Our Classes & Performances
come groove !
This calendar overviews our events.
This ranges from our classes to festivals to productions! We welcome you into our groove & hope to see you in community with us.
Be sure to follow the “Source Link” to get register for events & get tickets to shows!
For a detailed description of each event, look below!
Outlaw of the Arts Workshops
We Are Collective presents... Outlaw of the Arts
August 28th is Workshops from 4:00-8:00 PM at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble.
Class Schedule
4:00-5:00 PM: Arts, Advocacy, & Activism taught by L'Raven
5:00-6:00 PM: Tendencies of a Fall taught by Tristen Sanborn & Alyssa Simpson
6:00-7:00 PM: The Art of Advocacy in Scriptwork taught by Ray Post
7:00-8:00 PM: Heels Technique and Western Play Pretend taught by Maddy McCarthy
4:00-8:00 PM: Zines as Revolution hosted by We Are Collective
Class Descriptions
(Art) It's ALWAYS Political by L'Raven
As artists, we are uniquely positioned to advance the issues we feel are important. We know how to make complex themes tangible and visceral. Join L'Raven for an hour-long session on how to bring visceral experiences to life as an organizing and escalation tactic. Let's heal ourselves and liberate our communities through movement for the movement.
Tendencies of a Fall taught by Tristen and Alyssa
Through in class research, dancers will find the edge; of the physical, anatomical, and communal space. In this class, participants will create spontaneous composition from improvisational methods of moving and communicating. With facilitation from Alyssa Simpson and Tristen Sanborn, this class is aimed at encouraging active questioning and play.
Advocacy in Scriptwork taught by Ray Post
Advocacy through knowing your audience, advocacy through knowing yourself, advocacy through disturbing the comfortable and comforting the disturbed.Art being as subjective as it is, we often struggle to feel as though we have gotten our point across and this fear of being misunderstood can be inhibiting. How do you know your message will get across the way you want it to? How do we toe the line between entertainment and enlightenment? How do we get our audiences to leave with new perspectives and new questions? This class will explore how to build advocacy into the foundation of our work, in order to cultivate an effective message.
Heels Technique and Western Play Pretend taught by Maddy McCarthy
Class will consist of a warm up focusing on activating stabilizer muscles that are essential for keeping joints safe while dancing in heels and a short, sensual dance phrase using western imagery/storytelling.
Zines as Revolution hosted by We Are Collective
Join We Are Collective at our zine-making booth, where you can craft your own message of resistance! Supplies will be provided. No registration necessary.
Learn more about our Teaching Artists on our Instagram @wearedancecollective.
Details of Outlaw of the Arts Festival:
We Are Collective is built, organized, and celebrated by queer folks & now more than ever we are in need of art as revolution. Performance has been pivotal to the exploration and acceptance of queerness. We must be loud. We must speak clearly. We must use our voice before it is stripped away. Through this three day festival, we hope to highlight queerness as power through education and performance. Day one will consist of classes ranging in topics to highlight radical ways to advocate, uplift, and move forward through community. Day two will be an en masse performance of queer revolution ranging from contemporary dance, to film, to drag, to spoken word in a short form composition! Day three will be a long form evening based on the idea of revolution, not specifically queer revolution.
In addition to the 18 artists and companies performing, the Queer Art Market by We Are Collective will also be hosted before the show and at intermission. Community groups will be tabling to offer information, resources, and ways to engage with their organizations pre-show and during intermission as well! We want to emphasize that revolution happens through communal support. In this space, we uplift each other to act as Outlaws of the Arts.
Outlaw of the Arts Works of Queer Revolution
We Are Collective presents... Outlaw of the Arts
This evening is Short Form Works of Queer Revolution!
In-Person & Virtual Tickets Available here.
Performances this evening include:
Mandy Milligan Movement Project
GridLock
Gwen Jones
Kori Fay
Cloudmoon Dance
Randi Jonites
Aicha Chehmani & Rodney Bethea
Maggie Sedlacek
Hannah Ottenfeld
Maddy McCarthy
Em Holt
Outlaw of the Arts Works of Revolution
We Are Collective presents... Outlaw of the Arts
This evening is Long Form Works of Revolution !
In-Person & Virtual Tickets available here.
