Chicago Dance History Announces Newberry Library Partnership

Chicago Dance History Announces Newberry Library Partnership

Chicago Dance History Project convened the Chicago dance community last month at The Newberry Library to share several developments, including an enhanced partnership with The Newberry, which co-hosted the event; CDHP’s refined mission and direction; and a formal introduction of new executive director, Michael McStraw. 
 
Among the most important announcements at the gathering was the expanded relationship with The Newberry, which will serve as the official repository for CDHP’s digital assets, including oral history interviews, programs, reviews, and photos.
 
More than 150 people—dancers, choreographers, artistic directors, executive directors, production managers, photographers, lighting designers, arts administrators, venue leadership, and individual, governmental, and foundation supporters—were in attendance. Representatives from the broader community included staff from the Illinois Arts Council, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, See Chicago Dance, Dance/USA, and the Donnelley Foundation.

Alison Hinderliter, Lloyd Lewis Curator of Modern Manuscripts and Archives and Selector for Modern Music at The Newberry, welcomed everyone to begin the formal program. “As curator of the Midwest Dance Collection at The Newberry, I am absolutely thrilled about the library’s partnership with the Chicago Dance History Project under its new leadership,” she remarked later. “The crucial work of documenting dance from primary sources and firsthand knowledge will continue, and CDHP’s mission and refined vision squares exactly with The Newberry’s. I’m so looking forward to working with CDHP to preserve Chicago’s rich and diverse dance history.”
 
Speakers included CDHP President Patti Eylar, who thanked everyone responsible for this partnership. “The CDHP Board of Directors is thrilled at the progress the organization has made under Michael McStraw’s leadership. We are grateful to The Newberry Library for working with us to protect our collections and make them accessible to the dance community.” Long-standing dance community educator and dancer Keith Perry added, “I am looking forward to the work of CDHP and its coverage of the history of dance in Chicago.”

Executive Director Michael McStraw presented a recap of CDHP’s efforts to date and an overview of the organization’s realigned and reimagined programs and services. Among the highlights:

CDHP has nearly 140 oral history interviews from a cross-section of the Chicago dance community, preserving nearly 100 years of Chicago dance history. CDHP has gathered 53 collections containing 20,000 digitized items from community members. These histories and ephemera are being migrated to The Newberry’s Midwest Dance Collection for greater accessibility by community members, dance fans, and academic researchers.

CDHP will support dance organizations, festivals, and venues celebrating significant anniversaries through targeted audience engagement activities that demonstrate the local and worldwide impact of dance in Chicago.

On June 1, 2024, CDHP will launch its free, in-office Digitization Station, which provides the equipment necessary for dance companies and individuals to digitize analog video and materials. This important resource was made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and DCASE.

McStraw recognized CDHP’s “Founding Four”: Ginger Farley, former executive director of Chicago Dancemakers Forum, teacher, performer, choreographer, and philanthropist; Elizabeth Liebman, art historian and professor; Susan Manning, Bergen Evans Professor in the Humanities at Northwestern University and author of five books on dance history; and Zac Whittenburg, arts program officer at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and a past arts administrator and dancer. 
 
“When Ginger, Liz, Zac, and I gathered around a dinner table 10 years ago to discuss what we could do to research and document Chicago dance histories, we had no idea where the discussion would go,” Manning recalled, “and that we now are at this point testifies to the power of the past, present, and future of Chicago dance.”
 
Founded in 2015, Chicago Dance History Project investigates, documents, and presents the oral and corporeal histories of theatrical dance in Chicago. CDHP aims to honor the vast number of national and international dance artists with roots in the city; recover the untold stories of individuals, organizations, and venues that have anchored Chicago’s strong local dance community; and link various collections of historical knowledge and traditions with present and future generations. 
 
For more information, visit chicagodancehistory.org.

Chicago Dance History Project co-founders (from L): Susan Manning, Bergen Evans Professor in the Humanities, Northwestern University; Elizabeth Liebman, art historian/professor; Zac Whittenburg, arts program officer, Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; Ginger Farley, former executive director, Chicago Dancemakers Forum. Photo Anderson Photography.