My name is Mark Gonzalez, and I am a Chicago-based dance artist, choreographer, and educator born and raised from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. I recently had the privilege of presenting my choreographic work "Con Ganas" at Dance City Festival: Detroit, where it was honored as an International Standout Choreographer selection. As a result, "Con Ganas" has been invited for presentation at the ARTSinTANK Festival in Korea in July 2026.

"Con Ganas" was originally commissioned for New Dances 2024, a collaboration between DanceWorks Chicago and Thodos Dance Chicago, and has since continued to grow and evolve through festival presentations. The work is a tribute to the generational light, strength, and wisdom that have paved the way for us—rooted in the sacrifices of those who came before, carried by those who walk the path today, and igniting the passion of those yet to come.

Told through my personal lens of a Mexican-American choreographer, "Con Ganas" embodies the spirit of perseverance, pride, and collective resilience that defines my community. While the cast is multicultural, their collaboration reflects the unifying message at the heart of the work—how diverse voices can move together through shared humanity, strength, and purpose. This project also embodies the richness and vitality of Chicago’s diverse dance community, featuring artists from various cultural and artistic backgrounds who are actively engaged with organizations within the Chicago Dance Community.

With airfare estimated at $1,250 per artist, any donation contributed to our GoFundMe would make a meaningful direct impact toward our total goal of $10,000—helping us bring this Chicago-born work and its message of perseverance and unity to an international audience.

Beyond the performance, we have also been invited to participate in Suwollae, an international collaborative workshop and performance where artists from around the world share the stage and exchange creative practices with Korean peers. This opportunity fosters cross-cultural dialogue, community connection, and the positive representation of Chicago artists abroad.

This opportunity also represents a pivotal step in my growth as a choreographer, expanding my work beyond national borders and deepening my perspective as a cultural storyteller. As a Chicago-based Mexican-American artist, engaging with international peers will broaden my creative vision, strengthen my leadership as an independent creator, and lay the groundwork for future cross-cultural collaborations that elevate Chicago’s dance community worldwide.

Through "Con Ganas", we seek not only to perform but to share stories of strength, lineage, and hope—bridging communities through dance and celebrating the enduring human spirit within a global context.