Postmark/email deadline for The Critical Fierceness Grant is 12/31!

December 28, 2009 – 00:53

critfierce_dec09

Since its founding in 2005, Chances Dances has sought to create a safe space for all gender expressions by bringing together the varied LGBTIQ communities of Chicago. The creation of the Critical Fierceness grant expands upon this goal by offering a unique opportunity for queer artistic expression. Individuals or groups who wish to utilize the Critical Fierceness Grant for artistic purposes and who identify themselves or their work as queer are encouraged to apply. Critical Fierceness supports queer artists with financial assistance of up to $500. Chances Dances is proud to provide the Critical Fierceness Grant as an opportunity for personal exploration, community development and radical change through art.

The application is available for download: here. Deadline December 31, 2009. Email chances.dances[at]gmail[dot]com for more information.

» posted by latham

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Actor Slash Model’s Riot Acts premieres Wednesday at Reeling

November 5, 2009 – 23:42

Riot_Acts_small

Critical Fierceness Grantees Actor Slash Model present their long-awaited labor of love next Wednesday November 11th as part of Chicago’s 28th Reeling Film Festival. CHECK THIS OUT!

World Premiere ~ November 11, 2009
@ Reeling Film Festival, Chicago, IL.
The Landmark Theater (Theater 7)

2828 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
Landmark  - 7pm. Purchase tickets HERE.

RIOT ACTS is a transfabulous rockumentary representing the whole lives of transgender and gender variant musicians, through a first-hand perspective of the intersections between gender performance and stage performance. This feature-length documentary highlights issues crucial to interviewees such as songwriting, voice presentation, presenting a body/bodies on stage, audiences, venues, the idea of the spectacle, media representation, performing gender and notions about “drag,” and the personal as political. The film culminates with the notions that identities and bodies are undeniably political, and that the trans experience isn’t always one of tragedy, but one of creativity and joy.

AND there will be an afterparty at The Jackhammer (6406 N. Clark)!
You can get tickets through the reeling site for both the screening and after party.

Check out the trailer below:

» posted by latham

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BABY’S GROWING UP! // CHANCES TURNS 4 YEARS OLD // CELEBRATE WITH US

September 20, 2009 – 15:30
H A P P Y   B I R T H D A Y

chances birthday banner

Hi Everybody!

This Monday, Chances will celebrate its 4th birthday! We can’t tell you how crazy/good that feels. When we started this event back in ‘05, we didn’t know what to expect: would people come? would they like it? would anyone even care? Four years and a multitude of other queer parties later, Chances remains a staple of our Chicago communities. As many of you know, we have tried to expand the role that Chances can play as “an attempt to bring together the varied LGBTIQ communities of Chicago.” We have done this in small ways, like giving out mix CD’s at Off Chances, and larger ways as well, such as our critical participation in the ‘07 Chicago Gay Pride  Parade and our introduction of The Critical Fierceness Grant, a micro-grant for local queer artists, in 2008.

As always, Chances has been run in a non-profit style, though without an fancy 501(c)3 status. For anyone who’s ever worked in the non-profit sector, you also know that this means a fair amount of exhaustion, exasperation, etc comes with the territory. Our ability to maintain this event is largely due to both your support, and the fact that Chances is always evolving. It, at any point, can be whatever Chicago needs it to be.

This Monday, it would mean a lot to me if you all could come and celebrate with us. Mostly because Chances is not something that we organizers have made, but rather it is a complex negotiation between us and our community.  Chances would not be anything without your support, your attendance, your advice, your work for your community, your desire to live in a better and safer world, your encouragement, your performativity, your belief in yourself and others, your love of our awesome city and, of course, your beautiful sexy dancing self!

SOOOOO………..

LETS PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Monday September 21st!

CHANCES
–featuring–
DJs Nina Ramone, The Lady Speedstick,
Selector Self and special guest Cody Critcheloe from SSION play your jams!
a BADASS BIRTHDAY CAKE (by local artist Pilar Tena)!
A SLIDESHOW!
FOUR YEARS OF CHANCES MEMORABILIA!

**Chances functions as an attempt to bring together the factionalized LGBTIQ communities, cliques, or otherwise grouped-apart queers of Chicago. It happens on the third Monday of every month at Subterranean**

LETS MAKE THIS THE BEST ONE YET!!!

Peace and Love,

Team Chances (Aay, Ethan, Latham, Mel, and Rita

» posted by ethan

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Announcing the July 2009 Critical Fierceness Grantees!!!

July 21, 2009 – 17:11
Chances Dances Presents:
The Critical Fierceness Grant

***A micro-grant for queer art in Chicago***

Congratulations to Actor Slash Model, Marian Runk, and RAWR! for being
the July 2009 winners of The Critical Fierceness Grant!

About the Projects:

Actor Slash Model // Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Defiance in Music Performance (Documentary Film)

The Actor Slash Model film Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Defiance in Music Performance is committed to representing the whole lives of transgender and gender variant musicians, though a first-hand perspective of the intersections between gender performance and stage performance. http://actorslashmodel.com

Marian Runk // Best Friend (Mini-Comic)

A 24-panel story of the evolution and dissolution of a queer girl’s childhood best-friendship, referencing the lingering effect that early friendships, attachments, and losses can have on our adult selves. http://marianrunk.com

bestfriend

Jakob VanLammeren // RAWR! (Radical Awesome Writers Resisting!) (Creative Writing Group / Youth Workshop)

A youth-led creative writing program aimed at providing the tools, space, and support for LGBTQA youth and allies experiencing homelessness to feel empowered through writing, as it functions both as an art form and as an act of resistance against oppression. About the Broadway Youth Center, RAWR!’s home: http://www.howardbrown.org/hb_services.asp?id=50

