Dance Center’s 52nd Season Honors Founder Shirley Mordine
Shirley Mordine in ”Silver Linings” (1981.) Photo by Richard Kleinis dedicating its 52nd season to founder (1936–2025), celebrating her transformative legacy as an artist, educator, and leader in the dance community.
Mordine’s vision shaped the Dance Center’s first presenting series in 1974–75, which featured Kathak, Modern, Spanish, and Postmodern dance companies. Season 52 continues in that spirit, offering performances from artists based in the U.S., Benin, France, and India rooted in Ballet, Hip Hop, Jazz, Modern, Postmodern, and multiple South Asian, Spanish, and West African dance lineages.
A Season of Connection and Reflection
“All Dance Center performances begin with the energetic conjuring that takes place when people walk through the doors of the theater,” says Dance Center Artistic Director Meredith Sutton. “Each artist is asking us to be enveloped in the experience, to connect, reflect, and think about how each of our experiences is contributing to this very moment that we are sharing together.”
Mordine herself once said: “I really think, if you’re doing your job as an artist, that you do make a profound difference in how people experience that moment, hopefully leave the theater changed some way. That’s education, that’s probably the most profound and meaningful kind of education and learning you can come by.”
Season Highlights
Season 52 includes world premieres by faculty and alumni as well as international artists, Chicago debuts, and new student-centered events:- World premieres by T. Ayo Alston, Shannon Alvis, Monique Haley, Wilfredo Rivera, and Kia S. Smith
- Chicago premieres of “Didę” by Marcel Gbeffa (Benin) and Sarah Trouche (France), “Floe” by Carrie Hanson’s The Seldoms dance company, and “About Ram” by Anurupa Roy (India)
- Dance Center debuts by Ayodele Drum & Dance, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, and South Chicago Dance Theatre
- The inaugural Festival of Dance Clubs, showcasing ’s Ballet, Dance Team, Hip Hop, and K-Pop student crews
- The 12th annual B-Series Festival of Hip Hop and Street Dance Culture, “B-PRESENT”
Honoring Shirley Mordine’s Legacy
Mordine led the Dance Center from 1969–1999 and founded the Mordine & Company Dance Theatre, which ran for 50 years. Her family is establishing the Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Fund for contemporary dance choreographers at ; which will be launched in 2026.
Granddaughter Jessie Mordine Young reflects: “In many ways, The Shirley Mordine Dance Maker Fund is our grandma’s resting place. She would be pleased, I think, to know that beyond the amazing life she led and contributions to Chicago dance she made, she will continue to support the making of dances.”
How to Attend
Season 52 performances will take place at the Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.- : $105, includes all 17 performance programs and the “
- On sale September 2, 2025. Prices vary. students attend free with reservation