“Arts organizations tend to have small budgets,” King said. “And if you are a young, smaller company like Moonwater, the artists are freelancers, so healthcare is not provided to them.”
King said if a dancer is injured, and unable to work, it’s reassuring to know that Chicago Dancers United, the organization that puts on Dance for Life, is there to help. For more than 30 years, Chicago Dancers United’s Dance for Life event has showcased more than 50 Chicago-based dance companies, with proceeds going into The Dancers’ Fund.
Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weeklySara Schumann, board president of Chicago Dancers United, says, The Dancers' Fund came about during the AIDS epidemic when the dance community was devastated with losses. So, The AIDS Foundation Chicago partnered with the dance community to put on a benefit performance to raise funds to help those with AIDS.
“The energy is really off the charts, because the performers and those behind the scenes all know they are coming together to raise money for the people in their community," Schumann said.