Ballet Unboxed

Join us on a transformative journey as we reexamine our relationship with Ballet! Our workshop series, 'Ballet Unboxed,' invites you to explore the emotional, physical, and artistic dimensions of this dance form. Led by a diverse group of movement artists and educators, we'll delve into how Ballet impacts us, what we've learned from it, and how other dance genres and art forms inform our practice. By experiencing and learning about Ballet through diverse personal narratives we hope that as a participant you will learn more about yourself whether or not you have a pre-existing relationship to Ballet. All classes and workshop are free and open to the public!

It’s official— we did it! The first iteration of Ballet Unboxed free classes and workshops is complete!

Let’s celebrate and honor:

  • Ballet Unboxed’s successful campaign supported by the 3arts 3AP program. We raised $8,034 in April/May 2024

  • 9 INCREDIBLE educators: Alyssa Gregory, Ayako Kato, Ashwaty Chennat, Brandon Avery, Darling Squire, Joshua L. Ishmon, Lauren Reed, Tuli Bera and Ysaÿe Alma!

  • The spaces that held the series: Bim Bom Studios, The Rooted Space, The Dance Center Chicago, and Visceral Dance

  • Ballet Unboxed’s Instagram page and website that shared context for each offering (what to expect, who is this class/workshop for, intentions, etc.)

  • The TWENTY free studio practices/classes/workshops open to the public this year (see all past offerings here). Thank you to all who participated or expressed interest in attending!

  • Hours and hours of behind-the-scenes-labors-of-love (all things administrative and operational)

Meet the Educators

Thank you for contributing to this project!

Kinnari Vora, Kevin Burnside, Amanda Maraist, Phoebe Ballard, Erica Johnston, Malabika Koley, Helen Lee, Carla Gruby, Kara Brody, Ashley Martinez, Susannah Papish, Ricardo Adame, Angela Gronroos, Sarah Stearn, Sharon Udoh, Cristal Sabbagh, Cristina Gandarilla, Elliot Emadian, Karen Fisher Doyle, Lauren Steinberg, Nora Sharp, Sophia Shenk, Gwen Merrick, Elena Dern, Deva Borah, Marina Hope, Pranita Nayar, Emily Loar, Lesley Keller, Dannie and Barbara Otto, KT Williams, Colleen Baisa, Silvita Diaz Brown, Nejla Yatkin, Sophie Allen, Courtney Mackedanz, Ashaand Simone, Diana Contreras, Shelley Miller, Trish Reynolds, Aaliyah Christina, Hannah Marcus, Scott Rubin, Erika Farkvam, Deandra Elizabeth Alaba, Sari Hartmann, Anna Martine Whitehead, Alexandra Warwick, Maggie Bridger, Rachel Nesnevich, Anjal Chande, Amanda Ramirez, Anitha Chennat, Erin Kilmurray, Gina Hoch-Stall, Paige Cunningham Calderella, Chloe Michels, Ginger Lane, Tara Gillen, Christopher Knowlton, Noel + Mike Fabian, Martha Bayne, Anudaan, Mark Nagy, Genevieve Brady, Wannapa Pimtong Eubanks, Alyssa Gordon, Kaitlyn Dessoffy, Ellen Aldridge, Sara McCarthy, Eric Fritzsche, Kareem Sayegh, Jposh Rubietta, Kristin McCoy, Catherine Miller, Joanna Furnans, Leonor Borja, Rosanne Olson, Kristina Isabelle, Gabriella Martinez, Charlie Kessler, Chicago Contemporary Dance Theatre, Maitreeye + Anil Bera, Julianne Rice, 3ARTS Match, and all Anonymous contributors.

Gratitude to 3arts for selecting this project to be a part of the 3AP crowdfunding program. To learn more about 3arts and the program, click here.