Category Archives: Dance
Out in the Park Six Flags Chicago
Out In The Park at Six Flags Great America
Returns in 2015 BIGGER Than EVER!
A Spectacular Night of Amusement and Entertainment
Presented by MINI Cooper Chicago & Ketel One Vodka
That Will Help Benefit Northalsted Business Alliance
Saturday, September 12th, 2015 from 7PM to 12AM
Hosted by Amanda Lepore AND Pablo Hernandez this year! Attendees for this year’s fourth annual Out In The Park Celebration are in for a night of EPIC proportions.
All night, attendees can follow the bass to the Hometown Square dance area where The DJ’s of SCARLET Bar Chicago and Hostess Trannika Rex and some adorable go go’s well keep the party jumping.
Andrew Christian supermodel and “king of selfies” Pablo Hernandez will be riding rides with guests all night and taking photos. Then at 11:00 he will debut 2 of his new songs, followed by the Queen of New York nightlife, Amanda Lepore, with the worlds most expensive body!
Out In The Park is an annual private LGBT Saturday night fundraising event featuring unlimited riding of ALL Six Flags Great America’s amazing THRILL rides with a portion of all ticket sales each year help benefit various non-profits. “One of the best elements of this event is that it is closed to the general public and this year our event piggy-backs a daytime corporate buyout so our attendees will be entering an EMPTY PARK!” explains Michael Snell, co-owner of BestGayChicago.com. “The LGBT community, their family, friends and supporters can enjoy the park with little to no lines and without homophobic hassles from anyone. It’s like a Fall Gay Pride Celebration with even MORE amusement and entertainment!”
In an interview with ChicagoPride.com: “We are very excited that this private night for charity continues to grow every year and we have gifted over $35,000 to various groups,” said Derrick Sorles, Snell’s husband of 16 years and business partner, “We are more than thrilled that Amanda Lepore is flying in from New York and the handsome Pablo Hernandez (from Los Angeles) will debut his new music at our event this year!”
Advance $40 tickets can be purchased NOW at www.GaySixFlagsChicago.com
FREE parking for this special event! In September the price goes up to $45. $50 the day of the event. All ages event. Drinks are available for purchase to those 21+
Hotels –if you are coming to Chicago for the weekend, we have 3 hotel choices in the heart of Boystown! CITY SUITES, WILLOWS HOTEL and MAJESTIC HOTEL. All the hotels are on our website GaySixFlagsChicago.com
Dance For Life Chicago August 15th
Dance for Life: Dancers Unite to Inspire Chicago from Center Stage
Chicago’s Top Dance Troupes Raise Funds and Awareness for HIV/AIDS on Aug. 15
Experience a night of breathtaking performances as seven of Chicago’s top dance companies come together for one evening at Dance for Life. With thought provoking choreography and poignant music, this highly anticipated event is held annually to support organizations and dance community professionals dealing with critical health issues, including, but not limited to HIV/AIDS, through the art of dance. Since 1992, Dance for Life has raised millions of dollars to support the cause.
This year, the funny and talented Joey Bland and Tim Mason from The Second City will emcee the night. Choreographer Randy Duncan will bring his highly acclaimed work STAND BY ME with special music arrangement by Ira Antelis to the Auditorium Theatre as Dance for Life’s finale. Performing group C5 will also present a show stopping world premiere.
Dance for Life believes in cultivating young talent in the Chicago dance community and giving them the opportunity to shine. That’s why for the first time ever, the finale will feature local professional dancers that were selected through a special audition.
Funds raised through this year’s Dance for Life benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The Dancers’ Fund.
Participating Companies Include:
• Giordano Dance Chicago
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
• Joffrey Ballet
• River North Dance Chicago
• C5
• Chicago Human Rhythm Project
• Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015
5:00 p.m. – Gala Reception – Hilton Chicago Grand Ballroom (720 S. Michigan Ave.)
7:30 p.m. – Dance for Life Performance – Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (50 E. Congress Pkwy.)
