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Adult cam sites are all the rage. There has never been a better time to interact with a live cam girl. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we all feel so isolated, and connecting with a live model is more satisfying than watching prerecorded videos.

These days, most adult actresses and models offer their services via virtual camming platforms. There are quite literally hundreds of thousands of cam girls you can video chat with, so how in the world do you choose? These cam sites deliver the goods in terms of adventurous women, seamless camming experiences, and sexual gratification. But each site is unique in its own special way. From private shows to free options and special performers, there is a lot to digest.

We’ve taken the time to break down which cam sites are best and why. Stick to this guide and you’ll certainly have the best cam experience possible.

The Best Adult Cam Sites of 2022

RankSiteBest For1.JerkmateBest modern cam website2.Sl*trouletteBest cam/chat hybrid3.ChaturbateBest overall cam site4.Flirt4FreeProfessional cam models5.LiveJasminMost gorgeous models6.MyFreeCamsBest free option7.Cherry.tvBest newcomer8.ImLiveGreat for watching couples9.CamSodaGreat for specific fetishes10.Cams.comTeledildonic features11.XcamsMost diverse cam models12.StreamateThousands of streams at any given time13.Lucky CrushRandom one-on-one cam shows14.StripchatBeautiful live stripteases15.BongacamsEasiest cam site to navigate16.BabestationBiggest UK cam site

1.  Jerkmate: Best modern new cam site

Jerkmate is a really unique cam site because it allows its users to filter the models they search for by personal preference. You can specify your preference in gender, kink, and even body type. It’s a matching system between viewers and cam girls, which makes it feel pretty special. Once you match with someone, you have the option of also becoming a cam model. You can stream a video of yourself watching the cam girl, which is pretty nice. Think of it as if Chatroulette, Tinder, and Chaturbate had a love child. Most people enjoy watching private cam shows because they are longing for a connection, sexual or otherwise. Jerkmate delivers that in spades.

Jerkmate also hires actual pornstars and professional cam girls to stream live. Going one-on-one with one of the pros is unlikely and really expensive. However, if you prefer your cam girl to be an actual pornstar, you can view their live shows with other users on the site. These women will expect you to give them tons of tokens if you want them to do anything specific, but this is pretty normal for camming websites.

Beyond the two unique and exciting options that Jerkmate provides, it’s also very easy to use. It’s got a modern feel to it and selecting a show to watch could not be easier. If you don’t love who you’ve been matched with, you can also browse the expansive list of categories that Jerkmate has to offer. Those categories range from BDSM to Sex Toys and everything in between. As far as pricing goes, it’s up to the model. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour watching one of the Jerkmate shows.

Pros:

Models can see you if you wantIntuitive search functionAdvanced personalized features

Cons:

This is a pricey option

2. Sl*troulette:Best chat/cam combo

Sl*troulette may not have quite the reputation as Chaturbate, but it’s been around quite some time—since 2010, in fact. That means they’ve got more than ten years’ experience in the cam game. And they deliver.

Sl*troulette is the X-rated version of Chat Roulette. Like Chat Roulette, Slut Roulette randomly pairs you up with another videocam. There’s no pressure—if you’re not feeling it, you can just keep clicking.

Overall, Sl*troulette is a fun spin on traditional cam sites given the randomness innate to its design. This may or may not appeal to you personally, however.

There are two main downsides to Sl*troulette. One, the sign-up process feels spammy and can be annoying. Two, there are a lot of pop-up ads on Sl*troulette, often even covering the video of the cam performer you’re trying to watch. That can get frustrating, as you might imagine.

Pros:

Worldwide camgirls Hottest categories Great private shows Previews pictures/photos of camgirls

Cons:

Basic tipping features Need to tip to access full nudity show

3. Chaturbate:Number one cam site in the world

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Chaturbate. Not only is the name genius for a camgirl site, but Chaturbate has managed to stand the test of time. We can’t believe it’s been ten years since it was created back in 2011! It’s hailed as the best cam site available by millions of users because it has the most diverse and explicit portfolio of models who use the platform to stream.

When you get to the Chaturbate home page, you’ll be greeted with various thumbnails of women or scenes. That’s your sneak peek for what is to come when you actually click on one of these images. Immediately you’ll be launched into a wonderfully raunchy cam show completely free of charge. At first blush, it looks like most of these cam girls are doing solo shows, but once you take a deeper dive, you’ll find couples, threesomes, and other unique and interesting live shows to choose from. You can also search for shows by filtering by the huge list of categories or tags. Though busy looking, Chaturbate is very easy to navigate and explore with so many live feeds to watch for free.

You’re probably wondering if Chaturbate is completely free. The answer to that is both yes and no. While you can enter any live show for free, you are really walking into a teaser of sorts. The women on Chaturbate are trying to get you to eventually pay for a private show, which is what most people want anyway. We will admit though that the teasers are often very explicit and can usually get the job done before you even grab your wallet.

You likely will reach for your credit card though, because Chaturbate is famous for delivering satisfying one-on-one shows. They operate on a token system. As you spend more time watching the show, your tokens will begin to dwindle.

Pros:

AffordableBest cam site availableGreat one-on-one performancesYou get a lot out of a free account

Cons:

Most models need to reach a certain token amount before they fully perform

Check out our complete Chaturbate review if you’re looking for more info.

4. Flirt4Free: Intuitive search function available

Boasting nearly 3 decades of sex cam savvy, Flirt4Free has really carved a niche for itself as the cam site for gentlemen of refined tastes. While some freemium sites might offer a grab bag of amateur models, F4F shines for fans who yearn for a premium, top-shelf experience.

Their homepage is populated by elite-level camgirls from all over the world who know how to cater to your every desire. They’re virtually all “hair and make-up ready” and dressed to kill in gorgeous lingerie. But while Flirt4Free boasts a premium experience, premium does not necessarily imply “vanilla.” Finding the fetish models to feed your kink is easy using an intuitive category filtering system.

The “Free” in Flirt4Free might seem like something of a misnomer at first glance. While there’s always something hot going down in any number of public chatrooms, the real spank-bank-worthy action is saved for pay-per-minute private shows. Judging from many of the model reviews, Flirt camgirls tend to appeal to fans who want to go deeper on their fantasies. The top models tend to be surrounded by devout followers who crave repeat performances.

But while pay-per-minute shows may seem be daunting cost-wise, many models offer cost conscious options like semi-private “multi-user” and “group shows.” Some even allow members to negotiate their private show rates before a performance.

Pros:

Premium quality cam girlsGreat variety of fetish modelsEasy to filter categories

Cons:

Can be priceyFewer models compared to freemium sites

5. LiveJasmin: Known for having stunning models

The most noteworthy thing to say about LiveJasmin is that the women on this site are drop dead gorgeous. They are diverse, in shape, stunning, manicured, and all around perfect cam girls. You will notice this the minute you hop onto the home page. It looks extremely put together, modern, and professional.

These women don’t seem to be filming themselves from dimly lit bedrooms. Instead, it feels like a whole studio operation with professional porn stars. This is a pro for most, but some viewers enjoy that amateurish feel. If you are into the amateur stuff, then steer clear of LiveJasmin because it’s all top notch here. LiveJasmin is full of very recognizable and famous cam girl faces. That’s what makes it one of the best cam sites around.

Other than the beautiful stars and modern interface, there’s not much about LiveJasmin that makes it stand out (except for the fact that they have a nice mobile option, but who wants to watch a cam girl on their cell phone?). It’s set up like many other cam sites and takes you through the same process and the features are the same. A nice perk though is the fact that LiveJasmin caters to every type of gender and sexuality, giving it a distinctly diverse library of models and streams to choose from.

Pros:

Beautiful recognizable modelsMobile optionRange of genders, sexualities, and kinks

Cons:

No amateur option

6.  MyFreeCams: Actual free shows

For those of you shopping for cam sites on a budget, there’s no better site for you than MyFreeCams, also known as Jerk N’ Cum. Yes, the shows on this site are actually free. This is obviously the biggest perk that MyFreeCams has to offer.

Because it’s free and the models don’t charge you to watch their shows, you might be skeptical of the quality but you truly have nothing to worry about. The women on MyFreeCams are as skilled as they are gorgeous. They are also down to get into some very kinky activity, which is why you’re watching cam girls in the first place!

