Lights up.
Step up.
Don't F*ck it up.
ABOUT THIS SHOW
A pre-teen dance troupe navigates ambition, friendship and desire as they claw their way to Nationals in Tampa Bay. Featuring a multigenerational cast of women playing our pre-teen heroines, this Chicago premiere is fiercely funny, theatrically inventive and full of heart.
Help us spread the word about Dance Nation! Use #danceSTC on social media to join the conversation.
Get pay-your-age tickets to Dance Nation
During the final week of performances only, pay-your-age tickets are available for Dance Nation! Book pay-your-age tickets over the phone with Audience Services at 312-335-1650. Tickets will be held at Will Call and IDs checked at ticket pick-up. Limit 2 tickets per order, valid for performances from Jan 28 – Feb 2.
Watch & Listen
Content Advisory
Steppenwolf does not proactively offer advisories about the content of shows, as sensitivities vary from person to person. Click below to learn more about the content of the show.
If you have further questions, contact the box office at 312-335-1650.
Stage Effects Advisory
Steppenwolf does not proactively offer advisories about stage effects, as sensitivities vary from person to person. Click below to learn more about the stage effects used in the show.
If you have further questions, contact the box office at 312-335-1650.
Get $10 off tickets
LIGHTS UP.
STEP UP.
DON'T F*CK IT UP.
BRING YOUR GROUP.
For a limited time, groups of just 6+ can get a discount on tickets to all performances of Dance Nation. Enter code GROUP6, get $10 off each ticket—there's no such thing as a small group!
Additional Information
Cast & Artists
The Artists
- Author Clare Barron
- Director and Choreographer Lee Sunday Evans
- Assistant Director Sammy Zeisel
- Scenic Design Arnulfo Maldonado
- Costume Design Christine Pascual
- Lighting Designer Heather Gilbert
- Assistant Lighting Designer Conchita Avitia
- Sound Designer Mikhail Fiksel
- Company Voice & Text Coach Gigi Buffington
- Intimacy Choreographer Tonia Sina
- Special Effects Consultant Mary Williamson
- Stage Manager Mary Hungerford
- Assistant Stage Manager Kathleen Barrett
- Assistant Stage Manager Jacqueline Saldana
- Casting Director JC Clementz
Featured Ensemble Members
Awards & Accolades
WINNER Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, 2017
FINALIST Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 2019
WINNER Drama Desk Ensemble Award, 2019
Obie Awards Special Citation, 2019
Reviews
"I have seen the future, and it is DANCE NATION." – Peter Marks, The Washington Post
“Critic's pick! Insanely talented playwright Clare Barron… conjures the passionate ambivalence of early adolescence with such being-there sharpness and poignancy. A blazingly original play [...] marvel at how close what you see cuts to the bone.” – The New York Times
PRESS
"It’s inspired by ‘Dance Moms,’ but ‘Dance Nation’ at Steppenwolf Theatre is all about the kids. And the adults they become." - Chicago Tribune
"With her play ‘Dance Nation,’ Clare Barron observes teens’ steps toward adulthood" - Chicago Sun-Times
"In Steppenwolf's Dance Nation, preteen girls—played by adults—learn to claim their space" - Chicago Reader
Late Seating Policy
Entry and re-entry to the theater is not guaranteed once a performance has begun.
Due to the intimate nature of live performance in our small theatre spaces, patrons entering after the show has started can be distracting for the performers and the rest of the audience. Alternatives will vary from production to production, and may include watching a monitor in the lobby or being shown a seat in the back of the theatre during a scene transition.
Please note that Dance Nation does not have an intermission. If you anticipate needing to leave the theatre during the show for a medical condition or emergency contact, please email access@steppenwolf.org prior to your visit. We'd love to come up with a plan that will allow us to minimize distraction while allowing you to enjoy as much of the play as possible.