Kickstarter

Dance in the Parks brings free, professional dance performances to Chicagoans in the most accessible venues in the Chicago-land area—neighborhood parks.  In partnership with the Chicago Park District, it is our mission to expose new audiences to the art of dance as well as to introduce local performers and choreographers to their neighbors.

2012 will be Dance in the Parks' 4th summer season.   In addition to our professional concert, we showcase neighborhood youth dance programs in each location. In the last three years, we've performed in the West Rogers Park, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale, and South Shore neighborhoods.  This year, we will expand our reach into Austin, Logan Square, and Hyde Park. Each year, we reach at least 100 local residents per show. That's over 1200 people since we started in 2009.

We deliver high quality dance in a very lean package. Wherever the Chicago Park District gives us a stage, we show up with dancers, one tech person, lights, a sound system, some costumes, and make a show. We have been fortunate to hire 6-8 professional dancers, 7-9 choreographers, and 2-3 designers who have been willing to work with Dance in the Parks for a very small amount of money each year.  Much less than they would be paid in the distant, downtown theater district.

To pay our artists standard rehearsal and performance fees would cost around $13,000. Add rehearsal space and equipment rental, insurance, costume, transportation, and promotional costs and our annual project cost could be around $25,000 every year.  For the past 3 years, we've made well-attended productions for about $10,000/year: less than half the cost of traditional theater district venues where our dancers and choreographers work during the rest of the year!  And since our shows are free, our main source of income is donations from people like you.  

This coming summer we want to expand to three new neighborhoods we’ve never reached before. We'll be able to invite new youth programs to perform with us and to reach new audiences right in their own neighborhoods.  We also want to increase our promotion efforts so more people everywhere know about the chance to experience professional dance in their own backyard.

Help us keep our shows free so families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and financial levels can experience a professional dance concert.  If you don't live in Chicago, you're donation will not only help support our current program, but also help create future dance audiences and dance lovers. That's a lifetime gift. Donate NOW!

Find out more about us here: www.danceintheparks.org

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