The one thing that you can’t really access on this site is private chat or one-on-one video sessions. But what can you really expect from a cam site that doesn’t cost you a dime? You can of course purchase tokens on MyFreeCams and try your luck asking one of the models for a private show, but it’s not very likely to happen. These models are used to the dynamic of the site and aren’t normally willing to make an exception for anyone. These models also aren’t the most responsive to requests in their chat box. That’s potentially because it’s oversaturated with guys like you asking them to do a million different things. If you’re OK with just being a voyeur for free, MyFreeCams is a fantastic budget-friendly option for you.

If you decide that you’d like to pay for MyFreeCams because you can afford to or you’ve got extra cash lying around, you will be given the keys to their entire library of cam girl archives. You can check out their old videos. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but there are folks out there wholove it.

Pros:

Genuinely freeFantastic performances

Cons:

Can’t view private shows

7.  Cherry.tv:Best new cam site

Cam sites such as Jerkmate and Chaturbate may have the lion’s share of attention, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of other sites popping up all the time. While many of these aren’t worth your trouble, some of them may turn out to be major competitors.

One such site is cherry.tv, from the people over at Cherry Models. The site has only recently gone live and is still in Beta mode, which means for now they only have cis-women and trans women cam girls. That said, the platform will be opened up to everyone in the next version. 

One cool thing about Cherry.tv is that it isn’t just another cam site like any other. They’re attempting to introduce more “gamification” to the concept, so cherry.tv allows models to “level up” by gaining experience points (xp). Streaming gets cammers XP as well as receiving certain gifts from fans. 

Cherry.tv won numerous awards in 2021, such as “Best Emerging Company” and “Emerging Web Brand of the Year.” They are also one of the best sites out there in terms of compensating streamers. So, if you want the vast majority of your hard-earned money to go to the actual cam model, then cherry.tv is a great option for you. 

Pros:

Relatively affordableFun, game-like interfaceStreamers receive almost all of the tips

Cons:

In beta mode (no male models or couples)Just started so not a ton of active models yet

8.  ImLive: Old-school cam site featuring couples

ImLive is the granddaddy of cam sites. It’s been around for almost 20 years and has managed to continue to captivate viewers with the changing times. ImLive is a streaming site where models and couples perform sex shows for their audiences. There’s not much more to it. However, not all sex cam sites offer couples shows, so if you like watching two people get it on then ImLive is your best bet.

The pay structure at ImLive gives you options, which is a definite plus. You can either pay by the minute or send models tips. There are also plenty of models and shows to choose from, so you’ll never have a dull moment on this popular cam site.

Yes, ImLive dubs itself a free cam site, but we know what that really means. You can watch archived shows for free, but the live goods are going to cost you. The shows are usually worth it, but don’t expect a ton of interaction from the models. They tend to fall short in their personal relationships with viewers and fans; however, the shows themselves are a treat to watch.

Pros:

Great for watching couplesDifferent payment optionsFree archived shows

Cons:

The models aren’t very interactive

9.  CamSoda: Cam girls with the best personalities

CamSoda operates like most cam sites do. There are free rooms that you can enter to view live adult cam shows, but if you want the women to do anything specific during the show, you will need to spend. However, CamSoda is really affordable. This is because the models don’t charge you per minute. It’s based solely on your donations.

The one drawback to CamSoda is their pricing structure. Most cam sites will allow you to enter free cam shows, but not before informing you of what you should tip the model or what each naughty activity costs. Getting a girl to perform a desired sexual act is going to require linking up with the other guys in the chat and pooling that money until the model’s “goal” is reached. Each model comes up with a different money goal per show and tries to seduce the viewers into paying up. You can’t blame them; camming is their job.

Private shows aren’t really a thing on CamSoda. However, the models on this cam site are very interactive. They actually pay a lot of attention to the chat as their show is live and they make you feel like you are actually in the room with them while they are performing. People have complained before that some models on CamSoda talk too much or spend too much time replying to their fans.

Pros:

Interactive models with personalityCaters to a variety of fetishes

Cons:

The models don’t list their prices per naughty activity

10.  Cams.com: Cam site with a teledildonics option

Cams.com is one of the more unique and advanced cam sites on this list. You might not know it by just visiting their website because initially, it looks like your average cam site. There are free shows that you can enter and you have the ability to filter by model, body type, and gender. This is one of the few sex cam sites that contains female shows in addition to male shows, trans shows, and nonbinary shows. We find that to be a huge plus as it caters to a much wider audience of viewers.

Cams.com is not only ahead of the game in terms of their diversity, but they are also very technologically advanced. If you are someone who watches a lot of VR porn, you are familiar with the term teledildonics. In VR, teledildonics are bluetooth sex toys that synch up to what you are watching. For the purposes of cams, it allows you to control the sex toy that the performer is using, which is insanely cool and futuristic! It brings an entirely new level to cam shows and makes you feel like you are intimately interacting with a model right there in the room with them.

This cam site is one where you have to pay by the minute, which can get really pricey if you plan on spending a lot of time on the site. Yes, there are free shows, but they aren’t all that good. It’s worth checking out the paid ones though because of all the unique features.

Pros:

Teledildonics!Advanced search functionDiverse models

Cons:

If you aren’t in it for the teledildonics, there are better options

11.  XCams: Diverse Euro models

XCams is a special cam site for folks who have eyes for European cam models. They flourish on XCams, though it’s a lesser-known site than the rest. It’s surprising that it flies under the radar because there are always so many models available at any given time for anyone to watch.

Diversity is the name of the game over at XCams. While they feature tons of Europeans, these models are really diverse in their backgrounds, performance styles, and kinks that they love to get into. It’s fun to browse through the thumbnails of videos on the XCams homepage because you get a peek at all the unique shows they have to offer.

Each model decides what you’ll pay for a show. Before you commit, you’ll be shown a preview, told where the model is from, and told how many credits you’ll need to pay for your time. You will get 25 free credits just for signing up, which will give you about five minutes on average.

Pros:

Beautiful diverse cam girlsVery kinkyGreat previews for private shows

Cons:

Models operate on an expensive price-per-minute structureSmall amount of free credits when you sign up

12.  Streamate: Most options

If you’re after quantity, Streammate is a good option. There are literally thousands of models online at any given time when you head over to the site. It doesn’t matter if it’s during your 12 PM lunch break or after midnight, this site is always busy. It’s the cam site that never sleeps.

The Streamate performers also love to please. Truthfully, it’s because they want to be tipped well, but you can rest assured that any model you watch on Streamate will work very hard to earn your affection. They are very engaging, personable, and (of course) sexy.

Streamate is a no-frills site that takes you straight to the action. It doesn’t need all the bells and whistles because it provides a large amount of really great shows. You can use their simple and intuitive search function to filter your options, making Streamate one of the easiest sex cam sites to navigate. And their filtering options get really specific, so you can find exactly what turns you on. There is also a “Newcomer” section for the viewers who love to watch fresh talent or want to discover new models.

Pros:

Thousands of models to choose fromAmateurs and professionals available

Cons:

This site has a lot of annoying adsOutdated web design

13.  LuckyCrush: A combo of a cam site and Chatroulette

LuckyCrush is a cam girl site that randomly matches you with flirty ladies. It’s newer, but it has managed to attract millions of users on a monthly basis. People like to say that LuckyCrush is a healthy mix of a cam site and a random chat site like Chatroulette. It’s probably what you wished Chatroulette could be when you were too young to know about cam sites. Men and women are randomly paired for an erotic video chat.

LuckyCrush is confident in its unique model, which is why it offers first-time male visitors a brief free trial. After that, you will need to purchase credits to enjoy the site. Women come to LuckyCrush hoping to make money, so stocking up a little bit will do you some good.

Because LuckyCrush is totally random, you might be paired up with a hottie who is on the other side of the world. Don’t worry if you don’t speak her language. LuckyCrush has a built-in translation feature that makes it easy to communicate with models from all over the world. It’s an exciting approach to cam shows.

Pros:

Personally meet models from all over the worldExclusively private shows

Cons:

You can’t filter or searchNot for everyone

14.  StripChat: Interactive stripteases

StripChat is a cam site with some special perks. On the surface, it’s a way to view beautiful live stripteases performed by stunning models. Some of them just like to strip and others take it up a notch by displaying naughty activities. In that regard, it’s a little different from your average sex cam site. You can check out the videos for free and tip the models, like you normally would. These tips are given in the form of tokens, which you will need to purchase beforehand.

