Chicago’s premier popping event, Out of the Shadows Vol. IV, returns this May 9-11, 2025. Hosted by Shadow Puppetz, this three-day festival is expected to draw over 200 dancers and spectators from around the globe for an immersive experience featuring workshops, battles, showcases, live music, and art. 

In the first weekend of the new year, Shadow Puppetz had the privilege of collaborating with 10K Movement on their Crobar Circuit Popping Battle in Cleveland, Ohio. This partnership exemplified our shared commitment to uplifting and showcasing the Midwest’s popping dance culture. In a region where communities are more dispersed, fostering collaboration like this is vital for strengthening connections, amplifying talent, and creating opportunities that might not exist otherwise. 

We’re excited to share an important update to our weekly sessions, now renamed Sunday Funkday in honor of Electric Funkateer’s legacy. For decades, the Electric Funkateers have been a cornerstone of Chicago’s popping community, leaving a lasting impact that continues to shape the dance scene today. Founded in 1980, they played a foundational role in establishing and nurturing the art form in our region, and we are proud to carry their tradition forward.

We’re proud to share our 2024 Annual Report, which reflects on a year of significant growth and transformation–made possible by your continued support. Inside, you’ll find key insights from our community, including the results of our annual survey, a message from our co-founders Alex and Tanya, and a breakdown of the impact our programs have had locally and nationally. We’ve also provided a transparent financial overview to show how your contributions have been put to work.

In December, we hosted Sleigh da Funk, our inaugural novice popping battle, designed to give new dancers their first taste of competitive popping in a welcoming, supportive environment. The event also showcased the progress we’ve made in creating inclusive spaces for women, with all of our top 4 finalists being women—an inspiring achievement in a male-dominated scene. Events like Sleigh da Funk play a critical role in offering entry points for dancers to grow, take risks, and build confidence, ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender or experience level, has a place to thrive.

We’re thrilled to announce that Out of the Shadows, Shadow Puppetz’s annual popping festival, has been selected to receive partial funding by the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).

We are excited to announce that Tatiana “Tanya” Armendariz, Co-Founder of Shadow Puppetz and Founder of Flow First Waving Collective, has been honored with the DanceChance Award by Chicago DanceMakers Forum. This award provided Tanya with a unique opportunity to choreograph and perform an original work that showcased waving, a style she has been championing throughout her career.

We believe that great dancing comes from exploration, and that exploration can only happen in a space that values trust, respect, and transparency.