Chicago SummerDance Schedule

Get out your dancing shoes! The Chicago SummerDance Festival is the largest annual outdoor live music and dancing series in the United States.

In 2022, Chicago SummerDance returns to Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden (601 South Michigan Avenue).

On most dates from July 6 through September 17, 2022, you can learn how to dance with lessons and live music on Wednesday through Sunday evenings. They cover styles from all over the world, and even the floor is earth-friendly since it’s made of 100% recycled materials.

Click here to find more free fun in Chicago

SummerDance in the Parks returns. Seven neighborhood parks host the popular series.

As always, SummerDance is free to attend. Just show up and get your groove on!

Dance lessons begin at 6pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 4pm on Sundays. Lessons are followed by live music and dancing from 7:30pm to 9:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 5pm to 7pm on Sundays.

SummerDance in the Parks on Thursdays begin with lessons at 6pm followed by dancing to live music from 7pm to 9pm.

SummerDance at Taste of Chicago Pullman — Pullman Park, 11101 S. Cottage Grove

Saturday, June 18, 12–4pm

12pm Salsa / Urbanity Dance Chicago
1pm Line Dancing / Fre2Dance
2pm Steppin’ / TBA
3pm Footwork / The Urban Ark

Music by The Urban Ark

SummerDance in the Parks — Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.

Wednesday, July 6, 4:30–7:30pm

Haki Kino / Hawaiian fitness and dance exercises

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Aloha Center Chicago with Lanialoha Lee, Kuma Hula (Master Hula Teacher) of Ke Kula Kupa`a O Ka Pakipika

Music by Pacific Soundz & Friends of Aloha (Music of Hawaii and South Pacific)

SummerDance at Taste of Chicago — Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park

Kicking off a bite-sized Taste with four dance styles born in Chicago!

Friday, July 8, 12–4pm

12pm Line Dancing, featuring the Cha-Cha Slide / Janelle E. McGhee
1pm Steppin’ / Shaun Ballentine
2pm Polka Hop / TBA
3pm Footwork / Christopher “Mad Dog” Thomas Music by DJ MwelwaGuest emcee Jennifer Billock, author of “Here Are 4 Dance Styles Born In Chicago To Mark The ‘Year Of Chicago Dance’” (Block Club Chicago; April 18, 2022), and Historic Chicago Bakeries (Arcadia Publishing; 2021)

Saturday, July 9, 11:30am–4pm

11:30am–1pm A Walkie Talkie Dancey Party! Presented by Chicago Children’s Theatre & The Q BrothersFollowed by 30-minute dance lessons every hour and more music

1pm Ballroom Basics (for kids and families) / Dancing With Class
2pm East Coast Swing / May I Have This Dance
3pm Merengue / May I Have This Dance

Sunday, July 10, 12–4pm

12pm Salsa / La Mecca Dance Chicago
1pm Kizomba / Shafeeha Monae
2pm Bachata / Chicago Dance
3pm Afrobeat / Stacy “Jukeboxx” LetriceMusic by DJ Kimani Rashad

SummerDance in the Parks — Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr.

Wednesday, July 13, 4:30–7:30pm

Latin + Hip Hop

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Dance Instructors TBA
6pm Music Artist TBA

SummerDance in the Parks — Willye B White Park, 1610 W. Howard St.

Wednesday, July 20, 4:30–7:30pm

Peace, Love and Unity Dance Party

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Andrea Vinson from NAJWA Dance Corps (Boogaloo)
6pm Chicago Soul Spectacular (60s/70s Soul, Rock, R&B)

SummerDance in the Parks — Maxwell Street Market, 800 S. Desplaines St.

Sunday, July 24, 11am–3pm

11am Bachata / Latin Street
12pm Salsa / Latin Street
1pm Rueda de Casino (Cuban Salsa) / Latin Street
2-3pm Open DanceMusic by Vintage Wed DJ Papi

SummerDance in the Parks — Palmer Park, 201 E. 111th St.