“The Person on the Other Side” by Jasen Williams
excerpted from Together Beyond Body: An Anthology of Youth Writing,
edited by Jakob VanLammeren and Katy Howe

The Person on the Other Side

With my love,
my affection toward the feeling
that I first started with
never changed,
never seen,
never understood.
New doors,
new feeling,
new chances to change
the outlook on life.
Maybe a new person
can change me,
maybe I am fit for this person
that’s in front of me
staring into this reflection
in this place that has no entry
or exit, but only if I am the one
that can open or make doors.
Why I am weak to the spirit
and the soul, not the body?
The kindness of the spirit
that connects the body,
that attaches the soul
of the Almighty reflection
in the mirror that makes
the person that is not respected
by the healthiness of the spirit,
of this reflection.
Whom is this reflection
that you keep speaking of?
The one that is not respected
by the one he is talking about?
It’s me.

++Also check out this article on The Critical Fierceness Grant on the Think Pink Radio Blog

Thank you so much to all our applicants, who all deserve to be funded,
even if we are unable to at this time.
Thanks to all the folks who have come to Chances over the years.
Your continued support is what makes this grant possible.

Peace and Love
Aay, Ethan, Latham, Mel and Rita AKA Team Chances

» posted by latham

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Harry Potter: The Musical / New Off Chances Mix!

July 17, 2009 – 10:35


Harry Potter: The Musical

Check out this mix by The Lady Speedstick. All the pathos, horror, teen angst, and sexual subplots - both real and embellished - boiled down into one sick love potion for all you muggles and squibs. Hit it while its hot!

Download Harry Potter The Musical MP3

Subscribe to the Off Chances Podcast using iTunes

PS>If you haven’t already, check out the Off Chances podcast, become a subscriber, stream our mixes, download artwork, etc at our podcast page: http://offchances.podbean.com

» posted by latham

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Chances presents: MEN live at Berlin, July 10th

July 8, 2009 – 21:46

MEN flyer 7/10/09

MEN, featuring JD Samson of Le Tigre, Michael O’Neill and Ginger Brooks Takahashi, will take the stage at Berlin on Friday. After-party with Chances DJs Nina Ramone and The Lady Speedstick, after after party featuring Berlin’s own Greg Haus.

“MEN is a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective that focuses on the energy of live performance and radical potential of dance music. MEN speaks to issues such as wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding liberties through lyrical content and an exciting stage show.”

I think things might get a little epic.

Video: “Off Our Backs” (Dir. K8 Hardy)

» posted by aay

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Lady Miss Kier vs. Lady Miss Navy Pier

June 27, 2009 – 17:12

Post-Parade Madness @ Berlin tomorrow 4p-10p

Pride 09 Flyer

Chances homegrlz rvsp your name to stardust@berlinchicago.com for a discount of the cover!

» posted by aay

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Go on, get it

June 17, 2009 – 22:41

Daaaanng homegrlz left at least THREE missed connections from Monday’s Chances. I mean sometimes we get like one, but folks must be sprung on some ish…. it’s all dudes though, where are the ladies at? Anyways, holler at your peoples - reposts below for your make-out convenience!

Missed u at Chances Monday - m4m - 26 (wicker)

Reply to: pers-nmnuq-1224299815@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-06-17, 12:40AM CDT

I didn’t see you at Sub Monday night. You were at Dannys week before looking hot….like you always do. You have dark hair, can work that dance floor, and carry a really tiny ….(very small) cell phone from what I recall. I randomly gave you a beer. Remember?

apparently we know each other through r***** - m4m - 27 (chances)

Reply to: pers-myvaw-1225086929@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-06-16, 6:09PM CDT

you accosted me as i was walking into subt last night, then again downstairs by the restrooms. then i got distracted.. just trying to figure out who you are. cheers.

lost chance at chances - m4m - 32 (wicker park)

Reply to: pers-6sdp9-1224840849@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-06-16, 3:42PM CDT

saw you at chances dances last night (6-15).
me: tie die shirt
you: bearded with red t-shirt

i could tell that you were interested but then your lady friend (wearing spandex shorts) visibly dissapproved of my boyish good looks. it made me sad.
so….
don’t show your lady friend this post and give me another chance.

» posted by aay

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Yours Truly @ Chances Tonight! Start some TROUBLE….

June 15, 2009 – 17:13

Lucky Geminis, you always get the best birthday weather and everyone wants to come out to see you. So cut up some cut-offs and come out tonight!

CHANCES!!!

DJ set by Yours Truly (Jean Genet Ramsey, Walt Hitman & the Marquis de Shar-day)
Monday, June 15th 10p-2a
at the Subterranean - 2011 W. North Ave.

we’ve got a lot of new jams for you. Birthday grl Jean Genet wants to get a little clubby. Is that a Madonna sample I hear? Recent Madonna, no less. Video could use a little help though, how many times can we watch homegirl get her nails did?

I myself have been FEELING this business as of late. Weird to see Gossip on a major now, working with RICK RUBIN? They’re still killing though. The video is mad decent too. Are you feeling the Kenneth Anger/Stevie Nicks vibe? Can’t wait for the tour dates to drop…

be there

» posted by aay

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new off-chances mix is up!

June 10, 2009 – 16:49

cyborg_cover

that’s right folks, the freshly mixed “last night a cyborg saved my life,” created by yours truly, john twatters, has been posted to the off chances podcast and is now available for your electronically-augmented pleasure. visit the off chances mix cd website for the tracklist and mp3 download, or just use this handy lil player:

» posted by ethan

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