This powerhouse company is a magnificent display of soul stirring raw power and grace,” says Chicago Theatre Review. Deeply Rooted Dance Theater reimagines and diversifies the aesthetics of contemporary dance by uniting modern, classical, American, and African American traditions in dance and storytelling. Celebrating more than 28 years as one of the most renowned dance companies in Chicago, the evening at the historic Auditorium Theatre will present the full spectrum of Deeply Rooted’s impressive trajectory.

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Groups of 10-29 15% Discount
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Contact The Auditorium Box Office at (312) 341-2300

Deeply Rooted joins Navy Pier’s free two-day Chicago Live! performing arts festival returns for the fourth year on September 21-22.

Celebrating Chicago’s vibrant arts and cultural community, more than 110 artists and organizations will perform in back-to-back performances, Pier-wide, across three stages.

Saturday, September 21 at 4:30 PM at the East Stage.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater heads to Millennium Park - Jay Pritzker Pavilion to perform in Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project’s Divination: The Dancing Souls of Black Folk, joining nine incredible dance companies: The Chicago Multicultural Dance Company, The Era Footwork Collective, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Move Me Soul, Muntu Dance Theatre, NAJWA Dance Corps, and Praize Productions Inc. The concert will begin with a DJ set by Duane Powell 

Launched in 2019, Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project was created to celebrate and strengthen Black dance in Chicago and beyond.

Time:
Saturday, August 24 at 5:45 PM

Tickets are free. RSVP is requested

Deeply At Dusk is an evening highlighting Deeply Rooted Dance Theater repertory, as well new works. The performance celebrates classical, gospel, jazz. and contemporary African American composers and artists. Chicago and beyond.

Time:
Thursday, Aug 15, 2024 at 7:30 PM

Free | All ages

Deeply Rooted presents an evening-length performance at The Lincoln Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. The program includes Vespers by Ulysses Dove, Mama Rose by Keith Lee, Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer’s Madonna Anno Domini, Co-Founder Gary Abbott’s 53 Inhale, and Co-Founder Kevin Iega Jeff’s Juntos.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater joins the stage with Muntu Dance Theatre to showcase authentic and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient African and African-American dance, music, and storytelling.

Save the Date for the third annual Chicago Live! Festival, September 23 and 24, 2023. Showcasing Chicago’s vibrant arts and cultural organizations, Deeply Rooted joins more than 80 participating acts will perform Pier-wide across three stages.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater heads to Highland Park to perform in Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project’s Metamorphosis, joining nine incredible dance companies: Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center’s Hiplet Ballerinas, The Era Footwork Crew, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Move Me Soul, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, NAJWA Dance Corps, and Praize Productions.

Launched in 2019, Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project was created to celebrate and strengthen Black dance in Chicago and beyond.

Show time:
Thursday, September 7 at 7:30 PM

Tickets:
$35 General

The evening, entitled Funk In Futurism, celebrates the liberation of the artistic voice born and strengthened by the power of the collective as they envision a new and exciting future.

Set to the music of Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince, and more, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater collaborates once again with renowned trumpeter Sam Thousand and his super ensemble of musicians for a night of funk and afro-futuristic fun!

Join us in these beautiful settings in the heart of Chicago to experience the artistic excellence and innovation of Deeply Rooted!

This is a free event!

The evening, entitled Funk In Futurism, celebrates the liberation of the artistic voice born and strengthened by the power of the collective as they envision a new and exciting future.

Set to the music of Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince, and more, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater collaborates once again with renowned trumpeter Sam Thousand and his super ensemble of musicians for a night of funk and afro-futuristic fun!

Join us in these beautiful settings in the heart of Chicago to experience the artistic excellence and innovation of Deeply Rooted!

This is a FREE event!

The evening, entitled Funk In Futurism, celebrates the liberation of the artistic voice born and strengthened by the power of the collective as they envision a new and exciting future.

Set to the music of Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince, and more, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater collaborates once again with renowned trumpeter Sam Thousand and his super ensemble of musicians for a night of funk and afro-futuristic fun!

Join us in these beautiful settings in the heart of Chicago to experience the artistic excellence and innovation of Deeply Rooted!

This is a FREE event!

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater joins Ruth Page Civic Ballet at Ravinia this summer! The Ruth Page Civic Ballet brings its boundary-breaking namesake’s elegance, artistry, and creative daring to the Ravinia stage.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater joins the program bringing its trademark unity of modern, classical, American, and African-American traditions. The evening also features DanceWorks Chicago, which accentuates a deeply personal approach to choreography; Hedwig Dances, a contemporary company known for bold, interdisciplinary collaborations; and Chicago Human Rhythm Project Artistic Director Jumaane Taylor, adding his spirited connection to arts and ancestry.

Deeply Rooted’s Company Member Ahmad Hill, will be performing the piece Aisatnaf choreographed by Kevin Iega Jeff.

Show time:
Saturday, June 17 at 2 PM

Tickets
$25 General

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, along with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Giordano Dance Chicago, and HPHS Collage Program, joins Highland Park High School’s Focus on the Arts Dance. Deeply Rooted will be performing an excerpt of the riveting piece Madonna Anno Domini, choreographed by Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer featuring music by Culoe De Song and Aretha Franklin.

Tickets are required but FREE!

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater begins the new year by participating in Day of Giving - Unity in Our Community in Highland Park, Illinois, celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event takes place Monday, January 16 at 10 a.m. at the Recreation Center of Highland Park, 1207 Park Avenue W in Highland Park, Illinois.

At 12:15 PM, Deeply Rooted performs an excerpt of Madonna Anno Domini, choreographed by Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer to music by Culoe De Song and Aretha Franklin.

