Together, with, and for (PARA)
empowering diverse voices in
contemporary ballet.
Founded in 2020, PARA.MAR Dance Theatre is a Chicago-based contemporary ballet repertory company founded by award-winning choreographer Stephanie Martinez. Centered on the unique identities of its artists and audiences, we create performances and community experiences that are grounded in artistic excellence and radical accessibility.
Founder & Artistic Director, Stephanie Martinez
Fearlessly Inspired… [Martinez] is fired up like never before, exploring new mediums and platforms for her work and, honestly, making some of the best dance of her career.”
- See Chicago Dance, December 2020
Feature highlighting artists or organizations that are “shining examples of resilience, adaptability and artistry in an extraordinary year.”
“In that moment, I knew this was beyond making dance accessible. This was about making dance essential.”
- See Chicago Dance, October 2020
Founding Ensemble
Designed and curated to showcase the extraordinary versatility of the nation's best and most diverse talent, the founding ensemble represents some of the most coveted dancers in contemporary dance including Princess Grace Award winners to current and former company members and trainees of Ballet Hispanico, Amy Stewart's Imagery, Northwest Dance Project, Ballet BC, Sacramento Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.
“Providing a platform that empowers and elevates diverse artistic voices is what this company is all about.”
– Stephanie Martinez on the founding of PARA.MAR Dance Theatre
PARA.Culture
PARA.Community
PARA.You
With a focus on equity in the curation of dance-artists, dance-makers, and the administrative team, PARA.MAR is committed to being truly representative of the community it serves.
Values & Commitments
Access
We are redefining “outreach” to bring high-caliber artistic experiences to all of the communities we serve, starting with our home, Chicago. We believe everyone should have access to exceptional art, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Representation
Our focus is to promote diverse artistic voices and empower female leadership in the arts. We believe the art we make and share should be a reflection of the communities we aim to serve.
Community
Our programming and performances are designed to directly engage the communities in the neighborhoods we perform. We believe that dance can be essential in creating the connection and community that enrich our society and our bonds to one another.
Help Us Create
In a time of crisis for the arts community, Founder and Artistic Director Stephanie Martinez, employed nine dancers to create a new outdoor work in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago and provided movement classes to dancers of all ages and abilities. Each class and each performance was donation-based and free to the public.
Your support will help us bring inspired and innovative contemporary ballet performances and programming of exceptional quality to all of the neighborhoods of Chicago, and beyond.
