6th Annual Chicago Dance Month Celebrates The Artform Throughout April and Beyond!

CHICAGO—Chicago dance is in the spotlight this spring when See Chicago Dance, the dance industry’s service organization founded as Audience Architects, presents a robust Chicago Dance Month, showcasing the city’s numerous, vibrant, and diverse opportunities to enjoy professional dance in Chicago.
 
Chicago Dance Month highlights the breadth, variety, and artistic richness of the Chicago dance community. In addition to the dozens of dance performances and classes taking place throughout the month, Chicago Dance Month Hot Deal ticket partners are offering at least 25 percent off full-price tickets to their performances with offers available beginning March 19.
 
Numerous FREE special events are taking place in partnership Chicago Dance Month Sponsors. Events planned to date include:

  • Chicago Dance Month Kickoff Celebration, Tuesday, March 27, time TBD, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street: featuring an afternoon performance in Preston Bradley Hall followed by a reception
  • Mid-Month Pop-up Performances, April 10, 4:30–6 p.m., Block 37, 108 N. State Street: site-specific performances in the Pedway and throughout Block 37
  • Chicago Dance Month Celebration and Scavenger Hunt, April 30, 4:30–6 p.m.: a progressive event that starts on the steps of the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street, and continues down Michigan Avenue, with site-specific performances along the way, and concluding along the Riverwalk
  • Open Studio Fridays, March 23–May 11, 4:30–6 p.m., Chicago Cultural Center Dance Studio, 78 E. Washington Street: a variety of Chicago dance companies will offer performances and other activities every Thursday during Chicago Dance Month

Since its founding as Audience Architects, the organization has worked behind the scenes to host SeeChicagoDance.com, a comprehensive website promoting Chicago dance performances and classes through its events calendar, previews, reviews, special deals, and discounts that has become one of the largest dance-specific sites in the country. In conjunction with the 2018 Chicago Dance Month, the organization is streamlining its identity with a name and brand evolution to match the website —Audience Architects becomes See Chicago Dance. Simultaneously, the organization is unveiling a refreshed website that simplifies navigation and offers even more information about the wealth of opportunities to enjoy dance in Chicago, featuring expanded reviews, more discounts, and enhanced services, such as job postings and audition notices..
 
“See Chicago Dance is thrilled to offer the public the sixth annual Chicago Dance Month and connect Chicagoans with our city’s most innovative, world-class dance organizations and artists,” said Executive Director Heather Hartley. “April is always brimming with a tremendous range of dance offerings, making Dance Month the perfect time for the public to go out and explore new and exciting dance experiences, with many options available free or at great discounts.

“April is our most high profile and busiest time of the year, making it the perfect moment for our organization—a small business undergoing a significant brand change and implementing a multi-year strategic plan—to launch new endeavors, such as a refined identity, name change, and refreshed website.”
 

An anticipated 60–80 events will occur during the citywide, month-long celebration.
Chicago Dance Month events and Hot Deal discount offers will continue to be added and updated at seechicagodance.com/festival/chicago-dance-month-2018

Audience Architects—to be known henceforth as See Chicago Dance (SCD)—is a dance service organization with a mission to build and engage dance audiences in Chicago and advocate for Chicago dance. SCD provides Chicago dance organizations and artists with increased visibility, expansive resources and forums to showcase and share their talents. Its flagship program, the audience development website SeeChicagoDance.com, drives ticket sales and has grown to become the most comprehensive source of information on dance in Chicago, offering feature stories and reviews, discount ticket offers and in-depth information on more than 200 dance companies and organizations. SCD also offers Moving Dialogs, a discussion series for artists and audiences, and professional development opportunities. For more information, visit SeeChicagoDance.com.
 
Programs of Audience Architects/See Chicago Dance are made possible with support from the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, the Chicago Community Trust, the Joyce Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Sage Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Chicago Seminar on Dance and Performance, The Saints Chicago, and numerous generous individuals.
 
Additional funding for Chicago Dance Month 2018 is provided by the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), and Ginger Farley and Bob Shapiro.