Chicago Dance Month returns for its 13th season, May 30–June 27!
Join See Chicago Dance as we celebrate the electric vitality of the Chicago dance community through energizing performances, classes, and new program offerings.
The celebration begins with the Chicago Dance Month Kickoff on Saturday, May 30th, on Navy Pier’s iconic Lake Stage. These performances celebrate dances uniquely rooted in Chicago while also honoring the diverse global traditions that call our city home!
The festival then continues throughout June, with free pop-up performances every Saturday, 4–5 PM, for Wave Wall Moves and free dance classes every Wednesday, 6:30–8 PM, for Pier Dance, both happening on the Ferrara Candy Wave Wall Stage at Navy Pier. These programs are free and family-friendly.
NEW THIS YEAR: We invite you to experience dance beyond the stage through a new program offering: NeighborhoodMOVES. Presented in partnership with Collaboraction, Instituto Cervantes, and the Logan Center for the Arts, these new offerings are created to give dance artists focused space to share their ideas and processes with an engaged audience. NeighborhoodMOVES features community workshops, cyphers, improvisation jams, panel discussions, dance film screenings, and more!
We’re excited to celebrate Chicago Dance Month with you. We’ll see you on the dance floor!
2026 LINEUP ANNOUNCED!
All Chicago Dance Month programming is free and family-friendly unless otherwise noted.
Chicago Dance Month Kickoff Celebration
Saturday, May 30, 2026
3:00–5:00 PM
Navy Pier: Lake Stage
600 E Grand Ave
The 13th Annual Chicago Dance Month celebration begins with a bang! Witness performances by Ballet Folklórico de Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Chicago Korean Dance Company, Hyde Park School of Dance, JYZ Dance, Kelsi Fears Choreography, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, and Partners in the Circle, all on the iconic Lake stage at Navy Pier!
These performances celebrate dances uniquely rooted in Chicago while also honoring the diverse global traditions that call our city home!
Pier Dance
Wednesdays, June 3–24, 2026
6:30–8:00 PM
Navy Pier: Ferrara Candy Stage
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.
Class Schedule:
| June 3 at 6:30 PM | Turkish Dance with Rhythm of Anatolia |
| June 10 at 6:30 PM | Afro-Cuban with Hedwig Dances |
| June 17 at 6:30 PM | Salsa Partnerwork with Latin Street Music & Dancing |
| June 24 at 6:30 PM (Navy Pier Block Party) | Street Jazz (90’s Themed) with Hips and Heels |
Wave Wall Moves
Saturdays, June 6–27, 2026
4:00–5:00 PM
Navy Pier: Ferrara Candy Stage
600 E Grand Ave
Celebrate Chicago Dance Month with pop-up performances every Saturday in June on Navy Pier’s Ferrara Candy Wave Wall Stage! Experience two performance groups sharing one stage in a dynamic, hour-long program. These performances highlight a range of dance genres and cultural traditions, showcasing the artistry of Chicago’s dance community.
Performer Schedule:
| June 6 | LEVELDance | Ruth Page Professional Dance Training Program |
| June 13 | Malhaar Dance Company | We Are Colective |
| June 20 | Redd’s Angelz Entertainment | Uptown Rockers |
| June 27 (Navy Pier Pride Celebration) | Bellydance by Phaedra | Orenda Dance Company |
NeighborhoodMOVES
June 8–27, 2026
6:00–9:00 PM
Created to give dance artists focused space to share their ideas and processes with an engaged audience, we invite you to join us for NeighborhoodMOVES. Each evening will feature a specially curated lineup of community workshops, cyphers, improvisation jams, panel discussions, dance film screenings, and more!
NeighborhoodMOVES Schedule:
- June 8 | THE DANCE NETWORK: COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS & COLLABORATIONS
📍 Collaboraction Theatre at Kimball Arts Center | 1757 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL - June 16 | DANCE EXCHANGE: GLOBAL & LOCAL COMMUNITY IN MOTION
📍 Instituto Cervantes | 31 W Ohio St, Chicago, IL - June 26 | CROSSCURRENTS: WHERE DANCE STYLES, IDEAS, AND ARTISTS MEET
📍 Logan Center for the Arts | 915 E 60th St, Chicago, IL
NeighborhoodMOVES sessions’ details and schedule coming soon!
The 2026 Chicago Dance Month Brochure has landed! Take a look inside!
PARTNERSHIP:
Chicago Dance Month is presented in partnership with Navy Pier, Collaboraction Theatre at Kimball Arts Center, Instituto Cervantes, and the Reva & David Logan Center for the Arts.
SUPPORT:
Chicago Dance Month is supported in part by general operations grants from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Illinois Arts Council, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and a technology grant from The Service Club of Chicago.
NBC5 / Telemundo Chicago is the official Media Partner for See Chicago Dance.
Photo Credit: Natya Dance Theater by Michelle Reid
