The largest annual dance series in the United States returns to Chicago’s beautiful Millennium Park. Free of charge and welcome to all ages and skill levels, SummerDance is great warm-weather fun for everyone.
Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, SummerDance offers one-hour dance lessons to anyone who likes to get movin’, featuring styles from all around the world on an open-air dance floor made from 100% recycled material. In addition to SummerDance at Millennium Park, the city will also hold SummerDance in the Parks, which hosts amateur dance competitions at various Chicago Park District locations on July 8, 15, 22, and 29. Winners will compete at a SummerDance-Off finale at Millennium Park on August 26, where attendees can also enjoy all-day activities, such as a DJ dance party at The Bean, Circle dance lessons on the Great Lawn, and live performances at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
SummerDance takes place every Friday – Sunday, June 23 – September 10 at Grant Park, and Saturdays and Thursdays, July 13 – September 14 at neighborhood parks. Sessions run on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6pm – 9:30pm and on Sunday afternoons from 4pm – 7pm.
Full Schedule
Complete dates for SummerDance, SummerDance in the Parks, SummerDance-Offs, Taste of Chicago SummerDance, and World Music Festival SummerDance:
JUNE
Friday, June 3, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
SummerDance Preview at The 606 Block Party
Humboldt Boulevard and other locations
12:30 p.m. The Volo Bogtrotters (Contra + Square Dance)
2:30 p.m. Sons of Susan (Swing)
5:30 p.m. Mr. Mojo and the Bayou Gypsies (Zydeco)
7:15 p.m. Cumbanchero: A Big Band Tribute to Rafael Hernandez (Salsa + Cumbia)
Friday, June 23, 6–9:30 p.m.
SWING
The Outcast Jazz Band (Big Band Swing)
Margot Toppen and Riley Wimes, Jr. (East Coast Swing)
Saturday, June 24, 6–9:30 p.m.
MOTOWN + R&B
Lynne Jordan + The Shivers (Motown + R&B)
Dawud + Lura Shareef (Chicago Bop)
Sunday, June 25, 4–7 p.m.
AFROBEAT
Alma Afrobeat Ensemble (Afrobeat)
Idy Ciss (Traditional West African Dance)
Friday, June 30, 6–9:30 p.m.
MARCHING BAND MUSIC + DANCES
Mucca Pazza (A Little Marching Band)
Mucca Pazza will perform + teach creative marching, freestyle cheerleading and Chicago Dweebstep
JULY
Saturday, July 1, 6–9:30 p.m.
SALSA + MAMBO
Luis Palermo + Brasa All Stars (Salsa)
Dance Academy of Salsa (Mambo)
Sunday, July 2, 4–7 p.m.
ZYDECO
Terrance Simien + The Zydeco Experience (Zydeco)
Idy Ciss (Traditional West African Dance)
Wednesday, July 5, 6–9 p.m.
IRISH FOLK MUSIC + DANCING
Bua (Irish Folk Music)
Trinity Irish Dance (Irish Folk Dancing)
Part of Taste of Chicago at the regular location in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden
Thursday, July 6, 6–9 p.m.
STEPPIN’ – TRIBUTE TO HERB KENT
DJ Eric “ET” Taylor (Chicago Steppin’)
Majestic Gents (Chicago Steppin’)
Part of Taste of Chicago at the regular location in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden
Friday, July 7, 6–9 p.m.
HOUSE
Steve ‘Miggedy’ Maestro
Part of Taste of Chicago at the regular location in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden
Saturday, July 8, 2–5 p.m.
FOOTWORK SUMMERDANCE-OFF
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Garfield Park Golden Dome, 100 Central Park Ave.
Saturday, July 8, 6–9 p.m.
SALSA
Orquesta El Macabeo (Salsa)
Latin Rhythms (Salsa)
Sunday, July 9, 4–7 p.m.
COUNTRY
Lawrence Peters Outfit (Honky-Tonk Country)
Jeffrey Cannon and Meg Kindelin (Country Two-Step, Waltz)
Thursday, July 13, 6–9 p.m.
BOMBA
Bomba con Buya (Plena + Bomba)
Ivelisse Diaz with La Escuelita Bombera de Corazon (Plena + Bomba)
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N. Sacramento Ave.
Friday, July 14, 6–9:30 p.m.
FOOTWORK
The ERA (Footwork)
Following a lesson covering basic moves from 6 to 7 p.m., the ERA Footwork Crew will perform as a crew to their mixtape “In the Wurkz”
Saturday, July 15, 2–5 p.m.
STEPPIN’ SUMMERDANCE-OFF
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Washington Park Refectory, 5531 S. Martin Luther King Dr.
Saturday, July 15, 6–9:30 p.m.
SALSA
Timba Brava (Timba Salsa)
Chicago Dance (Salsa)
Sunday, July 16, 4–7 p.m.
ITALIAN FOLK MUSIC + DANCING
Newpoli (Italian Folk Music + Dance)
Newpoli will teach Pizzica, a traditional tarantella from Apulia called “Salento”
Thursday, July 20, 6–9 p.m.
SALSA + BACHATA
El Caobo (Salsa, Mambo, Bachata)
Denita Inez & Desueño (Salsa + Bachata)
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Ping Tom Memorial Park, 300 W. 19th St.
Friday, July 21, 6–9:30 p.m.
SWING
The Fat Babies (‘20s and ‘30s Jazz and Swing)
Big City Swing (East Coast Swing)
Saturday, July 22, 2–5 p.m.
