See Chicago Dance’s Daring Influence Gala

 

 

 

By Judy Carmack Bross

 

 

 

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater performs “Surrender” by Kevin Iega Jeff at See Chicago Dance’s BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Michelle Reid Photography

 

See Chicago Dance, a nonprofit service group for Chicago’s dynamic dance trade, gathered nearly 300 dance supporters and artists lately for the BOLD IMPACT 20th Anniversary Gala at Venue West.  Dance luminaries Kevin Iega Jeff, co-founder of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater in addition to choreographer, director, dance educator, cultural group builder and inventive advisor, received the See Chicago Dance Legacy Award and Julie Nakagawa, co-founder and inventive director of DanceWorks Chicago and former director of Hubbard Street 2 obtained the Distinguished Service to the Dance Field Award.

 

2025 Gala Host NBC5 Chicago’s Lexi Sutter on the See Chicago Dance BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Ricardo Adame Photography.

 

Co-chaired by Mashaune Hardy and Vin Reed and hosted by NBC5’s Lexi Sutter, the night included performances by DanceWorks Chicago and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. The night raised $141,000 to help applications and initiatives.  Following a welcome by See Chicago Dance Executive Director Julia Mayer who celebrated the group’s companions over the last 20 years, Sutter, a dancer in addition to a reporter, and See Chicago Dance Board President Jorge Perez danced a Spanish paso doble, then raised a toast to founders Carol Fix and Kiki Morrison.

 

Members of the See Chicago Dance Board of Directors (L to R): Chelsea Hoy, Dawn Stanislaw, Bradlee Lathon, Amanda Banks, Julia Mayer, Ladonna Freidheim, Jorge Pérez, Kia S. Smith, Debra Bernstein-Siegel and Danielle Pender, on the See Chicago Dance BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Ricardo Adame Photography.

 

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater performs “Surrender”by Kevin Iega Jeff at See Chicago Dance’s BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Ricardo Adame Photography.

 

See Chicago Dance invited Bernard Mims, board chair of Diasporal Rhythms and long-time good friend of Kevin Iega Jeff, to inform concerning the creation of unique artworks for this yr’s honorees. Diasporal Rhythms is a Chicago grassroots cultural establishment with a 20-year historical past of gathering, selling and preserving artwork from the African diaspora by encouraging people and establishments to understand and purchase this artwork. Mims offered the funding for the fee of two new work by Dr. Bolaji Ogunwo, a famend artist from Nigeria. The fee was coordinated by Faye Edwards of Faie Afrikan Art Gallery in Bronzeville. 

 

 Sutter continued with the presentation of the 11th Distinguished Service to the Dance Field Award, sharing the distinctive story of the 2025 honoree, Julie Nakagawa, whose affect on the dance scene consists of the founding of DanceWorks Chicago in 2008. “Through DanceWorks, Julie has helped empower dozens of young artists and cultivate their unique voices through skill acquisition and development, global collaborations, mentorship and performances.” Sutter then launched a tribute video that includes three former DanceWorks dancers, sharing the influence Nakagawa had on their careers. 

 

 Gala Co-Chair Vin Reed, who has been lively with See Chicago Dance since its inception, stated that Nakagawa had reworked the dance group for all: “DanceWorks didn’t just give emerging artists a spotlight, they gave them a competitive wage, health insurance, nutrition counseling, physical therapy, mentorship, a network of professionals, and a robust community that valued them, and the opportunity to be more of who they are. Most importantly, Julie gave artists the personal knowledge that their talent has value and the identity and esteem to make their art work. We are so grateful to have her leadership, her curiosity and contagious optimism fueling a healthy community for dance.”

 

Marc Macaranas, founding member of DanceWorks Chicago and long-time good friend of Nakagawa, accepted the award on her behalf and shared a favourite Japanese proverb from Nakagawa that she makes use of when she wants inspiration: ”Fall down seven occasions, get up eight. Maybe that’s why dancers wish to depend to eight…”

 

Marc Macaranas accepts the 2025 Distinguished Service Award to the Dance Field in Julie Nakagawa’s honor on the See Chicago Dance BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Ricardo Adame Photography.

 

Before the presentation of the Legacy Award to Kevin Iega Jeff,  Sutter shared Jeff’s notable roles in Broadway’s “The Wiz” in addition to his memorable look on the 1994 Academy Awards, and choreographic contributions to Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It,” including that his repertoire consists of greater than 50 unique works which were featured in and commissioned by dance firms throughout the globe.

 

 Gala Co-Chair Mashaune Hardy introduced the award to Jeff, stating:

 

“Dancer, choreographer, educator and mentor; a paragon to the national dance scene and a pillar of the Chicago dance ecosystem, he is all those things. but what moves me most about Iega is his humanity, his heart. Working with him is a masterclass in how to be. Iega, thank you for providing such strong shoulders for us to stand on.”

 

(L to R) 2025 Legacy Award Honore Kevin Iega Jeff with 2025 Event Co-chair, Mashaune Hardy on the See Chicago Dance BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Michelle Reid Photography

 

Upon accepting the award, Jeff commented: “Dance has shown me that legacy is not a destination. It is a living journey—what we practice, preserve and pass on. May we preserve truth, nurture spirit and create dance that reflects our times. And may we be fearless enough to pass it forward—whole and alive.”

 

See Chicago Dance Executive Director Julia Mayer, on the See Chicago Dance BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Ricardo Adame Photography.

 

At the night’s finish Executive Director Julia Mayer inspired all to remain lively: “A lot is happening in the arts world. As we were planning for this amazing community gathering, other organizations that serve the dance community were downsizing or closing altogether. See Chicago Dance is this city’s best chance to keep dance visible and transformative on a city-wide level. You are helping make that happen.”

 

See Chicago Dance is a nonprofit service group with the mission to advocate for the dance discipline and strengthen a various vary of dance organizations and artists by means of providers and applications that construct and interact audiences. Its imaginative and prescient is to fearlessly encourage an ever-growing inclusive group to share in and unfold the facility of dance in Chicago.

 

2025 Event Co-chair Vin Reed on the See Chicago Dance BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Ricardo Adame Photography.

 

See Chicago Dance is the supply for all issues dance with the town’s most complete useful resource for dance info and one of many largest–and newly re-designed–web sites within the United States devoted to the artwork kind. Its two-pronged strategy focuses on constructing audiences whereas growing a extra cohesive dance group.

 

For viewers members, See Chicago Dance affords a dynamic calendar of dance performances and experiences, Hot Deal ticket reductions, professionally written critiques and previews, and listings for greater than 400 dance organizations.

 

For dance artists and organizations, See Chicago Dance offers a full vary of applications and trade sources to assist construct audiences, enhance abilities, and foster appreciation of dance in all its types.

 

DanceWorks Chicago performs “The Handshake Dance” by casebolt and smith at See Chicago Dance’s BOLD IMPACT twentieth Anniversary Gala, September 30, 2025 at Venue West. Photo by Michelle Reid Photography

 

. For extra info on upcoming occasions, lessons, performances and extra, go to SeeChicagoDance.com