*Complimentary shuttle bus service provided between the two venues.
COST: $15-$75 (performance only)
$250- $600 (includes admission to 5:00 p.m. gala reception and premiere seating at the performance)
To purchase tickets, please call 312-922-5812 or visit www.danceforlifechicago.org
Connect with Dance for Life on Facebook!
Chicago pride Week new Events
Now that PrideFest and the Parade have been pushed apart on 2 different weekends, promoters are filling in the week, to make Chicago a real destination for out of towners visiting the city!
6 new events this year!
Monday June 22nd – From the producers of OUT IN THE PARK @ Six Flags Great America, comes a brand new exclusive LGBTQ Event; OUT IN THE HARBOR @ Hurricane Harbor! Hosted by Andrew Christian! SPLASH, DRINK AND DANCE! 5pm – 10pm
Music by the DJs of Scarlet and DJ Jalil Z from Miami. GO GO GODS! and Costumes by NVRLND!
Hostess with the Mostess Trannika Rex! Lots of food and drink choices available for purchase. Tickets $33 and FREE Parking (TAXES INCLUDED) SEASON PASSES ARE NOT VALID FOR PRIVATE EVENTS.
A portion of ticket price will benefit Northalsted Business Alliance this year! Transportation to and from Boystown $30! All ages welcome – must be 21+ to drink.
Get Tickets and Info @ www.PrideSplashChicago.com
Thursday, June 25th –
Zoo Pride @ Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo celebrates LGBTQ Pride! Brookfield Zoo becomes the 2nd Zoo in the country to recognize and celebrate PRIDE!
2 Events: Daytime and Evening:
During the day from 10am-5pm, the Zoo will be open to the public but with an Officially sanctioned PRIDE Day at the Zoo. Rainbow flags will be flying and there will be entertainment in the afternoon! During the day there will a LGBTQ vendor expo with gay and gay-friendly businesses showcasing their business and /or products. – There will also be a short program with inspirational speakers and some entertainment. $15 Advance Tickets and transportation info @ www.ZooPrideChicago.com
Then From 7-10pm, a very special exclusive evening cocktail party will take place in the Pavilions area. TALK TO THE ANIMALS! Only a portion of the zoo will open from 7-10; Curators and docents will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the exhibits.
Most of the excitement will happen in the Pavilions area! We’ll be able to sip cocktails and taste delicious lite snacks and sweets. Here, we will Lounge with the Animals and Talk to them! As curators create a very special experience for us, by bringing out numerous animals for us to have an up close and personal meet and greet, and learn more about them. Lounge music will set the tone with the Dj’s of Scarlet. Silent Auction with cool animal items from artists and local businesses. Tickets are $60 includes open bar, food and the experience. Tickets and transportation info @ www.ZooPrideChicago.com
Chicago pride Week Events
June 27th 2 parties by Neverland
June 28th Parade day with another evening party by Neverland!
The brilliant boys of Neverland Anthony DiFiore and Martin Luna are delivering 3 new events for Chicago Pride Weekend!
Known for their high-concept themed dance parties, they are ready to up to ante with a series of three fabulous, high-end Pride weekend parties designed to bring Chicago into the running with the other major cities holding Pride celebrations the last weekend in June.
On the Saturday before and Sunday of the Chicago Pride Parade (June 27 and 28, respectively), Neverland is hosting a daytime Pride Pool Party at Deuce’s & Diamonds on Clark Street, a fabulous all-night “Bougie Ball” themed dance party at the Metro and a post-parade Pride Closing Party Sunday night at The MID.
Tickets for all events are available online, both individually and as a “weekend pass” deal, and at Egoist Underwear at 3526 N Halsted in Boystown (for those who want to avoid paying the online service fee).
