Celebrating the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project’s Annual Performance

At the end of the month, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance will host a special one-night event featuring ten dance companies. Performers from the latest group of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) will take the stage, including artists from organizations like the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and others.

The performance, themed “Dancing the Archive: Embodied Histories, Collective Power,” will showcase African, traditional, contemporary, modern, ballet, jazz, and tap dance styles. Mashaune Hardy, executive director of CBDLP, emphasizes the dynamic nature of archives, saying, “The archive is not pieces of paper that sit. It is a living, breathing thing; we are the archive and we’re dancing the archive because we’re dancing our living, breathing stories.”

Who keeps our stories? Who tells our stories? Who keeps our stories accurate? How are we being stewards and archivists of our stories?

This show is a tribute to movement and expression, honoring the change-makers in the city who have influenced and inspired the dance community. The narrative unfolds in chapters, with each company presenting work that highlights a legacy bearer. Honorees include Carol Adams for Record Keeper, Chance the Rapper for Stewardship, and others.

The theme for this year’s event, Hardy notes, reflects an ongoing resistance to the erasure of Black culture in the United States. She states, “We wanted to assert that we are still here and we are still making the work.”

William Gill, artistic director at Joel Hall Dancers & Center, compares the annual gathering to a family reunion, providing a rare chance for various companies to connect. The CBDLP was established in 2019 as a response to data showing that Black dance companies often receive insufficient funding.

Tracie Hall, former director of the Joyce Foundation’s Culture Program, envisioned CBDLP with the Logan Center for the Arts to offer necessary resources. Since its inception, CBDLP has presented concerts that underline the legacy of Black dance in Chicago, such as the 2019 “Legacy” performance and others in subsequent years.

According to CBDLP artistic director Kevin Iega Jeff, the project aims to preserve Black dance traditions in Chicago and ensure they are passed on. He emphasizes the ecosystem of professional and youth-based dance companies that support each other.

The CBDLP’s support has fostered visibility and sustainability for these companies through various initiatives. These include funding artistic development, hiring staff, and purchasing equipment. Hardy highlights the transformative impact, citing the importance of veteran artists mentoring emerging talents.

In the words of Hardy, dance fulfills multiple roles. It serves as a tool for human development, healing, and wellness. She notes, “It opens up the world. There’s cross-pollination of audiences. There’s cross-pollination of people’s minds about what is possible.”

The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project event takes place at 7 p.m. on August 28 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, located at 205 E. Randolph St. Tickets begin at $35 and are available at harristheaterchicago.org.