With Spring in the air and in full bloom, so too is New Dances, now in it’s 42nd season! With the busy month of April in the rear view mirror, it is with such pleasure to share with you the Company of dancers that will champion the creativity of the cohort of six choreographers for New Dances 2025, all from our rich Chicago dance community. It is with equal pleasure to share with you our valued Host Committee of this year’s New Dances. They are a special group of members from our vast abundant community led by co-chairs Lesli Babbs and Katlin Michael Bourgeois. Last but in no way least, New Dances 2025 tickets are now on sale! Read on and select your favorite ticket on your favorite date with an opportunity to pay-it-forward to boot! Cheers to Spring as flowers bloom, inspiration flourishes, and creativity abounds!

Tickets for New Dances 2025 are available NOW!

Be the first to see World Premieres by Chicago-based choreographers Hanna DiLorenzo, Janiya Pearson, Kelsi Fears, Maddy McCarthy, Shota Miyoshi, Xenia Mansour.

• DATES: Wednesday, June 18; Friday, June 20; and Saturday, June 21
• TIME: 7pm
• DURATION: 90 minutes
• VENUE: The Ruth Page Center Theater, 1016 North Dearborn, Chicago
• BONUS: Each performance includes a post-show Q & A with the choreographers.
• $20 RisingStar Ticket
• $40 SuperStar Ticket
• $80 SuperStar Ticket with Post-Performance Celebration (Saturday, June 21 only, limited availability)
• Post-performance Celebration Venue: Rose Lounge at Adalina, 912 North State Street, Chicago, 60610. Guests will enjoy light bites, specialty drinks, and the opportunity to mingle with New Dances 2025 artists.
• TICKET LINK: https://buytickets.at/danceworkschicago/1703576

Pay-It-Forward (PIF) Ticket Program

Last season, Team New Dances piloted a PIF Ticket program, and 76 audience members benefited from the kindness of Good Dance Citizens. Our goal this season: support for 100 audience members through the PIF Program!

How does it work?

• StART with kindness.
• MAKE a $20 donation by purchasing a PIF ticket here (price of a New Dances 2025 ticket)
• Or contribute $40 for 2, $60 for 3, or Blue Sky It!
• WATCH ticket vouchers appear on a CommUNITY Call Board in June (via Instagram)
• CHEER commUNITY members claiming PIF Tickets from the Call Board!

In the spirit of serving our commUNITY, we are calling upon Good Dance Citizens to gift PIF tickets to the CommUNITY Call Board, which gives an opportunity for a community member to experience the performance at no charge! Community members may redeem vouchers for a New Dances 2025 performance by responding to Instagram Stories on either the Thodos Dance Chicago or DanceWorks Chicago pages.

Thodos Dance Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago are excited to announce the New Dances 2025 dancers: Alexandria Kinard, Ariana Sugay, Caitlin Wonsowski, Claire Binguit, Ella Kim, Faith von Atzigen, Hannah Huang, Isaiah Cavallero, Josephine Starr, Lauryn Crowell, Mia Philippon, Mikee Ellis, Nia Montgomery, Nick Kearns, Samantha Leigh Anderson, Trey Alexander. Congrats, dancers!

Stay tuned to learn more about the New Dances 2025 company and SAVE the DATE for New Dances 2025: Wednesday, June 18; Friday, June 20; and Saturday, June 21 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Mark your calendars now and experience New Dances at the very theater where it debuted more than 40 years ago! 

Join Team New Dances for FREE Open CommUNITY class!

In alignment with its commitment to Chicago’s dance community, New Dances will offer FREE Open CommUNITY Classes led by Thodos Dance Chicago Artistic Director Melissa Thodos, DanceWorks Chicago Artistic Director Julie Nakagawa, and each of the New Dances 2025 choreographers. Pre-registration is REQUIRED.

CLASS TIME: 9:30am-10:45am (building access at 9am)

CLASS FEE: free!!!

LOCATION:

• Week 1, Monday-Friday, June 2-6: Dance Center of Columbia College, 1306 South Michigan, Chicago
• Week 2, Monday-Friday, June 9-13: Ruth Page Center for the Arts, Larry Long Studio, 1016 North Dearborn, Chicago

DETAILS & PREREGISTRATION:

• Week 1
• Week 2

Thanks to the generosity of New Dances donors, Brock Clawson, Joshua Manculich, Bryan Morin, Jimi Loc Nguyen, and Mōnō, these classes are FREE!

Photo by Vin Reed

New Dances 2025 Choreographers and Host Committee Members joined by

Julie Nakagawa and Melissa Thodos

On Saturday, April 12th Melissa Thodos hosted a New Dances 2025 kick-off celebration. The six New Dances 2025 choreographers and Host Committee members gathered to mix, mingle, and toast to the exciting New Dances 2025 journey ahead of them. It was so special to see members of the community meet each other for the first time, and also reconnect from years past.

New Dances 2025 choreographers Shota Miyoshi, Janiya Pearson, Kelsi Fears,

Maddy McCarthy, Xenia Mansour, and Hanna DiLorenzo

We are grateful for your thoughtful consideration to support our Match Campaign for New Dances 2025.

Each donated dollar up to $4,000 will be matched courtesy of a generous donation from Compliance Program Management LLC, David R. Hall and Michael C. Nugent plus a cohort of passionate and generous (and anonymous) donors. Double your impact today and consider investing in our shared creative future. It takes a village to bring this very special project in Chicago to life. 

Checks may be made out to Thodos Dance Chicago and mailed to 1016 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610. Electronic payment may be made via our website through the "Donate Now" button below.

Donations received by Wednesday, June 11 will be acknowledged in the New Dances 2025 program. Thank you so very much!

Watch above to learn more about New Dances and it’s importance 

to the artists in the Chicago commUNITY!

Video Created by Vin Reed

Thodos Dance Chicago was founded in 1992, by Melissa Thodos, a choreographer, educator and performer for over 30 years. Our mission is to engage and enrich the community through dance creation, advocacy, education, and mentorship.