Chicago Dance Health Fund

Chicago Dance Health Fund Chicago Dance Health Fund provides financial relief for preventative health care and critical medical needs for Chicago dance industry professionals.

We envision a healthy and thriving Chicago dance community.

We are proud to partner with Apothecary Cocktail Lounge for Cocktails That Care! Join us for an evening of community as ...
07/28/2026

We are proud to partner with Apothecary Cocktail Lounge for Cocktails That Care!

Join us for an evening of community as we come together to celebrate our 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life.

📅 August 9, 2026
⏰ 5:00-7:00PM
📍 Apothecary Cocktail Lounge
3242 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

We hope to see you there!
No RSVP required.

Introducing Ballet 5:8 who will be joining us for our 35th Anniversary! Ballet 5:8 performs Grace in the Rush, choreogra...
07/24/2026

Introducing Ballet 5:8 who will be joining us for our 35th Anniversary!

Ballet 5:8 performs Grace in the Rush, choreographed by Stephanie Martinez to music by Gabriel Fauré. This sweeping meditation on womanhood—on being seen, becoming, giving, longing, and enduring—traces the arc of a woman’s life from youthful vitality to the layered complexities of motherhood and partnership, revealing the beauty and the burden woven into her roles.

Ballet 5:8 solo artist Libby Dennen first performed in Dance for Life when Ballet 5:8 made their DFL debut in 2024. Below Libby shares thoughts about participating.

After 35 years, why do you think Dance for Life, and supporting the Chicago Dance Health Fund, remains important this year and beyond?

“Dancers put their body through a lot, and therefore it takes a lot to properly care for it. Whether it’s seeing an ortho for an injury, going to PT, or just being able to pay for a dentist appointment, these things are necessary for a healthy career. That’s not going to change, and it’s not getting cheaper. Chicago Dance Health Fund has helped so many dancers get the help they need to perform at the highest level. As the cost of healthcare continues to rise, CDHF is more relevant than ever.”

Support this incredible mission and purchase your ticket today! Industry tickets available with the code DFLINDUSTRY!

🌟 Ballet 5:8
🩰 Libby Dennen
📸 Jeff Yin Jeff Yin

We are just ONE month away from the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life 🌟 We are thrilled to welcome Deeply Rooted Dance ...
07/21/2026

We are just ONE month away from the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life 🌟 We are thrilled to welcome Deeply Rooted Dance Theater back for this momentous occasion!

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater offers Beyond Mortal, choreographed by Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This work imagines the moment when an artist casts off mortal thoughts—fear, doubt, perfectionism—and steps fully into their genius. It is a tribute to those who dare to ascend, both an offering and affirmation: Through art, we do not merely live—we become timeless.

Peter Gaona, who is currently Deeply Rooted’s creative director of marketing, performed in Dance for Life for the first time with Deeply Rooted at the Navy Pier Skyline Stage in 2001. “It was an incredible introduction to the event, filled with a unique energy and a profound sense of community.” Below he shares more thoughts.

After 35 years, why do you think Dance for Life, and supporting the Chicago Dance Health Fund, remains important this year and beyond?

In a world where comprehensive healthcare is still not a given for performing artists, the Chicago Dance Health Fund provides a critical, lifesaving bridge. Our bodies are our instruments. A single injury can completely derail a career, and this Fund ensures that when a crisis hits, a dancer has a community that says, “We’ve got you.” Supporting The Fund isn’t just about preserving a beautiful Chicago tradition—it is about actively sustaining the human beings who create our culture.

⭐️
📸 #1 Damien Thompson, #2
🪩

We are just ONE month away from the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life 🌟 We are thrilled to welcome Deeply Rooted Dance ...
07/21/2026

We are just ONE month away from the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life 🌟 We are thrilled to welcome Deeply Rooted Dance Theater back for this momentous occasion!

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater offers Beyond Mortal, choreographed by Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This work imagines the moment when an artist casts off mortal thoughts—fear, doubt, perfectionism—and steps fully into their genius. It is a tribute to those who dare to ascend, both an offering and affirmation: Through art, we do not merely live—we become timeless.

Peter Gaona, who is currently Deeply Rooted’s creative director of marketing, performed in Dance for Life for the first time with Deeply Rooted at the Navy Pier Skyline Stage in 2001. “It was an incredible introduction to the event, filled with a unique energy and a profound sense of community.” Below he shares more thoughts.

After 35 years, why do you think Dance for Life, and supporting the Chicago Dance Health Fund, remains important this year and beyond?

In a world where comprehensive healthcare is still not a given for performing artists, the Chicago Dance Health Fund provides a critical, lifesaving bridge. Our bodies are our instruments. A single injury can completely derail a career, and this Fund ensures that when a crisis hits, a dancer has a community that says, “We’ve got you.” Supporting The Fund isn’t just about preserving a beautiful Chicago tradition—it is about actively sustaining the human beings who create our culture.

⭐️ Peter Gaona
📸 #1 Damien Thompson, #2
🪩

Introducing another incredible company performing in the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life 🌟 Hubbard Street Dance Chica...
07/20/2026

Introducing another incredible company performing in the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life 🌟

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago shares an excerpt from Touch & Agree, choreographed by Juel D. Lane. This high-energy work explores the nuances of modern relationships to a soundtrack featuring Sam Cooke, James Blake, H.E.R., and Byrell the Great.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago dancer Elliot Hammans first performed in Dance for Life in “One Flat Thing Reproduced,” as well as in the finale. Below he shares some of his favorite memories of participating in Dance for Life.

