Inaugural MIDWEST robot & animation dance EXPERIENCE

Devil’s in the details

PAST FEATURED ARTISTS

  • Prototype

    JUDGE, WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR, TECH DEMO PRESENTER

  • Keumsae

    JUDGE, WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR, SHOWCASE ARTIST

  • Tea-Buggz

    JUDGE, WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR

  • Clocks

    SHOWCASE ARTIST, WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR

  • Eclypse, The Millennium Robot

    SHOWCASE ARTIST

  • Rift

    SHOWCASE ARTIST

  • Murky

    SHOWCASE ARTIST

  • Sid Tucky

    DJ

  • Rio McFly

    MC

  • Dino Crisanti

    TECH DEMO PRESENTER

  • Drew Dominguez

    TECH DEMO PRESENTER

REGISTRATION

  • Tickets will be available for sale soon.

  • Online sign ups for the 1v1 robot and animation battle will be available soon.

  • Tickets for workshops and tech demos will be available for sale soon.

  • Battle Rules

    TOP 16: ROBOT/ANIMATION 101

    2 ROUNDS, 1.5 MINUTES EACH

    Round 1: Character

    Demonstrate your unique character and how you approach robot/animation.

    Round 2: Textures

    Demonstrate mastery over multiple textures such as dime stops, bounces, ticking, sinbadding, and vibrations.

  • Battle Rules

    TOP 8 & TOP 4: RANDOMIZED CONCEPTS

    2 ROUNDS, 2 MINUTES EACH

    Each round, a random concept will be drawn from 1 of 4 hats.

    In order to survive, you must demonstrate mastery and push creatively within the topic provided. Both dancers in the same battle will use the same concept.

    Concepts may repeat across the bracket, but not everyone will get the same ones.

  • Battle Rules

    CONCEPT HATS

    TOP 8

    Round 1:

    Musical Layers
    Misdirection
    Groove

    Round 2:

    Weight & Gravity
    Patience
    Speed Changes

  • Battle Rules

    CONCEPT HATS

    TOP 4

    Round 1:

    Micro
    Broken Frame
    Levels/360

    Round 2:

    Malfunctions
    Cause & Effect
    Object Oriented

  • Battle Rules

    TOP 2: CHOOSE THE CONCEPTS

    3 ROUNDS, 2 MINUTES EACH

    Round 1: Finalist 1’s Choice

    Round 2: Finalist 2’s Choice

    Round 3: Judges’ Choice

    The judges and competitors will choose concepts from the remaining concepts that neither finalist used.

Donate

Devil’s in the Details is Chicago’s first festival dedicated to robot and animation dance—styles born from Black street performance traditions and shaped by the technology of their time. This two-day event blends dance battles, workshops, live music, and technology demonstrations to celebrate the deep creativity, cultural legacy, and evolution of these styles.

From street performance-inspired showcases to a concept-driven battle, Devil’s in the Details offers a one-of-a-kind platform for dancers to explore, innovate, and share their craft. Your support helps us preserve the roots of robot and animation, invest in artist development, and make this cultural experience accessible to more people.

Help us build the future by donating today.