MotorBall Returns to Detroit June 5th
Gay Queer Contra Dance Chicago April 25th
LGBQ programs at CIMMfest 2015
2015 CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL MOVIES & MUSIC FESTIVAL
CIMMfest No. 7 TO ROLL OUT LGBQ PROGRAMMING
APRIL 16 – 19, 2015
The 7th Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest), the annual four-day showcase celebrating the inseparable connection between music and movies, is proud to announce the festival’s LGBQ programming include films The Dicks from Texas, Cakes da Killa: No Homo and a special video and music event Cruising TRACKS: a Radical Queer Video. For a complete lineup of confirmed films, musical acts and live scoring events for CIMMfest No. 7, visit http://cimmfest.org/.
CIMMfest’s queer film screenings and music event present documentaries, video art, short fictions and music videos. These presentations touch a wide array of topics: stretching notions of gender identity; kinship and sexuality; proper bodies and their organized functions while dealing with other social and political struggles such as the fight against HIV/AIDS, sexism, confinement, racism, and mental illness.
Thursday, April 16th The Dicks from Texas (pictured)
The Dicks from Texas tells the story of the men, the myth and the music behind the band that defined Texas hardcore punk. Long before Austin made weirdness a civic virtue, The Dicks made it a cause. Three rawboned Marlboro Man types fronted by Gary Floyd, a fat queer with a penchant for fright wigs, this self-described “commie faggot band” helped put the Texas capital on the punk map in the early ’80s with anthems like “Dicks Hate the Police” and “Wheelchair Epidemic.”
7:00pm @ The Society for Arts, 1112 N Milwaukee Ave
A la carte tickets are $12
Friday, April 17th
CIMMfest’s Cruising Tracks – Radical Queer Video Program includes:
· Queer Video Screening, videos & event curated by Rebecca Lavoie.
· Live performance by Donzelle, Montreal’s Sassiest Rapper and her dancers; Douce Angoisse, provocative electronic musician backed by hypnotic disco/darkwave melodies.
· Slo ‘Mo dance party: A throwback to old-school R&B, Slo ‘Mo seeks to unite people of all identities, bodies and expressions through soul music. Including the sounds of Anita Baker, Frank Ocean, Janet Jackson and more, Slo ‘Mo Dance Party is hosted by Kristen Kava with grooves by DJ Tess and Audio Jack of Slo ‘Mo.
8:00pm @ The Hideout Inn, 354 West Wabansia
Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door and $5 for the dance party only
Saturday, April 18th
Cakes da Killa: No Homo (short doc) playing with feature documentary The Hip-Hop Fellow
The short doc follows Cakes Da Killa (born Rashard Bradshaw), a 22 year-old up and coming rapper who also happens to be an out and proud gay man. With provocative lyrics that explore sexuality and gender politics, he’s not your run of the mill rapper, but he just might be your new favorite.
9:00pm @ The Society for Arts, 1112 N Milwaukee Ave
A la carte tickets are $12
CIMMfest No. 7 takes place April 16-19, 2015 along the Milwaukee Avenue corridor – from Wicker Park to Logan Square – with satellite events in the West Loop, Pilsen and beyond. Four-day festival passes, which include admission to An Evening of Music, Film & Wine with Spike Lee, are currently available for $110 at CIMMfest.org. Additional (non-Spike) CIMMfest passes – $75 (basic) and VIP ($100) – are also available now.
Matinee Las Vegas Memorial Weekend
We know Memorial Weekend in Chicago is all about the GRABBY Awards and IML….but, Las Vegas is drawing in more and more Midwest guys to the Matinee Las Vegas Festival!
The Biggest Gay Dance Festival of the Summer returns for a 5th Anniversary over Memorial Day Weekend: May 22-25, 2015. Plus, Barcelona’s Biggest Party makes its U.S. debut for our Saturday Night Main Event at America’s Newest Waterpark: Cowabunga Bay!
Reserve your passes NOW and save 25%! A LIMITED NUMBER OF THESE DISCOUNT TICKETS ARE LEFT!! DON’T WAIT!
Lots of Chicago boys will be there!
Use KOBY GRANT at checkout and get a discounted fitness package in preparation for the sexiest party in Vegas!
