Connection in a time of isolation: Steve “Bearly Normal” Discont on Shadow Puppetz’s impact during the pandemic and beyond

Before the pandemic, Chicago’s funk dance scene was small and fragmented, with no consistent spaces to gather, connect, and train. Shadow Puppetz was still just beginning, working to revitalize the community by hosting weekly popping sessions and preparing for the first edition of Out of the Shadows. Then COVID-19 shut down studios and events, putting an already fragile ecosystem at risk of dissipating.

With Out of the Shadows officially postponed, Shadow Puppetz was determined to keep weekly sessions alive. We moved outdoors to California Park, and in an unexpected development, found it was exactly the spark we needed. Participation grew rapidly as more people came searching for an outlet during a time of isolation and social distancing.

Steve “Bearly Normal” Discont was one of those new faces. At first, attending the weekly sessions was just a way to get out of the house during the long, solitary weeks of lockdown, but it soon became about much more. “I've stayed because I found a community through Shadow Puppetz,” Steve says. “One where I can grow my artistic expression alongside people who care about it as well.”

When restrictions began to lift, Steve decided to give back to the community that had helped him feel like he belonged. He became more involved by volunteering at Out of the Shadows—now the largest annual celebration of popping in the Midwest.

Eventually, he found the courage to enter the 1v1 battle. “I did my round, and people I didn’t even know came up to me with praise,” he recalls. “I watched the footage back and thought, ‘Okay…that was actually kinda good.’ That was a turning point for me.”

Since then, Steve has gone from feeling like an outsider to proudly calling himself a popping and animation dancer. Many newcomers have found themselves on the same path, discovering confidence and community through Shadow Puppetz. “I’ve seen friendships develop, and I’ve seen people grow,” Steve says. “Folks who just moved to Chicago start coming to sessions and find real connection. It’s powerful.”

For Steve, accessibility and inclusivity are central to that impact. “Shadow Puppetz sessions are often more than 50% women,” he notes. “For a scene that’s historically male-dominated, it’s amazing to see a space that feels safe not just for women, but for queer folks too. That’s rare, and it deserves support.”

Today, Steve continues to give back as both a volunteer and a donor, helping sustain the culture that shaped his journey. His story is one example of the impact these spaces continue to have.

Shadow Puppetz is committed to carrying that work forward with upcoming programs like Devil’s in the Details and Sleigh da Funk. We invite you to be part of it—by attending, volunteering, or supporting as a donor—so together we can keep building spaces where dancers find connection, growth, and belonging.

Learn how you can get involved and more ways to support Shadow Puppetz.