Technology Meets Movement at Devil’s in the Details – Chicago’s Inaugural Robot & Animation Dance Festival
Tickets on sale at shadowpuppetzcrew.com/devils-in-the-details
Chicago, IL (Sept. 17, 2025) – Shadow Puppetz presents Devil’s in the Details, Chicago’s inaugural robot and animation dance festival, taking place September 19-21, 2025, across Dome Studios, Epiphany Center for the Arts, and The Puzzle Box Dance Studio. This three-day celebration will bring together artists, dancers, engineers, and stop-motion animators for a multidisciplinary exchange featuring battles, showcases, workshops, and technology demonstrations.
“Shadow Puppetz is most well known for creating a platform for popping in Chicago,” says Jude Brummett, Executive Director of Shadow Puppetz. “With Devil’s in the Details, our vision is to build that kind of platform for robot and animation—niche forms that deserve to be preserved, celebrated, and passed on to the next generation.”
Featured Headliners: Professional Dancers, Artists, and Engineers
Alex “Prototype” Malblanc – Professional design engineer, 2023 Mattel Invention of the Year Award winner, and co-founder of Shadow Puppetz
Torrence “Tea-Buggz” Griffin – Architect of the Egyptian Bang dance style, featured dancer for Queen Latifah, Sinbad, and Kurtis Blow, and Chicago Hip-Hop Pioneer Award recipient
Keumsae Pae – Two-time battle guest and judge at Unimate Robot and Animation Championship and acclaimed robot dance specialist
Bryan “Clocks” Volozanin – So You Think You Can Dance featured performer, former cast member of The Jabbawockeez, multi-time international battle winner
Drew Dominguez – Software-to-hardware engineering specialist, programmer, and inventor behind dozens of innovations, including multiple products with Spin Master Toys
Dino Crisanti – Columbia College Chicago professor of stop-motion animation, professional sculptor, and veteran toy inventor with over 35 years of experience
These artists will serve as judges, perform showcases, and lead exclusive workshops and technology demonstrations, providing attendees with invaluable opportunities to learn from some of the world’s top robot and animation dance artists and engineers.
The event will feature an incredible musical lineup of glitch hop, electronic, electro-funk, and other assorted genres provided by DJ Sid Tucky, and will be hosted by MC Rio McFly. The battles and showcases will feature prominent animators from across North America, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
Tickets & More Information
For the full schedule, tickets, and workshop passes, visit shadowpuppetzcrew.com/devils-in-the-details. Please note that workshops may have limited capacity.
For media inquiries, interviews, or more information, please contact:
Jude Brummett, Executive Director
(773) 956-9376
About Shadow Puppetz
Shadow Puppetz is a grassroots Chicago-based funk styles dance crew that has been shaping the Midwest street dance scene since 2019. As the creators of Out of the Shadows annual popping festival, and now the inaugural robot and animation dance festival, Devil’s in the Details, they are dedicated to elevating the local funk dance community through education and community events. Shadow Puppetz maintains their commitment to service, community, and authenticity through their efforts to provide platforms for underrepresented artists, foster meaningful artistic connections, and support the growth of emerging talent in street dance.