The Dance Center 50th Season Pass

Then, Now, Next—Celebrating 50 Years of Dedication to Sharing the Present Moment of Dance from October 2023 through May 2024

For the first time, all Dance Center concerts, including our exciting student and faculty works, will be part of the Dance Presenting Series season. Experience the full cycle of choreographic development through a season of works by established, emerging, and aspiring choreographers and dancers.

As a 50th Season Pass Holder, you

- Save $50 over purchasing single tickets to each concert a la carte,

- Benefit from concierge-style Box Office services to reserve your preferred show dates,

- Enjoy opportunities to be in community with other dance enthusiasts at special pre-show gatherings.

Box Office staff will contact Season Pass Holders via phone or email 3-weeks prior to each concert to reserve your preferred days and times.

All seating is general admission, and programming takes place at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S Michigan AVE, Chicago, IL 60605 unless otherwise indicated.

Single tickets go on sale on September 6, 2023.

50th Season Programming

AMERICAN DANCING BODIES SYMPOSIUM (Oct. 19-20, 2023)

Town Hall, workshops, lecture demonstrations, screenings, and performances explore the intersectionality of present-day dance. Highlights include: A New Decade of Dance Films: Screening and Performances by Kierah “Kiki” King & Patricia Nguyen presented in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Photography, The New Orleans Original BuckShop Workshop by Michelle Gibson, and MO(VE)MENT: Performance Showcase featuring Ayodele Drum & Dance, BraveSoul Movement, The Joffrey Ballet, and Mordine & Company Legacy Project.

FREE FALL: Student Performance Night (Nov. 16-17, 2023) & HEADWAY: advancing choreography (Nov. 30-Dec. 1 & Dec. 7-8, 2023) Opportunities for up-and-coming Dance Center choreographers to share original works.

SAKAFU 2023: Repertory Performance Works (Dec. 14-15, 2023) Culminating a semester-long process with visiting artist and cultural ambassador of New Orleans tradition and Second Line Aesthetic, Michelle Gibson was most recently profiled in The New York Times for her Jacob’s Pillow premiere. Also on the program will be works choreographed by Umfundalai practitioner Bevara Anderson, former Mordine & Company Dancers Dardi McGinley-Gallivan and Pam McNeil, and Dr. Ayo Walker.

LUNCH WITH SONIA (Jan. 25-27, 2024) Presented in partnership with the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, NYC-based Loco7 Dance Puppet Theater makes their Chicago debut with Lunch with Sonia.

B-Series 10th Anniversary Festival: B-Long, honors and examines lineage and belonging in Hip-Hop & Street Dance culture (Mar. 1-2, 2024) Co-curated by Daniel “BRAVEMONK” Haywood and Kelsa “K-Soul” Rieger-Haywood, the festival features world-renowned headliners and judges LaTasha Barnes, Bionic Man and Mikey Disco.

THE JAZZ CONTINUUM (Mar. 8-10, 2024) Bessie Award-winner LaTasha Barnes’ The Jazz Continuum comes to Chicago after engagements at the Kennedy Center, Jacob’s Pillow, The Joyce Theater, and Bates Dance Festival. Featuring a 20-person cast of dancers, DJs and live musicians including Music Direction by Grammy-Award-winning Illinois native Christopher McBride.

SPRING FORWARD: Student Performance Night (Apr. 11-12, 2024) SPRING FORWARD features up-and-coming Dance Center choreographers collaborating with rising Theater Department lighting designers on original works.

CHICAGO ARTIST SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL (Apr. 18-20 & 24-27, 2024) Dive into the vibrancy of Chicago’s dance community with award-winning artists: dancemaker and poet J’Sun Howard, kinetic philosopher Ayako Kato, pop-fringe creator Erin Kilmurray, and artist/activist SJ Swilley. The Festival activates the entire Dance Center building and Grant Park.

RE/VERB: Faculty Concert (May 2-3, 2024) The Dance Center’s acclaimed professional dance faculty forefront the now in embodied practice with works by Lisa Gonzales and others TBA.

FOMENT: Senior Capstone Concert (May 9-10, 2024) FOMENT highlights original works by next generation dancemakers: Joey Martinez, Lydia Jacobson, Gabby Sheets, Seniyah Tribble.

Host or Publisher The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago