The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago The curriculum focuses on developing skill, personal voice, and maturity in the dance artist—as dancer, choreographer, teacher and scholar.

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago is the region's leading continuing education center offering programs to encourage the development of professionals in dance, and is also Chicago's leading presenter of world-class dance companies. The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago is comprised of two integrated components:

The Academic Program
Chicago’s only complete instructional program l

eading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance. The Dance Department of The School of Fine and Performing Arts at Columbia College Chicago offers a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in dance. The Dance Center’s faculty is comprised of working artists and guest artist teachers from all over the world. Public Programming
Chicago’s leading presenter of contemporary dance of national and international significance, the Dance Center's presentations are augmented by an extensive educational and community outreach program. The integration of these programs provides Dance Center students with opportunities to interact and learn from visiting guest artists, and provides opportunities for the involvement of thousands of Chicago-area residents in Dance Center activities. Since 1974, the Dance Center has gained national recognition as one of the pre-eminent presenters of contemporary dance in the Midwest. The Dance Center remains committed to bringing the best in dance artistry to an ever-expanding Chicago audience. Public programming at the Dance Center includes:
The presentation of the best international, national and Chicago-based dance artists
More than 35 performances and approximately 60 educational and community-based activities
Partnerships with other presenting organizations including: the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Dancemakers Forum, Old Town School of Folk Music, American Rhythm Center, Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago Humanities Festival, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, Links Hall and Chicago Public Schools. The Dance Center is committed to making a significant contribution to Chicago’s cultural vitality. Artists whose work is presented by the Dance Center participate in residency activities, which engage diverse communities in educational and outreach programs.

Recently, Third Coast posted a review of Didę, by Compagnie Multicorps. You can find the full interview on thirdcoastrev...
05/07/2026

Recently, Third Coast posted a review of Didę, by Compagnie Multicorps. You can find the full interview on thirdcoastreview.com!

Next week! Join us for our final concert of the academic year, where Columbia College Chicago’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in...
05/01/2026

Next week! Join us for our final concert of the academic year, where Columbia College Chicago’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance class of 2026: Grace Butt, Violet Czerwinski, Erica Jones, Shannon Lane, Sophia Peck, Autumn Risbrook, Devon Saxman, and CJ Triche share new works dedicated to their years of connecting, witnessing, researching, experimenting, practicing, imagining and growing as dance artists.

⭐ When: May 14-15 @ 7:30pm
⭐ Tickets are free with reservation, and can be found in the 🔗 in bio!

📸: Julie Lucas

Next week! Join us as Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre makes its Dance Center debut with its 2026 Spring Concert Series. On t...
04/24/2026

Next week! Join us as Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre makes its Dance Center debut with its 2026 Spring Concert Series.

On the line-up are two new world premieres: Immense World by Shannon Alvis, Trouble in Mind by Monique Haley, and back by popular demand Shannon Alvis’ A Place Between Earth & Sky (2018) with original music by Clarice Assad.

"One of the enduring and whimsical and uplifting qualities of the company is the fusion of dance and live music—the integration is vital. For the audience perspective, live music transforms the room. That rumbling underneath your feet because of the percussion or the voices of the vocalist simmering in the air, it bathes your auditory system. It affects you from the inside out.” - Wilfredo Rivera, Co-Founder and Artistic Director

⭐ When: April 30 & May 1 @ 7:30pm & May 2 @ 12pm
⭐ Tickets can be found in the 🔗 in bio!

📸: Fernando Rodriguez Photography

Next week! Showing for one night only, The Dance Center is proud to present the Midwest premiere of Didę by Marcel Gbeff...
04/15/2026

Next week! Showing for one night only, The Dance Center is proud to present the Midwest premiere of Didę by Marcel Gbeffa (Benin) and Sarah Trouche (France).

