Encouragement and Drive: A Preview of Dance for Life at the Auditorium Theatre

Moonwater Dance Project will perform for the first time in “Dance for Life”/Photo: Red Picco-Freeman

“Dance for Life” is an annual concert that raises money for The Dancers’ Fund, which provides healthcare assistance for dancers and people who work in the field of dance. What started as a fundraiser to alleviate medical expenses during the height of the AIDS crisis continues to be a vital safety net for uninsured or underinsured artists who make their living through rigorous physical activity. That “Dance for Life” enters its thirty-second year is a testament to the generosity and mutual care of Chicago’s arts community. That it is still necessary is a national embarrassment. In any other wealthy country, a community of professional artists at the top of their field might donate their time and energy to raise money for something other than their own survival. 

That said, “Dance for Life” also happens to be a beloved and joyful celebration of Chicago’s rich and abundant dance scene. The big three—Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Giordano Dance Chicago—participate each year, along with a rotating cast of smaller companies and independent artists, all bringing crowd-pleasing favorites or flashy new pieces for a reliably full house. This year’s lineup features several first timers, including hip-hop ensemble BOOM CRACK!, hip-hop-pointe pioneers Hiplet Ballerinas and the all-female modern-contemporary Moonwater Dance Project.

Moonwater is a relatively young company, founded in 2018 by Mackenzie King, a dancer who wanted to create a supportive environment for women in the field. King says rigid rehearsal schedules, on top of the necessary freelance work to make ends meet, can put unrealistic demands on dancers. “I was feeling a lot of constraints on being able to dance,” she says. “Whether it was not being in the right place at the right time, my appearance, or people just looking to hire men because they’re a rare commodity. I wanted to A, shed light on these things and B, create a company that was able to work around those things to a reasonable extent.”

King chose the name Moonwater because she feels it encompasses both feminine qualities and her own movement style. “My personal movement tends to be watery,” she says. “Water and the moon are so tied together. Water is also a lifegiving force while being the most destructive force. I feel this encapsulates what a woman is—giving life, but also dynamic and a force to be reckoned with.”

Moonwater will perform Hanna Brictson’s “Clarity,” a piece that King says showcases the company’s strengths in speed and dynamism. She also feels it’s a good fit for the upbeat vibe of “Dance For Life”: “It pulls toward being empowering and you leave feeling invigorating after you watch it. And I think that’s the spirit of ‘Dance for Life.’ It leaves you with a sense of encouragement and drive.”

“Dance For Life” at Auditorium Theatre, 50 East Ida B. Wells. Saturday, August 19, 6pm. $25-$125. Tickets and info at auditoriumtheatre.org.