Your support is a vital investment in the future of contemporary dance.
Be the change.
PARA.MAR Dance Theatre is uniquely suited for this moment. We believe we can be a part of creating a permanent cultural shift within the dance and arts community so that diverse voices are always welcome and always empowered.
Your support is essential in making that change possible.
All are welcome.
PARA.MAR Dance Theatre was founded in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic as a response to what Founder and Artistic Director, Stephanie Martinez identified as a displacement of extraordinary artists and the concern that the loss of these artists in our industry and our city would not recover for generations. While some more established companies shut their doors, Stephanie Martinez built a home and invited all to come in.
Using her unique vision, passion, and community connections – Martinez created a company and produced her first work to sold-out (socially distant) audiences desperate for connection and hope through live arts. The feedback and support was tremendous and the overwhelming message was to “keep going”.
Your support is fundamental to the sustainability of this promising new voice and vision in contemporary ballet.
Walking the Walk.
Access.
With access as the company’s north star, PARA.MAR is dedicated to removing any barriers to participating in high-quality dance experiences, importantly – one’s ability to pay.
Our pay-what-you-can model is designed for just that purpose. Donations are prioritized to create free community performance, programming, and training.
We are also committed to provide support and mentorship to any future dancer, choreographer, leader, or administrator who seeks to learn – regardless of antiquated barriers such as age, ability, training, or socio-economic status.
Representation.
Each choice we make aims to honor and reflect the unique identities of the audiences and communities it serves.
From the artists, to the audience, to the administrative team, and importantly to leadership, diverse representation is as essential and intentional as the art itself. From culture to creation, a voice and perspective like Martinez’s is an important addition to the cultural landscape of Chicago and the broader dance community at large.
Community.
We believe that dance can be essential in creating the connection and community that enrich our society and our bonds to one another.
Our programming, performances, and partnerships are designed to directly engage and uplift the communities in the neighborhoods we perform.
Our generous supporters.
An investment in PARA.MAR Dance Theatre is an investment in Chicago and the future of dance.
With your support, our commitment to access, representation, and community is the acknowledgement of your commitment as well. We hope you’ll join us.
Founding Pillars
($20,000 +)
Diane Matthews
Gloria Matthews
Jackson Legacy Foundation
Amy & Chad Williams
Founding Visionaries
($10,000 +)
New England Foundation for the Arts
Founding Innovators
($5,000 +)
Mica & Trent Alexander
DCASE
Ginger Farley
Elizabeth Seebeck Memorial Gift
Mondira & Debarshi Sengupta
Rachel Northway
Shamrock International
Founding Circle
($2,500 +)
Steve Agase
Steve Cohen
Anna Lazar
Beth & Jim Masterson
Jennifer Edgcomb
Katherine Puffer
Mary Martinez
in remembrance of Lizzy
Megan & Reed Schuster
Patti Eylar
David Hahn & Vanessa Valecillos
The MacArthur Funds for Culture, Equity, and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation
Paul Tulloch
The Pritzker Group
Founding Pioneers
($1,000 +)
Rishi Agrawal
John Bokina
