Annual Appeal 2025

Dear EDE Family,

This time of year always brings us back to gratitude—and to you. Your support lifts up young dancers, opens doors for new audiences, and fuels the creative work that defines the Evanston Dance Ensemble. We are deeply grateful for your belief in our mission.

Thanks to donors like you, our 29th season has already been filled with creativity, collaboration, and connection. Highlights from this fall include ede2’s “Free Workshop for Littles,” a company field trip to see Giordano Dance Chicago, ede2’s performance at the Evanston Arts Council gala, and sold-out performances of Flip the Script: The Young Choreographers Project. One parent recently wrote to us about the professionalism of our young dancers: “The level of discipline is amazing! And it is a mark of the culture of Dance Center Evanston and the Evanston Dance Ensemble of which I am very proud.”

And this is only the beginning! We are now preparing for our holiday performance with the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. In March, the Ensemble returns to the Louis Theater for Ramble On, a dynamic exploration of Rock & Roll music, culture, and attitude. This season also marks the 15th anniversary of ede2, our touring outreach company. To honor this milestone, ede2 is investing deeply in the production elements of The Little Dancer, premiering in April. With fresh choreography, imaginative design, and storytelling created to captivate young audiences, this performance will be a celebratory culmination of ede2’s impact.

Our programs and performances create opportunities for hundreds of young people to engage in the art of dance—and this work is only possible because of generous community members like you. Individual gifts make up nearly 60% of our annual budget. Your support ensures that we can offer free workshops, create ambitious new productions, and provide meaningful opportunities for young dancers to grow.

We hope you will consider making a tax-deductible gift today. All donors will be recognized on our website and in our spring program.

Thank you for your generosity and for being an essential part of the EDE family.

With sincere appreciation,

The Evanston Dance Ensemble Board of Directors

P.S. Don't miss EDE's special video celebration of Jump for Joy, our adaptive community dance program for young people with disabilities.

Board of Directors

• Chris Wallace, President
• Lisa Lauren, Vice-President
• Parag Bhayani, Treasurer
• Melissa Schleicher, Secretary
• Zephyr Balch
• Lauren Biolsi
• Ryan Buhl
• Alex Powers
• Béa Rashid, Founder
• Milner Seifert
• Johan Tabora