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One of my favorite elements of Urban Gateways’ annual Art for All Gala is the performances. Over the past several years we’ve seen incredible live ballet, hip hop, spoken word, Mexican folkloric dance, jazz music…the list goes on.

This year’s Gala is just two weeks out (Friday, March 20) and we’ll be celebrating and supporting arts education for Chicago students in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago for the second year running. It’s no secret to Chicagoans that the venue is gorgeous, and to see live performances in this particular space is truly a special occasion. Here are a few more details on the jazz, magic, Spanish dance, West African music, and R&B that will keep the mood flowing:

The Second Hand Three (Plus One) – This jazz trio (or in this case quartet, as they’ll be featuring a sax player) is an Urban Gateways favorite and includes teaching artist Michael Riendeau on the drums. They’ll be making the cocktail hour even swankier. Here they are playing at last year’s Gala:

The Spellbinder – Walter King Jr. is an Urban Gateways touring artist, and I’ve personally had the privilege of seeing him perform for a high school crowd AND for Urban Gateways supporters at Artini 2014 (pictured below). His stage name fits, because both audiences were equally spellbound by his magic and illusions.

Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater – Authentic attire, all the grace of professional dance, and flamenco flair. There could hardly be a better way to get the party ramped up. These wonderful dancers are also Urban Gateways touring artists.

Kershaw Elementary Students and Teaching Artist Josh Guy – These students have been devotedly learning all about West African Music and Culture with Josh during an in-school artist residency, and they will be showing off their newly acquired skills at the Gala. Including a live student performance is, we feel, a critical way of showing you how impactful arts education can be.

The Remedy – A Chicago R&B male vocalist group, as seen on “America’s Got Talent.” These four incredible musicians grew up in high-poverty neighborhoods on Chicago’s south side and found music through a determination to discover something better for themselves; they call their music “feel good music”. If you’re lucky, as I was two Fridays ago, you might catch them performing on a CTA platform. I nearly missed my train.

Below, The Remedy performs for the office staff at Urban Gateways and for a CTA crowd:

Reserve tickets to celebrate Art for All on March 20 and see these amazing performers RIGHT HERE. >>

Thanks to generous sponsors of the Art for All Gala: