If you've resolved to learn how to dance this summer (or just want to have a good time grooving outdoors), you'll want to explore the Chicago SummerDance schedule. The event series returns to parks throughout the city from June 26 through August 24, allowing attendees to take a free dance lesson and then show off what they've learned with musical accompaniment from a live band.
The Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park hosts evening dance lessons on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer (except when Taste of Chicago and Lollapalooza take over the park). As usual, there's a wide array of styles to learn about, from swing and salsa to Indian folk dancing (June 30) and Bachata (July 28).
SummerDance moves to parks throughout the city on Wednesday nights, offering contra and square dancing lessons at Theatre on the Lake (June 26), steppin' lessons in Jackson Park (July 24) and Brazilian zouk lessons in Willye B. White Park (August 7). Plus, during Taste of Chicago, you'll be able to visit a stage by Buckingham Fountain to work up an appetite will mastering house, salsa, country and swing dance moves.
As usual, the SummerDance music concludes on Saturday, August 24 with a gigantic celebration in Millennium Park, where attendees will be able to join dance parties at the Bean and the Great Lawn or take in professional dance performance at Pritzker Pavilion.
Browse the complete Chicago SummerDance schedule below and find some time in your busy schedule to bust a move.
Spirit of Music Garden, Grant Park
Thursday, June 27, 6–9:30pm - SWING
The Flat Cats (Jump Blues, Swing) + May I Have This Dance (Swing, Jitterbug)
Friday, June 28, 6–9pm - HOUSE
DJs Cordell Johnson & James “JV” Vincent (House DJ set)
Saturday, June 29, 6–9:30pm - SALSA
Charangueo (Salsa) + Andres Meneses from Latin Street (Salsa)
Sunday, June 30, 4–7pm - FOLK DANCES & MUSIC FROM INDIA
Ishti Dance (Bhangra, Raas-Garba, Kalbelia, Ghoomar, Sambalpuri)
Thursday, July 4, 6–9:30pm - ZYDECO
Terrance Simien and The Zydeco Experience (Zydeco) + Buddy Bates and Susan Kaufman (Zydeco Two-step)
Friday, July 5, 6–9:30pm - SALSA
Afinca'o (Salsa, Mambo) + Mixed Motion Art Dance Academy (Salsa)
Saturday, July 6, 6–9:30pm - CUMBIA
Son Monarcas (Cumbia, Son) + Latin Rhythms (Cumbia)
Sunday, July 7, 4–7pm - EASTERN EUROPEAN FOLK DANCING
Dardania (Albanian Folk Music) + Altin Naska (Balkan & Eastern European Folk Dances)
Thursday, July 18, 6–9:30pm - SWING
Outcast Jazz Band (Big Band Swing) + Big City Swing (East Coast Swing)
Friday, July 19, 6–9:30pm - SALSA
Angel d’Cuba (Salsa) + Denita Inez & Desueño Dance (Salsa)
Saturday, July 20, 6–9:30pm - BRAZILIAN SAMBA
Casuarina (Samba) + Edilson Lima (Samba)
Sunday, July 21, 4–7pm - BALLROOM
Teddy Lee Orchestra (Ballroom) + Arthur Murray Dance Center (Foxtrot, Rhumba)
Thursday, July 25, 6–9:30pm - CUMBIA
(((Sonorama))) DJ Collective (Cumbia) + Latin Rhythms (Cumbia)
Friday, July 26, 6–9pm - HOUSE
DJ Duane Powell (House DJ set)
Saturday, July 27, 6–9:30pm - ARGENTINE TANGO
Tango 21 (Tango)
Sunday, July 28, 4–7pm - BACHATA
Reverie DJs Papi & Just Jacob (Bachata DJ set) + Jonathan Rivera from Latin Street (Bachata)
Friday, August 9, 6–9:30pm - BALLROOM
May I Have This Dance (Waltz, Tango)
Saturday, August 10, 6–9:30pm - BLUES
The Cash Box Kings (Chicago Blues) + May I Have This Dance (West Coast Swing, Hustle)
Sunday, August 11, 4–7pm - SALSA
Carpacho y su Super Combo (Salsa) + Dance Academy of Salsa (Salsa, Cha-cha)
Friday, August 16, 6–9:30pm - BLUES
Morry Sochat and The Special 20s (Chicago Blues with Swing & Rock-n-Roll) + Big City Blues (Blues Dance)
Saturday, August 17, 6–9:30pm - STEPPIN'
National Steppers Society (Chicago Steppin') + Ken Watkins (Chicago Steppin')
Sunday, August 18, 4–7pm - FLAMENCO
Clinard Dance's Flamenco Quartet Project (Flamenco) + Wendy Clinard (Flamenco)
Friday, August 23, 6–9pm - HOUSE
Dee Jay Alicia (House DJ set)
Taste of Chicago, Buckingham Fountain
Wednesday, July 10, 5:30–8:30pm - STEPPIN'
DJ Calvin (Chicago Steppin') + Majestic Gents (Chicago Steppin')
Thursday, July 11, 5:30–8:30pm - MOTOWN & R&B
Lynne Jordan & The Shivers (Motown & R&B) + Dawud and Lura Shareef (Chicago Bop)
Friday, July 12, 5:30–8:30pm - SALSA
Willito Otero y su Orquesta (Salsa) + Dance Academy of Salsa (Salsa)
Saturday, July 13, 5:30–8:30pm - HOUSE
DJ Chip E. (House DJ set)
Sunday, July 14, 5:30–8:30pm - COUNTRY
The Lawrence Peters Outfit (Honky-tonk Country) + Jeffrey Cannon (Country Two-step, Waltz)
SummerDance in the Parks
Wednesday, June 26, 6–9pm - CONTRA & SQUARE DANCE
Theater on the Lake
Golden Horse Ranch Band (Contra & Square Dance) + Annie Coleman (Square & Contra Dancing, Line Dancing, Polka, Waltz)
Wednesday, July 3, 6–9pm - SALSA, CHA-CHA & MERENGUE
Portage Park
Yambeque (Salsa, Cha-cha, Latin Jazz) + Latin Rhythms (Salsa, Cha-cha)
Wednesday, July 17, 6–9pm - BOMBA
Humboldt Park Boathouse
Leró Martínez and Bomba con Buya (Bomba) + La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón at SRBCC (Bomba)
Wednesday, July 24, 6–9pm - STEPPIN'
Jackson Park Grove 6B
DJ Eric "ET" Taylor (Chicago Steppin') + Black Diamond Elite Steppers (Chicago Steppin')
Saturday, July 27, 2–5pm
Hamilton Park Cultural Center
Wednesday, July 31, 6–9pm - SALSA
Douglas Park
DJ El Caobo Internacional (Salsa DJ set) + Denita Inez & Desueño Dance (Salsa)
Wednesday, August 7, 6–9pm - KIZOMBA & BRAZILIAN ZOUK
Willye B. White Park
Kizomba Chicago (Kizomba) + Urbanity Dance Chicago (Brazilian Zouk)
Wednesday, August 14, 6–9pm - SWING
Jackson Park Grove 6B
Petra van Nuis Quintet (‘20s, ‘30s & ‘40s Classic Swing ) + Louie Stallone (East Coast Swing)
Saturday, August 17, 2–5pm
Austin Town Hall Park
Wednesday, August 21, 6–9pm - SALSA
Ping Tom Memorial Park
Agúzate DJ Crew (Vintage Salsa DJ set) + Chicago Dance (Salsa)
Saturday, August 24, 1–8pm - SummerDance Celebration
Millennium Park