The program features the world premiere of Q After Dark, a joyous celebration of the music of Chicago's legendary Quincy Jones. The Deeply Rooted dancers perform choreography by the company’s Artistic Team—Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer, Associate Artistic Director Gary Abbott, Creative/Executive Director Kevin Iega Jeff, and Joshua L. Ishmon—with live music by a super-ensemble of musicians led by Sam Thousand.

In a company premiere by acclaimed choreographer Ulysses Dove, Deeply Rooted performs Vespers, a dramatic work full of raw energy and profound grace. Inspired by Dove’s memories of his grandmother’s place of worship, Vespers showcases the athleticism and grace of six female dancers propelled by Mikel Rouse’s electronic score.

The evening continues with the premiere of an excerpt of Madonna Anno Domini by Artistic Director Nicole Clarke-Springer featuring music by Culoe De Song and Aretha Franklin. Completing the program is a revival of Aisatnaf, choreographed by Co-Founder and Creative/Executive Director Kevin Iega Jeff, in which a woodland creature frolics to Ballet Fantasy for Strings and Harp by Lee Holdridge.

On October 16, join us from 1:00–4:30 PM for 6 FREE classes a collaborative performance by South Chicago Dance Theatre (Contemporary, Horton) and Chicago Dance Crash (Contemporary Hip Hop) as well as an open rehearsal by Deeply Rooted Dance Theater(modern, classical, American, and African-American traditions in dance and storytelling). 

The day will consist of 3, FREE introductory classes from 1-1:50pm followed by 3 more FREE introductory classes from 2-2:50pm. Classes will be taught by artists from South Chicago Dance Theatre, Chicago Dance Crash, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater! Class sizes are limited, so pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

From 3:30–4:30 PM, South Chicago Dance Theatre and Chicago Dance Crash will perform complete works from their repertory and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater will share an open rehearsal to provide an intimate glimpse into the creative process.

Don’t miss this FREE performance of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater performing Heaven and Parallel Lives. Chicago Live! is a free two-day performance festival featuring more than 60 of the city’s top musical, theatrical, dance, and cultural organizations with back-to-back performances.

Join Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project as they celebrate the Year of Chicago Dance with a free concert in Millennium Park. This one-night-only event features eight thrilling Chicago-based companies, including Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Ayodele Drum and Dance, Chicago Multicultural Dance Center, Forward Momentum Chicago, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, Najwa Dance Corps, and Red Clay Dance Company.

Deeply Rooted is excited to join Chicago dance companies for Dance for Life on August 13 at Auditorium Theatre!

Dance for Life is a one-of-a-kind annual performance and benefit event that has showcased nearly 40 Chicago-based dance companies, as well as numerous choreographers, artists, and designers, throughout the past 31 years. The celebratory performance fuels The Dancers’ Fund and those who participate graciously donate their time, energy, and artistry.

In 2022, we return to the Auditorium Theatre to carry forth the founding principles of Dance for Life—compassion and service—while honoring the vibrancy of Chicago’s dance community. The celebratory performance will be followed by an after-party at Venue SIX10.

Photo Credit: Todd Rosenberg

Join us for an evening celebrating the music of Chicago's own Quincy Jones performed by Chicago's Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and a super ensemble of musicians directed by Sam Thousand.

FREE PERFORMANCE!

All ages welcome

Bring a chair or blanket

For Night Out in the Parks health and safety information, please click here.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater is proud join the Ragdale Foundation’s celebration of early and current African-Americans in Lake Forest during the 2022 Ragdale Ring summer series.

Bring blankets or folding chairs and food. There will be a cash bar.

• 6:30 pm - Event Begins

• 6:40 pm - Performance by members of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater

• 6:50 pm – Conversation between Carol Summerfield, Executive Director of The History Center of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff, and Dr. Courtney Joseph, Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies at Lake Forest College.

• 7:15 pm – Performance by Bill Brickey Band

Join us for an evening celebrating the music of Chicago's own Quincy Jones performed by Chicago's Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and a super ensemble of musicians directed by Sam Thousand.

FREE PERFORMANCE!

All ages welcome

Bring a chair or blanket

For Night Out in the Parks health and safety information, please click here.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater is excited to join the line-up for one of the best block parties in the city! This family friendly event features a dope musical lineup across multiple stages, plus local food vendors, a health and well-being area, a design pavilion, beach volleyball, and more.

Date: July 16
Time: TBD
Location: Oakwood Beach at 39th Street

Join us for an evening celebrating the music of Chicago's own Quincy Jones performed by Chicago's Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and a super ensemble of musicians directed by Sam Thousand.

FREE PERFORMANCE!

All ages welcome

Bring a chair or blanket

For Night Out in the Parks health and safety information, please click here.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater is thrilled to perform in DanceAfrica Chicago, presented by Muntu Dance Theatre, when it returns this summer with a one-night-only, two-hour concert performance showcasing the breadth and depth of Black dance excellence in the Midwest. The evening will also feature the professional companies of M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Red Clay Dance, Rennie Harris Puremovement and, of course, Muntu Dance Theatre, accompanied by the exceptional youth of Azania Drum.

A VIP afterparty with the companies will immediately follow the performance in the main lobby of the Harris Theater. Tickets for the afterparty are sold separately.

Accessible tickets will be available when performance tickets go on sale to the general public in each venue’s box office. Anyone with financial barriers to attending our performances may request accessible tickets.

Groups and organizations representing the exceptional youth and families of Chicago’s south, west and south west sides are especially encouraged to partner with us. Please contact danceafricachi@muntu.com for details about free and reduced ticket packages.