Inspired by the Guèlèdè traditions whose ceremonies and masks pay homage to Ìyá Nlá, the Yoruba primordial spirit of all creation, Didę is an evening-length work for five dancers and 21 mahogany masks. Didę invites us into a sincere and frank encounter with the place where the intimate and the political are entangled, where feelings are expressed and oppressions are incorporated, in whose folds lodge social conditions, confrontations between traditions, identity divisions, and emancipation—the human body. This is a show you don't want to miss!

⭐ When: Friday, April 24 @ 7:30pm
⭐ Tickets can be found in the 🔗 in bio!

📸: Maurine Tric

Coming up this weekend! 🌟 Join us to watch students perform new works choreographed by The Dance Center's renowned profe...
04/14/2026

Coming up this weekend! 🌟 Join us to watch students perform new works choreographed by The Dance Center's renowned professional dance faculty and alumni. This show will feature two evening performances as well as a Saturday matinee.

⭐ When: April 16-17 @ 7:30pm & April 18 @ 12pm
⭐ Tickets are free with reservation, and can be found in the 🔗 in bio!

📸: Julie Lucas

Coming up soon! Embrace the energetic lift of early spring with original, brand new, short works by student choreographe...
04/02/2026

Coming up soon! Embrace the energetic lift of early spring with original, brand new, short works by student choreographers selected from an open application process. These eagerly anticipated concerts feature audiences as electric as the performers. This show will feature two evening performances as well as a Saturday matinee. You don't want to miss this!

⭐ When: April 9-10 @ 7:30pm & April 11 @ 12pm
⭐ Tickets are free with reservation, and can be found in the 🔗 in bio!

📸: Julie Lucas

Coming up soon! Join us next week for The School of Theatre and Dance's Festival of Dance Clubs! This inaugural festival...
03/23/2026

Coming up soon! Join us next week for The School of Theatre and Dance's Festival of Dance Clubs! This inaugural festival showcases three of Columbia College Chicago’s student run organizations open to all majors and dedicated to various different styles of dance.

💃 Tuesday, March 31: Mi Gente Renegades
🪩 Thursday, April 2: Columbia Renegades Dance Team
💫 Friday, April 3: C2K

Tickets are free with reservation, and can be found in the 🔗 in bio!

📸: Julie Lucas

Recently, Artistic Directors Hema and Krithika Rajagopalan or Natya Dance Theatre spoke with The Chicago Tribune about t...
03/18/2026

Recently, Artistic Directors Hema and Krithika Rajagopalan or Natya Dance Theatre spoke with The Chicago Tribune about the company's history and impact. You can catch the premiere of Sharira/Shariri - Held Within here at the Dance Center THIS THURSDAY, March 19th.

Earlier this year, Dance Center Artistic Director Meredith Sutton spoke with The Seldoms’ Founding Artistic Director Car...
03/13/2026

Earlier this year, Dance Center Artistic Director Meredith Sutton spoke with The Seldoms’ Founding Artistic Director Carrie Hanson about yesterday's long-awaited Chicago premiere of "Floe." You can find the full interview with Carrie on dance.colum.edu.

Still haven't reserved tickets? You still have one more chance to see the show tonight! Tickets can be found at the link in bio.

Photo taken from the 2020 premiere of "Floe," courtesy of UW-Madison.

Coming soon! Join us to witness as Natya Dance Theatre (NDT) celebrates 50 years with a world premiere, continuing their...
03/12/2026

Coming soon! Join us to witness as Natya Dance Theatre (NDT) celebrates 50 years with a world premiere, continuing their tradition of sharing important milestones in its rich history at the Dance Center. This show will feature two evening performances with a Saturday matinee.

⭐ When: March 19-20 @ 7:30pm & March 21 @ 12pm
⭐ Tickets can be found in the 🔗 in bio!

📸: Sibu Kitty

Address

1306 S Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL
60605

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 10pm
Tuesday 7am - 10pm
Wednesday 7am - 10pm
Thursday 7am - 10pm
Friday 7am - 10pm
Saturday 8am - 9pm

Telephone

+13123698310

Website

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