Dance for Life

 

The mission of Dance for Life is to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS care, prevention and education while promoting the art of dance in Chicago. Realizing that AIDS had heavily affected the dance community, Dance for Life was founded in 1992 by Keith Elliott as an inventive way for dancers and dance companies, whose incomes do not normally allow for large donations, to be able to seriously contribute time, effort and badly needed funds for existing AIDS agencies. Getting the support and involvement of HIV/AIDS community activist / events specialist Danny Kopelson and Chicago dance professionals Harriet Ross and Gail Kalver, the idea became a reality.

 

Through the years Dance for Life has grown into the largest performance based AIDS fundraising event in the Midwest, with many of Chicago's finest dancers, dance companies and choreographers participating. Dance For Life also involves hundreds of volunteers, several "spin-off" events, and enthusiastic audiences, each year raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Dance For Life events are now managed under the auspices of Chicago Dancers United. The organization sets aside a small percentage of the dollars raised each year for the Dance for Life Fund. The fund provides assistance grants to members of Chicago's dance community affected by or living with HIV/AIDS.