About

Background

The Working Group meets five times each academic year to discuss dance studies readings. Our goal is to have rich conversations that build community among the breadth of people involved in dance in Chicago. All bodies, minds, and experience levels welcome. Readings and related visual material will be posted on the group website, and light movement may be incorporated into sessions.

All meetings will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7 pm at various venues across the city. Sessions will be hybrid whenever possible. Please visit the schedule page for exact dates and the readings page for content to be discussed.

Steering Committee Members 2026-2027 

Past Steering Committees 

2025-2026 

• Joe Bowie, Northwestern University

•  Maggie Bridger, University of Illinois Chicago; Dance Studies Association

• Laura Paige Kyber, Museum of Contemporary Art 

• Lizzie Leopold, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

• Susan Manning, Northwestern University

• Tina Post, The University of Chicago  

• Julia Rhoads, The University of Chicago 

• Ayo Walker, Columbia College Chicago

 2024-2025

• Melissa Blanco-Borelli, Northwestern University

•  Maggie Bridger, University of Illinois Chicago; Dance Studies Association

• Joanna Furnans, Chicago Dancemakers Forum

• Laura Paige Kyber, Museum of Contemporary Art 

• Susan Manning, Northwestern University

• Tina Post, The University of Chicago  

• Julia Rhoads, The University of Chicago 

• Caroline Shadle, Northwestern University 

• Ayo Walker, Columbia College Chicago

2023-2024

• Melissa Blanco-Borelli, Northwestern University

•  Maggie Bridger, University of Illinois Chicago; Dance Studies Association 

• Jessica Friedman, University of California, Santa Barbara

• Joanna Furnans, Chicago DanceMakers Forum

• Laura Paige Kyber, Museum of Contemporary Art

• Susan Manning, Northwestern University 

• Tina Post, The University of Chicago  

• Julia Rhoads, The University of Chicago 

• Rachel Russell, Northwestern University 

• Tara Aisha Willis, Independent Artist & Curator 

2022-2023

• Melissa Blanco-Borelli, Northwestern University

•  Maggie Bridger, University of Illinois Chicago; Dance Studies Association 

• Jessica Friedman, Northwestern University 

• Susan Manning, Northwestern University 

• Tina Post, The University of Chicago  

• Julia Rhoads, The University of Chicago 

• Rachel Russell, Northwestern University 

• Tara Aisha Willis, Museum of Contemporary Art