Performances this evening include:
Coyote Verde & the Wild Pack
Dani Oblitas
Identity Performing Arts
Nik Graves
Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble
Najah Iman and Caitlin Wonsowski
Rhianna Young
Thrash. Splay. Slay. w/ Nik Graves (INT/ADV/PROF)
Thrash. Splay. Slay. is more than a dance class — it’s a movement sanctuary for every body, identity, and instinct. Rooted in queer liberation and radical self-expression, this class invites you to throw out the rules, eat the space, and move from the gut.
We thrash to release. We splay to expand. We slay to celebrate who we are — boldly, messily, and joyfully. Guided by prompts, textures, and music-driven flow, you'll explore improvisation, choreographic embodiment, and the freedom to move without apology.
This is a space where you are seen. Where you don’t have to “perform” – just express. Come as you are, move how you feel, and leave feeling more you than ever!
No technique required. Just instinct, presence, and pride.
This class is taught by Nik Graves, Organizer and Chair of We Are Collective.
Class is held at My Art House Studio in Uptown, Chicago.
7:00pm - 8:15pm
Sliding Scale registration!
Class limit of 7 people due to space restrictions.
Be sure that you are signing up for the class level that you are comfortable with!
SIGN UP AT THE LINK BELOW !
Company Class w/ Lani Anderson
We Are Collective June Company Class will be...
Movin' & Groovin' is a fun, upbeat dance class designed to help you feel confident and comfortable dancing in social settings. Whether you’re at a party or night out with friends, this class teaches easy-to-follow moves that fit any casual vibe. No experience or fancy footwork required—just bring your energy, and we’ll help you loosen up and find your rhythm with confidence!
This class is taught by Lani Anderson, Collective Member and Choreographer.
Class is held at Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble in Andersonville, Chicago.
7:00pm - 8:00pm
F R E E ! Donation based class.
Class limit of 25 people due to space restrictions.
Join We Are Collective in our Company Class !
Bodies of Water's Fluid Expressions
We Are presenting linger longer as a headliner at Bodies of Water’s Fluid Expressions. This work was choreographed by Alyssa Simpson and performed by Audrey Hartnett, Virginia VanLieshout, and Tristen Sanborn.
Bodies of Water's Fluid Expressions
We Are presenting linger longer as a headliner at Bodies of Water’s Fluid Expressions. This work was choreographed by Alyssa Simpson and performed by Audrey Hartnett, Virginia VanLieshout, and Tristen Sanborn.
Thrash. Splay. Slay. w/ Nik Graves (Fresh Start / Beg.)
Thrash. Splay. Slay. is more than a dance class — it’s a movement sanctuary for every body, identity, and instinct. Rooted in queer liberation and radical self-expression, this class invites you to throw out the rules, eat the space, and move from the gut.
We thrash to release. We splay to expand. We slay to celebrate who we are — boldly, messily, and joyfully. Guided by prompts, textures, and music-driven flow, you'll explore improvisation, choreographic embodiment, and the freedom to move without apology.
This is a space where you are seen. Where you don’t have to “perform” – just express. Come as you are, move how you feel, and leave feeling more you than ever!
No technique required. Just instinct, presence, and pride.
This class is taught by Nik Graves, Organizer and Chair of We Are Collective.
Class is held at My Art House Studio in Uptown, Chicago.
7:00pm - 8:15pm
Sliding Scale registration!
Class limit of 7 people due to space restrictions.
Be sure that you are signing up for the class level that you are comfortable with!
Dance/USA 2025 National Conference
We Are presenting Another Pleasure to Burn at Dance/USA 2025 National Conference. This work was choreographed by Hanna Swartz and performed by Lani Anderson, Alyssa Simpson, Tristen Sanborn, Audrey Hartnett, & Nik Graves.
Identity's Elpis
We Are presenting linger longer at Identity’s Elpis. This work was choreographed by Alyssa Simpson and will be performed by Tristen Sanborn, Audrey Hartnett, and Virginia VanLieshout.
Modern Marvel's Marvelous Mondays
We Are presenting Things Long Forgotten at Modern Marvel’s Marvelous Mondays. This work was choreographed by Reign Drop & Nik Graves and will be performed by Audrey Hartnett & Nik Graves.