2025 National Conference
Join us in shaping the future of dance as we embrace the theme of sustainability for the 2025 Dance/USA National Conference! This year, we’re diving into the vital conversations that keep our art form thriving—artistically and culturally.
How do we foster equitable and inclusive ecosystems within the dance community? What does it take to ensure that the movements we create today leave a lasting legacy for tomorrow?
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Chicago, the Dance/USA National Conference will provide a dynamic space to explore innovative ideas, actionable strategies, and collaborative opportunities. Through thought-provoking discussions, inspiring presentations and performances, and meaningful networking, we’ll come together to answer these questions and more.
The National Conference will take place across multiple venues to showcase the vibrancy of Chicago, including The Cultural Center, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Roosevelt University, and the Palmer House. All of our venues are within an easy 10-15 minute walk from the Palmer House hotel.
Thank You to Our 2025 National Conference Sponsors:
Abby McCormick O’Neil & D. Carroll Joynes, Alphawood Foundation, Arts FMS, Arts Insurance Program, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Harlequin Floors, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, The Joyce Foundation, Morrison-Shearer Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, TWB Fundraising, Walder Charitable Fund, Walder Foundation, and Wallace Foundation.
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Early Bird Member
|
$500.00 |
|
Early Bird Non-Member
|
$595.00 |
|
Early Bird Member VIRTUAL
|
$150.00 |
|
Early Bird Non-Member VIRTUAL
|
$250.00 |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Standard Member
Registration Ends 6/2/25 at 11:59 PM EDT
|
$635.00 |
|
Standard Non-Member
Registration Ends 6/2/25 at 11:59 PM EDT
|
$685.00 |
|
Standard Member VIRTUAL
|
$200.00 |
|
Standard Non-Member VIRTUAL
|
$300.00 |
|
Single Day (WEDNESDAY JUNE 18)
|
$295.00 |
|
Single Day (THURSDAY JUNE 19)
|
$295.00 |
|
Independent Artist
|
$350.00 |
|
Student
Registration Ends 6/2/25 at 11:59 PM EDT
|
$350.00 |
|
Honors & Welcoming Soiree (PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY)
|
$30.00 Suggested Donation |
Agenda
| June 17 | |
| 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM |
Registration
Check in at the Registration Table to pick up your badge and event materials. Nearby, visit the Concierge Desk—your central hub for information! Stop by to ask questions, learn about accessibility services, sign up for Dine Arounds and Informal Sessions, and explore things to do in Chicago. Both stations will be in the same vicinity for your convenience. |
| 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
Honors and Welcoming Soiree
Celebrate the start of the conference at the Honors & Welcoming Soiree, planned by the National Conference Host Committee at the Harris Theater (205 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601). Enjoy performances by local Chicago artists, light bites, drinks, and a tribute to this year’s honorees. Registering for the full conference includes admission to this event. Pre-registration required—full conference badge or ticket needed for entry. No tickets will be sold at the door. |
| June 18 | |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Registration
Check in at the Registration Table to pick up your badge and event materials. Nearby, visit the Concierge Desk—your central hub for information! Stop by to ask questions, learn about accessibility services, sign up for Dine Arounds and Informal Sessions, and explore things to do in Chicago. Both stations will be in the same vicinity for your convenience. |
| 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Coffee Service |
| 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Quiet Space/Decompression Room |
| 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
Grounding Keynote: Ra Joy
Ra Joy will be exploring the sector’s current reality, identifying the critical role the arts (specifically dance) will play in rebuilding our country, and invoking a collective call to action to movement build together. |
| 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM |
Break and Travel Time
Take a moment to recharge, connect with fellow attendees, or prepare for your next session. Check the conference app for your next destination and allow enough time to navigate between venues. |
| 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Dance Performances
Experience the vibrant artistry of Chicago-based dancers and choreographers in the historic G.A.R. Hall at the Cultural Center. These exclusive performances showcase the city's diverse dance landscape, featuring dynamic works that celebrate innovation, tradition, and the power of movement. Check the conference app for the performance schedule and artist details. |
| 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
Exhibitor Booths
Explore a dynamic range of exhibitors at Roosevelt University. Connect with organizations, services, and partners that support the dance ecosystem. Check the conference app for exhibitor listings and locations. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Creative Responses to Money Matters: Pay Equity, Financial Transparency & More (HYBRID)
