jazz In The Alley,” for a one-night-only performance Saturday night, June 10th. The performance was part of the Auditorium’s “Made In Chicago” series.

Ensemble Español is touted as “the premiere Spanish dance company and center in the U.S.” A title like that is a lot to live up to; fortunately, they’ve got a rich history of performance to back it up.

Fresh off the heels and success of “Soul Remedy,” choreographed by the accomplished Monique Haley, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre continued their Spring Concert Series for the third consecutive weekend with “Identity City.”