The women on StripChat are not amateurs. They are women who seem to fit right into the porn industry. They really know what they are doing and they are fantastic at putting on a show for an audience. This is also a site that sadly caters exclusively to the male gaze. In other words, there isn’t any real gender diversity unless you head over to their couples section. However, everything, including the lesbian scenes, seems to be shot exclusively for purely heterosexual males.

What separates StripChat from the crowd is their VR feature. Now, if you don’t have a pair of VR goggles, you are going to want to stop reading because this next part is going to make you really jealous. StripChat’s VR function allows you to throw on a headset and opt in for a private show from one of their pretty performers. It takes live interaction to new heights and is a deeply satisfying cam experience. The videos are in HD, so you won’t miss a thing!

Pros:

HD stripteasesVR featuresProfessional cam girls

Cons:

Sometimes, you only get a striptease

15.  BongaCams: Affordable, transparent

On the surface, BongaCams likes to pretend that it’s a free cam site full of women, couples, and trans people. If you’ve made it this far in reading cam reviews, you won’t be surprised to learn that every site is going to squeeze some coin out of you at some point. That’s just how these things work. But BongaCams isn’t going to suck you dry by charging per minute. Their models make a living based on their tips, and you are going to eventually want to tip them through the token payment structure.

The good thing about the BongaCams pricing setup is that there are really no surprises. When you enter a free live show, you are shown a list of the models prices per a given activity. For instance, erotic play between two beautiful lesbian models might cost you 100 tokens. You’ll be informed of everything up front, which helps you figure out which shows are worth watching based on your personal preference and what you can afford. You can also try your luck at jumping into a show and mooching off the other viewers who will send tips, but it might test your patience.

BongaCams delivers incredible shows but doesn’t provide many private show options. In the end, BongaCams is a pretty predictable cam site with a token system and great performers. You’ll find a lot of new girls on this site too, because it’s very welcoming to girls who want to get into camming for the first time.

Pros:

Very transparent about priceGreat site design

Cons:

Not great for private shows

16.  BabeStation: Huge UK cam site

BabeStation has been around for nearly two decades and is the biggest cam site for UK models. Of all the cam sites, BabeStation is not one that you want to breeze past because it has a lot to offer.

Most sites that have been around for as long as BabeStation have pretty much nailed the cam girl experience. This will become clear to you immediately upon visiting the site. Rather than staring at a bunch of thumbnails, you’ll be plopped into a live show right away. You can of course exit and search for a show that’s a bit more your flavor, but it’s nice to know that you can freely view HD cam shows from the jump.

One thing that BabeStation is missing is an easy way for new visitors to browse and filter. Most of the models are great, but this site isn’t designed to cater to unique fetishes because it’s hard to navigate. Some of the performers are also a little dry. They will sometimes just keep their camera on while they go about mundane tasks, which is more of a voyeuristic experience than an interactive cam show.

BabeStation does offer a ton of promotions at any given time, making it feel very affordable when you decide that you do want to tip a model.

Pros:

Biggest UK cam siteCan actually watch shows for free

Cons:

Not an easy site to navigateSome performers lack engagement or personality

How to Have the Best Adult Cam Site Experience

If you’re brand new to cam sites, you might feel a bit lost. There are a lot of them, and they’re not all worth your time. Check out the following four tips to ensure that you end up on the best sites and have a great experience. 

Browse before you buy

Do you buy a car without test driving it? Do you buy a house without seeing it first? When it comes to spending your hard-earned money, it’s always good to avoid wasting it. And a good way to throw away your money is to start spending a ton of it on cam sites.

Your best bet is to browse around some of the top cam sites before you sign up for any subscriptions, premium memberships, etc. Many cam sites can even be browsed for free—even the biggest one, Chaturbate. So, it’s recommended to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the various sites out there before spending any cash. 

Privilege quality over quantity

There are some sites with thousands of cam models who are active at any given time. Yet, all those choices may be overwhelming, and it might feel like finding a needle in a haystack to find something of high quality. So, you might be better off finding a site with fewer models but with a higher percentage of fun and engaged and attractive ones.

That said, the biggest cam sites like Chaturbate give you different filtering options and the default is to show you the cammers with the largest number of viewers. This generally means that you can find high quality content without having to look too far. 

Stick to the big names

Camming has exploded in recent years. As you might expect, there’s been a lot of people trying to get a slice of the pie. Tons of cam sites have popped up, and not all of them are created equal—in fact, it’s not even close.

To avoid getting scammed and wasting your money and/or time, stick to the biggest names in the camming world—sites like Chaturbate and MyFreeCams, for example. 

Participate to maximize the experience

Cam sites are all about participation. This is what inherently separates them from regular porn sites. If no one participated—neither chatting nor giving any tips—the cam site wouldn’t exist. The models depend on tips for it to be worth their while, and the chatting helps keep things fun and engaging. 

So, don’t be shy to participate. You might find that it really enhances your overall experience, especially if you tip to get into private shows. Otherwise, you might as well just stick to regular porn. 

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I think today is some sort of special occasion? Oh yeah! It’s the first day of Lit & Luz, a festival focused on art, literature, and language shared between the U.S. and Mexico. At noon, things kicked off with a virtual keynote from poet, editor, and translator Anthony Cody. From 6-7 PM, artist Balam Bartolomé will give an artist talk at the Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60th). He’ll be joined by visiting curator, Esteban King, to discuss themes in his creative practice, which harnesses a variety of media (sculpture, writing, photography, and more) to explore how contemporary cultural narratives are constructed and their relationships to the past. And from 6-8 PM, guest writers will share personal work as well as favorite Halloween poems at the Insect Asylum (2870 N. Milwaukee). This year’s guests include Kathleen Rooney, Robin Myers, yolanda segura, Kailah Peters, Olivia Maciel, and more. Lit & Luz runs through November 5. For a complete list of programming, check out their website. (MC)

Here are some music options for tonight with links to past coverage by our music writers: if you’re looking to finish Halloween weekend with some aural costuming, head to one of the venues where bands are keeping up the time-honored Halloween tradition of pretending to be other bands! At Sleeping Village, the Tomblands will cover Black Sabbath’s music; Space Gators are also on the bill with their swampy rock. (9 PM, 3734 W. Belmont, $5, 21+, tickets here). And at Golden Dagger, John Perrin and his band will become the Ramones, Jack Fluegel and band are playing Blondie for the evening, and the band Uncle Pigeon will morph into Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble. (8 PM, 2447 N. Halsted, $10, 21+, tickets at Ticketweb).

Other non-Halloween (but I’m sure they’ll let you in if you’re wearing a costume, just go as a paying customer) shows tonight: singer-songwriter Kevin Morby plays the Vic with opener Coco (8 PM, 3145 N. Sheffield, $30-$55, 18+, tickets at Jam’s website). At Empty Bottle, Martin Kanja and Sam Karugu of Nairobi bring their metal duo Duma to the stage; Masma Dream World and Hopeless Voyage open. (8:30 PM, 1035 N. Western, $20, 21+, tickets at Eventbrite). (SCJ)

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Adult cam sites are all the rage. There has never been a better time to interact with a live cam girl. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we all feel so isolated, and connecting with a live model is more satisfying than watching prerecorded videos.

These days, most adult actresses and models offer their services via virtual camming platforms. There are quite literally hundreds of thousands of cam girls you can video chat with, so how in the world do you choose? These cam sites deliver the goods in terms of adventurous women, seamless camming experiences, and sexual gratification. But each site is unique in its own special way. From private shows to free options and special performers, there is a lot to digest.

We’ve taken the time to break down which cam sites are best and why. Stick to this guide and you’ll certainly have the best cam experience possible.

The Best Adult Cam Sites of 2022

RankSiteBest For1.JerkmateBest modern cam website2.Sl*trouletteBest cam/chat hybrid3.ChaturbateBest overall cam site4.Flirt4FreeProfessional cam models5.LiveJasminMost gorgeous models6.MyFreeCamsBest free option7.Cherry.tvBest newcomer8.ImLiveGreat for watching couples9.CamSodaGreat for specific fetishes10.Cams.comTeledildonic features11.XcamsMost diverse cam models12.StreamateThousands of streams at any given time13.Lucky CrushRandom one-on-one cam shows14.StripchatBeautiful live stripteases15.BongacamsEasiest cam site to navigate16.BabestationBiggest UK cam site

1.  Jerkmate: Best modern new cam site

Jerkmate is a really unique cam site because it allows its users to filter the models they search for by personal preference. You can specify your preference in gender, kink, and even body type. It’s a matching system between viewers and cam girls, which makes it feel pretty special. Once you match with someone, you have the option of also becoming a cam model. You can stream a video of yourself watching the cam girl, which is pretty nice. Think of it as if Chatroulette, Tinder, and Chaturbate had a love child. Most people enjoy watching private cam shows because they are longing for a connection, sexual or otherwise. Jerkmate delivers that in spades.