This session will highlight creative administration responses to resource sharing, financial transparency and pay equity. These strategies counter scarcity mindset and challenge traditional gatekeeping of financial information (which keep the least-resourced of us in that position) and can benefit artists, arts workers, and the entire dance field. This session will be available both in person and virtually. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
The No Boundaries Archive: A Model for Democratizing Dance Legacies
The lecture-demonstration will walk attendees through the new digital archive, demonstrating its novel features, and sharing ideas for how the resource can be used. Mason and Salzer will also discuss the project’s multiple strategies to represent the voices currently excluded from the archive - especially those of women and BIPOC dance artists - including the creation of a Dancing Digital data commons |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Body as Altar
This workshop invites intentional rest and reflection. How can the dancing body be a place for community-building, intention-setting, and imagination? Through guided breath, stretches, and moments of pause, participants will be led through recent queer Fil-Am gatherings, while also asking historical and diasporic questions as it relates to practices of embodiment. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
SmArt Bar
SmArt Bar sessions are one-on-one consultations between Conference participants and industry leaders (or 'SmArt Bar Bartenders') who give their expertise in service of their fellow dance makers and cultural workers. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Dance/USA Staff Session |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch (On Your Own) |
| 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM |
Break and Travel Time
Take a moment to recharge, connect with fellow attendees, or prepare for your next session. Check the conference app for your next destination and allow enough time to navigate between venues. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project: Documenting, Celebrating and Advocating for Chicago's Rich Traditions of Black Dance (HYBRID)
The CBDLP is a cohort based model created to support the long-term sustainability of Black dance organizations in the City of Chicago. The CBDLP is a two-year cohort based model with four pillars in mind: Presenting, Advocacy, Capacity Building and Archiving. This panel will explore these pillars and their impact on participating companies. This session will be available both in person and virtually. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Dancing While Being Deaf and Disabled
This panel offers a unique opportunity to explore Deaf culture and the experiences of Deaf disabled individuals in the dance world. We will discuss best practices for working with Deaf dancers, dispel common myths, and address the layers of discrimination that Deaf disabled dancers often face. Lead By Antoine Hunter Panelist: Fred Beam, Zahna Simon, and Brandy "Unique the Deaf Dancer" |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Dancing Across Borders: Strengthening U.S.-Mexico Cultural Collaborations
Over the past two decades, the dance scene between Mexico and the United States has undergone a remarkable evolution, marked by an intense cultural collaboration. Through a short overview, we will reveal the dynamic interplay between these two countries, characterized by diverse artistic influences, choreographic styles, and innovative approaches to movement. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Inclusive Choreography: Utilizing the unique creativity of neurodiverse and intellectually disabled dancers in choreographic process
In our workshop, we delve into the dynamic world of choreography, focusing on harnessing the unique creativity of neurodivergent and intellectually disabled dancers. Our session offers insights, strategies, and practical activities to empower choreographers and dance educators on this inclusive journey. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Let's Move!
This Movement class will introduce participants to the history and fundamentals of Chicago footwork. The class will begin with the basic steps that are foundational to Chicago footwork. Students will learn how to construct a proper round and build up to a 16-count combination. By the end of the workshop, students will have the opportunity to learn several combo sets. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
SmArt Bar
SmArt Bar sessions are one-on-one consultations between Conference participants and industry leaders (or 'SmArt Bar Bartenders') who give their expertise in service of their fellow dance makers and cultural workers. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Dance/USA Staff Session |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Artist Residencies: Transforming the Field through Sustainable Support
This panel brings together voices experienced with designing, producing, and participating in artists residencies. Session attendees will leave with tools to design equitable residencies to enhance current and future programs. |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
Access Guide to Presenting and Touring the Performing Arts (HYBRID)
