Apsara is UChicago's Classical South Asian Dance RSO, which includes the dance forms of Bharatnatyam, Kathak, and Kuchipudi. Our performances blend the classical styles with modern fusion music and our choreography experiments within the dance styles but also in combining them together. We welcome dancers from all backgrounds with no experience necessary, and we usually have practices for 2 to 3 hours a week.

Ankara Magic is UChicago’s first and only African dance group on campus. We focus on traditional African movement, Afrobeats, and Afropop. We pride ourselves on being a dance group open to all students willing to learn African dance and foster a strong community among each other not just at practice, but on campus as well. Although we recently gained RSO status this quarter, small, but mighty, is the magic that is Ankara.

It’s the 20’s (once more) and that means, it’s Lindy time! Join us for some roarin’ tunes as we swing the nights away on Saturdays during Java Jive in the gorgeous Ida Noyes hall! Swing dance is an improvised dance and choreos are not the norm. Under the Swing umbrella fall Lindy, East Coast Swing, Charleston, Shag, Balboa and Solo Jazz. We offer beginner lessons before every social and longer lesson series every quarter. We hope to see you all there to celebrate the joy of swing dance together!

EX Crew is an open style choreography group that was formed in 2009 with the hope of connecting with, learning from, and enriching the dance community at UChicago, in the Hyde Park neighborhood, and in the city of Chicago. Bonded by our love for dance, we strive to foster an inclusive environment where dancers can express their creative talents, appreciate the art of choreography, and build community through movement.

Groove Theory is UChicago’s only freestyle hip-hop dance crew, dedicated to learning and performing the dance element of hip-hop culture. They study the foundations of various street styles including breaking, waacking, vogueing, popping, locking, house, and more. Members learn how to apply these skills in cyphers, battles, and performances. Groove Theory’s goal is not only to improve as dancers, but also to spread awareness and share the history and culture of hip-hop in its true form.

UChicago Maya Dance Company is a choreography-focused student dance group specializing in contemporary, jazz, and other ballet-based styles. Our mission is to bring innovative, challenging, and experimental choreography to life with dancers who come into college already equipped with a ballet/contemporary movement vocabulary.

neXus Dance Collective is UChicago’s premiere K-pop dance organization that aims to connect people through their love of Korean pop music and dance. We provide a space for people of all backgrounds and levels of dance experience to learn and grow. We perform at K-pop dance competitions around the Chicago/Midwest area, host our own K-pop competition called KonneX, where we invite Kpop cover groups from all around the Midwest to compete for real prize money and invite established judges, and hold our own showcases throughout the school year.

We are Rhythmic Bodies in Motion (RBIM)’s Performance Company. RBIM is a dance group dedicated to providing an opportunity for all people regardless of dance experience to learn choreography and perform. We take pride in featuring a diversity of dance styles that are entirely created and executed by students. Performance Company (Perfco) is an audition-based group within RBIM that focuses on dance and technique more intensely while still maintaining RBIM’s greater mission of promoting diversity, accessibility, and fun in dance.

UChicago Tap That! features a small but mighty group of tap dancers passionate about making funky rhythms with their feet. We offer weekly tap classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level dancers where anyone can tap along to their favorite modern music. We also teach workshops across campus and perform at various events like Where Fun Comes to Dance and Summer Breeze. Come for the only tap dance RSO on campus, stay for the friendships and fun!

Founded in 2001, University Ballet of Chicago is the only RSO that provides classical ballet instruction and performance opportunities at the University of Chicago. University Ballet strives to create a supportive and inclusive environment for total beginners to previous professional dancers, fostering the love and enjoyment of ballet for all. Since its founding, the fully student-run company has produced more than two dozen full-length classical ballet productions, showcasing the talents of undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, university employees, and Chicago community members.

UChicago’s Ballroom and Latin Dance Association (BLDA) provides fun and accessible weekly lessons in both Social Latin and Competitive Ballroom and Latin styles. We also host social dance events for the community such as Mambo Mayhem at The Promontory in Hyde Park! The UChicago Competitive Ballroom Team trains and travels all around the Midwest to compete with other universities in our DanceSport circuit throughout the year. Our mission is to promote ballroom and latin dance as an exciting art form, outlet for creative expression, and gateway to a diverse and passionate community throughout Chicagoland.

UChicago Bhangra is University of Chicago’s competitive bhangra team. Bhangra is a form of music and dance that originates from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. It was traditionally performed at harvest festival celebrations, so it is upbeat, cheerful, and full of energy. Through the Punjabi diaspora, bhangra has grown in popularity all over the world. Today there is a flourishing competitive circuit in the United States and Canada made up of collegiate and independent teams. Along with competing across the county, UCB also performs at events all over campus and Chicagoland.

The UChicago Raas team promotes the dance forms of Garba and Raas at the University and in Chicago! Garba and Raas are high energy Indian folk dances which hail from the Indian state of Gujarat. Raas involves the spinning of two sticks called dandiya, and Garba involves repetitive dance moves done by a group in concentric circles. Traditionally both are performed in celebration of the Hindu festival of Navratri. We are a nationally competitive co-ed team, and we have competed in Texas, California, Miami, New York City, and Michigan, among many places.