Jerkmate also hires actual pornstars and professional cam girls to stream live. Going one-on-one with one of the pros is unlikely and really expensive. However, if you prefer your cam girl to be an actual pornstar, you can view their live shows with other users on the site. These women will expect you to give them tons of tokens if you want them to do anything specific, but this is pretty normal for camming websites.

Beyond the two unique and exciting options that Jerkmate provides, it’s also very easy to use. It’s got a modern feel to it and selecting a show to watch could not be easier. If you don’t love who you’ve been matched with, you can also browse the expansive list of categories that Jerkmate has to offer. Those categories range from BDSM to Sex Toys and everything in between. As far as pricing goes, it’s up to the model. Expect to pay anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour watching one of the Jerkmate shows.

Pros:

Models can see you if you wantIntuitive search functionAdvanced personalized features

Cons:

This is a pricey option

2. Sl*troulette:Best chat/cam combo

Sl*troulette may not have quite the reputation as Chaturbate, but it’s been around quite some time—since 2010, in fact. That means they’ve got more than ten years’ experience in the cam game. And they deliver.

Sl*troulette is the X-rated version of Chat Roulette. Like Chat Roulette, Slut Roulette randomly pairs you up with another videocam. There’s no pressure—if you’re not feeling it, you can just keep clicking.

Overall, Sl*troulette is a fun spin on traditional cam sites given the randomness innate to its design. This may or may not appeal to you personally, however.

There are two main downsides to Sl*troulette. One, the sign-up process feels spammy and can be annoying. Two, there are a lot of pop-up ads on Sl*troulette, often even covering the video of the cam performer you’re trying to watch. That can get frustrating, as you might imagine.

Pros:

Worldwide camgirls Hottest categories Great private shows Previews pictures/photos of camgirls

Cons:

Basic tipping features Need to tip to access full nudity show

3. Chaturbate:Number one cam site in the world

There’s a good chance you’ve heard of Chaturbate. Not only is the name genius for a camgirl site, but Chaturbate has managed to stand the test of time. We can’t believe it’s been ten years since it was created back in 2011! It’s hailed as the best cam site available by millions of users because it has the most diverse and explicit portfolio of models who use the platform to stream.

When you get to the Chaturbate home page, you’ll be greeted with various thumbnails of women or scenes. That’s your sneak peek for what is to come when you actually click on one of these images. Immediately you’ll be launched into a wonderfully raunchy cam show completely free of charge. At first blush, it looks like most of these cam girls are doing solo shows, but once you take a deeper dive, you’ll find couples, threesomes, and other unique and interesting live shows to choose from. You can also search for shows by filtering by the huge list of categories or tags. Though busy looking, Chaturbate is very easy to navigate and explore with so many live feeds to watch for free.

You’re probably wondering if Chaturbate is completely free. The answer to that is both yes and no. While you can enter any live show for free, you are really walking into a teaser of sorts. The women on Chaturbate are trying to get you to eventually pay for a private show, which is what most people want anyway. We will admit though that the teasers are often very explicit and can usually get the job done before you even grab your wallet.

You likely will reach for your credit card though, because Chaturbate is famous for delivering satisfying one-on-one shows. They operate on a token system. As you spend more time watching the show, your tokens will begin to dwindle.

Pros:

AffordableBest cam site availableGreat one-on-one performancesYou get a lot out of a free account

Cons:

Most models need to reach a certain token amount before they fully perform

Check out our complete Chaturbate review if you’re looking for more info.

4. Flirt4Free: Intuitive search function available

Boasting nearly 3 decades of sex cam savvy, Flirt4Free has really carved a niche for itself as the cam site for gentlemen of refined tastes. While some freemium sites might offer a grab bag of amateur models, F4F shines for fans who yearn for a premium, top-shelf experience.

Their homepage is populated by elite-level camgirls from all over the world who know how to cater to your every desire. They’re virtually all “hair and make-up ready” and dressed to kill in gorgeous lingerie. But while Flirt4Free boasts a premium experience, premium does not necessarily imply “vanilla.” Finding the fetish models to feed your kink is easy using an intuitive category filtering system.

The “Free” in Flirt4Free might seem like something of a misnomer at first glance. While there’s always something hot going down in any number of public chatrooms, the real spank-bank-worthy action is saved for pay-per-minute private shows. Judging from many of the model reviews, Flirt camgirls tend to appeal to fans who want to go deeper on their fantasies. The top models tend to be surrounded by devout followers who crave repeat performances.

But while pay-per-minute shows may seem be daunting cost-wise, many models offer cost conscious options like semi-private “multi-user” and “group shows.” Some even allow members to negotiate their private show rates before a performance.

Pros:

Premium quality cam girlsGreat variety of fetish modelsEasy to filter categories

Cons:

Can be priceyFewer models compared to freemium sites

5. LiveJasmin: Known for having stunning models

The most noteworthy thing to say about LiveJasmin is that the women on this site are drop dead gorgeous. They are diverse, in shape, stunning, manicured, and all around perfect cam girls. You will notice this the minute you hop onto the home page. It looks extremely put together, modern, and professional.

These women don’t seem to be filming themselves from dimly lit bedrooms. Instead, it feels like a whole studio operation with professional porn stars. This is a pro for most, but some viewers enjoy that amateurish feel. If you are into the amateur stuff, then steer clear of LiveJasmin because it’s all top notch here. LiveJasmin is full of very recognizable and famous cam girl faces. That’s what makes it one of the best cam sites around.

Other than the beautiful stars and modern interface, there’s not much about LiveJasmin that makes it stand out (except for the fact that they have a nice mobile option, but who wants to watch a cam girl on their cell phone?). It’s set up like many other cam sites and takes you through the same process and the features are the same. A nice perk though is the fact that LiveJasmin caters to every type of gender and sexuality, giving it a distinctly diverse library of models and streams to choose from.

Pros:

Beautiful recognizable modelsMobile optionRange of genders, sexualities, and kinks

Cons:

No amateur option

6.  MyFreeCams: Actual free shows

For those of you shopping for cam sites on a budget, there’s no better site for you than MyFreeCams, also known as Jerk N’ Cum. Yes, the shows on this site are actually free. This is obviously the biggest perk that MyFreeCams has to offer.

Because it’s free and the models don’t charge you to watch their shows, you might be skeptical of the quality but you truly have nothing to worry about. The women on MyFreeCams are as skilled as they are gorgeous. They are also down to get into some very kinky activity, which is why you’re watching cam girls in the first place!

The one thing that you can’t really access on this site is private chat or one-on-one video sessions. But what can you really expect from a cam site that doesn’t cost you a dime? You can of course purchase tokens on MyFreeCams and try your luck asking one of the models for a private show, but it’s not very likely to happen. These models are used to the dynamic of the site and aren’t normally willing to make an exception for anyone. These models also aren’t the most responsive to requests in their chat box. That’s potentially because it’s oversaturated with guys like you asking them to do a million different things. If you’re OK with just being a voyeur for free, MyFreeCams is a fantastic budget-friendly option for you.

If you decide that you’d like to pay for MyFreeCams because you can afford to or you’ve got extra cash lying around, you will be given the keys to their entire library of cam girl archives. You can check out their old videos. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but there are folks out there wholove it.

Pros:

Genuinely freeFantastic performances

Cons:

Can’t view private shows

7.  Cherry.tv:Best new cam site

Cam sites such as Jerkmate and Chaturbate may have the lion’s share of attention, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of other sites popping up all the time. While many of these aren’t worth your trouble, some of them may turn out to be major competitors.

One such site is cherry.tv, from the people over at Cherry Models. The site has only recently gone live and is still in Beta mode, which means for now they only have cis-women and trans women cam girls. That said, the platform will be opened up to everyone in the next version. 

One cool thing about Cherry.tv is that it isn’t just another cam site like any other. They’re attempting to introduce more “gamification” to the concept, so cherry.tv allows models to “level up” by gaining experience points (xp). Streaming gets cammers XP as well as receiving certain gifts from fans. 

