Chicago Footworkology Week 

Chicago Footworkology Week is a connected series of public dance performances and community events presented during Footwork Appreciation Month in August 2026, curated by Chicago dancemaker and cultural organizer Mike D Chicago. Rooted in Chicago Footwork and related forms, the project unfolds across three established events, ArtWerk, the Chicago Footworkology Camp and Awards Ceremony, and Footwork Frenzy dance battle. Featuring segmented performances of Creation Global’s 25-year anniversary work, the week centers intergenerational exchange, paid opportunities for Chicago based artists, and professional documentation. By presenting choreography within battles, archives, and social spaces, the project expands access while challenging traditional dance presentation models.

*Venue partners include: Rhythmhood, Healthy Hood, and more

Artist Bio

Mike D Chicago is a Chicago based dancemaker, teaching artist, producer, MC, and cultural organizer rooted in Chicago Footwork, and serves as Chicago Program Manager for Creative Netwerk, a nonprofit expanding access to cultural arts for under-resourced youth. His work centers the creation and presentation of fully realized dance performances, battles, and public events across nightlife venues, civic spaces, cultural institutions, and community settings. Recent projects include Safe Spaces (2024), developed through the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Dance Studio Residency. Mike has led performance activations for Red Bull Dance Your Style, Navy Pier, Lollapalooza, and the Chicago Bulls, and choreographed Creation Global works presented at major public events, advancing street dance in Chicago and beyond. Learn more creativenetwerk.org