Wednesday, July 27, 4:30–7:30pm

Neighborhood youth curated programming

Tanji Harper, Artistic Director of The Happiness Club, will lead community engagement with Kids Off The Block, The Urban Ark and Dance and Cheer of Excellence Academy to co-create the content of the overall program.

SummerDance in the Parks — Levin Park, 5458 W. Kinzie Pkwy

Wednesday, August 3, 4:30–7:30pm

Afrobeat + House

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Move Me Soul (Afrobeat, House)
6pm Music Artist TBA

SummerDance in the Parks — Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N. Humboldt Dr.

Wednesday, August 10, 4:30–7:30pm

Salsa

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Mayambo Dance Company (Salsa)
6pm Music Artist TBA

SummerDance in the Parks — Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 S. Michigan Ave.

Thursday, August 11, 6–9pm

Cumbia

6pm Latin Street (Cumbia)
7pm Quinto Imperio (Cumbia)

Friday, August 12, 6–9pm

Swing

6pm May I Have This Dance (Foxtrot, East Coast Swing)
7pm Alan Gresik Swing Orchestra (1936 Pop Music)

Saturday, August 13, 6–9pm

Steppin’

6pm Dawud and Lura Shareef (Steppin’)
7pm DJ Eric “ET” Taylor (Steppin’)

SummerDance in the Parks — Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine Ave.

Wednesday, August 17, 4:30–7:30pm

Steppin’

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Majestic Gents (Steppin’)
6pm DJ Myron (Steppin’)

SummerDance in the Parks — Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 S. Michigan Ave.

Thursday, August 18, 6–9pm

Country & Western

6pm Jeffrey Cannon & Meg Kindelin (Country Two-Step, Waltz, Polka)
7pm Wild Earp & The Free For Alls (Country & Western)

Friday, August 19, 6–9pm

Salsa

6pm Latin Rhythms (Salsa)
7pm Afinca’o (Salsa)

Saturday, August 20, 6–9pm

A Dance Party for Every Body!

6pm Desueño Dance and MOMENTA Dance Company (No Limits Latin/Fusion Adaptive Dance)
7pm Calculated Discomfort (Disability-Led Fusion Grooves)

** Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) live captioning and ASL offered.

SummerDance in the Parks — Davis Square Park, 4430 S. Marshfield Ave.

Wednesday, August 24, 4:30–7:30pm

Cumbia + House

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Dance Instructors TBA
6pm Music Artist TBA

SummerDance in the Parks — Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 S. Michigan Ave.

Thursday, August 25, 6–9pm

Global Music and Dance Traditions

6–9pm Dance lessons and music by Surabhi Ensemble (Global Fusion)

Dance styles to be taught throughout the night: Kinnari Vora (Indian Classical Hharatanatyam); Leticia Aravena (Flamenco); Phaedra Darwish (Dabke); Lorena Iniguez (Mexican Folk)

Friday, August 26, 6–9pm

House

6pm DJ Wayne Williams (House)

SummerDance in the Parks — Ada Park, 11250 S. Ada St.

Wednesday, August 31, 4:30–7:30pm

House

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm DJ Sundance (House)

SummerDance in the Parks — Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave.

Wednesday, September 7, 4:30–7:30pm

Rueda de Casino (Cuban Salsa)

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Edson de Cuba (Rueda)
6pm Orquesta Charangueo (Salsa, Guaracha, Son Montuno)

SummerDance in the Parks — Jackson Park, Grove 6B, 1700 Columbia Dr. (south of Museum of Science anad Industry)

Wednesday, September 14, 4:30–7:30pm

Swing

4:30pm Creative activities
5:30pm Louie Stallone & Susan Fox (East Coast Swing)
6pm Sam Fazio Quintet (Jazz)

SummerDance Celebration — Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St.

Saturday, September 17

National Dance Day – SummerDance Celebration

Daylong celebration of free performances and activities.

Updates and announcements (including weather-related announcements) will be shared on Facebook and on Twitter @SummerDanceChi, #ChicagoSummerDance. For moreinformation, visit chicagosummerdance.org or call the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events at 312.744.3316.

Driving to Chicago SummerDance? Find discounted parking near Grant Park.