The ERA Footwork Crew

OTC's initial projects are coordinated through on-the-ground leadership by The Era Footwork Crew, based in Chatham, South Chicago. In partnering with The ERA, OTC is able to work through the local structure of one multifaceted dance crew to speak to many dancers, crews and diverse public audiences across and beyond Chicago.

I Am The Queen

Open The Circle collaborates with some of the best female footworkers in the city of Chicago, including those featured on the project I Am The Queen, co-produced by Open The Circle and Kenesha "Murda Mommy" Sheridan. In Sheridan's words, "I am the Queen is a movement of empowerment. We are all queens."

The movement is open to all female participants within the Chicago footwork community across generations. In 2018, they performed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and also taught footwork to young people as a part of the OTC's footwork summer camp in 2018 and 2019. 

 

Bringing Out Talent (BOT)

Bringing Out Talent is a top youth dance group in Chicago, managed by Shkunna Stewart and her husband, Terrence “DJ Stew” Stewart. Shkunna is a third generation dance troupe leader from the south side of Chicago. In 2017, they took first place in the Bud Billiken Parade.

BOT co-hosts the OTC footwork summer camp at their dance studio and on the tennis courts at Robert Taylor Park. OTC worked with BOT as our lead organizer for a series of dance downs with The Chicago Park District in 2018-19. For more information on BOT and Chicago's historic dance groups, see this article in the Chicago Defender.  

Empiire Dance Institute

Empiire was incorporated 19 years ago on the south side of Chicago. Empiire gives children in Chicago a safe haven though dance. Empiire’s work includes teaching skills in addition to dance, including arts and crafts, mentoring, life skills, and learning about educational resources around the city through field trips. Led by Latisha Waters and Dee Nice, Empiire hosts the OTC footwork summer camp and has hosted and been lead organizer for the Dance Downs in the Park collaboration with Chicago Summerdance.

TEKLIFE

OTC partners with members of Teklife, Chicago footwork's premiere DJ collective. Teklife founders DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn are known for introducing the footwork sound to global audiences, especially through their album releases with British labels Hyperdub and Planet Mu.