Summer's here, and the time is right for dancing in the street. OK, it's still May, and we've seen the sun twice in the last 42 days or so, but summer's almost here—and with it, the return of Chicago SummerDance.
For 25 years, SummerDance has brought Chicagoans together to enjoy live music and dancing in a variety of styles and genres. Now, after two summers of limited or canceled outdoor programming, SummerDance is back in full force as part of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events' "Year of Chicago Dance" initiative. This year's program, which runs June 18 through September 17, will feature 23 events spanning ballroom, Chicago steppin', cumbia, Indian classical Bhaharanatyam, country line dancing, Hawaiian Haki Kino and more. At the events, attendees will receive a complimentary in-person dance lesson led by professional instructors, followed by live music and dancing—and don't worry, the lessons are designed for dancers of all skill levels.
In addition to SummerDance sessions at the event's long-running location in Grant Park's Spirit of Music garden, this year's lineup features pop-ups in neighborhoods across the city, including Pullman, Rogers Park, Humboldt Park, Austin, Roseland, Lincoln Square, Portage Park, North Lawndale, Englewood and Hyde Park, as well as programming at Taste of Chicago and the Maxwell Street Market. For the neighborhood sessions, the city is collaborating on programming with local arts organizations like The Firehouse Community Arts Center, Free Street Theater, Move Me Soul and new partners The Happiness Club, a collective of young Chicago artists encouraging positivity and social change by creating original hip-hop and pop music.
Ready to get dancing? Check out the full 2022 Chicago SummerDance schedule below.
Saturday, June 18 | noon–4pm
Chicago SummerDance at Taste of Chicago Pullman
Pullman Park, 11101 S Cottage Grove
12pm Salsa / Urbanity Dance Chicago
1pm Line Dancing / Fre2Dance
2pm Steppin’ / TBA
3pm Footwork / The Urban Ark
Music by The Urban Ark
Wednesday, July 6 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Welles Park, 2333 W Sunnyside Ave
Haki Kino / Hawaiian fitness and dance exercises
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Aloha Center Chicago with Lanialoha Lee, Kuma Hula (Master Hula Teacher) of Ke Kula Kupa`a O Ka Pakipika
Music by Pacific Soundz & Friends of Aloha (Music of Hawaii and South Pacific)
Friday, July 8 | noon–4pm
Chicago SummerDance at Taste of Chicago - Kicking off a bite-sized Taste with four dance styles born in Chicago!
Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park
12pm Line Dancing, featuring the Cha-Cha Slide / Janelle E. McGhee
1pm Steppin’ / Shaun Ballentine
2pm Polka Hop / TBA
3pm Footwork / Christopher “Mad Dog” Thomas
Music by DJ Mwelwa
Guest emcee Jennifer Billock
Saturday, July 9 | 11:30am–4pm
Chicago SummerDance at Taste of Chicago
Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park
11:30am – 1pm A Walkie Talkie Dancey Party! Presented by Chicago Children’s Theatre & The Q Brothers
Followed by 30-minute dance lessons every hour and more music
1pm Ballroom Basics (for kids and families) / Dancing With Class
2pm East Coast Swing / May I Have This Dance
3pm Merengue / May I Have This Dance
Sunday, July 10 | noon–4pm
Chicago SummerDance at Taste of Chicago
Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park
12pm Salsa / La Mecca Dance Chicago
1pm Kizomba / Shafeeha Monae
2pm Bachata / Chicago Dance
3pm Afrobeat / Stacy “Jukeboxx” Letrice
Music by DJ Kimani Rashad
Wednesday, July 13 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Douglass Park, 1401 S Sacramento Dr
Latin + Hip Hop
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Dance Instructors TBA
6pm Music Artist TBA
Wednesday, July 20 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Willye B White Park, 1610 W Howard St
Peace, Love and Unity Dance Party
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Andrea Vinson from NAJWA Dance Corps (Boogaloo)
6pm Chicago Soul Spectacular (60s/70s Soul, Rock, R&B)
Sunday, July 24 | 11am–3pm
Chicago SummerDance at Maxwell Street Market
Maxwell Street Market, 800 S Desplaines St
11am Bachata / Latin Street
12pm Salsa / Latin Street
1pm Rueda de Casino (Cuban Salsa) / Latin Street
2-3pm Open Dance
Music by Vintage Wed DJ Papi
Wednesday, July 27 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Palmer Park, 201 E 111th St
Neighborhood youth curated programming
Tanji Harper, Artistic Director of The Happiness Club, will lead community engagement with Kids Off The Block, The Urban Ark and Dance and Cheer of Excellence Academy to co-create the content of the overall program.
