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‘Dance for Life’ puts the spotlight on healthcare gaps for Chicago performers

suntimes.com · 1h · first reportShare

Contemporary ballet dancer Nia Davis is in demand. Beyond performing with Visceral Dance Chicago , she also teaches at the company and at another studio in the suburbs. But juggling multiple jobs, often for financial reasons, sometimes takes a toll on her body. “I remember getting so sick because I was like, ‘I’ve got to make money,’” said Davis, of Humboldt Park. “And my health started to deplete.” Earlier this year, Davis sustained fractures in her foot that she was able to get treated quickly as a dependent on her parents’ insurance. But when she turns 26 in November, she’ll have to figure out another plan for coverage, which is not provided by her employers. “I have no idea,” she said of her next steps. “Hopefully it comes to me with ease.” Nia Davis, of Visceral Dance Chicago, said many dancers are burdened by financial insecurity on top of trying to meet the physical demands of their jobs. “There are a lot of dancers holding a lot of things in.” Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times Th