See Chicago Dance to Host 2026 BOLD IMPACT Gala at Venue West
José Luis Ovalle González and Jan Feldman will receive the Legacy and Distinguished Service Awards.
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See Chicago Dance will present the 2026 BOLD IMPACT Gala, taking place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 5:30-9:00 PM at Venue West. The annual benefit celebration honors individuals who have made a lasting mark on Chicago's dance community. This year, See Chicago Dance will recognize two such figures: José Luis Ovalle González, Founder and Director of the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago, who will receive the Legacy Award; and Jan Feldman, Executive Director of Lawyers for the Creative Arts, who will receive the Distinguished Service Award.
The Legacy Award is presented to an artistic leader who has enriched their community and made a significant and sustained impact on dance in Chicago. The Distinguished Service Award is presented to those who make vital contributions to the health and vibrancy of the Chicago dance sector.
Individual tickets are available at $350, with table sponsorships starting at $3,500. Tables are available for parties of 10. The evening will include a welcome reception, dinner, performances, video tributes, a paddle raise and a celebration of the Chicago dance community at its most vibrant. Capacity is approximately 275 guests.
Proceeds from the Gala underwrite See Chicago Dance's programs, services and operational expenses-supporting an organization whose work connects and champions dancers and audiences across the city for over 20 years.
José Luis Ovalle González
(Legacy Award) was born in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and came to Chicago in 1973 at the age of 14. His introduction to dance came through a program led by Ms. Balbina Solano of the Ballet Folklórico Azteca, an experience that would shape the rest of his life. González went on to receive a formal dance education at the Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango and began teaching dance in 1978. In 1982, González founded the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago, which has since performed at Harris Theater, Chicago Theater, Auditorium Theater, Ravinia, and Pritzker Pavilion, among others. In 1994, MFDC represented Mexico in the Opening Ceremonies for the USA World Cup. As Artistic Director, González has championed cultural and artistic programming for Chicago students that preserves and elevates the traditions of Mexican dance.
Jan Feldman
(Distinguished Service Award) has served as Executive Director of Lawyers for the Creative Arts since 2014, bringing a career rooted in litigation and nonprofit leadership to one of the arts community's most vital service organizations. Prior to joining LCA, he held board president positions at the People's Music School, Arts Bridge, and Mostly Music Chicago. Under his leadership, LCA has expanded its educational programming through workshops and services covering governance, financial planning, and workplace safety. In 2022, he was named to Musical America Worldwide's Top Professionals of the Year list for his leadership during the challenges of the pandemic.
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