FOOTWORK SUMMERDANCE-OFF
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Hamilton Park Cultural Center, 513 W. 72nd St.
Saturday, July 22, 6–9:30 p.m.
SALSA, MAMBO + CHA-CHA
Charanga Tropical (Salsa with Strings)
Mixed Motion Art (Mambo, Cha-cha)
Sunday, July 23, 4–7 p.m.
BALLROOM
May I Have this Dance Presents Ballroom + more!
Nino DiGiulio (Cha-cha + Waltz)
Thursday, July 27, 6–9 p.m.
SALSA
Aguzate (Vintage Salsa DJ set)
Dance Academy of Salsa (Salsa, Cha-cha)
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N. Sacramento Ave.
Friday, July 28, 6–9:30 p.m.
BLUES + WEST COAST SWING
The Cash Box Kings (Chicago Blues)
May I Have This Dance (West Coast Swing)
Saturday, July 29, 2–5 p.m.
STEPPIN’ SUMMERDANCE-OFF
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Hamilton Park Cultural Center, 513 W. 72nd St.
Saturday, July 29, 6–9:30 p.m.
SALSA
Gerardo Contino y Los Habaneros (Cuban Son, Salsa)
Arthur Murray Dance Center (Salsa)
Sunday, July 30, 4–7 p.m.
BALLROOM
Teddy Lee Orchestra (Ballroom)
Fred Astaire Dance Studio – West Loop (Fox-Trot, Rumba)
AUGUST
Thursday, August 3, 6–9 p.m.
SALSA
Carpacho y Su Super Combo (Colombian, Salsa)
Denita Inez & Desueño (Salsa)
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.
Thursday, August 10, 6–9:30 p.m.
SWING
Petra van Nuis Quintet (‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s Classic Swing)
Dancing with Class (East Coast Swing)
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Jackson Park Grove 6B, 1971 E. Hayes Dr.
Friday, August 11, 6–9 p.m.
HOUSE
Tyree Cooper
Saturday, August 12, 6–9:30 p.m.
STEPPIN’
National Steppers Society (Steppin’)
Kenneth Watkins (Steppin’)
Sunday, August 13, 4–7 p.m.
SWING
The Main Stem Orchestra (‘30s & ‘40s Pre-Bop era Swing)
Kasper Dance Studio (Swing/Jive)
Thursday, August 17, 6–9 p.m.
SALSA
Orquesta Charangueo (Afro-Cuban Jazz, ChaChachá, Cuban Son and Mambo)
May I Have This Dance (Salsa)
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.
Friday, August 18, 6–9:30 p.m.
KIZOMBA + BACHATA
DJ Just Jacob (Kizomba, Modern Bachata)
Latin Street Dancing (Kizomba, Bachata)
Saturday, August 19, 6–9:30 p.m.
CUMBIA
SONORAMA DJ Collective (Cumbia)
Latin Rhythms (Cumbia)
Sunday, August 20, 4–7 p.m.
CAJUN
The Revelers (Cajun, Zydeco + Swamp Pop)
Louie Stallone + Monica Vachlon (Cajun Two-Step + Waltz)
Thursday, August 24, 6–9 p.m.
SALSA + CHA-CHA
Angel d’Cuba (Salsa)
Latin Street Dance (Salsa)
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Willye B. White Park, 1610 Howard St.
Friday, August 25, 6–9:30 p.m.
LINE DANCING
DJ Boolumaster (Classic House, Disco)
The Thomas Twins (Line Dancing)
Saturday, August 26, noon–10 p.m.
SUMMERDANCE CELEBRATION
Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.
Sunday, August 27, 4–7 p.m.
BOLLYWOOD
DJ Naveen Kumar (Bollywood)
Bollywood Groove (Bollywood)
SEPTEMBER
Friday, September 1, 6–9 p.m.
HOUSE
Dwayne “Diz” Washington
Saturday, September 2, 6–9:30 p.m.
ARGENTINE TANGO
Redwood Tango Trio (Argentine Tango)
Tango 21 (Argentine Tango)
Sunday, September 3, 6–9:30 p.m.
CONTRA + SQUARE DANCE
Volo Bogtrotters (Country and Square Dance)
Paul Tyler (Caller)
Thursday, September 7, 6–9 p.m.
SWING
The Flat Cats (Jump Blues, Swing)
Fred Astaire Dance Studio – West Loop (Jitterbug)
Part of Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Ping Tom Memorial Park, 300 W. 19th St.
Friday, September 8, 6–9:30 p.m.
AFROBEAT
Underground System (Afrobeat)
Kimosha P. Murphy (Dances from the African Diaspora)
Part of World Music Festival Chicago
Saturday, September 9, 6–9:30 p.m.
ARGENTINE TANGO
Duo Scofano-Minetti (Argentine Tango)
American Tango Institute (Argentine Tango)
Part of World Music Festival Chicago
Sunday, September 10, 4–7 p.m.
CAJUN
Feufollet (Cajun)
Louie Stallone + Monica Vachlon (Cajun Two-Step + Waltz)
Part of World Music Festival Chicago
Thursday, September 14, 6–9 p.m.
BHANGRA
Kalapriya presents Bhangra Blowout with DJ + Live Dhol
Kalapriya (Bhangra)
Part of World Music Festival Chicago + Chicago SummerDance in the Parks
Willye B. White Park, 1610 Howard St