Sean, Teri & Zoe Bormet
Chris Brannan with
a matching grant from Pritzker Group
Tarah Brown-Hartung
Tehra Buntrock
Jose Cerda
Antonia Contro
Pamela Crutchfield
Mark Dow
John Freiburger
Tom & Mark Ferguson Gomez
Venu Gupta
Patrick Gonder
Karen Jones
Keely & Angie Jones
Terri & Chris Kayser
Christine Kerber
Kimberly LaBounty
Catherine & Joe LaPlante-Guine
Xavier & Khadija Laurens
Ramiro Martinez
Renee McFalls
Eileen Moss
Massimo Pacilli
Monica C. Stevens
David Tilghman
Angel Torres
Melissa Erke
Ivy Lerner
Michael Wilczynski
Katharine Burns
David & Rhonda Henricksen
Helen Castro
Founding Champions
($750 +)
Anonymous (2)
Claire Boardman
Sue & Randy Braverman
Jane Cahill
Rey Candelaria
Julie Burman-Kaplan
The Ami and Ilongo Gopalan Legacy Trust
Mike & Marcia Yocum
Founding Partners
($500 +)
Kyrsten Bryant
Gwendolyn Hatten Butler
Charles Gardner
Kathryn & Todd Gierke
Hannah Johnson
Dini Li Knicker
Billy Lawless
Stanley Matthews
Hanh Thuc Nguyen
Julie O’Connell
Sterling Richards
Sheryl Schulze
Kaja Stiglic
Anthony Stull
Thomas Thorne-Thomsen
Jeanine Urnbanski
Founding Advocates
($250 +)
Anonymous (4)
Douglas Altschul
Alexia Bauer
Bob Bennitt
Jason Burrell
Sarita Connelly
Boni Fine
Tiffiny Flaim
Ruslana Friedman
Jennifer Garner
Veronica Guadalupe
Elyssa Hartman
Seth Hoff
Kenny Ingram
Ron De Jesus
Jennifer Kaiser
Rosalyn Kalantari
Janet Kiefer
Karen Koval
Scott Ladue
Tony Larson
Winita Lau
Eunia Lee
Mary Lou Marinas
Kevin McGirr
Elizabeth McNicholas
Julia Mellow
Carol Montag
Eddy Ocampo
Margaret & Collin Palmer
Bradley Potter
Irma Reyes
Betsy Tilghman
Tara Tometich
Daniel Tyrrell
Irma Reyes
Paul Sack
Ana Carolina Sachs
Elizabeth Shaw
Kia Smith
Thomas Sinkovic
Samuel Stern
Lisa Swaney
Amy Vaughn
Brannon Wiles
Edmund Yomtoob
Founding Friends
($100 +)
Anonymous (7)
Jonathan Alsberry
Bre Flory-Altschul
Ulf Anvin
Joanne Armenio
Tamra Armour
Elaine Arnst
Bryan Ashley
Claude Battat
Jessica Beauchemin
Sofia Bello
Adam Blyde
Thomas Bordenkircher
Dominique Boyde
Anita Brewton
Anthony Cannon
John Caroll
Sooyeon Chung
Kerry Cleland
Sandi Cooksey
Stefany Cotton
Lucas Crandall
Patricia Culbertson
Deborah Darr
Nancy DeDakis
Scott Deininger
Martina DeLaurentis
Emily Dick
Paul Do
Jen Donohoo
Willard Dumas
Grace Esler
Benji Feldheim
Chappell Ferrin
Anthony Flaim
Debbi Flores
Kelly Fidrick
Sarah Fluegel
Kathleen Flynn
Carol Fox
Felix Friedman
Sissy Funk
Elizabeth Gleason
Jonathan Goldman
Robert Gosnell
Christina Greif
Joanne Haas
Jeff Hancock
Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell
Meredith Harrill
Nancy Hawkins
Jeremy Hill
Suzanne Hisler
Matthew Hoffman
Jennifer Iverson
Joseph Kayser
Marina Khusid
Mackenzie King
Ethan Kirschbaum
Park Krausen
Phyllis Kuhlman
Laura Lakin
Olivia Lemmenes
Jason Loffredo
Scott Lundius
Terrence Marling
Ryan Martin
George Marquisos
Tom Mattingly
Harrison McEldowney
Declan McGovern
L. Heather Mitchell
Andrew Murdock
Jay Nowak
Regan O’Brien
Kat O’Connor
Thomas O’Keefe
Josephine Pavlisan
Miguel Perez
Michael Pietrzak
Pliny The Elder
Joanna Quealy
Heather Ramsey
Julia & Patrick Ryan
Megan Rhoads
Eryn Richard
Fernando Rodriguez
Hadassah Rosen
Ihsan Rustem
Paul Sack
Cesar Salinas
Wade Schaaf
Sara Stewart-Schumann
Tom Segal
Jeffery Sellers
Kevin Shannon
Scott Silberstein
Silvino da Silva
Sara Slawnik
Kenneth Sliwa
Jonathan Sloven
C. Bradford Smith
Kathryne Starzec
Drew Stern
Jonathan Stern
James Tennant
Linda Thompson
Braden Tilghman
James Tilghman
Matt & Jiwon Tilghman
Mike Tomas
Anat Unruh
Karthik Velu
Stephanie Villinski
Dennis Vos
Sally Wagenmaker
Eric Wallbruch
Donna & Jay Williams
Meredith Wilson
Kimberly & Atlas Wong
Gina Wrolstad
Ahmad Zabad