Cherry.tv won numerous awards in 2021, such as “Best Emerging Company” and “Emerging Web Brand of the Year.” They are also one of the best sites out there in terms of compensating streamers. So, if you want the vast majority of your hard-earned money to go to the actual cam model, then cherry.tv is a great option for you. 

Pros:

Relatively affordableFun, game-like interfaceStreamers receive almost all of the tips

Cons:

In beta mode (no male models or couples)Just started so not a ton of active models yet

8.  ImLive: Old-school cam site featuring couples

ImLive is the granddaddy of cam sites. It’s been around for almost 20 years and has managed to continue to captivate viewers with the changing times. ImLive is a streaming site where models and couples perform sex shows for their audiences. There’s not much more to it. However, not all sex cam sites offer couples shows, so if you like watching two people get it on then ImLive is your best bet.

The pay structure at ImLive gives you options, which is a definite plus. You can either pay by the minute or send models tips. There are also plenty of models and shows to choose from, so you’ll never have a dull moment on this popular cam site.

Yes, ImLive dubs itself a free cam site, but we know what that really means. You can watch archived shows for free, but the live goods are going to cost you. The shows are usually worth it, but don’t expect a ton of interaction from the models. They tend to fall short in their personal relationships with viewers and fans; however, the shows themselves are a treat to watch.

Pros:

Great for watching couplesDifferent payment optionsFree archived shows

Cons:

The models aren’t very interactive

9.  CamSoda: Cam girls with the best personalities

CamSoda operates like most cam sites do. There are free rooms that you can enter to view live adult cam shows, but if you want the women to do anything specific during the show, you will need to spend. However, CamSoda is really affordable. This is because the models don’t charge you per minute. It’s based solely on your donations.

The one drawback to CamSoda is their pricing structure. Most cam sites will allow you to enter free cam shows, but not before informing you of what you should tip the model or what each naughty activity costs. Getting a girl to perform a desired sexual act is going to require linking up with the other guys in the chat and pooling that money until the model’s “goal” is reached. Each model comes up with a different money goal per show and tries to seduce the viewers into paying up. You can’t blame them; camming is their job.

Private shows aren’t really a thing on CamSoda. However, the models on this cam site are very interactive. They actually pay a lot of attention to the chat as their show is live and they make you feel like you are actually in the room with them while they are performing. People have complained before that some models on CamSoda talk too much or spend too much time replying to their fans.

Pros:

Interactive models with personalityCaters to a variety of fetishes

Cons:

The models don’t list their prices per naughty activity

10.  Cams.com: Cam site with a teledildonics option

Cams.com is one of the more unique and advanced cam sites on this list. You might not know it by just visiting their website because initially, it looks like your average cam site. There are free shows that you can enter and you have the ability to filter by model, body type, and gender. This is one of the few sex cam sites that contains female shows in addition to male shows, trans shows, and nonbinary shows. We find that to be a huge plus as it caters to a much wider audience of viewers.

Cams.com is not only ahead of the game in terms of their diversity, but they are also very technologically advanced. If you are someone who watches a lot of VR porn, you are familiar with the term teledildonics. In VR, teledildonics are bluetooth sex toys that synch up to what you are watching. For the purposes of cams, it allows you to control the sex toy that the performer is using, which is insanely cool and futuristic! It brings an entirely new level to cam shows and makes you feel like you are intimately interacting with a model right there in the room with them.

This cam site is one where you have to pay by the minute, which can get really pricey if you plan on spending a lot of time on the site. Yes, there are free shows, but they aren’t all that good. It’s worth checking out the paid ones though because of all the unique features.

Pros:

Teledildonics!Advanced search functionDiverse models

Cons:

If you aren’t in it for the teledildonics, there are better options

11.  XCams: Diverse Euro models

XCams is a special cam site for folks who have eyes for European cam models. They flourish on XCams, though it’s a lesser-known site than the rest. It’s surprising that it flies under the radar because there are always so many models available at any given time for anyone to watch.

Diversity is the name of the game over at XCams. While they feature tons of Europeans, these models are really diverse in their backgrounds, performance styles, and kinks that they love to get into. It’s fun to browse through the thumbnails of videos on the XCams homepage because you get a peek at all the unique shows they have to offer.

Each model decides what you’ll pay for a show. Before you commit, you’ll be shown a preview, told where the model is from, and told how many credits you’ll need to pay for your time. You will get 25 free credits just for signing up, which will give you about five minutes on average.

Pros:

Beautiful diverse cam girlsVery kinkyGreat previews for private shows

Cons:

Models operate on an expensive price-per-minute structureSmall amount of free credits when you sign up

12.  Streamate: Most options

If you’re after quantity, Streammate is a good option. There are literally thousands of models online at any given time when you head over to the site. It doesn’t matter if it’s during your 12 PM lunch break or after midnight, this site is always busy. It’s the cam site that never sleeps.

The Streamate performers also love to please. Truthfully, it’s because they want to be tipped well, but you can rest assured that any model you watch on Streamate will work very hard to earn your affection. They are very engaging, personable, and (of course) sexy.

Streamate is a no-frills site that takes you straight to the action. It doesn’t need all the bells and whistles because it provides a large amount of really great shows. You can use their simple and intuitive search function to filter your options, making Streamate one of the easiest sex cam sites to navigate. And their filtering options get really specific, so you can find exactly what turns you on. There is also a “Newcomer” section for the viewers who love to watch fresh talent or want to discover new models.

Pros:

Thousands of models to choose fromAmateurs and professionals available

Cons:

This site has a lot of annoying adsOutdated web design

13.  LuckyCrush: A combo of a cam site and Chatroulette

LuckyCrush is a cam girl site that randomly matches you with flirty ladies. It’s newer, but it has managed to attract millions of users on a monthly basis. People like to say that LuckyCrush is a healthy mix of a cam site and a random chat site like Chatroulette. It’s probably what you wished Chatroulette could be when you were too young to know about cam sites. Men and women are randomly paired for an erotic video chat.

LuckyCrush is confident in its unique model, which is why it offers first-time male visitors a brief free trial. After that, you will need to purchase credits to enjoy the site. Women come to LuckyCrush hoping to make money, so stocking up a little bit will do you some good.

Because LuckyCrush is totally random, you might be paired up with a hottie who is on the other side of the world. Don’t worry if you don’t speak her language. LuckyCrush has a built-in translation feature that makes it easy to communicate with models from all over the world. It’s an exciting approach to cam shows.

Pros:

Personally meet models from all over the worldExclusively private shows

Cons:

You can’t filter or searchNot for everyone

14.  StripChat: Interactive stripteases

StripChat is a cam site with some special perks. On the surface, it’s a way to view beautiful live stripteases performed by stunning models. Some of them just like to strip and others take it up a notch by displaying naughty activities. In that regard, it’s a little different from your average sex cam site. You can check out the videos for free and tip the models, like you normally would. These tips are given in the form of tokens, which you will need to purchase beforehand.

The women on StripChat are not amateurs. They are women who seem to fit right into the porn industry. They really know what they are doing and they are fantastic at putting on a show for an audience. This is also a site that sadly caters exclusively to the male gaze. In other words, there isn’t any real gender diversity unless you head over to their couples section. However, everything, including the lesbian scenes, seems to be shot exclusively for purely heterosexual males.

What separates StripChat from the crowd is their VR feature. Now, if you don’t have a pair of VR goggles, you are going to want to stop reading because this next part is going to make you really jealous. StripChat’s VR function allows you to throw on a headset and opt in for a private show from one of their pretty performers. It takes live interaction to new heights and is a deeply satisfying cam experience. The videos are in HD, so you won’t miss a thing!

Pros:

HD stripteasesVR featuresProfessional cam girls

Cons:

Sometimes, you only get a striptease

15.  BongaCams: Affordable, transparent

On the surface, BongaCams likes to pretend that it’s a free cam site full of women, couples, and trans people. If you’ve made it this far in reading cam reviews, you won’t be surprised to learn that every site is going to squeeze some coin out of you at some point. That’s just how these things work. But BongaCams isn’t going to suck you dry by charging per minute. Their models make a living based on their tips, and you are going to eventually want to tip them through the token payment structure.