Intended for venues and presenters specifically, this guide is meant to address long overdue work to make dance spaces accessible to disabled artists, venue workers, administrators, and audiences. It serves as a valuable resource to empower venues to make the necessary changes that foster an increased inclusive and vibrant artistic community. This session will be available both in person and virtually. |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
DEMBOW RELOADED, a Latinx social expressionist movement
Through the exploration of different Latin American aesthetics, participants will be guided through an agile warm up, soft stretching and shared choreography while simultaneously experiencing a “mezcolanza” (or mix) of traditional, modern and contemporary Latin American soundscapes. |
| 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Dance/USA Staff Session |
| 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM |
Break and Travel Time
Take a moment to recharge, connect with fellow attendees, or prepare for your next session. Check the conference app for your next destination and allow enough time to navigate between venues. |
| 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Grounding Keynote |
| June 19 | |
| 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
Registration
Check in at the Registration Table to pick up your badge and event materials. Nearby, visit the Concierge Desk—your central hub for information! Stop by to ask questions, learn about accessibility services, sign up for Dine Arounds and Informal Sessions, and explore things to do in Chicago. Both stations will be in the same vicinity for your convenience. |
| 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM | Coffee Service |
| 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Quiet Space/Decompression Room |
| 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
Grounding Keynote: Whitney Parnell
Whitney Parnell will share Service Never Sleeps’ Black-led research, her lived experience as a Black leader, and what systems / conditions need to be in place for Black led leaders and organizations to thrive. |
| 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM |
Break and Travel Time
Take a moment to recharge, connect with fellow attendees, or prepare for your next session. Check the conference app for your next destination and allow enough time to navigate between venues. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Experimentation in Performance: Hip Hop, Blk Arts and Chicago
An hour long conversation and sharing on experimentation, Blk Arts Movement, and Elastic Art's Dark Matter Residency program in Chicago. Through individual, cross-collaborative and organizational endeavors the panelist are part of the weavings of Futurity and Tradition in Hip Hop and in Blk Radical Arts in Chicago. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Machine to Body: Digitally Archiving Black Diasporic Dance
As dancers and dancemakers address artificial intelligence’s place in their creative process, Black dance artists are also exploring artificial intelligence as a means of archiving their work. Preserving Black diasporic dance through artificial intelligence opens a greater debate about developing transferable job skills in artists, and even what qualifies as Black dance, alongside ethical quandaries around attribution, institutional bias, respectful preservation, and erasure. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Seeing, Listening & BEing Together as Black Femme Praxis
Join us for a listening session to be with curiosities of artist sustainability, living, and survival for Black girls. How are we nurturing the self and community? What are our tools for sustainability, through listening and embodiment? This will be a space for recalibration, restoration during the conference; a dreaming studio; playground. Through improvisational sounds, this will be a moment without expectation. Just pull up. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
DounDance with Ayodele Drum and Dance
Does African drumming make you move? Learn West African dance technique and play rhythms on a doundoun drum. This class is 90 minutes of pure energy for all levels that combines West African drumming and dance for a full body workout. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
SmArt Bar
SmArt Bar sessions are one-on-one consultations between Conference participants and industry leaders (or 'SmArt Bar Bartenders') who give their expertise in service of their fellow dance makers and cultural workers. |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
Who’s in the Room? Reimagining Audience Engagement Across Chicago's Dance Ecosystem(HYBRID)
This session will be available both in person and virtually. This panel will delve into practical applications of audience development strategies, inspired by the Wallace Foundation's report, In Search of the Magic Bullet. Hear from Chicago-based professionals who have successfully navigated the challenges of building and sustaining dance audiences. |
| 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch (On Your Own) |
| 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM |
Dance Performance
Experience the vibrant artistry of Chicago-based dancers and choreographers. These exclusive performances showcase the city's diverse dance landscape, featuring dynamic works that celebrate innovation, tradition, and the power of movement. Check the conference app for the performance schedule and artist details. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Joy & Juneteenth One Foot on Stage and the Other in the Street: Navigating Black Identity in Dance and Activism (HYBRID)
