Chicago has long been a hub of the dance world, distinguished by the dizzying variety of traditions and styles that have flourished here. The Legacy of Chicago Dance surveys the history of the city's dance community, showing how different dance styles not only co-existed but often converged in unexpected and creative ways.
Drawing on the Newberry's vast dance archives to represent over 150 years of dance history, the exhibition covers a range of dancers, studios, and styles-including jazz, tap, ballet, modern, world, and folk-and features an exciting array of items, from rare archival photos and videos to ballet shoes worn by famed ballerina Anna Pavlova and a costume designed by Sybil Shearer, one of the pioneers of modern dance.
About the Newberry
Free and open to the public since 1887, the Newberry is an independent research library whose world-famous collection is available to scholars, genealogists, and lifelong learners alike. Anyone who is at least 14 years old can sign up for a reader's card and, in just minutes, have history right at their fingertips.
In addition to research, the Newberry provides learning opportunities for the intellectually curious through free exhibitions and public programs that include lectures, panel discussions, and theatrical and dance performances. Learn more at newberry.org.
