Third Annual Dance For Our Lives Event Will Take Place Just Before Memorial Day Weekend

The Third Annual Dance For Our Lives event will take place May 18 and 19 at the Breakthrough FamilyPlex, 3219 W. Carroll Ave., in East Garfield Park. Photo Credit: Dance For Our Lives
The Third Annual Dance For Our Lives event will take place May 18 and 19 at the Breakthrough FamilyPlex, 3219 W. Carroll Ave., in East Garfield Park. Photo Credit: Dance For Our Lives

Third Annual Dance For Our Lives Event Will Take Place Just Before Memorial Day Weekend

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Across the country, Memorial Day Weekend is often regarded as the official start of summer but in Chicago with the start of Summer comes the beginning of an uptick in violent crime. In order to advocate for a safe and peaceful summer, the third annual Dance For Our Lives weekend-long event will take place on May 18 and 19 at the Breakthrough FamilyPlex, 3219 W. Carroll Ave., in East Garfield Park.

“At first, I just wanted to do something fun to get the kids off the street but in planning for year two, I really did some heavy research and I discovered that over the past five to seven years, Memorial Day was deemed the bloodiest holiday weekend in Chicago,” said Garley Briggs, founder of Dance For Our Lives. “I wanted to create an event that could set the tone for what we want the summer to be and what we need the summer to be.”

Dance For Our Lives offers a variety of dance workshops for people of all ages and abilities and the two-day event will use dance to promote peace and unity throughout the city and specifically target people living on the south and west sides of Chicago where violence is more prevalent.

“I made this event free so that the kids can just come and encounter something that they maybe have never encountered before. I know that with that weekend being what it is, having a place where people can safely go to and a place where youth can go no matter what dance experience they have is important. We are giving them an opportunity to be a part of something that could positively impact their lives and teach them how to use creativity as a way to reconcile their differences,” said Briggs.

The featured programming will include dance classes and workshops as well as performances from local dance artists and dance-based organizations. It will provide insight into the various benefits of dance, as well as resources to utilize dance as a safe and fun outlet, according to information provided by Dance For Our Lives.

Master classes will be taught by professional dance artists from GiGi Tonyé Arts and Fitness, iEveryBody Dance Now Chicago, and Briana Arthur from Deeply Rooted Dance. The event will also feature performances by the Delta Phi Delta Dance Fraternity, and the Praize Productions, Inc. Rize Youth Company.

“For me, dance is the gift that God gave me as my way of escape and I believe that can be true for others too. I believe dance is something where you don’t even have to speak, you can just move, and it does something for you. I want everyone to be able to experience that and I want the issue with violence in our city to be able to be addressed in a creative way and resolved in a creative way,” said Briggs.

Children and teenagers can attend this event free of charge and there is a $5 fee for all adult classes.

To Learn more and register for the event, visit www.dance4ourlives.com.

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