This year, the Morrison-Shearer Foundation joined a distinguished group of funders as a Platinum Sponsor of the bi-annual Dance/USA Conference that was held in Chicago, June 17-20, 2025. Other lead sponsors included Abby O’Neil & D. Carroll Joynes, Alphawood Foundation Chicago, Driehaus Foundation, Field Foundation, The Joyce Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Walder Foundation. The Morrison-Shearer Foundation’s contribution was earmarked to support the payment of artists’ fees and related production expenses for performance showcases featuring Chicago-based dance artists mounted during the conference.
Founded in 1982, Dance/USA is the national service organization for dance, serving a broad cross section of dance ensembles, artists, and administrators. Throughout its history, Dance/USA has remained attuned to convening the ecosystem and addressing the issues of its constituents. Through its Core Services and Special Initiatives, Dance/USA is dedicated to serving the ecosystem with responsive action.
Natya Dance Theatre
The 2025 National Conference marked its return to Chicago since 2011. With the Foundation’s sponsorship support, over 400 dance professionals were able to witness all the Chicago dance scene had to offer. From a pop-up performance from Najwa Dance Corps to the beauty of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Red Clay Dance Theater, and Joel Hall Dancers on the Harris Theater stage to the many local artists who performed with the beauty of the Chicago Cultural Center’s GAR Hall as their backdrop, attendees were able to get a glimpse of the breadth and depth of Chicago dance. One of the goals of Dance/USA’s National Conference was to invest in the local dance ecosystem by offering every performer a substantial stipend in line with the Wage for Work fee calculator based on Dance/USA’s operating budget.
The Foundation is grateful to Dance/USA and our many funding colleagues for the generous support and partnership provided as we highlighted the brilliance of Chicago dance.
MADD Rhythms
2025 National Conference Performing Artists:
Aaron Choate^
Amanda Ramirez˜
Amanda Saucedo^
Benji Hart^
DanSeries Collective^
Emma Draves^
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago*
Joel Hall Dancers*
Molly Shanahan / Mad Shak^
MADD Rhythms^
Najwa Dance Corps*
Natya Dance Theatre^
P-TOP/The Ring˜
Red Clay Dance Company*
Unfolding Disabilities Future^
We Are Collective˜
Yin He Dance^
* Harris Theater ^Chicago Cultural Center ˜Roosevelt University
Top Left: Amanda Ramirez, Top Right: Emma Draves, Bottom: Yin He Dance
