Chicago Dance Health Fund, which provides financial relief for preventative healthcare and critical medical needs for Chicago dance industry professionals, announces Dance for Life 35th Anniversary. The nonprofit organization’s annual fundraiser takes place Saturday, August 22 at 7:30 p.m. at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. A Gala Dinner takes place at 5 p.m. at Venue SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, and the After Party following the performance also takes place at Venue SIX10.
For this special anniversary performance, the lineup includes prominent Chicago dance companies and celebrated Chicago choreographers: Ballet 5:8, Chicago Dance Crash, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Robyn Mineko Williams and Artists, Trinity Irish Dance Company, and Visceral Dance Chicago. Also, on the program is Red, Black & White by Jeremy Plummer and Harrison McEldowney, a returning work featuring dancers from throughout the Chicago community.
Choreographer Randy Duncan is creating a world premiere finale with Chicago-area dancers from the participating companies and beyond, as he has for most of the past 35 years. Chicago Dance Health Fund is honoring Duncan for his contributions at this event.
Dance for Life 35th Anniversary Honorary Co-Chairs are Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Josephine Giannoulias. Co-Chairs are Sherry Zunker and Esther Jeles, and Gary Metzner and Scott Johnson.
“From the beginning, Dance for Life has been unlike any other dance performance anywhere,” said Chicago Dance Health Fund Board President Pierre Désy. “Nowhere else can you see a performance by some of Chicago’s most popular and acclaimed dance companies all on one program for only one night. And their generosity in donating their time helps to support the healthcare needs of their peers. We are so grateful to all the artists who have contributed to our success these past 35 years.”
Dance for Life, which benefits the Chicago Dance Health Fund, is a one-night-only event showcasing the city’s variety of dance traditions and styles by bringing together professional dance companies and dancers from throughout Chicago, who unite to support their peers by generously donating their time, energy, and artistry. Throughout its history, Dance for Life has raised more than $8 million and presented more than 50 Chicago-based professional dance companies. The performance gives guests an opportunity to experience a range of dance genres, companies of different sizes and histories, and numerous choreographers, artists, and designers in one memorable evening. An additional beneficiary of Dance for Life is AIDS Foundation Chicago.
Tickets for the Dance for Life 35th Anniversary go on sale June 1 and can be purchased by calling 312.341.2300, visiting auditoriumtheatre.org, or in person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office. Pricing is as follows: $750 for the full Gala Dinner, performance, and After Party; $350 for the performance and After Party; and $65–$150 for the performance only. Group tickets for 10 or more are also available by calling 312.341.2300. Please note that all programming is subject to change.
The mission of the Chicago Dance Health Fund is to foster the health and wellness of more than 150,000 Chicago dance professionals by providing financial support for preventative healthcare and critical medical needs. Anyone working in or retired from a professional capacity within Chicago’s dance community – dancers, technical staff, administrators, choreographers, instructors, accompanists, and more – is eligible.
To learn more, visit cdhf.org.