Queer Ballroom and Tango at Center on Halsted
Queer Ballroom and Tango Return
Inclusive Dance at All Levels
Monday nights this January at Center on Halsted have been buzzing with rhythm and beat. Individuals and couples of all identities have ventured to Center on Halsted to let loose and dance in a welcoming, diverse, and fun space.
(3656 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60613)
“This month we’ve brought accessible Ballroom and Latin dancing to the LGBTQ community here in Chicago and will continue to do so throughout the year,” said Steve Nasshan, instructor and owner of Get on the Floor Dance Company, whom Center on Halsted collaborates with to bring these classes to the building.
“I have seen too many same-sex couples or LGBTQ individuals shy away from traditional dance instruction. Many feel as if others in the class wouldn’t accept them or that instructors would be uncomfortable teaching same gender pairs, for example, how to lead and follow,” said Steve. “Center on Halsted has created a really special space where everyone from beginners to experts can convene and dance with whomever they choose.”
Michael, a student this session, has seen tremendous growth in just a few weeks. “Before coming to the classes, I often felt clumsy and uncomfortable in my movements. Weekly dance at Center on Halsted has boosted both my self-confidence and esteem. I feel in control and elegant in a way I didn’t previously.”
“It’s an exciting time to offer these classes,” remarks Steve. “We’re seeing a lot of couples preparing for first dances at weddings and others who just want to gain confidence on the dance floor. It’s a true mark of how the LGBTQ community is growing.”
Interested in participating? Drop by on Monday evenings to see what all the heat is about, or sign up for the next 6 week session, beginning on February 16th, with a focus on Beginner Level Waltz and East Coast Swing.
All ability levels are welcome.
Reach out to Steve at 773-540-5901 or contact Lynnea Karlic, Director of Community & Cultural Programs at lkarlic@centeronhalsted.org for more information.
New Years Eve in Chicago
Our top picks for New Years Eve include:
Scarlet bar. Scarlet New Years Eve 2015
4th Annual Mustaches and Bowlers Party! $5 Cover Charge
$199 Belvedere and Moet table package
Includes:Bottle of Belvedere, Bottle of MoetNo Cover For Table Guests
email party@scarletbarchicago.co
DJ Joey Luna and DJ Scotty T
Looking to ring in the New Year with some class this year? Come join ELIXIR for a night of sinful cocktails and fun! Seating is limited, so email chad@elixirchicago.com for table reservations!
HYDRATE ….Join them as they lift the veil on a slew of treats and fantasies that are sure to tempt you throughout the night. Peek inside a world where excess is the norm, where inhibitions cease to exist, where the new year brings a clean slate to sin all over again.
Intoxicate your mind with the pulsating sounds of DJ Dan De León (Los Angeles) at the turntables until 4 a.m. His unique brand of body-shaking House rhythms will deliver a crowd experience that will tear up the dance floor and will live on long after the night has ended.
Hot gogo dancers will be at hand providing sinful visual stimulation within a totally immersive black, white and red experience unlike anything Hydrate has seen before.
Dress code is not enforced, but black, white and Sin City red are highly recommended.
No cover before 11 p.m.
Limited $35 VIP Tickets available, which include NO LINE/NO WAIT privileges as well as IN/OUTs all night long.
Champagne toast and party favors at midnight.
Opening set by DJ NMF
Ring in the New Year in style at the Kit Kat Lounge!
On December 31st, we’ll be hosting a FABULOUS NYE party featuring world famous Kit Kat diva, Kinley Preston, AND amazing specials!
11:30 p.m.-2 a.m. bar package/$45 advance/$50 door: includes martinis, cocktails, wine, beer & party favors. For table reservations, please call Kit Kat at 773-525-1111.
The sexiest womens NYE is at HALSTEDS! All VIP are sold-out and now very limited General Admission remain …..$35.00
Doors Open at 9pm – General Admission
Passed Hors d’ Oeuvres
DJ’s
Champagne Toast at Midnight
Breakfast Buffet After Midnight
Black and White Party Favors
and at REPLAY, enjoy free arcade games, no cover all night, champagne toast at Midnight!