The good thing about the BongaCams pricing setup is that there are really no surprises. When you enter a free live show, you are shown a list of the models prices per a given activity. For instance, erotic play between two beautiful lesbian models might cost you 100 tokens. You’ll be informed of everything up front, which helps you figure out which shows are worth watching based on your personal preference and what you can afford. You can also try your luck at jumping into a show and mooching off the other viewers who will send tips, but it might test your patience.

BongaCams delivers incredible shows but doesn’t provide many private show options. In the end, BongaCams is a pretty predictable cam site with a token system and great performers. You’ll find a lot of new girls on this site too, because it’s very welcoming to girls who want to get into camming for the first time.

Pros:

Very transparent about priceGreat site design

Cons:

Not great for private shows

16.  BabeStation: Huge UK cam site

BabeStation has been around for nearly two decades and is the biggest cam site for UK models. Of all the cam sites, BabeStation is not one that you want to breeze past because it has a lot to offer.

Most sites that have been around for as long as BabeStation have pretty much nailed the cam girl experience. This will become clear to you immediately upon visiting the site. Rather than staring at a bunch of thumbnails, you’ll be plopped into a live show right away. You can of course exit and search for a show that’s a bit more your flavor, but it’s nice to know that you can freely view HD cam shows from the jump.

One thing that BabeStation is missing is an easy way for new visitors to browse and filter. Most of the models are great, but this site isn’t designed to cater to unique fetishes because it’s hard to navigate. Some of the performers are also a little dry. They will sometimes just keep their camera on while they go about mundane tasks, which is more of a voyeuristic experience than an interactive cam show.

BabeStation does offer a ton of promotions at any given time, making it feel very affordable when you decide that you do want to tip a model.

Pros:

Biggest UK cam siteCan actually watch shows for free

Cons:

Not an easy site to navigateSome performers lack engagement or personality

How to Have the Best Adult Cam Site Experience

If you’re brand new to cam sites, you might feel a bit lost. There are a lot of them, and they’re not all worth your time. Check out the following four tips to ensure that you end up on the best sites and have a great experience. 

Browse before you buy

Do you buy a car without test driving it? Do you buy a house without seeing it first? When it comes to spending your hard-earned money, it’s always good to avoid wasting it. And a good way to throw away your money is to start spending a ton of it on cam sites.

Your best bet is to browse around some of the top cam sites before you sign up for any subscriptions, premium memberships, etc. Many cam sites can even be browsed for free—even the biggest one, Chaturbate. So, it’s recommended to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the various sites out there before spending any cash. 

Privilege quality over quantity

There are some sites with thousands of cam models who are active at any given time. Yet, all those choices may be overwhelming, and it might feel like finding a needle in a haystack to find something of high quality. So, you might be better off finding a site with fewer models but with a higher percentage of fun and engaged and attractive ones.

That said, the biggest cam sites like Chaturbate give you different filtering options and the default is to show you the cammers with the largest number of viewers. This generally means that you can find high quality content without having to look too far. 

Stick to the big names

Camming has exploded in recent years. As you might expect, there’s been a lot of people trying to get a slice of the pie. Tons of cam sites have popped up, and not all of them are created equal—in fact, it’s not even close.

To avoid getting scammed and wasting your money and/or time, stick to the biggest names in the camming world—sites like Chaturbate and MyFreeCams, for example. 

Participate to maximize the experience

Cam sites are all about participation. This is what inherently separates them from regular porn sites. If no one participated—neither chatting nor giving any tips—the cam site wouldn’t exist. The models depend on tips for it to be worth their while, and the chatting helps keep things fun and engaging. 

So, don’t be shy to participate. You might find that it really enhances your overall experience, especially if you tip to get into private shows. Otherwise, you might as well just stick to regular porn. 

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I think today is some sort of special occasion? Oh yeah! It’s the first day of Lit & Luz, a festival focused on art, literature, and language shared between the U.S. and Mexico. At noon, things kicked off with a virtual keynote from poet, editor, and translator Anthony Cody. From 6-7 PM, artist Balam Bartolomé will give an artist talk at the Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60th). He’ll be joined by visiting curator, Esteban King, to discuss themes in his creative practice, which harnesses a variety of media (sculpture, writing, photography, and more) to explore how contemporary cultural narratives are constructed and their relationships to the past. And from 6-8 PM, guest writers will share personal work as well as favorite Halloween poems at the Insect Asylum (2870 N. Milwaukee). This year’s guests include Kathleen Rooney, Robin Myers, yolanda segura, Kailah Peters, Olivia Maciel, and more. Lit & Luz runs through November 5. For a complete list of programming, check out their website. (MC)

Here are some music options for tonight with links to past coverage by our music writers: if you’re looking to finish Halloween weekend with some aural costuming, head to one of the venues where bands are keeping up the time-honored Halloween tradition of pretending to be other bands! At Sleeping Village, the Tomblands will cover Black Sabbath’s music; Space Gators are also on the bill with their swampy rock. (9 PM, 3734 W. Belmont, $5, 21+, tickets here). And at Golden Dagger, John Perrin and his band will become the Ramones, Jack Fluegel and band are playing Blondie for the evening, and the band Uncle Pigeon will morph into Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble. (8 PM, 2447 N. Halsted, $10, 21+, tickets at Ticketweb).

Other non-Halloween (but I’m sure they’ll let you in if you’re wearing a costume, just go as a paying customer) shows tonight: singer-songwriter Kevin Morby plays the Vic with opener Coco (8 PM, 3145 N. Sheffield, $30-$55, 18+, tickets at Jam’s website). At Empty Bottle, Martin Kanja and Sam Karugu of Nairobi bring their metal duo Duma to the stage; Masma Dream World and Hopeless Voyage open. (8:30 PM, 1035 N. Western, $20, 21+, tickets at Eventbrite). (SCJ)

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On October 27 and 28, the Harris Theater filled from front row to the top of the balcony for Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring (1975) and common ground[s], a new work by Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo. These historic performances, coproduced by École des Sables, the Pina Bausch Foundation, and Sadler’s Wells, brought Bausch’s iconic piece to Chicago for the first time, danced by a company of three dozen dancers assembled from across the African continent, alongside a new work by Acogny, founder of École des Sables in Senegal, and Airaudo, one of the earliest dancers in Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal. 

For two hours each night, the stage is not a surface or a platform—it is an entire landscape, wild and wondrous, a terrain undergoing continuous change, which emits from unseen depths a murmur, a rumble, a hum, a pulse, an earthquake threatening to rupture and reorganize all its rocks and relations.

In common ground[s] the elements of the set are sparse and neatly contained, small piles of stones and sticks and straw spaced evenly about the stage, domestic. Two women appear on stools in long black gowns, sitting statuesquely side by side, with a long staff between them, backs to the audience. A quiet cadence, as of distant thunder, begins the score by Fabrice Bouillon LaForest, and the staff that divides them turns into a line that connects them, an oar to row, an invitation to cross boundaries and find connection and embrace. 

They roam the large space, sometimes together, sometimes apart, quietly, calmly, and freely. Events occur: Airaudo rubs a stone on Acogny’s back. They stand near each other, shifting positions as if posing for a series of portraits. They begin to speak, and when they do, they speak about the dead. “Les morts ne sont pas morts,” says Acogny. “The dead are not dead,” says Airaudo, translating. They sing, “Que sera sera.” These two women, now in their 70s, have outlived Bausch, who died in 2009 at the age of 68. However, the relationship portrayed does not have the intimacy of those who have known each other long, but those who have moved through time long enough to have commonly experienced the loves and losses of being alive. At the end, they face each other, seated on the stools, and beat another cadence, feet against the ground, together.

Malou Airaudo (front) and Germaine Acogny in common ground[s] Credit Maarten Vanden Abeele

Intermission is its own act in this program, beginning with the subtle clearing of the objects from common ground[s], then evolving into the coordinated act of preparing the stage for the Rite of Spring: the laying of a huge canvas, billowing across the stage with an accompanying cloud of fine dust. The nailing of its edges to the floor, a whole side at a time—a line of crew in black stomp their way rhythmically along its length before fixing the other side down. When large metal bins of peat are wheeled in and overturned with a resounding crash, the crowd cheers—then together, with rakes and brooms, the crew smooths and spreads the earth into a perfect surface, every footprint erased, every edge square to the walls, temporarily silent and dark.

