From footwork to drill teams, dancers in the historic Bud Billiken Parade brought the latest steps to the streets of Bronzeville each year. From the 1940s-1960s, local filmmaker Ramon Williams captured the scene, and his rare footage is now preserved and publicly accessible through the South Side Home Movie Project digital archive.
This summer, young dancers in APL’s Choreographic Arts Program collaborated with the SSHMP and a host of choreographers and dancers to explore dance history as depicted in these films, and to create a contemporary performance inspired by the roots of South Side dance.
Join us for an evening of dance moves spanning decades of South Side history, and a glimpse of new steps in advance of this year’s parade on August 8.
SSHMP is proud to join the 97th annual parade this year with a mobile screen showing vintage film of the parade.
Guest Performers
DJ Tre Daniels
Tre Daniels is a Chicago-based DJ, House dancer, educator, and cultural organizer creating vibrant, community-driven dance experiences. As founder of Jus.Be House Collective, Tre curates performances, workshops, and events that unite movement, music, and culture. Their work centers House dance history, accessibility, and emerging artists while strengthening connections across Chicago’s creative scene. Whether DJing, teaching, or producing events, Tre delivers high-energy experiences grounded in education, authenticity, and collective joy.
Taraja Mumbeja [Mu-be-uh]
Taraja Mumbeja is a Chicago-based artist, dancer, educator, model, entrepreneur, and community organizer. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Hip-Hop Studies from Columbia College Chicago. Rooted in House dance and culture, her movement is shaped by training with BraveSoul Movement, Kuumba Lynx, and Hiplet. Taraja teaches with Chicago Public Schools and After School Matters, inspiring the next generation through dance. She is also the founder of Qween Sh!t, an all-women’s dance battle that celebrates diverse dance styles while fostering an inclusive, nonjudgmental space centered on empowerment, creativity, freedom of movement, and community.
Aaliyah Christina, Praise Mother Squad
Born in Ruston, Louisiana and raised across Louisiana, Maryland, and Texas, Aaliyah Christina creates and supports performance work as an administrator, curator, movement artist, and writer. She choreographs & scores dances and writes poetic stories about relationship & power dynamics, mental health, and Blackness as a resident on the Southside of Chicago. She created her award-winning project Praise Mother and its accompanying squad known as PRAISE MOTHER SQUAD in order to re-investigate the expansiveness of Black majorette dance (aka j-sette), and perform stories about generational mental health, reproductive justice, and queer/chosen family dynamics.
Stylez, Prophecy Footwork Crew
The Prophecy Footwork Crew is a prominent, globally recognized Chicago Footwork dance and entertainment group. Famous for their rapid-fire, intricate footwork and appearances on platforms like Hulu and VH1, they host instructional workshops and perform at various live events.