This session seeks to delve into the potent role of Black dancers and choreographers who utilize their artistic platforms for activism, focusing on how dance can catalyze social change and embody decolonized narratives. This session will be available both in person and virtually. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
When Black Women+ Speak
UBW’s Choreographic Center Initiative (CCI) and CCI 2.0 Producing Program for Women+ of Color. It's a landmark talk series that will convene women+ of color leaders to explore the nuances of identity, community, values, support, and success among BIPOC women+ producers. We will dissect questions such as: Who are we? What do we want to say? What do we need? How are we asking for it? How do we move forward? Most importantly, how far we have come and how far we can go? |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Steps in Time: Weaving Cultural Memory and Urban Space
This session will explore Dance Educator Cristin Carole's and Urban Planner Jenna Pollack's trust-based partnership, research methodologies, and the importance of centering Black perspectives through practices of deep care. Together, they reveal the histories and counterhistories of Chicago dance woven through SDST's living legacy. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Welcoming Refugees and Immigrants Into the Local Dance Ecosystem
In this panel, individuals from Dance Peace and its affiliates discuss what support can look like for refugees and immigrants in dance. What can integration look like in dance education, festivals, and professional dance ecosystems? With Chicago as an example, panelists explore the importance of opportunities in dance across the refugee and immigrant experience. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Dance/USA Staff Session |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
Embodying Shared Leadership
Participants will engage in movement, but previous dance experience is not required. The workshop focuses on the wisdom of the body with activities that can help reveal patterns and behaviors in leadership from an embodied perspective, giving an alternative viewpoint regarding relationships, communication, and diverse leadership styles. |
| 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM |
SmArt Bar
SmArt Bar sessions are one-on-one consultations between Conference participants and industry leaders (or 'SmArt Bar Bartenders') who give their expertise in service of their fellow dance makers and cultural workers. |
| 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
Break and Travel Time
Take a moment to recharge, connect with fellow attendees, or prepare for your next session. Check the conference app for your next destination and allow enough time to navigate between venues. |
| 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM |
Dance Performances
Experience the vibrant artistry of Chicago-based dancers and choreographers. These exclusive performances showcase the city's diverse dance landscape, featuring dynamic works that celebrate innovation, tradition, and the power of movement. Check the conference app for the performance schedule and artist details. |
| 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Dance/USA Exchange Circle for the Member Community |
| June 20 | |
| 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
Concierge Desk
Visit the Concierge Desk—your central hub for information! Stop by to ask questions, learn about accessibility services, sign up for Dine Arounds and Informal Sessions, and explore things to do in Chicago. |
| 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Council and Affinity Group Meetings |
Attendees (205)
Jose Abad
Bridge Live Arts
Nadia Adame
Artistic Director
AXIS Dance Company
Ellyzabeth Adler
Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble
Jessica Anchia
Grounded Growth Marketing
Michael Anderson
Chicago Dance History Project
Ashley Arnal
Chief Advancement Officer
Nevada Ballet Theatre
Sofia Baeta
NATIONAL DANCE INSTITUTE
Brittany Bass
Dance Source Houston
Hanaah Bates
Executive Director
Flamenco Vivo
Jen Benoit-Bryan
SMU DataArts
Dara Blaine
Entertainment Community Fund
Christy Bolingbroke
Executive/Artistic Director
National Center for Choreography-Akron (NCCAkron)
Lucy Bowen-McCauley
National Leadership Council for Dance
Jessica Bower Acrie
Carnegie Mellon University - Master of Arts Management Program
Solomon Bowser
Marketing Manager
See Chicago Dance
Stanlyn Brevé
National Performance Network
Ann Brusky
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
Malik Burnett
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Nigel Campbell
MOVE|NYC|
Kelsey Canty (c)
Dance/USA
Jay Carlon
Jay Carlon
Matt Carney
San Diego Ballet
Geysa Castro
WOCA - Women of Color in the Arts
Karen Charles
Artistic/Executive Director
Threads Dance Project
Ananya Chatterjea
Artistic Director
Ananya Dance Theatre
Jeannette Chavez
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
Lia Chiarelli
Director of Marketing & Communications
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Sekou Conde
Muntu Dance Theatre
C.C. Conner
Managing Director Emeritus
Houston Ballet
Joseph Copley
Associate Director of Artistic Planning
ODC/Dance
Vanessa Cruz
Independent Dance Artist
Rachel Damon
Synapse Arts
Duke Dang
Executive Director
Works & Process
Adam Davis
Arts Consulting Group
Enneressa Davis
Praize Productions, Inc.
