Dance showcase in Champaign

  • 2021-04-27
After being put on hold by the pandemic, a dance festival is now returning to Champaign.

Urbanite is a workshop series and international dance festival that focuses on using competition to enrich the dance experience. Urbanite was established in Champaign-Urbana in 1998, and now includes more than 40 showcases that have taken place in three cities in the United States, and three foreign countries. The series builds bridges between freestyle and choreographed dance; academia and the dances of the streets; and dancers and their fans.

More than 15 dance groups will take part in Urbanite, most of them performing in the hip-hop style. Other performances from contemporary dance to Latin dance will be included, and there will be special guests, sets by DJs, and some surprises that have not yet been announced. Brochure printing can be used to create programs for events like this.

Roxwell Curates is the producer of Urbanite, and has teamed up with SHIELD CU Program, and The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Student Affairs, Athletics, College of Fine & Applied Arts to present the event.

Event organizers have worked with public health experts at the university to make sure people can safely attend the event in person. Such attendance requires them to always wear masks and remain socially distanced. Also with this in mind, the showcase is set to take place outdoors, at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

Urbanite will take place this Saturday, May 1, at 8:00 pm. Admission is free.