Summer is here! Our community and world are opening up at a fast pace and our longer days carry energized creative life, movement, and inspired new activity. In this special summer of 2022 that reflects new growth coupled with new progress,  Thodos Dance Chicago in partnership with DanceWorks Chicago is thrilled to bring dance back to the live stage. New Dances 2022 features some of Chicago’s most talented dance artists: visionaries forging new creative paths in and for our Chicago community.   

Together we toast a landmark year for New Dances celebrating how special it is to turn 21, as this year marks the 21st anniversary under the TDC umbrella. How very fitting that this 21st milestone year of the project features 21 community artists: 15 dancers and 6 dance makers! 

Join us for a performance of this unique project created in and for our Chicago Community. Connect with the ND ’22 creators by seeing their work and dialoguing with them following the performance in our post-show forum. You will be moved, you will be inspired…and in the theme of milestone celebration consider joining us for an extra special closing night post-show champagne toast in celebration of everything 21! 

Cheers!

Celebrate Chicago Dance Month and get up close and personal with dance and dancers through a performance of New Dances 2022!  Thodos Dance Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago enjoy a partnership centered around a shared tradition of developing choreographic talent and serving Chicago’s dance community. New Dances has been part of Chicago’s dance history for 39 years, originating with The Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble. In 2022, New Dances comes of age under the TDC umbrella, celebrating 21 years by featuring 21 Chicago-proud artists: 6 Choreographers and 15 Dancers! See World Premieres by Kaleigh Dent, Brandon DiCriscio, Trey Johnson, MurdaMommy, Marco Pizano, and Taylor Yocum presented at:

The Athenaeum Center: Studio A Wednesday, June 22-Saturday, June 25.

New Dances continues to be a vital project for the community by providing diverse applicants at different stages in their careers the chance to grow artistically. For almost forty years, New Dances has been committed to Chicago and its dancemakers by providing an opportunity to create new work for the stage with no expectation other than the investment in the journey. New Dances is not only a celebration of dance making but also a celebration of our community dancers who help to bring the choreographers' visions from studio to stage. This is especially true as we celebrate the Year of Chicago Dance in 2022.

Purchase tickets: https://secure.athenaeumcenter.org/new-dances-2022/293

Experience 6 World Premieres at The Athenaeum Center: Studio A

Wednesday- Saturday, June 22-25 at 7:00 pm.

• Industry Night: Wednesday, June 22 ($15 artist tickets) 
• Performances: Thursday-Saturday, June 23-25 ($30 tickets) 
• Closing Night Celebration: Saturday, June 25 ($50 ticket includes performance + post-show champagne toast) 

Each performance includes a post-show "Meet The Artist" conversation.

New Dances 2022 dancers are ready for the stage! During the past two weeks, Melissa Thodos (above with dancers) had the pleasure to teach modern/contemporary classes to the ND ’22 Company and community dancers at Dovetail Studios and the Ruth Page Dance Center!

We had a special visit last Wednesday from Chicago Dancers United (CDU). DanceWorks Chicago hosted this happening at The Ruth Page Center where CDU enlightened the New Dances 2022 Company about the resources CDU offers including the Critical Health Need Grant and the General Health and Wellness Grant.

Thodos Dance Chicago alumni and previous New Dances choreographer Sarita Connelly (formerly Sarita Smith Childs) shared in giving the  CDU presentation and afterward, the New Dances 2022 team presented Sarita with commemorative photos of her special time with Thodos Dance Chicago and New Dances ( check out above photos!) Such a special day for celebrating a creative past and sharing health possibilities in our dance community!

It takes a village to bring New Dances 2022 to life, and we thank you for your thoughtful consideration to donate towards our Matching Campaign and invest in our shared creative future. Each donated dollar up to $3000 will be matched courtesy of a generous donation from Compliance Program Management LLC, David R. Hall and Michael C. Nugent. Please donate today to help us reach our goal, we're already 80% of the way there!

Checks may be made out to Thodos Dance Chicago and mailed to 860 W. Blackhawk St. Suite #305  Chicago, IL 60642. Electronic payment may be made via our website through the "Donate Now" button below.

Donations received by Saturday, June 18 will be acknowledged in the New Dances 2022 program!