Peter DiMuro
Executive Artistic Director
Peter DiMuro/Public Displays of Motion
Raélle Dorfan
Executive Director
Dance Resource Center, Los Angeles
Mariah Eastman
Darvin Dances
Colin Edwards
Program Assistant
McKnight Fellowships for Dancers & Choreographers
Erica Lynette Edwards
Giordano Dance Chicago
Robin Edwards
Chicago Multicultural Dance Center - Hiplet Ballerinas
Cathy Eilers
Associate Director, Dance Programming
New York City Center
Laura Ellacott
National Center for Choreography-Akron (NCCAkron)
Roger Ellis
Northwestern University
Juan Escalante
Executive Director
Miami City Ballet
Mario Ismael Espinoza
Entertainment Community Fund
Al Evangelista
Oberlin College
BERTRAND EVANS-TAYLOR - C
Dance/USA
Patti Eylar
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
Kealoha Ferreira
Artistic Associate
Ananya Dance Theatre
Rebecca Fitton
Bridge Live Arts & Jess Curtis/Gravity
Jannet Galdamez
CONTRA-TIEMPO
Danni Gee
Director of Programming
The Joyce Theater
Indira Goodwine-Josias
Senior Program Director, Dance
New England Foundation for the Arts
Steve Gough
American Harlequin Corporation
Shira Greenberg
Artistic Director
Keshet Dance Company & Center for the Arts
Melanie Greene
Independent Artist
Aaron Greenwald
Hancher Auditorium
Kristin Gregory
New England Foundation for the Arts
Mashaune Hardy
Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project
Heather Hartley
Co-Founder, Vice President
Trillium Arts
Winifred Haun
Choreographer/Artistic Director
Winifred Haun & Dancers
Mollie Haven Miller
Executive Director
Dance Source Houston
Zoe Henrot
Artistic Doirector
Ballet Co.Laboratory
David Herrera
Artistic Director / Choreographer / Founder
David Herrera Performance Company
Cherie Hill
Bridge Live Arts
Alison Hinderliter
Lloyd Lewis Curator of Modern Manuscripts and Archives
Newberry Library
Raechel Hofsteadter
Dance/USA
Chaniece Holmes
Red Clay Dance
Anne Huang
Executive Director
World Arts West
Antoine Hunter
Director and Founder
Urban Jazz Dance Company, Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival, #DeafWoke
Omar Ingram
Executive Director
The International Association of Blacks in Dance
Amy Jacobus
Marketing Strategist
Grounded Growth Marketing
Mathew Janczewski
Artistic Director/Founder
Mathew Janczewski's ARENA DANCES
Jennifer Janowski
Athletico
Amber Johnson
Charlotte Ballet / Expand Movement
Holly Johnston
CONTRA-TIEMPO
Hannah Joo
n/a
Dana Kassel
Program Director
McKnight Fellowships for Dancers & Choreographers
Amy King
Open Door Studio/Expand Movement Charlotte, NC
Rachel Koep
Managing Director
Ballet Co.Laboratory
Hillary Kooistra
General Manager
Dorrance Dance
Sonja Kostich
Houston Ballet
Shalaka Kulkarni
N/A
Michele Kumi Baer
Executive Director
Urban Bush Women
Petra Kuppers
n/a
Sarah Lakey
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Maura LaRiviere
no affiliated organization
Ross LeClair
Producer
The Joyce Theater
Kerry Lee
Co-Artistic Director
Atlanta Chinese Dance Company
Jim Leija
Deputy Director for Public Experience & Learning
University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)
Shawn Lent
Dance Peace
Frederick Leroy
Fabulous Freddie
Jessica Leyva
Chicago Dance Crash
Hannah Lieberman
Grounded Growth Marketing
Deborah Lim
New York State Council on the Arts
Vanessa Logan
Executive Director
Texas Ballet Theater
Ana Lopes Arechiga
Director of Programming & Engagement
Keshet Dance Company & Center for the Arts
cat mahari
independent dancer/choreographer/multimedia artist
Elastic Arts
Rafi Maldonado-Lopez
Principal Managing Director
Sanctuary of the Arts
Lucy Mallett
Arts FMS
Xenia Mansour
Grounded Growth Marketing
Jeremiah Marks
President
RADAR Nonprofit Solutions
Gesel Mason
Gesel Mason Performance Projects
Sumi Matsumoto
Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival
Rodney Matthews
Career Counselor
Entertainment Community Fund
Julia Mayer
Executive Director
See Chicago Dance
Moira [email protected]
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
David McDermott
Executive Director
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Michael McStraw
Executive Director
Chicago Dance History Project
Michela Melone
Company Member/Engagement
Viver Brasil
Jonathan Meyer
Khecari - 1
Mallory Miller
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Nakiasha Moore-Dunson
National Center for Choreography-Akron (NCCAkron)
Pia Murray
Urban Bush Women, Inc.
Elena Muslar
Entertainment Community Fund
Rita Mustaphi
Founder & Artistic Director
Katha Dance Theatre
Sarah Najera
MOMENTA Dance Company
Stephanie Neel
Archive Project Manager
Mark Morris Dance Group
Andrea Nellis
Arts FMS
James Nelson
Executive Director
Houston Ballet
Niya Nicholson
Executive Director
MOVE|NYC|
Raven Nielsen
American Harlequin Corporation
Miriam Ochs
Hancher Auditorium
Steve Offutt
Aquilah Ohemeng
Spelman College
Oluwaseyi (Sheyi) Ojofeitimi
Dance Ready Project / Alvin Ailey
Jenny Oliver
Modern Connections
Cheri Opperman
Grants Manager, Dance
New England Foundation for the Arts
Lillian Osei Boateng
Pentacle
Ruben Pachas
Indigenous Dance Educator
Center of Peruvian Arts
Jonathan Pacheco
None
Whitney Parnell
Service Never Sleeps
Andrew Pearson
The LEAP Program
Melanie Person
Co-Director - The Ailey School
Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation
Gretchen Pick
Executive Director
Young Dance, Inc.
