DANCE IN THE PARKS

DANCE IN THE PARKS

FREE, OUTDOOR DANCE CONCERTS IN CHICAGO'S NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS

Photo by Topher Alexander, Lakeshore Park 2018

Summer Sunset: A Celebration, A Farewell, A Thank You

Our 18th and final season — July 2026

For eighteen summers, we've brought dance to your parks, to the community, and to you. We've shared heat waves, rain outs, and the magic of dance on a Chicago summer night. This season is our Summer Sunset, and we want to close it the way we've always danced it: together with joy.

Come to a show. Bring someone who's never seen us.

If you're able, make a gift that helps support our artists through our final season.

This is our last curtain call — and we're grateful to be taking it with you.

SEE THE SCHEDULE

MEET the company

Plan to meet us at a performance, learn about our artists, and watch us online
Text: Artists - 4 dancers on an outdoor stage wearing blue short tunic tops and loose fitting pants. Their knees are bent and they are reaching both arms far to the side
Text: Shows - 3 dancers in white, blue, and orange costumes runningon an outdoor stage in front of a large audience
Text: Video -2 dancers in loose fitting off-white tshirts and pants are folded together on an outdoor stage

Photos by A. Deran Photography

OUR MISSION

Dance in the Parks’ mission is to bring free, professional dance performances to new audiences in the most accessible venues in Chicago—neighborhood parks. We hope to educate audiences unfamiliar with dance about the art form introduce them to local performers and choreographers in a relaxed, casual atmosphere in order to build future relationships with the greater Chicago dance community.

Since 2009, Dance in the Parks has partnered with the Chicago Park District and the mayor's Night Out in the Parks' initiative to perform professional dance concerts in Chicago's neighborhood parks. Our company of professional dancers perform works created by Chicago-based choreographers. At each park, we partner with a youth training program from the community to showcase the young talent in each neighborhood.

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and a CityArts grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.