Chicago Dance History Project

Happy Chicago Dance Month! CDHP is joining in on the fun - celebrating the 13th annual Chicago Dance Month with memories from our archives that have taken place over the years in June!

We interviewed Abby McCormick O’Neil, Harris Theater for Music and Dance Trustee, on June 25, 2019. In this short Oral History Interview clip, O’Neil reflects on how the relationship between dance and Chicago has changed since the 1980s.

Want to watch more of O’Neil’s Oral History Interview? Click the link below.
https://www.chicagodancehistory.org/interviewees/abby-o'neil
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Abby McCormick O'Neil: Dance and Chicago Harris Theater for Music and Dance Trustee, Abby McCormick O'Neil, ...

Happy Chicago Dance Month! CDHP is joining in on the fun - celebrating the 13th annual Chicago Dance Month with memories from our archives that have taken place over the years in June!

We interviewed Julie Nakagawa and Melissa Thodos, Co-directors of New Dances, on June 11, 2025 prior to their final New Dances Performance as a dynamic duo. In this short clip, Julie Nakagawa shares her perspective on mentorship and the value of horizontal mentorship that is a part of the New Dances structure.

Interested in learning more? Visit the link below to watch the full interview!
https://www.chicagodancehistory.org/interviewees/julie-nakagawa
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Julie Nakagawa: Mentorship Julie Nakagawa, co-founder of DanceWorks Chicago and co-director of...

Happy Pride Month!

Can You Hear Me Now? The Q***r Dance Revolution, a moderated Panel Discussion, took place on May 17, 2024 at the Gerber/Hart LGBTQ+ Library & Archives. The Panel Discussion, which took place after the Chicago Tap Theatre performance, was led by Molly Smith and featured Dawn Heilung and Davon Suttles. This event was recorded by Sean Rafferty for inclusion in the Chicago Dance History Project archives.

In this short clip Dawn Heiliung, from Gender Fu**ed Productions, shares about their experience as a Q***r Dancer in Chicago and the best parts about the Q***r Dance community.
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Dawn Heilung: Q***r Dance in Chicago Can You Hear Me Now? The Q***r Dance Revolution, a moderated Panel ...