Chicago is a city that loves to dance. Its dance companies range from small modern companies that perform at venues such as Links Hall to major companies that affect the international art scene—including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Chicago, and the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, to name but a few.

If you like to dance, you can do everything from ballroom to swing to modern right on campus (Student Life, Theater/re & Dance). You can also take dance classes at studios throughout the city.

Where to dance

In addition to the places listed below, visit www. ballroomchicago.com, holiday.chicagoreader.com/music/dance/, or www.chicagodancenews.com for more locations and events.

Chicago Barn Dance Company
Web: www.chicagobarndance.com
E-mail: info@ChicagoBarnDance.com
Phone: 847-329-9173
Contra dancing (a kind of folk dancing), traditional square dancing, and old-time music. Neither experience nor a partner is necessary for the barn dances, held regularly at several locations.

 Chicago SummerDance
Web: egov.cityofchicago.org/SummerDance/
Spirit of Music Garden, Grant Park
601 South Michigan Avenue
312-742-4007
Dance for two hours to live music after a free one-hour dance lesson. Mid-June through August.

Dancing in Chicago
Web: www.ee.princeton.edu/~aria/chicago_dance.html
Extensive list of places to dance in the greater Chicago area (ballroom, Latin, swing, country, and western).

Joel Hall Dance Center
Web: www.joelhall.org
Phone: 312-293-0900
Classes in contemporary movement for all levels of ability.

Lou Conte Dance Studio
Web: www.hubbardstreetdance.org
Address: 1147 West Jackson Boulevard
Phone: 312-850-9766
Home to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, this studio offers instruction in modern and jazz dance and ballet.

Old Town School of Folk Music
Web: www.oldtownschool.org
Address: 4544 North Lincoln Avenue
Phone: 773-728-6000
The world's largest center for the teaching and performing of folk music offers classes in a dizzying variety of world dance forms.

Dance companies and where to see dance

Athenaeum Theatre
Address: 2936 North Southport Avenue
Phone: 773-935-6860

Chicago Cultural Center
Address: 78 East Washington Street
Phone: 312-744-6630

Columbia College Dance Center
Web: www.dancecenter.org
Address: 1306 South Michigan
Phone: 312-344-8310

Harold Washington Library
Address: 400 South State Street
Phone: 312-747-4300

Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Web: www.harristheaterchicago.org
Address: 205 East Randolph Street (at Columbus)
Phone: 312-334-7777

Joffrey Ballet of Chicago
Web: www.joffrey.com
Phone: 312-739-0120

Links Hall
Web: www.linkshall.org
Address: 3435 North Sheffield Avenue
Phone: 281-0824

Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago
Web: www.muntu.com
Phone: 602-1135

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Web: www.hubbardstreetdance.org
Address: 1147 West Jackson Boulevard
Phone: 312-850-9744

Back to top