Founded in 2002 by Producing Director Mark Hackman, Chicago Dance Crash has emerged as a critical staple of the Chicago scene, engaging audiences and broadening the exposure of dance. With a unique union of styles both classic and contemporary, including ballet, capoeira, breakdance, acrobatics, and contemporary dance, Crash burst onto the scene in its first season with the new and innovative movement play concept. The inaugural production of The Mercutio Story premiered at the Mary Arrchie Theatre before hitting the road for a two-week run at The Space in downtown Manhattan and capping off the run with a finale performance at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre at Navy Pier.

Years of steady growth followed with numerous appearances on the festival circuit and joint concerts. In the summer of 2005, Crash raised critical eyebrows with Tribulation and the Demolition Squad, the first of three full-length productions selected for the Departmental of Cultural Affairs’ Storefront Theatre season.

In 2006, the summer epic Ghost Play premiered at Theatre Building Chicago, eventually receiving the Katherine Dunham Award for Best Choreography from the Black Theatre Alliance. That December, Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun Times named Dance Crash among a select and small number of professional companies that helped make 2006 “a banner year for dance in Chicago.”

In the spring of 2007, Hackman and Kyle Vincent Terry premiered The KTF Championship at the Lakeshore Theater. At season’s end, Sid Smith of the Chicago Tribune hailed DDT as “innovative and stunning” and proclaimed Chicago Dance Crash to be of “critical importance to our dance scene.”

Heading into our seventh season, Crash was named the Reader’s Choice as 2009’s ‘Best Dance Company’ by the Chicago Reader. Following this honor, CDC broke all previous company box office records with the all-male concert series Movement/Gentlemen at the Storefront.

Having since purchased the rights to one of Chicago's premier festival concerts, "Duets for My Valentine", Crash also continually supports its sister charity, the Laura Twirls Suicide Awareness Foundation.

Now entering our 10th Anniversary under the new creative leadership of Mikey Rioux, Dance Crash continues to redefine the art form and bring dance to the people. With innovative, collaborative performances, the Dance Crash family continues to support artists, expand partnerships, and foster the growth of dance in the community.