Chicago Dance Health Fund

We are just ONE month away from the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life 🌟 We are thrilled to welcome Deeply Rooted Dance Theater back for this momentous occasion!

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater offers Beyond Mortal, choreographed by Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This work imagines the moment when an artist casts off mortal thoughts—fear, doubt, perfectionism—and steps fully into their genius. It is a tribute to those who dare to ascend, both an offering and affirmation: Through art, we do not merely live—we become timeless.

Peter Gaona, who is currently Deeply Rooted’s creative director of marketing, performed in Dance for Life for the first time with Deeply Rooted at the Navy Pier Skyline Stage in 2001. “It was an incredible introduction to the event, filled with a unique energy and a profound sense of community.” Below he shares more thoughts.

After 35 years, why do you think Dance for Life, and supporting the Chicago Dance Health Fund, remains important this year and beyond?

In a world where comprehensive healthcare is still not a given for performing artists, the Chicago Dance Health Fund provides a critical, lifesaving bridge. Our bodies are our instruments. A single injury can completely derail a career, and this Fund ensures that when a crisis hits, a dancer has a community that says, “We’ve got you.” Supporting The Fund isn’t just about preserving a beautiful Chicago tradition—it is about actively sustaining the human beings who create our culture.

⭐️
📸 #1 Damien Thompson, #2
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We are just ONE month away from the 35th Anniversary of Dance for Life 🌟 We are thrilled to welcome Deeply Rooted Dance Theater back for this momentous occasion!

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater offers Beyond Mortal, choreographed by Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer to music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This work imagines the moment when an artist casts off mortal thoughts—fear, doubt, perfectionism—and steps fully into their genius. It is a tribute to those who dare to ascend, both an offering and affirmation: Through art, we do not merely live—we become timeless.

Peter Gaona, who is currently Deeply Rooted’s creative director of marketing, performed in Dance for Life for the first time with Deeply Rooted at the Navy Pier Skyline Stage in 2001. “It was an incredible introduction to the event, filled with a unique energy and a profound sense of community.” Below he shares more thoughts.

After 35 years, why do you think Dance for Life, and supporting the Chicago Dance Health Fund, remains important this year and beyond?

In a world where comprehensive healthcare is still not a given for performing artists, the Chicago Dance Health Fund provides a critical, lifesaving bridge. Our bodies are our instruments. A single injury can completely derail a career, and this Fund ensures that when a crisis hits, a dancer has a community that says, “We’ve got you.” Supporting The Fund isn’t just about preserving a beautiful Chicago tradition—it is about actively sustaining the human beings who create our culture.

⭐️ Peter Gaona
📸 #1 Damien Thompson, #2
🪩

The origins of Dance for Life trace back to a deeply personal cause. It was conceived by Keith Elliott, a member of the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, during a time when the dance community was particularly hard-hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis. Elliott, moved by the loss of friends and colleagues, envisioned an event that would mobilize the community, raise crucial funds, and foster solidarity. Alongside co-founders Todd Kiech, Harriet Ross, Danny Kopelson, and Gail Kalver, Elliott transformed his vision into a reality with the inaugural Dance for Life performance at the Organic Theater in 1992.

✨A Night to Remember✨

Each Dance for Life performance is more than entertainment; it is a celebration of resilience, a tribute to those we’ve lost, and a lifeline to those in need. The event has grown to become a highlight of the Chicago cultural calendar, consistently drawing full houses at prestigious venues like the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, the Athenaeum Theatre, and the Auditorium Theatre.

✨Impact Through Art✨

The essence of Dance for Life lies in its dual purpose, celebrating life through dance while supporting life through aid. All performers generously donate their time, talent, and energy, ensuring that every dollar raised can go directly to supporting the health and wellness of dance professionals across Chicago. Since its inception, Dance for Life has raised millions of dollars, helping fund the Critical Health Need Grant and the General Health and Wellness Grant, among other vital initiatives of CDHF.

🎟️ Purchase your tickets today with the link in bio!
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🪩 & .zambrana