Joseph Pindelski
Joel Hall Dancers & Center
Jane Raleigh
Director, Dance Programming
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Michelle Ramos
Camille A. Brown
Jeri Rayon
The Black Donors Project
Danae Rees
Managing Director
AXIS Dance Company
Phil Reynolds
Trillium Arts
Todd Rhoades
Director of Development
Ballet Des Moines
John Rich
Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, City of Chicago
Karla Rivera
Creative Generation
Wilfredo Rivera
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
Camila Rivero Pooley
INSÉKTA
DJ Robinson
Expand Movement
Lai-Lin Robinson
Urban Bush Woman
Sara Roer
Co-Executive Director
Dance/NYC
Rebecca Salzer
Associate Professor of Dance/Director Dancing Digital
University of Alabama
Roman Sanchez
Freelance
Vershawn Sanders-Ward
Artistic Director & CEO
RED CLAY DANCE COMPANY
Abdo Sayegh-Rodríguez
Executive Director
TU Dance
Eve Schulte
Executive Director
James Sewell Ballet
Douglas Scott
Artistic/Executive Director
Full Radius Dance
James Sector
Sectorlab LLC
Iquail Shaheed
Executive / Artistic Director
DANCE IQUAIL!
Rhetta Shead
VP Theatre Operations
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
Anat Shinar
Young Dance, Inc.
Zahna Simon
Assistant Director
Urban Jazz Dance Company, Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival
Doug Singleton
Executive Director
Charlotte Ballet
Deborah Slater
Artistic Director
Deborah Slater Dance Theater
Leslie Smart
Chief Executive Officer
Kentucky Dance Council, Inc. DBA Louisville Ballet
Blair Smith
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Michelle Smith
Houston Metropolitan Dance Center Inc
Summer Smith
Assistant Choreographer
Winifred Haun & Dancers
Katrina Soricelli
Director of Community Engagment
Ballet Lubbock
Andrea Spearman
David Herrera
Harold Steward
New England Foundation for the Arts
Jhon Stronks
Director of Programming
Houston Metropolitan Dance Center Inc
Meredith Sutton
Interim Director, Dance Presenting Series
The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago
Pam Tatge
Director
Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival
Sarah Theune
Mid Atlantic Arts
Alexis Thomason
The Noble Maat Collective
Latanya d. Tigner
Dimensions Dance Theater
Sonya Tigner
Dimensions Dance Theater - 1
Paige Torres
Grounded Growth Marketing
Judy Tyrus
CEO / Founder
ChromaDiverse, Inc.
Nancy Umanoff
Executive Director
Mark Morris Dance Group
Preeti Veerlapati
Ishti Collective
Brooke Wahlquist
Nevada Ballet Theatre
Eric Waldman
COO and CTO
ChromaDiverse, Inc.
Ellen Walker
Executive Director
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Haowen Wang (c)
Dance/USA
Kennedy Ward
See Chicago Dance
Lula Washington
Artistic Director
Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Tamica Washington-Miller
Associate Director
Lula Washington Dance Theatre
Emily Waters
Executive Director
A.I.M by Kyle Abraham
Camerin Watson
Expand Movement/ Open Door Dance Foundation
Elayna Waxse
Managing Director
Threads Dance Project
Nicole Wetzell
NEW Marketing Solutions
Alicia White
Entertainment Community Fund
Jamie White
South Carolina Ballet
Zachary Whittenburg
The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Gabrielle Willis
Nashville Ballet
Brittany Wilson
TRIBE
Stoner Winslett
Artistic Director
Richmond Ballet
Jasmine Yep Huynh
Director of Education
San Francisco Ballet
Mark Yonally
Chicago Tap Theatre
Destine Young
Red Clay Dance Company
Linda Yudin
Founder & Artistic Director
Viver Brasil
Lori Yuill
Associate Director of Programming
Houston Metropolitan Dance Center Inc
Ariel Zetina
Dembow Reloaded
HOTEL: Palmer House a Hilton Hotel (17 E Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60603)
REGISTRATION: Palmer House, 6th Floor
SESSION/PERFORMANCE LOCATION #1: Roosevelt University (430 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605)
SESSION/PERFORMANCE LOCATION #2: Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
Health and Covid-19 Policy
The health and safety of all in-person attendees is of great importance to Dance/USA. Prior to any in-person event, we strongly recommend that all eligible attendees receive the most updated COVID-19 vaccines and boosters per current CDC guidance. Attendees should engage in social events to the extent of their own comfort in doing so and should recognize that there are inherent risks when traveling to and participating in in-person events.
