Dance
Project Grants

Chicago Dancemakers Forum announces Dance Project Grants in 2026. This new funding program provides ten individual dancemakers with $10,000 USD to produce a dance performance or event within one year of the grant agreement. In addition to the project funding, Chicago Dancemakers Forum will provide basic marketing support and video documentation of the final project.

1 dancer in long white dress and long black hair squatting on floor with 1 arm raised. Cracked white paint on walls in background.

Lab Artists Program

(2003 - 2025) On Hold

In its 22nd year, Chicago Dancemakers Forum's signature Lab Artists Program is the most substantial source of support for individual dancemakers working in Chicago with an open call process. In 2025, four Chicago-based dancemakers will each receive a cash grant of $25K USD along with a year of tailored support to aid in their research, exploration, development, and potential presentation of dance work.

Text-based Logo for DanceChance2023

DanceChance

(2023-2024) On Hold

A monthly gathering of works-in-progress sharing and dialogue by local dancemakers working in any form.

A masked dancer in a black dress in a dark room.

Residencies

(2015-2024) On Hold

Chicago Dancemakers Forum partners with The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, Performance Response Journal, Rebuild Foundation, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago to provide selected dancemakers with resources, collaborations, support staff, and space to develop their projects.

Digital Dance Grants

(2021) Archived

The 2021 Digital Dance Grants supported selected local dance creators in their artistic growth in using digital technologies during the era of COVID-19. In 2021, ten Chicago-based dancemakers were awarded $10,000 USD for the development of new digital dance works.

An Asian woman with pulled-back hair shown mid-movement, her left arm bent and gaze on the ground.

Greenhouse
Program

(2011, 2018, 2019) On Hold

The Greenhouse Program promotes artistic growth in emerging Chicago dancemakers with financial support for the research or development of new work . Dancemakers are awarded $4,000 to support their creative process over the course of three months. To apply, an emerging dancemaker must have the committed involvement of a mentor. An additional $1,000 is awarded to the mentor.

A Black musician wearing white face paint of dots and triangles holds two drum sticks in front of four large drums.

Regional
Dance Development Initiative

(2015-2017) Archived

The New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) and the Chicago Dancemakers Forum partnered 2015-17 to produce the Regional Dance Development Initiative (RDDI) Chicago , designed to support professional development for Chicago-based dance makers, build connections that will nourish dance artists, and develop the overall capacity and infrastructure of the Chicago dance community.