Chicago Cultural Center > Visual Art Program > Exhibitions > Past Exhibitions > Move Your Body: The Evolution of House Music

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The FREE exhibition Move Your Body: The Evolution of House Music celebrates more than 30 years of a homegrown art form that is now heard around the world. The exhibition on view at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Street, this May 21 – August 16, traces the history of House Music as it developed in Chicago post “Disco Demolition” through the impact it continues to have on global electronic dance music. Memoribilia, timelines and first-hand interviews tell the stories of some of the genre’s originators and the cultural and socio-economic influences of the times.

Programming Schedule

Friday, July 10, 6–9pm

Chicago SummerDance DJ Performance: Marshall Jefferson

Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan Ave.

Chicago’s largest outdoor dance party with a DJ twist. Visit chicagosummerdance.org for more information.

Thursday, July 16, 6–9pm

Panel Discussion “Music Technology and the Rise of Electronic Dance Music”

Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater

Panelists DJ Pierre & Spanky of PHUTURE, DJ Derrick Carter and Joe Smooth will map out the parallel relationships among music, tech and dance music from early house to electronic dance music. How has technology shaped dance music and how has music influenced electronic instrument design and software. What has been the impact on the music industry in general?

Friday, July 17, 6–9pm

Chicago SummerDance DJ Performance: DJ Pierre & PHUTURE

Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan Ave.

Chicago’s largest outdoor dance party with a DJ twist. Visit chicagosummerdance.org for more information.

Thursday, July 30, 6–7:30pm

Workshop: The Art of House Dance

Learn the right moves at this fun class open to all levels of dancers. Basic foundation movements and footwork will be taught along with a progression of moves leading to what is now called House dancing – drawing influences from African, tap, salsa and capoeira forms. The workshop is led by Czarina and Carlos of Fivestarboogie Dancers, whose class was awarded “Best Dance Class” by the Chicago Reader.

Saturday, August 1, 2015, 6:30pm (59 min.)

Jack to Juke: 25 Years of Ghetto House (Documentary)

Directed by Sonali Aggarwal, Studios - Chi City Films / Subterranean Playhouse

Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater

Chicago was the birthplace of House music as we know it. But Chicago House also gave birth to juke. Today, the influence of Chicago juke on everything from B-more to trap to Mad Decent’s discography is all too evident. This great documentary explains the history of “jack,” “juke,” “booty,” and “ghetto” with DJ Gant-Man, DJ Superman, DJ V-Dub, and plenty of others.

Saturday, August 8, 7pm–2am

Film Screening & DJ Performance: The UnUsual Suspects: Once Upon a Time in House

Elastic Arts Foundation, 3429 W. Diversey Ave. #208

Filmed and edited by Chip E And Kimmie D, this documentary about house music includes interviews with all the big names in house music history including Steve Hurley, Frankie Knuckles, Joe Smooth, Craig Loftis, Vince Lawrence, Victor Simmonelli, Larry Heard, Jesse Saunders, Robert Owens, Glenn Underground and more. A DJ performance by filmmaker DJ Chip E will follow.

Thursday, August 13, 6–8pm

Panel Discussion “Making Safe Space & Counter Culture: Exploring Gender & Sexuality in Chicago House

Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater

Moderated by Meida McNeal of Honey Pot Performance, an intergenerational gathering of community practitioners will consider House’s roots in queer communities of color, its function as safe space and counterculture and its relationship to other musical forms of resistance. Together we will look at House’s future possibilities and the communities who continue to find this social music and dance from relevant.





Saturday, August 22, 6–9pm

Chicago SummerDance DJ Performance: Derrick Carter

Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan Ave.

Chicago’s largest outdoor dance party with a DJ twist. Visit chicagosummerdance.org for more information.

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