For Dance/USA’s 2025 National Conference June 17 – 20 in Chicago, IL, we highly recommend attendees are fully vaccinated; however, being vaccinated is not required for attendance. Wearing a mask is optional. If you feel safer with a mask, you may wear one. Please note that Dance/USA will not provide masks, so if you plan to wear one, be sure to bring your own.
If you do not feel well for any reason and/or have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 in the previous 7 days, and/or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the previous 7 days, please take care of yourself, stay home, and do not attend any Conference related events.
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms while at our event, test yourself. We recommend packing at home rapid tests. If you test positive, please do not return to any events. Caring for the collective health and safety of everyone in attendance at an in-person event and mitigating risk is highly imperative.
Should a positive case be detected during our event, attendees will be notified. Scheduled sessions and events will continue to take place as possible, but attendees should take appropriate precautions that prioritize their individual health and safety.
We deeply appreciate your adherence with these protocols to prioritize the well-being of everyone in our community.
Dance/USA closely monitors the CDC’s travel guidelines as well as state and city guidelines. These protocols may be revised, at any time, as Dance/USA deems appropriate or advisable based on local or national conditions.
If you have any COVID-19 protocol questions or need assistance, please email [email protected].
Cancellation and refund requests for the Dance/USA 2025 National Conference must be submitted, in writing, by email to [email protected] by May 5, 2025. A $75 cancellation fee will apply to each individual registration. For example, If you are registering your team and need to cancel each registration, a $75 fee will apply to each team member registered. Online registration fees will not be refunded after May 5, 2025.
Code of Conduct
Dance/USA is dedicated to making all members of the dance community feel welcome and safe during all of our programming, whether in person or virtual. Dance/USA is committed to honoring, nurturing, and advancing dance through the lens of diversity, inclusion, and equity in all aspects of its programming, services, and organization. We encourage creative workers and dance professionals attending Dance/USA events and programs to be sensitive to and aware of issues related to equity, inclusion, and diversity.
We are dedicated to providing a safe and harassment-free experience for ALL involved in Dance/USA programming. This includes but is not limited to members of the Dance/USA team, Dance/USA board, those apart of our member community, program participants, presenters and host venue. Harassment or offensive behavior (which may include slurs, epithets, sexual advances, discrimination, demeaning comments, exclusion from participation, comments on appearance or disability and threats) will not be tolerated. If you find yourself in a situation where you feel your safety is at risk, or you bear witness to harassment or offensive behavior, please immediately visit the registration table or seek out a member of the Dance/USA team. Dance/USA will investigate all incidents reported with discretion, confidentiality, and urgency. Dance/USA reserves the right to revoke, without refund, access to all future programming and/or access to Dance/USA’s member community.
We invite you to participate in our programming with an open-mind, integrity, honesty, curiosity, and respect.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation and refund requests for the Dance/USA 2025 National Conference must be submitted, in writing, by email to [email protected] by May 5, 2025. A $75 cancellation fee will apply to each individual registration. For example, If you are registering your team and need to cancel each registration, a $75 fee will apply to each team member registered. Online registration fees will not be refunded after May 5, 2025.
Join us for a Dance for PD® Introductory Training Workshop
For dancers, dance teachers, students, therapists, and allied health professionals. Friday, June 20 and Saturday, June 21, 2025. Joffrey Ballet studios, Chicago, IL.
presented by Mark Morris Dance Group, in partnership with The Joffrey Ballet and in association with Dance/USA and the Dance/USA National Conference
Workshop highlights
Receive training in an acclaimed global program that helps people with Parkinson's experience the joys and benefits of dance.
► Learn best practices and evidence-based methods from expert Dance for PD teaching artists.
► Hone your teaching skills.
► Deepen your knowledge with our specially-created modules and acclaimed interactive sessions.
► Become part of a global network of passionate instructors in 30 countries.
► Participate in a live Dance for Parkinson's community class with members of the Chicago Parkinson's community.
This workshop is specially scheduled in tandem with the Dance/USA 2025 National Conference in Chicago - attend the conference and then stay on for the training workshop.
