Impact Summary
Since founding Open the Circle in August 2017, we have:
Established a Footwork Summer Camp, offering instruction to over 300 young people, keeping them safe and healthy in a fun educational environment, and providing jobs for a dozen local dancers to teach the youth and develop curriculum around footwork.
Produced eight dance downs that included over 10,000 attendees from black Chicago neighborhoods, featuring over a dozen different black youth dance troupes from the south and west sides of the city.
Created the opportunity for black youth to be on television as dancers and footwork artists, including TV spots on ABC, FOX and in an online documentary on Mic.com.
Mobilized support for the development of three economic assets for the footwork community - the summer camp, the stage show IN THE WURKZ, and the documentary film, Body of the City. Our work has been supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Field Foundation of Illinois, the Joyce Foundation and the City of Chicago. OTC has raised over $290k, more than half of our initial fundraising goal of $500k, as of September 30th, 2019.
Channeled 80% of OTC’s expenses directly to members of the footwork community, a total of more than $120,000 through September 30th, 2019.
Established partnerships with leading civic institutions including the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago Summerdance, Chicago Votes, Chance the Rappers' Social Works, Theaster Gates' Art + Public Life at University of Chicago and the Chicago Park District.
Demonstrated how Chicagoans can engage footwork to foster education, social development, and anti-violence efforts, including supporting a "footwork saves lives" campaign, emphasizing footwork as an explicit anti-violence strategy made by and for Chicago youth.
Press
“This Chicago nonprofit, linked to the Era dance crew, works to spread a local Black subculture that can knit together youth communities”
“A new generation of footwork dancers is born”
- Chicago Reader, August 20, 2019
Videos
Testimonials
“Footwork camp is a blessing. OTC is teaching kids who never did this before the art and history of footworking. My kids are getting better and better with each class and showing more confidence when they dance. We sometimes forget about our roots, so thanks for taking us back.”
“I like that everybody is back supporting each other. It had started to be segregated. It’s a different feel with the work that OTC is supporting.”
“AYYYYYY THIS IS SO DOPE THESE BABIES REALLY ENJOY CLASSES...!!! THIS SUMMER HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL!!! Thank u FOR EVERYTHING...!!”
“35 years ago I never thought that street dance would go this far to places I have never seen or heard of. Thank you Wills Glasspiegel, The Era, Latisha Waters Dee Nice for sharing your blueprint for saving our youth...take a bow”
““To Host a Footwork event at NAVY PIER was so epic to me. For those that dont know Footwork is Global but something hits different when the city accepts it!!!””
“This has really been amazing, being a part of the first summer footwork program for the youth of Chicago. My goal is not only to inspire but to also teach. I’m thankful and appreciative that I can impact lives of the future. I even have a protege, and what’s so crazy is that she dances just like the old me.”
“Our team has been working hard for so long. My brothers are amazing. If you all knew the feeling you get when you’re in the community with the youth and the dance culture of Chicago, it would be your only high.”
“These past couple of days have been nothing short of amazing and exactly what I envisioned for a Footwork Camp.”
“Leaving the kids on the last day of camp felt like family breaking up. Can’t wait for next summer.”