Dance for Life marks 35 years with a star-studded Chicago dance celebration

For 35 years, Chicago’s dance community has come together for one very special night, proving that when artists unite, the impact can reach far beyond the stage. On Saturday, Aug. 22, Dance for Life returns to The Auditorium for its milestone 35th anniversary, bringing together some of the city’s most celebrated dance companies and performers for an evening of artistry, celebration and philanthropy.

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Presented by the Chicago Dance Health Fund, Dance for Life has showcased more than 50 Chicago-based dance companies over the years, with dancers, choreographers, artists and designers donating their time and talent to support their fellow members of the dance community. The event is the fund’s largest fundraiser and helps provide grants for preventative healthcare and critical medical needs for Chicago dance professionals.

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This year’s anniversary lineup is a who’s who of Chicago dance, featuring 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. The program will also feature Red, Black & White by Jeremy Plummer and Harrison McEldowney, performed by dancers from across the Chicago dance community. 

Adding to the anniversary celebration will be a world premiere finale choreographed by Randy Duncan, who has created a Dance for Life world premiere for most of the past 35 years. Duncan, a Chicago native and acclaimed choreographer, is this year’s Dance for Life honoree. His long career includes work with The Joffrey Ballet, Giordano Dance Chicago and other companies, as well as choreography for theater and film, including Save the Last Dance. 

The story behind Dance for Life makes the anniversary especially meaningful. The event was conceived by Keith Elliott during the HIV/AIDS crisis, when Chicago’s dance community was being devastated by the loss of friends and colleagues. Along with co-founders Todd Kiech, Harriet Ross, Danny Kopelson and Gail Kalver, Elliott turned that grief into action, launching the first Dance for Life at the Organic Theater in 1992. What began as a way to support dancers affected by HIV/AIDS grew into a citywide movement dedicated to the health and well-being of Chicago’s entire professional dance community. 

Today, the Chicago Dance Health Fund provides financial assistance through Critical Health Need Grants of up to $5,000 and General Health and Wellness Grants of up to $1,000, helping dance professionals manage everything from serious illness and injury to ongoing medical, dental and mental health expenses. The fund awarded more than $75,000 in grants in 2025. 

The 35th anniversary celebration will begin with a Gala Dinner (sold out) at Venue SIX10 at 5 p.m., followed by the 7:30 p.m. performance at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive. An after-party at Venue SIX10 will follow the performance. Honorary co-chairs are Alexi and Josephine Giannoulias, with Sherry Zunker and Esther Jeles and Gary Metzner and Scott Johnson serving as co-chairs. 

After three and a half decades, Dance for Life remains a powerful reminder of what makes Chicago’s dance community so special: extraordinary talent, fierce resilience and a willingness to show up for one another. On Aug. 22, the stage will celebrate 35 years of that spirit, while helping ensure Chicago’s dancers and dance professionals have the support they need to keep moving forward.

Tickets: $65-$150. More info here.