Wednesday, August 3 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Levin Park, 5458 W. Kinzie Pkwy
Afrobeat + House
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Move Me Soul (Afrobeat, House)
6pm Music Artist TBA
Wednesday, August 10 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N Humboldt Dr
Salsa
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Mayambo Dance Company (Salsa)
6pm Music Artist TBA
Thursday, August 11 | 6–9pm
Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
Cumbia
6pm Latin Street (Cumbia)
7pm Quinto Imperio (Cumbia)
Friday, August 12 | 6–9pm
Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
Swing
6pm May I Have This Dance (Foxtrot, East Coast Swing)
7pm Alan Gresik Swing Orchestra (1936 Pop Music)
Saturday, August 13 | 6–9pm
Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
Steppin’
6pm Dawud and Lura Shareef (Steppin’)
7pm DJ Eric “ET” Taylor (Steppin’)
Wednesday, August 17 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Ogden Park, 6500 S Racine Ave
Steppin’
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Majestic Gents (Steppin’)
6pm DJ Myron (Steppin’)
Thursday, August 18 | 6–9pm
Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
Country & Western
6pm Jeffrey Cannon & Meg Kindelin (Country Two-Step, Waltz, Polka)
7pm Wild Earp & The Free For Alls (Country & Western)
Friday, August 19 | 6–9pm
Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
Salsa
6pm Latin Rhythms (Salsa)
7pm Afinca’o (Salsa)
Saturday, August 20 | 6–9pm
Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
A Dance Party for Every Body!
6pm Desueño Dance and MOMENTA Dance Company (No Limits Latin/Fusion Adaptive Dance)
7pm
Calculated Discomfort (Disability-Led Fusion Grooves)
** Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) live captioning and ASL offered.
Wednesday, August 24 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Davis Square Park, 4430 S. Marshfield Ave
Cumbia + House
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Dance Instructors TBA
6pm Music Artist TBA
Thursday, August 25 | 6–9pm
Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
Global Music and Dance Traditions
6 – 9pm Dance lessons and music by Surabhi Ensemble (Global Fusion)
Dance styles to be taught throughout the night: Kinnari Vora (Indian Classical Bharatanatyam); Leticia Aravena (Flamenco); Phaedra Darwish (Dabke); Lorena Iniguez (Mexican Folk)
Friday, August 26 | 6–9pm
Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park
House
6pm DJ Wayne Williams (House)
Wednesday, August 31 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Ada Park, 11250 S Ada St
House
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm DJ Sundance (House)
Wednesday, September 7 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave
Rueda de Casino (Cuban Salsa)
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Edson de Cuba (Rueda)
6pm Orquesta Charangueo (Salsa, Guaracha, Son Montuno)
Wednesday, September 14 | 4:30–7:30pm
Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Jackson Park, Grove 6B, 1700 Columbia Dr (south of Museum of Science and Industry)
Swing
4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Louie Stallone & Susan Fox (East Coast Swing)
6pm Sam Fazio Quintet (Jazz)
Saturday, September 17
National Dance Day – SummerDance Celebration
Millennium Park
Daylong celebration of free performances and activities. Details TBA.