“Some of my favorite memories of Dance for Life have been in rehearsal for the Dance for Life finale. When dancers join together from all around Chicago to work cooperatively and help create a dance work together, a really powerful and wonderful energy is created. Being in that space with everyone is a really special feeling and always so much fun! Other favorite memories have been made being backstage during the Dance for Life performances. Watching how everyone supports and is eager to watch from their sliver of a view in each wing is really special. The energy and support pouring onto the stage, from the performers on and off the stage, to the lighting and technical directors and stage managers all donating their time and skill to make a great show, is incredible. There is no other community like our Chicago dance community.”

TICKETS ARE GOING FAST! Purchase yours today with the link in bio!

📸
🪩
🕺 Elliot Hammans

We are excited to introduce the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life artists ✨ First up🥁… Robyn Mineko Williams & Artists!...
07/13/2026

We are excited to introduce the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life artists ✨

First up🥁… Robyn Mineko Williams & Artists!

Robyn Mineko Williams and Artists presents an excerpt from Williams’ Cloudline, a dreamlike work set to a cinematic soundtrack; music in the excerpt is by Ólafur Arnalds and Alice Sara Ott. Williams dedicates this performance to Randy Duncan.

Williams remembers first performing in Dance for Life with River North Dance Company, then with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Most recently, Robyn Mineko Williams and Artists performed an excerpt of her work Echo Mine in 2019. Below she shares her thoughts.

“I distinctly remember being in the audience of one of the first Dance for Life performances (maybe THE first) and watching River North Dance Company in Sherry Zunker’s Reality of a Dreamer. It changed me. I’ll never forget the feeling of the energy in that theater; it felt like a rock show. The brilliance of the dancers radiated into this crowd of artists and audience—it felt so alive, present, and beautiful. Little did I know that all of the people in that theater would soon become my family and community. Throughout the years, this feeling of family that is so uniquely part of the Chicago dance community’s fabric has been one of my favorite things about Dance for Life. The moments being in the wings watching all of these artists dance in honor of and in support of one another and feeling the love of the community in the audience are memories I will always hold close.”

We are thrilled to have Robyn a part of this year’s DFL performance and we hope to see you there!

🎟️ link in bio!
📸 Chris Strong

Chicago Dance Health Fund is seeking volunteers for its 35th Anniversary performance 🌟All volunteers will receive a free...
06/26/2026

Chicago Dance Health Fund is seeking volunteers for its 35th Anniversary performance 🌟

All volunteers will receive a free anniversary t-shirt and access to the performance & after party!

Volunteer shift times vary - please see the link in bio for more information and registration 🌟

We thank you in advance for believing in our mission and to help make the magic happen for our community.

📸
🪩

The origins of Dance for Life trace back to a deeply personal cause. It was conceived by Keith Elliott, a member of the ...
06/22/2026

The origins of Dance for Life trace back to a deeply personal cause. It was conceived by Keith Elliott, a member of the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, during a time when the dance community was particularly hard-hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis. Elliott, moved by the loss of friends and colleagues, envisioned an event that would mobilize the community, raise crucial funds, and foster solidarity. Alongside co-founders Todd Kiech, Harriet Ross, Danny Kopelson, and Gail Kalver, Elliott transformed his vision into a reality with the inaugural Dance for Life performance at the Organic Theater in 1992.

✨A Night to Remember✨

Each Dance for Life performance is more than entertainment; it is a celebration of resilience, a tribute to those we’ve lost, and a lifeline to those in need. The event has grown to become a highlight of the Chicago cultural calendar, consistently drawing full houses at prestigious venues like the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, the Athenaeum Theatre, and the Auditorium Theatre.

✨Impact Through Art✨

The essence of Dance for Life lies in its dual purpose, celebrating life through dance while supporting life through aid. All performers generously donate their time, talent, and energy, ensuring that every dollar raised can go directly to supporting the health and wellness of dance professionals across Chicago. Since its inception, Dance for Life has raised millions of dollars, helping fund the Critical Health Need Grant and the General Health and Wellness Grant, among other vital initiatives of CDHF.

🎟️ Purchase your tickets today with the link in bio!
📸
🪩 & .zambrana

This year’s Dance for Life celebration is quickly approaching and Chicago Dance Health Fund is looking for volunteers! 💃...
06/12/2026

This year’s Dance for Life celebration is quickly approaching and Chicago Dance Health Fund is looking for volunteers! 💃

We are seeking dedicated individuals to assist with various roles during Dance for Life on Saturday, August 22, 2026. We’re interested in those who can participate between 3:30 PM and 10:30 PM. *Your volunteer shift will not extend for the entire duration.

All volunteers will receive a Dance for Life T-shirt and be able to attend the performance for free! Roles and shifts may vary.

Additionally, we are seeking 1-2 volunteers for our Dance for Life Warm-Up event on Thursday, August 13, 2026. This event will be held at Visceral Dance Chicago from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Volunteers for this event will be able to attend this special sneak peek of the Finale World Premiere!

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering in either event, please fill out the Google Form located in our bio!

📸

Don’t forget to submit your audition materials for this year’s Dance for Life Finale! Submissions close June 5th, at 5pm...
06/02/2026

Don’t forget to submit your audition materials for this year’s Dance for Life Finale!

Submissions close June 5th, at 5pm. Late submissions will not be accepted.

We cannot wait to dance with you soon!

🔗 located in bio

📸

Address

Chicago, IL

Telephone

+13126787919

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chicago Dance Health Fund posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Chicago Dance Health Fund:

Shortcuts

Share

Category