Aerial Dance Chicago

Aerial Dance Chicago is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that has been bringing exciting aerial dance performances, original choreography, and high-quality instruction to the Chicagoland area for over 25 years. Located at 4028 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood near the Irving Park Blue Line and Metra Station with immediate access to highways 90/94, the facility is easily accessible for students throughout the region.

The organization offers comprehensive youth and adult programs in aerial dance and ballet. Youth programs include Beginning Ballet and Intermediate-Advanced Ballet for ages 10+, with no experience needed to join beginning classes. Aerial Fabric classes are offered at multiple levels: Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pre-Professional, all for ages 10+. The Youth Dance Ensemble is a placement-based program requiring auditions, offering intensive training and performance opportunities.

Aerial Dance Chicago also operates Aerial Dance Summer Camps and provides a Reduced Tuition Program to make programming accessible to more families. The organization is committed to diversity and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, spirituality, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physique, disability, age, or ethnicity.

The company maintains an active performance schedule with multiple shows throughout the year including Winter Flight (bi-annual showcase), Season Feature Presentations, Youth Dance Ensemble Showcases, and participation in festivals such as the Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Spring to Dance Festival, Chicago Live at Navy Pier, and Dance For Life. Special events include Free Flight Aerial Dance Workshops and Alumni Day celebrations.

Classes focus on fundamentals of ballet including grace, discipline, mind-body coordination, and creative expression, as well as aerial techniques on fabric apparatus. All classes require specific dancewear including leotards with tights or leggings and hair secured in a bun. The facility offers Open Studio time for makeup classes when students miss scheduled sessions due to holidays or other commitments.