Chicago Winter Dance Festival in Millennium Park every February weekend

Free Ice Skating Instruction, Late Night Ice Dance Parties, and Ice Dancing Demos at McCormick Tribune Ice Rink
Rare Opportunity to Enjoy Open Dancing and Dance Lessons on Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage

Dance your way through the month of February on the ice or on the stage at the free Chicago Winter Dance festival in the award-winning Millennium Park. With ice skating lessons and late night ice dance parties at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink and the rare opportunity to enjoy open dancing and dance lessons behind the glass doors on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage, there will be something for everyone this winter in Chicago.

Visit www.ExploreChicago.org for more information about Chicago Winter Dance or to book hotel accommodations. Following is a schedule of free Winter Dance events and programs taking place every weekend from February 4 to 27:

Ice Skating Lessons & Games
Get a head start on your ice skating skills at these early morning lessons and demonstrations. On Saturdays, learn the basics of ice skating. If you’re up for the challenge, come on Sundays for more lessons and fun “ice sports of sorts,” like noodle ball, curling on skates and speed skating, plus demonstrations from experts. These family-friendly activities are open to Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and skill levels. Instructions provided by IceReach and the Chicago Ice Dance Foundation.

  • Ice Skating: Saturdays, Feb. 5 -26, 8 – 10 am
  • Beginner Lessons: 8 – 8:30 am and 9 – 9:30 am
  • Intermediate Lessons: 8:30 – 9 am and 9:30 – 10 amIce Skating and Ice Sports of Sorts: Sundays, Feb. 6, 13 and 27 (no lessons on Sunday, Feb. 20)
  • Beginner/Intermediate Ice Skating Lessons: 8 – 8:30 am and 9 – 9:30 am
  • Speed Skating Demonstration: 8:30 – 9:00 am
  • Noodle Ball and Curling on Skates: 9:30 – 10:00 am


Late Night Ice Dance Parties, Ice Dancing Demonstrations and Extended Rink Hours for Public Skating
Millennium Park is the scene of the hottest dance parties this winter! Join us on the ice for different themed celebrations each weekend in February, and enjoy extended skating hours, spectacular ice skating performances by Chicago Ice Dance Foundation, Shipstad Entertainment and IceTalent Inc., plus live DJ sets, giveaways, and fun with Collaboraction.

  • Fridays and Saturdays, February 4 – 26
  • Late Night Ice Dance Parties: 7 – 11 pm
  • Ice Dancing Demonstrations: 7, 8:30 and 10 pm
  • Feb. 4 – 5: ‘80s
  • Feb. 11 – 12: Valentine’s Day
  • Feb. 18 – 19: Lady Gaga
  • Feb. 25 – 26: Disco

Dance Lessons and Dancing on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage
Enjoy dance lessons in a range of styles, live music and DJ sets, plus the extraordinary view from inside the retractable glass doors of the Pritzker Pavilion stage at this indoor dance party series. Dancing is preceded by one-hour lessons led by professional instructors. Food and beverages by Park Grill will be available for purchase.

  • Saturdays and Sundays, Feb. 5 - 27
  • Session I: Lessons 1 – 2 pm; Open dancing 2 – 3:30 pm
  • Session II: Lessons 5 -6 pm; Open dancing 6 -7:30 pm
  • Doors open 30 minutes before the start of each session and admission is FREE, but space is limited. No reservations required.

Saturday, Feb. 5: Waltz, Fox-Trot
Instructors: Fred Astaire Dance Studio- Michigan Avenue
Live Music: The Ron Smolen Orchestra

Sunday, Feb. 6: Mambo, Cha-Cha (Session I); Salsa, Bachata (Session II)
Instructors: Latin Dance Academy of Salsa
DJ: DJ Arlo

Saturday, Feb. 12: Tango
Instructors: American Tango Institute
Live Music: Tangata

Sunday, Feb. 13: Swing
Instructors: Big City Swing
Live Music: The Flat Cats

Saturday, Feb. 19: The Charleston
Instructors: The Galaxie
Live Music: The Fat Babies

Sunday, Feb. 20: Steppin’
Instructors: Dawud Shareef and Lura Satterfield
DJ: Sam Chapman

Saturday, Feb. 26: Cha-Cha, Rumba
Instructors: Chicago Dance- Tommye Giacchino and Gregory Day
DJ: El Caobo

Sunday, Feb. 27: Dances of the Balkans: Kolo, Oro, Horo, and Cocek
Instructors: Galia Miloucheva & John Kuo
Live Music: Orchestra Balkana

Chicago Winter Dance 2011 is presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Chicago Office of Tourism with support from American Express. For more information, visit www.ExploreChicago.org.

Visitor Information Resources 
Visitors and Chicagoans planning to entertain out-of-town guests can receive trip-planning assistance and information by visiting www.ExploreChicago.org.

Brochures and information on Chicago’s exciting events and activities are also available at the Visitor Information Centers. Friendly Visitor Representatives can answer questions and assist families in planning an action-packed itinerary. The visitor centers are located in two of the city’s most popular areas: across from Millennium Park in the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street; and at the historic Water Works pumping station, 163 E. Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue.

For daily alerts about fun and free things to do in Chicago, follow ExploreChicago on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ExploreChicago. Receive answers to your Chicago questions on the go, and tips on the latest citywide events and activities, via the FREE Twitter Concierge Service (@explorechicago) available daily.

The Chicago Office of Tourism is dedicated to promoting Chicago as a premier cultural destination to domestic and international leisure travelers and to providing innovative visitor programs and resources. For more information please visit www.ExploreChicago.org.

Millennium Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is bordered by Michigan Ave. to the west, Columbus Dr. to the east, Randolph St. to the north and Monroe St. to the south. Convenient parking is located in the Millennium Park Garage (entrance on Columbus at Monroe or Randolph) and at the Grant Park North and East Monroe Garages, all located within a short walking distance of Millennium Park.

Millennium Park, managed and programmed by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture and landscape design. The result of a unique partnership between the City of Chicago and the philanthropic community, the 24.5-acre park features the work of world-renowned architects, planners, artists and designers. Among Millennium Park’s prominent features are the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States; the interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa; the contemporary Lurie Garden designed by the team of Gustafson Guthrie Nichol, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel; and Anish Kapoor’s hugely popular Cloud Gate sculpture. Since its opening in July 2004, Millennium Park has welcomed more than 20 million people, making it one of the most popular destinations in Chicago.