STAY IN THE HEART OF BOYSTOWN! (2 night stay required).
HAPPY NEW YEAR!~
HEATWAVE Chicago Austin Armacost Party Oct 16th
THURSDAY OCTOBER 16th – Come party with Austin Armacost and his husband Jake Lees at SCARLET BAR (3320 N. Halsted) as we kick off the countdown to
HEATWAVE!
We are about 70% sold out for Heatwave packages! $200 gets 2 people a room for 24 hours, waterpark fun indoors and dance party 12 hours of music and partying!
Don’t want a room or can not stay the night? Buy a wristband for just the 9 hour water park party for $85.
RESERVATIONS for room packages or tickets 1-877-360-0403 MUST SAY “HEATWAVE” to have access to the ROOM and event. You are booking a room which comes with tickets and access to the entire complex! or Buy just the wristband for the waterpark party 6pm – 3am.
If you don’t say HEATWAVE EVENT they will tell you November 15th is sold out. Must say HEATWAVE!
PUSH Physical Theatre
Seeing award winning PUSH Physical Theatre is like watching a live action-movie. This talented group of performers inspires awe with physical illusions and gravity-defying, dance-infused, acrobatic high-jinx.
A cross between fine art sculpture and “The Matrix,” PUSH Physical Theatre will express the power of the human body at Moraine Valley Community College on Saturday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
PUSH Physical Theatre is cool, athletic, entertaining, and impossible to resist. This theater of the body features performers who appear to manipulate time and space in a live environment. The performance is all about stories, the narratives of life played out with hope, strength and optimism. Experience PUSH to know the strength of the human soul.
“Our Physical Theatre is an art form created from borrowing,” said Darren Stevenson, founding director of PUSH Physical Theatre. “We have been inspired by the concepts and ideas of corporeal mime, modern dance, non-traditional partnering, and the areas of acting technique that relate to the use of the body as a tool of discovery; even gymnastics play a part. We attempt to create a true synergy between these theater forms.”
SNEAK PEAK
PUSH’s unique form has transformed it into a national company that has performed all over England, the United States and Mexico, and has appeared on PBS and NPR.
The performers will defy gravity in the Fine and Performing Arts Center’s Dorothy Menker Theater, 9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills. Tickets are $25 for the general public and $20 for students and seniors.
BUY TICKETS
More info at PUSH
Heatwave is less than 8 Weeks Away
In about 8 weeks, HEATWAVE will be here! Summer fun in NOVEMBER!
From the producers of OUT IN THE PARK @ SIX FLAGS comes this new and unique event.
24 Hours of LGBT Paradise at Key Lime Cove INDOOR Water Park Resort!
Be a part of the country’s first-ever 24-hour PRIVATE LGBT Indoor Poolside Dance Party and Water Park Celebration Benefiting a Chicago Non-Profit Organization each year. Year one will be Chicago Gay Mens Chorus.
You get a room AND the party for $100 per person (based on double occupancy).
get all the details at HeatwaveChicago.com
You must call the hotel to book your room and you must say HEATWAVE EVENT.
Skin Productions BEACH at HYDRATE July 18th
Chicago’s #1 underwear party returns to Chicago’s #1 late night dance bar!
Come out to Hydrate on Friday, July 18 for the hottest, most daring party to hit the strip. Skin productions presents BEACH!
You’ve worked hard on your body, you’ve taken it to the beach, now we’re taking the beach to you! Come out wearing your sexiest underwear and prepare to dance the night away to the beats of DJ ROLAND BELMARES!
Party goes till 5am followed by the official after-hours at STEAMWORKS, where the fun does never end!
DON’T FORGET TO BOOK YOUR ROOM FOR HEATWAVE –
It’s not till November – but this WILL SELL OUT MUCH SOONER!