Let’s Talk Dance Spaces in Chicago – Part 3
Post by Kia S. Smith, 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. In this blog initiative, artists share lists of their own favorite dance spaces in the Chicago area, as well as their individual perspectives on criteria. This is an ongoing blog series which launched with a list from Ladonna Freidheim and was followed last week by a post on outdoor spaces by Nejla Yatkin, Irene Hsiao, and Ayako Kato.
This week we are thinking about comfort, care, and comfort zones. Kia S. Smith, 2022 Lab Artist and Executive Artistic Director of South Chicago Dance Theatre, shares, “When I was putting this together, I realized that I’m a creature of habit when it comes to the places that I like to rehearse and take class. I didn’t have many places to list.” Her offering is appropriately brief and speaks to a fundamental feature we often overlook, friendliness. There often are times for home bases in dancemaking; these are the times we settle in to a space that holds our creativity like a nest holds eggs. There is something important about acknowledging friendliness and honoring comfort. When I read Kia’s list, I feel the warmth she leans toward.
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My Favorite Dance Spaces in Chicago
by Kia S. Smith
For classes
Chicago Movement Collective (Located at Intrigue Dance – Chicago), 1937 S. Archer, Chicago, Illinois 60616
COMMON conservatory (Located at the Menomonee Club), 1535 N. Dayton, Chicago, Illinois 60642
As a dancer I look for….
- A friendly environment.
- Studios that offer advanced and professional level classes in a variety of forms from teachers who are active in the community.
- Studios that are close to public transportation.
For Rehearsal
Hyde Park School of Dance, 5650 S. Woodlawn, Chicago, Illinois 60637
Kenwood School of Ballet (Located at KAM Isaiah Israel Synagogue), 1100 E. Hyde Park Blvd, Chicago, Illinois 60615
As a choreographer I look for…
- A friendly environment.
- Buildings with multiple dance studios so that I can split the company into separate working groups.
- Good Wi-Fi, heat, air conditioning, and a Marley floor.
- Studios that are close to public transportation.
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What makes a space friendly to you? Where are you comfortable?
Image: South Chicago Dance Theatre with Regina Perry-Carr (Artistic Director of Muntu Dance Theatre) at Hyde Park School of Dance, photo Courtesy of South Chicago Dance Theatre [ID: Ten dancers in dancewear and face masks stand with arms around one another’s shoulders, in a dance studio with warm-light sconces and wood-trimmed windows.]
