See Chicago Dance is thrilled to announce the 12th Annual Chicago Dance Month celebration!
This month-long showcase of Chicago’s vibrant dance communities kicks off with an out-of-this-world event on May 31 at the Lake Stage on Navy Pier, and continues throughout June with FREE performances and classes at both the scenic Navy Pier and Palmisano Park.
After a record-breaking application period—108 submissions representing 26 distinct dance forms—we’re proud to unveil the 2025 Chicago Dance Month performer and instructor lineup, as decided by our inaugural Community Curatorial Committee! This year’s lineup features 52% first-time participants (18 out of 34), underscoring the vitality and diversity of Chicago’s dance scene.
We’re excited to offer the following opportunities to see and experience dance across the City of Chicago this summer!
Saturday, May 31, 2025 / 3:00–5:00 PM / FREE
Navy Pier’s Lake Stage, 600 E Grand Ave
Chicago Dance Month begins with an opening celebration at Chicago’s Navy Pier featuring a dynamic mix of performances from companies and artists that span genres and cultural traditions. Audiences are encouraged to bring a blanket, have a picnic, and enjoy performances by:
| Ayodele Drum and Dance Chicago Dance Crash* Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago* Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater Hiplet NEXT* MOMENTA Dance Company Natya Dance Theatre Praize Productions, Inc. |
Wednesdays, June 4–25, 2025 / 6:30–8:00 PM / FREE
Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Platform, 600 E Grand Ave
Enjoy free dance lessons on Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Platform every Wednesday in June. These sessions are great for those who love socializing, learning new dances, and being outdoors. Make it a date night or social event by sticking around for Navy Pier’s iconic fireworks display every Wednesday night following these exciting dance classes.
| Date | Instructor |
|---|---|
| June 4 | Bollywood & Culture Groove* |
| June 11 | Traffic Jam Swing* |
| June 18 | Christopher “Mad Dog” Thomas* |
| June 25 (be a part of a flash mob) | Movement Revolution Dance Crew |
Saturdays, June 7–28, 2025 / 4:00–5:00 PM / FREE
Navy Pier’s Wave Wall Platform, 600 E Grand Ave
Two groups share one stage in one jam-packed hour of dance! This year, enjoy hip hop, kathak, flamenco, liturgical/praise, tap, and more, all against the scenic backdrop of Navy Pier’s iconic Ferris wheel!
| DATE | FEATURED COMPANIES |
|---|---|
| June 7 | Phillip “Phree” Wood* Dilshad Khan Kathak* |
| June 14 | Niko8* Clinard Dance’s Flamenco Project |
| June 21 | Yielded Vessels* Chicago Tap Theatre |
| June 28 (Navy Pier Pride Celebration) | Queer Dance Freakout* Fever Dream Dance Collective* |
Tuesdays, June 17 & 24, 2025 / 5:30–7:00 PM / FREE
Palmisano Park, 2700 S Halsted St
Enjoy the wanderlust of discovery as you navigate pockets of site-specific outdoor dance performances at the Chicago Park District’s Palmisano Park, located in the beautiful Bridgeport community!
| June 17 | June 24 |
|---|---|
| Aerial Dance Chicago | Anniela Huidobro Castro* |
| BYNC Ballet Folklórico | Bodies of Water* |
| Chibuck Movement* | Chicago Flying Fairies Culture & Arts Center |
| Raks Inferno | Michelle Haskell* |
| Shubukai | Sildance/Acrodanza |
| Silambam Houston* | Symbiosis Arts* |
| Yin He Dance | Winifred Haun & Dancers |
*First-time Chicago Dance Month performer/participant.
Support:
Navy Pier and Nights Out In The Parks are our partner for free 2025 Chicago Dance Month programming.
2025 Chicago Dance Month is sponsored in part by general operations grants to See Chicago Dance from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council.
Grand Stage is the membership sponsor for See Chicago Dance.
Photo Credit: Chicago Dance Crash by Andrew Weeks Photography
