Black Female-Led Dance Company Celebrates 12 Years, Will Make History at Chicago’s Largest Blues Festival


Ennerèssa LaNette, the founder and CEO of Praize Productions, Inc. (PPI), a Chicago-based dance company and arts organization, has much to celebrate. LaNette’s company reached an impressive milestone, celebrating its 12th anniversary season this year. And now PPI will also participate in the inaugural Millennium Park Residency Program (MPRP), joining three other highly respected cultural organizations.

The program, organized by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, offers resources and a platform for select organizations to showcase their work during Millennium Park’s vibrant summer season.

On June 4, PPI is scheduled to captivate a sold-out audience with its unique fusion of dance and storytelling on the iconic Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage. Under the guidance of an esteemed Black female leadership team, PPI is dedicated to giving voice to the stories and experiences of Black artists through their work. By maintaining strong connections to the community and fostering social consciousness, PPI’s influence extends beyond the stage, inspiring future generations of artists and change-makers. The organization consistently provides high-quality performances rivaling those of non-minority-led dance companies. The company’s dedication to its craft has resulted in outstanding success and recognition at both local and national levels.

“We at PPI feel incredibly privileged to be part of the first-ever Millennium Park Residency cohort. Being a Black-led organization hailing from the South Side of Chicago, we can’t help but feel that this is a truly special chance for our city and the world to see the amazing talent that our community has to offer,” said LaNette. “Our hearts are deeply committed to working towards giving a voice, platform, and opportunities to professional artists of color, and we couldn’t be more excited about this journey.”

Praize Productions, Inc. will present a one-of-a-kind photography installation called “The Rhythm Within Our Blues” for this year’s Blues Festival. It incorporates life-size photographs depicting the history and authentic culture of Blues music through the lens of professional photographers of color from Chicago’s South Side. They include Amber Green, Seed Lynn, and Tony Smith.

Festivalgoers can expect to be imaginatively transported to Bronzeville, Chicago’s blues district, and witness  images of historical landmarks, blues artists, and much more. This new addition to the Blues Festival, the largest festival in Chicago, adds to the artistic richness and deep appreciation of blues music and its greats. The festival runs from June 8-11.


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