The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced the lineup for Chicago SummerDance, a beloved summertime tradition and cultural gathering hosted in parks across the city and downtown. From June 15 through September 8 (select dates), the free outdoor series offers dance and movement lessons for all skill levels taught by professional instructors, followed by music and social dancing. Again this year, Chicago Summer Dance’s neighborhood events will include a variety of creative activities for the whole family in addition to dance lessons and music. Full schedule enclosed and available at ChicagoSummerDance.org. This year’s SummerDance programming offers several highlights:

• Chicago SummerDance returns to Taste of Chicago events this year, starting with Rogers Park (June 15) offering Vogue, Hip Hop, Swing and Bhangra lessons.

• Chicago SummerDance downtown in the Spirit of Music Garden will kick off August 8 with the Texas-based psychedelic Cumbia band, Money Chicha with dance instruction from Teatro Tariakuri. Money Chicha’s reverb-drenched and percussion-heavy style of music is inspired by the sounds of Peru and Colombia in the 60s and 70s.

• August 17 is Salsa night in Grant Park with physically integrated dance instruction led by Desueño Dance in collaboration with MOMENTA, and live music by the popular Flaco Navaja & the Razor Blades.

• Taste of Chicago Grant Park (Sept 6-8) will bring back an array of styles including Footwork, Hustle and Line Dancing, and introduce for the first time KPOP taught by Chemical X, along with popular Mexican Regional dance styles led by Ballet Folklorico de Chicago.

Photo Credit: Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events