On the ground, a vivid red cloth, simultaneously a doorway and a grave, upon which lies a girl, undulating softly in a narrow beam of light upon a vast plain of peat. Another beam pierces the dark space, and after it bolts another girl, who comes to a sudden stop, pulling the hem of her dress to her face, revealing bare legs. Another and another enter swift as wind and stop still as stones, in thin nude slips, pale and fragile as tulip bulbs starting to sprout. When the men enter, they enter together, thunderously, to trumpets, brave—and yet afraid. 

The world of Bausch’s Rite is perpetually poised on the edge of order and chaos, light and darkness, life and death—from a distance, careful geometric forms collect the bodies into tribes, in which they form tight clusters, like fists or flower buds, or open into a single large circle, within which is a massive vacancy, an earth so much larger than all those within it can encompass. Igor Stravinsky’s score is merciless, with strident dissonances and boneshaking basses that implant within us the inexorable impulse of the earth, the absolute gravity of mortality dragging us down, a death drive, against which we see bodies resist and yield, again and again surrendering to the dust. The earth is precarious, their feet slide in it, their limbs become submerged in it, it flies up and refuses to hold them, even as it threatens to bury them entirely. Every footfall leaves an imprint—every imprint can be erased.

Apart, they are possessed by tooth-rattling tremors and contractions that crumple a body as easily as a dried leaf; together, they huddle into masses, refusing to see or be seen. The women pass the cloth from hand to hand, fascinated and fearful. When one is chosen and clothed in scarlet, the structure erupts—they abandon her, and she abandons herself, to a wilderness that exists within and beyond us, an absolute terror, sublime.

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On October 27 and 28, the Harris Theater filled from front row to the top of the balcony for Pina Bausch’s The Rite of Spring (1975) and common ground[s], a new work by Germaine Acogny and Malou Airaudo. These historic performances, coproduced by École des Sables, the Pina Bausch Foundation, and Sadler’s Wells, brought Bausch’s iconic piece to Chicago for the first time, danced by a company of three dozen dancers assembled from across the African continent, alongside a new work by Acogny, founder of École des Sables in Senegal, and Airaudo, one of the earliest dancers in Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal. 

For two hours each night, the stage is not a surface or a platform—it is an entire landscape, wild and wondrous, a terrain undergoing continuous change, which emits from unseen depths a murmur, a rumble, a hum, a pulse, an earthquake threatening to rupture and reorganize all its rocks and relations.

In common ground[s] the elements of the set are sparse and neatly contained, small piles of stones and sticks and straw spaced evenly about the stage, domestic. Two women appear on stools in long black gowns, sitting statuesquely side by side, with a long staff between them, backs to the audience. A quiet cadence, as of distant thunder, begins the score by Fabrice Bouillon LaForest, and the staff that divides them turns into a line that connects them, an oar to row, an invitation to cross boundaries and find connection and embrace. 

They roam the large space, sometimes together, sometimes apart, quietly, calmly, and freely. Events occur: Airaudo rubs a stone on Acogny’s back. They stand near each other, shifting positions as if posing for a series of portraits. They begin to speak, and when they do, they speak about the dead. “Les morts ne sont pas morts,” says Acogny. “The dead are not dead,” says Airaudo, translating. They sing, “Que sera sera.” These two women, now in their 70s, have outlived Bausch, who died in 2009 at the age of 68. However, the relationship portrayed does not have the intimacy of those who have known each other long, but those who have moved through time long enough to have commonly experienced the loves and losses of being alive. At the end, they face each other, seated on the stools, and beat another cadence, feet against the ground, together.

Malou Airaudo (front) and Germaine Acogny in common ground[s] Credit Maarten Vanden Abeele

Intermission is its own act in this program, beginning with the subtle clearing of the objects from common ground[s], then evolving into the coordinated act of preparing the stage for the Rite of Spring: the laying of a huge canvas, billowing across the stage with an accompanying cloud of fine dust. The nailing of its edges to the floor, a whole side at a time—a line of crew in black stomp their way rhythmically along its length before fixing the other side down. When large metal bins of peat are wheeled in and overturned with a resounding crash, the crowd cheers—then together, with rakes and brooms, the crew smooths and spreads the earth into a perfect surface, every footprint erased, every edge square to the walls, temporarily silent and dark.

On the ground, a vivid red cloth, simultaneously a doorway and a grave, upon which lies a girl, undulating softly in a narrow beam of light upon a vast plain of peat. Another beam pierces the dark space, and after it bolts another girl, who comes to a sudden stop, pulling the hem of her dress to her face, revealing bare legs. Another and another enter swift as wind and stop still as stones, in thin nude slips, pale and fragile as tulip bulbs starting to sprout. When the men enter, they enter together, thunderously, to trumpets, brave—and yet afraid. 

The world of Bausch’s Rite is perpetually poised on the edge of order and chaos, light and darkness, life and death—from a distance, careful geometric forms collect the bodies into tribes, in which they form tight clusters, like fists or flower buds, or open into a single large circle, within which is a massive vacancy, an earth so much larger than all those within it can encompass. Igor Stravinsky’s score is merciless, with strident dissonances and boneshaking basses that implant within us the inexorable impulse of the earth, the absolute gravity of mortality dragging us down, a death drive, against which we see bodies resist and yield, again and again surrendering to the dust. The earth is precarious, their feet slide in it, their limbs become submerged in it, it flies up and refuses to hold them, even as it threatens to bury them entirely. Every footfall leaves an imprint—every imprint can be erased.

Apart, they are possessed by tooth-rattling tremors and contractions that crumple a body as easily as a dried leaf; together, they huddle into masses, refusing to see or be seen. The women pass the cloth from hand to hand, fascinated and fearful. When one is chosen and clothed in scarlet, the structure erupts—they abandon her, and she abandons herself, to a wilderness that exists within and beyond us, an absolute terror, sublime.

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The Chicago Bears have always been good at drafting and developing linebackers. Roquan Smith was not an exception as he was one of the only good early draft picks during the Ryan Pace era. He came from the University of Georgia and became a great player in the NFL.

However, based on the current Chicago Bears situation with a new regime in charge, his future with the club was always cloudy. He ended up showing up to play this year with the Bears and that was somewhat surprising at the time. He wants to be paid like a top linebacker because he is.

For a while, we wondered if the Bears would end up trading him before Tuesday’s trade deadline. They now have. It is confirmed that the Chicago Bears have traded Roquan Smith to the Baltimore Ravens. He is due the long contract and the Bears won’t be the ones giving it to him.

The return is a future second-round and a future fifth-round pick in the NFL Draft. That might not seem like a lot for a star linebacker that was once a first-round pick but it is a lot to pay for someone that might be an eight-game rental.

The Chicago Bears have traded Roquan Smith to the Baltimore Ravens.

These are the moves that the Chicago Bears are going to continue making while they are rebuilding. They want to do things the right way which includes giving up some good players. Roquan Smith is a very good player.

He is going to the Baltimore Ravens where like the Bears, they know what they are doing with linebackers and defenses. The difference is that they have an equally dynamic offense that has a quarterback capable of winning the Super Bowl right now. He will love it there.

It is on Ryan Poles and his staff to make good with these newly acquired draft picks. This team has shown some fight in the first eight games of the season but now the tanking seems to be coming.

Being down both Robert Quinn (Philadelphia Eagles) and Roquan Smith (Baltimore Ravens), the defense certainly isn’t getting better. Maybe those two teams can meet up in the Super Bowl to keep Bears fans interested.

It isn’t fun being a losing rebuilding team but there seems to be a sense of confidence that they are doing things the right way. Only time will tell.

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It was a connect-the-dots moment in Chicago as the following news stories recently broke in rapid succession.

Chicago Public School enrollment fell again. It’s now down more than 115,000 students over the last 20 years.

There are homeless camps in many parks and under viaducts, including Touhy Park on the far north side. That’s where a wannabe political candidate tried a stunt out of the Ron DeSantis playbook, luring the homeless out of the park with bogus eviction notices promising them jobs in other parts of the city.

And the City Council approved a zoning change that allows Chicago Housing Authority land, intended for low-income housing, to be used as a training center for the Fire soccer team.

I would say the shortage of low-income housing and the falling population are the direct results of planning decisions made over the last 30 or so years to do exactly what they did—encourage people to leave Chicago and make it far too expensive for poor people to stay.

We got what we wanted, Chicago. We should be happy.

But, Chicago being Chicago, when the Fire deed was done a chorus of alderpeople rose to say they were doing it on behalf of poor people. Which is what Chicago officials usually say when the city passes a deal that actually encourages poor people to get out of town.

