Post by Ladonna Freidheim in collaboration with Shawn Lent

 

SPACE has long been a concern for dancemakers in Chicago, seeking out places for artistic exploration, process and practice, project development, public presentation, and more. Space is one of the key systemic issues that The City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is looking at during the #YearofChicagoDance. Chicago Dancemakers Forum held a virtual gathering on the topic in 2020 and launched a crowd-sourced working list of dance spaces west of Western and south of Cermak. On Instagram, we asked local artists what they look for in a dance space. We’ve heard dancemakers looking for affordability, more options on the South and West Sides, fire and emergency preparedness, air filtration and COVID-19 safety protocols, decent lighting/windows, gender-neutral bathrooms, and appropriate flooring for their dance forms.

 

In a new initiative, dancemakers share lists of their own favorite dance spaces in the Chicago area, as well as their individual perspectives on criteria. This will be an ongoing blog series, and the first artist to share is Ladonna Freidheim, Executive Director of ReinventAbility and Chicago Dancemakers Forum 2021 Digital Dance Grantee.

*****

My Favorite Dance Spaces in the Chicago Area

by Ladonna Freidheim

For classes/rehearsals:

Joffrey, 10 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Dovetail Studios, 2853 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

MOMENTA, 605 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302

Glenwood Dance Studio, 7017 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60626

As a Performer:

Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637

Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60613

Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

As a dancer I look for:

• Accessible building entrance (including that ramps are clear and door at the end is unlocked) and elevator.
• Studio/stage with roll on ability (including to sprung floors with a 2-3″ rise) and accessible dressing rooms/bathrooms.
• Adequate wing and backstage space to maneuver wheelchair.
• Staff who are not rude when a non-wheelchair user (invisible disability) asks where the elevator is.
• Access features that are either unlocked or easily accessed. Too often staff do not know how to operate a lift or where the key is to the only accessible route.

As an Audience member:

Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th St, Chicago, IL 60637

Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601

As an audience member I look for:

• A main entrance that is accessible!
• Staff who are trained and knowledgeable. Can not count the number of times someone answered a question about access with “of course we are” when in fact there are a couple stairs or a ramp that leads to a locked door or no signage letting you know to enter in the back by the trash (which is so not ok, but happens often).
• Website with clear and easy to locate information about access including assisted listening devices, captioning, audio-description, accessible parking, etc.
• Access Signage!!!
• The ability to buy wheelchair accessible seats online when that ticketing option is available to others.
• Accessible seating in all price ranges and offered with any discounts available to others (eg students)

It is also nice when people with disabilities are not treated as an inconvenience to be tolerated, or as though we should be grateful that we get to enter around the block through the back alley (no signage of course) or when staff finally show up to unlock the lift half an hour after the performance began.  These things happen more often than not, really, I have shed many tears.

 

*****

 

 

Thank you, Ladonna, for sharing your important perspective with this offering. Now, it’s on all of us reading to take in what you have generously shared.

A FEW RESOURCES 

1. ReinventAbility’s Resource Page
2. ADA Section 504: Accessibility Self-Evaluation Workbook
3. ASL Interpretation: examples include Pro Bono ASL, Deaf Communication by Innovation (DCI), Chicago Area Interpreter Referral Service (CAIRS), and Chicago Hearing Society (CHS).
4. CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) and Live Transcription Services: examples include Dillon Reporting Service (Tina Dillon), Efficiency Reporting (Catherine Rajcan), and Brewe Reporting Services (pjbrewe@attglobal.net). Rev.com offers auto-captioning for Zoom, video captioning, and other services.
5. Irene Hsiao’s 2021 article for the Chicago Reader, “Chicago Inclusive Dance Festival offers a base of support for dance and life”
6. “Hierarchy of Cultural Accessibility” graphic, as shared to the open-source 2021 Chicago Dance Resource Sharing padlet.

A FEW RELEVANT UPCOMING EVENTS

1. The Chicago Inclusive Dance Festival is a community building event that unites dancers with and without disabilities in movement exploration. (April 24-25).
2. Tea: Virtual Gathering for Chicago Dancemakers with Disabilities (May 6)
3. Everybody Can Dance monthly workshop series (March 13, April 10, May 15)
4. Kinetic Light performances at the MCA (May 5-8)
5. Bodies of Work/MCA Workshop surrounding the work of photographer Justin Cooper, involving his photographic practice and documenting inaccessible design in spaces (April 19).
6. July is Disability Pride Month and ReinventAbility is planning to celebrate with a dance event!

 

Image 1: Glenwood Dance Studio in East Rogers Park, photo as provided to Chicago Sun Times [ID: Exterior of a building with curtained windows and signage reading “Glenwood Dance Studio” and “Dance Classes for Adults”]

Image 2: Ladonna Freidheim, photo courtesy of the artist /ReinventAbility [ID: A dancer in a long sleeve purple top and a bright smile sits while reaching both arms straight overhead.]