Public Auditions: Pre-Professional Dancers & Youth
Audition to perform with the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project in our annual performance at the Harris Theater on Sat, Aug 23, 2025 at Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions. This is through the CBDLP Emerging Dancer's Initiative that aims to bring professional dance opportunities and mentorship to community youth dance artists. This initative is primarily focused on intermediate/advance youth dancers, but all are welcome to audition.
Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions
Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions
The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, an initiative of the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, in partnership with the Harris Theater for Music and Dance proudly presents Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions, a groundbreaking premiere at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. This transformative performance compels each cohort company to amplify their artistic voice, break new creative ground, and reimagine aesthetics in a manner that stays true to their mission, vision, and values.
Through a powerful tapestry of movement, storytelling, and innovation, Unbound celebrates the depth and breadth of Black dance in Chicago.
Featuring our second cohort: The Chicago Multicultural Dance Company and Hiplet Ballerinas, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, The Era Footwork Collective, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Move Me Soul, Muntu Dance Theatre, NAJWA Dance Corps, Praize Productions Inc.
Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project at Ravinia: Metamorphoses
Join us at the Ravinia Festival in an evening of dance inspired by technology and transformation.
Featured dance companies include:
→The Chicago Multicultural Dance Center & Hiplet Ballerinas
→Deeply Rooter Dance Theater
→The Era Footwork Collective
→Forward Momentum Chicago
→Joel Hall Dancers & Center
→M.A.D.D. Rhythms
→Move Me Soul
→NAJWA Dance Corps
→Praize Productions
Art on The Mart: Big Bang & the Black Dancing Body
Told in three acts, this dynamic visual event aims to draw connections to the history of American dance as told by the Black dancing body.
Featuring artists from 10 diverse dance companies, the work showcases original choreography from the project’s cohort; music by Chicago-based DJ Duane Powell, Sam Thousand, and Steve “Miggedy” Maestro; projection design by new media artist Liviu Pasare; and cinematography & editing by Elizabeth Myles. Directed by Princess Mhoon, Director of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project.
Featured dance companies include:
→The Chicago Multicultural Dance Center & Hiplet Ballerinas
→Deeply Rooter Dance Theater
→The Era Footwork Collective
→Forward Momentum Chicago
→Joel Hall Dancers & Center
→M.A.D.D. Rhythms
→Move Me Soul
→Muntu Dance Theatre
→NAJWA Dance Corps
→Praize Productions
The Big Bang: Movement Theory + the Black Dancing Body promises to bring a soulful, stunning exploration of the legacy and future of Black dance in Chicago.
DJ Duane Powell, one of the city’s preeminent selectors, will be spinning tracks at the Opening Night Party July 6 at 8:15pm. You can see the projection nightly from July 6 – September 13 at 9pm.
Meet at the Riverwalk Jetty between Wells St. and Franklin St.
FREE
Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project: Sans Pareil
Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project takes the stage in a dance concert entitled Sans Pareil—French for “unparalleled,” a nod to the Haitian lineage of Chicago’s founder, Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable.
Launched in 2019, Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project was created to celebrate and strengthen Black dance in Chicago and beyond. The CBDLP’S recently announced cohort includes six returning companies, including Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center & Hiplet Ballerinas, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, Najwa Dance Corps, and Muntu Dance Theatre, as well as new additions: M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Move Me Soul, Praize Productions, and The Era Footwork Collective.
Show times:
Saturday, March 25, 2023 / 7pm
Sunday, March 26, 2023 / 2pm: Youth Show: 6pm
BUY TICKETS
$25 General | $10 Students and Seniors (62+)