Time for a brief history lesson on low-income housing in Chicago.

Throughout the last century, Chicago faced a housing crisis caused in part by the Great Migration, an influx of Black residents moving north from the south.

Chicago’s leaders might have confronted the housing crisis by making sure Black residents were welcomed in every corner of the city.

Except there was fierce resistance in many all-white neighborhoods whenever even a handful of Black families tried to move in.

Actually, resistance is a euphemism for what happened. Riots being the more accurate description of what went down.

In the years after World War II, there were the Trumbull Park riots, the Fernwood Park riots, the Peoria Street riots, and the Airport Homes riots. You can read all about them in Arnold Hirsch’s classic book, Making the Second Ghetto. 

You could name a who’s who of prominent Black Chicagoans whose families were confronted by rioters. Starting with Lorraine Hansberry, author of A Raisin in the Sun.

After her father, Carl Hansberry, bought a home in then all-white Washington Park, he was greeted not so much by a mob of residents as a mob of lawsuits. They tried to keep Hansberry and his family out of the neighborhood by arguing a restrictive clause in the lease prevented Black people from buying the property.

The “resistance” was still fierce in 1966, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., leading a fair housing campaign, got hit in the head with a rock while marching in Marquette Park.

In the face of the mobs, the powers that be decided the best course of action was to cram Black people into high-rise complexes built in already all-Black neighborhoods.

That decision enjoyed biracial political support. White politicians liked it because it kept Black people out of their wards. And Black politicians liked it because it kept Black people in their wards, pretty much guaranteeing their reelection.

Nobody loves segregation like Chicago!

In the 1990s, Mayor Daley decided the high-rises had outlived their usefulness. In conjunction with the Clinton administration, he announced the Plan for Transformation.

The residents would be moved out and the high-rises demolished. Mayor Daley promised that people who were moved out would be welcomed back, once lower-rise buildings were built on the sites.

There were a few critics—like yours truly—who said Daley was clearing out the poor people so he could turn the land over to developers.

But Daley said we, the critics, were just too cynical for our own good. And he was in fact tearing down the high-rises to allow the poor people an escape from the crime and misery of the projects.

And that everyone who got moved out would be invited back. 

One of the high-rises that got demolished were in the ABLA complex, around Roosevelt and Ashland, where the Fire will build its practice facility.

Years ago, there were about 3,600 families living in ABLA. Now there’s less than 100 families. I urge everybody to read my old friend Mick Dumke’s stories about the deal. But in a nutshell . . .

Joe Mansueto, the Fire’s owner, has been looking for a site for his practice center for the last several years.

After his plan to build the site at Hanson Park on the northwest side fell apart, Mansueto opted for the approximately 26 acres near ABLA. And so the CHA agreed to lease it to him. And last month the city council completed the deal by agreeing to change the zoning to allow for the soccer facility.

During the council debate, Alderperson Walter Burnett said the city was turning over the land to the Fire because that’s what the remaining ABLA residents wanted. And, it’s true, several residents said they did. Of course, no one asked the thousands of residents who were moved out (and remain on CHA waiting lists) what they thought about the deal.

Let’s face it, we all know what’s been going on. For better or worse, our mayors over the last 30 years have dedicated themselves to a policy of gentrification.

Tear down the high-rises. Move out the poor people. Lease the CHA lands so they can’t return. And let rising property taxes make this city too expensive for many people to afford.

No mayor will admit this was the plan. It sounds so, you know, Ron DeSantis-like. But, effectively, that’s what they’ve been up to as the city tries to reverse the Great Migration.

When Dr. King came to town, he said we needed to end poverty. But that was too challenging for Chicago’s leaders. So they decided to just move it someplace else.

The Latest from the Ben Joravsky Show

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It was a connect-the-dots moment in Chicago as the following news stories recently broke in rapid succession.

Chicago Public School enrollment fell again. It’s now down more than 115,000 students over the last 20 years.

There are homeless camps in many parks and under viaducts, including Touhy Park on the far north side. That’s where a wannabe political candidate tried a stunt out of the Ron DeSantis playbook, luring the homeless out of the park with bogus eviction notices promising them jobs in other parts of the city.

And the City Council approved a zoning change that allows Chicago Housing Authority land, intended for low-income housing, to be used as a training center for the Fire soccer team.

I would say the shortage of low-income housing and the falling population are the direct results of planning decisions made over the last 30 or so years to do exactly what they did—encourage people to leave Chicago and make it far too expensive for poor people to stay.

We got what we wanted, Chicago. We should be happy.

But, Chicago being Chicago, when the Fire deed was done a chorus of alderpeople rose to say they were doing it on behalf of poor people. Which is what Chicago officials usually say when the city passes a deal that actually encourages poor people to get out of town.

Time for a brief history lesson on low-income housing in Chicago.

Throughout the last century, Chicago faced a housing crisis caused in part by the Great Migration, an influx of Black residents moving north from the south.

Chicago’s leaders might have confronted the housing crisis by making sure Black residents were welcomed in every corner of the city.

Except there was fierce resistance in many all-white neighborhoods whenever even a handful of Black families tried to move in.

Actually, resistance is a euphemism for what happened. Riots being the more accurate description of what went down.

In the years after World War II, there were the Trumbull Park riots, the Fernwood Park riots, the Peoria Street riots, and the Airport Homes riots. You can read all about them in Arnold Hirsch’s classic book, Making the Second Ghetto. 

You could name a who’s who of prominent Black Chicagoans whose families were confronted by rioters. Starting with Lorraine Hansberry, author of A Raisin in the Sun.

After her father, Carl Hansberry, bought a home in then all-white Washington Park, he was greeted not so much by a mob of residents as a mob of lawsuits. They tried to keep Hansberry and his family out of the neighborhood by arguing a restrictive clause in the lease prevented Black people from buying the property.

The “resistance” was still fierce in 1966, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., leading a fair housing campaign, got hit in the head with a rock while marching in Marquette Park.

In the face of the mobs, the powers that be decided the best course of action was to cram Black people into high-rise complexes built in already all-Black neighborhoods.

That decision enjoyed biracial political support. White politicians liked it because it kept Black people out of their wards. And Black politicians liked it because it kept Black people in their wards, pretty much guaranteeing their reelection.

Nobody loves segregation like Chicago!

In the 1990s, Mayor Daley decided the high-rises had outlived their usefulness. In conjunction with the Clinton administration, he announced the Plan for Transformation.

The residents would be moved out and the high-rises demolished. Mayor Daley promised that people who were moved out would be welcomed back, once lower-rise buildings were built on the sites.

There were a few critics—like yours truly—who said Daley was clearing out the poor people so he could turn the land over to developers.

But Daley said we, the critics, were just too cynical for our own good. And he was in fact tearing down the high-rises to allow the poor people an escape from the crime and misery of the projects.

And that everyone who got moved out would be invited back. 

One of the high-rises that got demolished were in the ABLA complex, around Roosevelt and Ashland, where the Fire will build its practice facility.

Years ago, there were about 3,600 families living in ABLA. Now there’s less than 100 families. I urge everybody to read my old friend Mick Dumke’s stories about the deal. But in a nutshell . . .

Joe Mansueto, the Fire’s owner, has been looking for a site for his practice center for the last several years.

After his plan to build the site at Hanson Park on the northwest side fell apart, Mansueto opted for the approximately 26 acres near ABLA. And so the CHA agreed to lease it to him. And last month the city council completed the deal by agreeing to change the zoning to allow for the soccer facility.

During the council debate, Alderperson Walter Burnett said the city was turning over the land to the Fire because that’s what the remaining ABLA residents wanted. And, it’s true, several residents said they did. Of course, no one asked the thousands of residents who were moved out (and remain on CHA waiting lists) what they thought about the deal.

Let’s face it, we all know what’s been going on. For better or worse, our mayors over the last 30 years have dedicated themselves to a policy of gentrification.

Tear down the high-rises. Move out the poor people. Lease the CHA lands so they can’t return. And let rising property taxes make this city too expensive for many people to afford.

No mayor will admit this was the plan. It sounds so, you know, Ron DeSantis-like. But, effectively, that’s what they’ve been up to as the city tries to reverse the Great Migration.

When Dr. King came to town, he said we needed to end poverty. But that was too challenging for Chicago’s leaders. So they decided to just move it someplace else.

The Latest from the Ben Joravsky Show

Read More