DanceWorks Chicago is excited to partner with the Lou Conte Dance Studio on DanceChance, a one-hour event designed to offer opportunities for choreographers to show their work informally, create a forum for dialogue among artists, and build audience for dance. Inspired by the concept of open-mic night, DanceChance is held once a month and features 3 choreographers chosen by chance, each of whom has a 15-minute time slot to share their work. To round out the hour, the final 15-minute segment is a moderated meet-the-artist session providing an opportunity for choreographers to discuss their work and process as well as time for the audience to ask questions. At the end of each DanceChance, the next trio of participants is chosen from names submitted by choreographers in attendance.

DanceWorks Chicago is inspired to continue to experiment with this program to encourage creativity and a sense of adventure on the part of artists and audience and to bring communities together to learn more about each other.

From a DanceChance choreographer: “It feels more human to me when the line between those on the outside and those on the inside is blurred, as opposed to a harsh divide between the spectators and the participants. In this case, the audience is as much of a participant as the performers, and that creates an engaging environment where both parties can take something away from the experience.”

Please join us in our efforts to support local artists and audiences!

Choreographers: Katlin Michael Bourgeois, Krista Zozulia, Nicole Salerno

Guest moderator: Ginger Farley, Executive Director, Chicago Dancemakers Forum

SPECIAL POST-CHANCE EVENT: Immediately after DanceChance, stay for a 30-minute information session about the Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist program and application process. A small group of Chicago-based dancemakers will be selected from a pool of applicants to be a 2018 Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist. Each selected artist will receive a $15,000 cash grant combined with a year of mentorship to support the research, development, and performance of a newly choreographed work.