Hedwignites 41 Anniversary Gala + Awards Ceremony
Join Hedwig Dances in celebrating a legacy in motion and a vision of 41 years and counting!
Thursday, June 25, 2026
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
The Arts Club of Chicago
201 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611
We invite you to join us for an evening of celebration as we honor 40+ years of artistic achievement, the enduring spirit of our dance community and to honor an esteemed member of our dance community — Michael McStraw for his outstanding leadership and for his work in preserving dance history through the Chicago Dance History Project.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
5:30 PM | PRE-PERFORMANCE RECEPTION
Mingle with the company’s internationally-acclaimed artistic directors, dancers
& our enduring dance community!
Passed Hors D’oeuvres, Wine, and Refreshments
Featuring Hedwig Dances’ outstanding dancers performing a selection of on-site dances
6:00 PM | WELCOME
Amanda Zinn, Hedwig Dances Board President
ARTISTIC REMARKS
Jan Bartoszek, Artistic Director/Founder
6:15 PM | KEYNOTE ADDRESS, AWARD PRESENTATION + VIDEO
Julia Mayer, Executive Director of See Chicago Dance presenting
Michael McStraw
Executive Director, Chicago Dance History Project (outgoing)
Interim President and CEO, Harris Theater for Music and Dance (incoming)
6:30 PM | FUND THE NEED
7:30 pm | CLOSING REMARKS & TOAST
Honorees
Michael McStraw
Michael McStraw, outgoing Executive Director of Chicago Dance History Project (CDHP) and incoming interim Chief Executive Officer of the Harris Theater, is a member of and fierce advocate for the Chicago performing arts community. As a professional dancer, arts administrator, educator, board member, and patron, Michael has been a positive influence in the community for 40 years. He holds a BS degree in Geology from Allegheny College, an MFA in Dance from the University of Michigan, and served as an agricultural extension agent in the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, West Africa. He performed extensively with the area’s premier contemporary dance companies, including Mordine & Company Dance Theater and Jan Erkert & Dancers. Prior to joining CDHP, Michael was honored to serve as Giordano Dance Chicago’s Executive Director for 13 years. Michael is past President and Board Member for See Chicago Dance, Chicago’s dance service organization, a current Trustee of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, and Chicago Tribune’s “2022 Chicagoan of the Year in Dance.”