"A dynamic workshop and a fabulous life experience. I could not have been more pleased with time well spent.”—Dance for PD workshop trainee
"Dance for PD® is a hands-down success. It’s one of the most important programs for Parkinson’s disease in the country."—Mary Ellen Thibodeau, RN, RI Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association
We invite you to apply via the button on the homepage. When you register for the conference, you'll receive a special coupon code for $50 off Dance for PD training!
In June 2025, Dance/USA’s National Conference will return to Chicago for the first time since 2011. Over 500 cultural workers will gather to hear from leaders from across the dance ecosystem.
The 2025 Conference is designed to connect the nation’s dance community through engaging and illuminating sessions and workshops. Attendees participate in challenging conversations, address shared problems, and leave with practical skills and innovative ideas that help advance their work.
The Dance/USA Conference attracts a broad range of dance professionals, including:
- Independent Artists
- Dance Presenters
- Agents and Artist Representatives
- Education and Service Providers
- Executive Directors
- Artistic Directors
- Company Managers
- Fundraisers
- Marketing Staff and more!
A sponsorship with Dance/USA for the 2025 Conference offers robust benefits, including:
• Unparalleled access and exposure to over 500 of the dance field’s administrators, artists, representatives, and service providers
• Enhanced brand awareness though alignment with the nation’s premiere dance service organization
• Extensive visibility, including logo placement on digital and print conference materials
• Complimentary tickets to the Honors and Welcoming Soiree and complimentary registration for the Conference
By partnering with Dance/USA, you are supporting the dance ecosystem.
To enroll as a 2025 Conference Sponsor, please contact Director of Advancement Raechel Hofsteadter at 202.595.6822 or [email protected].
Scholarships
New England Artists - This opportunity it closed
With generous support from New England Foundation for the Arts, Dance/USA is offering $1,000 scholarships to New England-based practicing dance artists to attend the 2025 National Conference in Chicago (June 17-20). Scholarships will cover an artist’s full cost of conference registration at the standard non-member rate, and will support the cost of travel, lodging, and meals with a cash award of $315.
THIS IS A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE OPPORTUNITY FOR TEN APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
- Must be 21 years of age or older
- Must reside in one of the following states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
- Must have at least one year experience as a practicing dance artist (defined as: performing or presenting work, attending auditions, or being active in a choreographic process)
- Must commit to attending the primary programming days of the Conference (June 17-19, 2025) in Chicago
- Understand you’ll need to personally cover any additional expenses for attendance beyond the $315 that is part of this scholarship opportunity
Southern Artists - This opportunity it closed
With generous support from South Arts, Dance/USA is offering $1,000 scholarships to Southern-based practicing dance artists to attend the 2025 National Conference in Chicago (June 17-20). Scholarships will cover an artist’s full cost of conference registration at the standard non-member rate, and will support the cost of travel, lodging, and meals with a cash award of $315.
THIS IS A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE OPPORTUNITY FOR FIVE APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
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Must be 21 years of age or older
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Must reside in one of the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee
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Must have at least one year experience as a practicing dance artist (defined as: performing or presenting work, attending auditions, or being active in a choreographic process)
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Must commit to attending the primary programming days of the Conference (June 17-19, 2025) in Chicago
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Understand you’ll need to personally cover any additional expenses for attendance beyond the $315 that is part of this scholarship opportunity
Illinois Residents
With generous sponsorship from The Joyce Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, and Walder Foundation, the 2025 Dance/USA Conference Host Committee is pleased to offer 30 scholarships to Chicagoland and Illinois dance artists and/or administrators to attend the conference. These scholarships cover the full cost of registration for the Dance/USA National Conference in Chicago, June 17-20, 2025. The deadline to apply is Monday, April 14.
(If you have any concerns about completing this form, please write to [email protected].)
Your application will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Applicant meets the eligibility requirements.
- Applicant's stated reason for attending the conference demonstrates potential impact for yourself, your career, and/or community.
- Final selections represent Chicago and/or Illinois’ range of dance styles, communities, and levels of experience.
Apply here.
Register for the Mark Morris Dance Group's Dance for PD® introductory training! Designed to support dance artists to share the joys and benefits of dance with the Parkinson's community, this workshop is specially scheduled in tandem with the Dance/USA 2025 National Conference in Chicago - attend the conference and then stay on for the training workshop Friday, June 20 from 12:00-7:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 21 from 9:30 a.m-5:30 p.m. Visit https://tinyurl.com/dfpdCHICAGO25 to learn more.