See Chicago Dance (SCD), the dance industry’s nonprofit marketing and advocacy organization, hosts its fourth Annual Gala, taking place September 25 from 6 to 10 p.m. at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph Street. The event celebrates Chicago’s thriving dance community and honors two individuals who have been important to its success: Shirley Mordine, founder and artistic director of Mordine & Co. Dance Theater, receives the Legacy Award recognizing her artistic leadership, and Angelique Power, president of the Field Foundation of Illinois, receives the Distinguished Service to the Dance Field Award.
SCD’s Board of Directors hosts the gala, and Mark Kelly, Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, serves as Honorary Chair. The event includes a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live music, a tribute dance performance, and the awards ceremony.
Shirley Mordine, founder/artistic director of Mordine & Co. Dance Theater and founder and past director of the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, receives the Legacy Award, which honors someone who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in the field and made a momentous impact on the Chicago dance community. Last year’s inaugural recipient of this award was Dame Libby Komaiko, Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater.
Angelique Power receives the Distinguished Service to the Dance Field Award, which recognizes outstanding philanthropic leadership and honors someone who has made tremendous contributions to the health and vibrancy of the Chicago dance sector. Past recipients include Sarah Solotaroff Mirkin, former senior program officer with the Chicago Community Trust; Richard H. Driehaus, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; and philanthropist Pamela Crutchfield, individual donor.
“Both Angelique and Shirley are passionate and active members of the Chicago dance community, and their contributions to the health and vibrancy of the Chicago arts sector are tremendous and far-reaching,” said See Chicago Dance Executive Director Heather Hartley.
SCD Board President and Giordano Dance Chicago Executive Director Michael McStraw added, “We are thrilled to celebrate Angelique’s and Shirley’s stalwart contributions to our community and support of See Chicago Dance, which provides services to hundreds of dance artists and thousands of ticket buyers, all with the mission to strengthen our city’s dance community and expand its reach.”
Proceeds from the Annual Gala support a variety of SCD programs that bolster dance organizations and more deeply educate audiences, such as Chicago Dance Month (annual celebration promoting 60+ dance performances and educational/audience engagement events); Moving Dialogs (forward-thinking discussion series for artists and audiences); quarterly convenings of the dance community (peer networking and guest speakers representing funders, advocacy groups and professional services); a membership program for dance companies/organizations (78 organizations in 2017); and subsidized rental of a portable dance floor and sound equipment for use by member organizations and artists.
Gala Sponsors include City Winery as Venue Sponsor and CS magazine as Media Sponsor. The Legacy Award is underwritten by Pamela Crutchfield.