The Joel Hall Dance Center encompasses a professional dance company and school, both of which focus on developing Chicagos indigenous talent pool, and enhancing the quality of arts education. The organization affirms a commitment to diversity by training dancers from a broad spectrum of cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds, and by presenting an expression of contemporary urban life through dance instruction and performance. It reaches as broad an audience as possible, targeting those outside the mainstream dance audience. Founded in 1974 as Chicago City Theatre Company/Joel Hall Dancers, the Center has since gained recognition for its explosive urban blend of jazz, ballet, modern and street dance techniques. In its 31-year history, the Joel Hall Dancers has become a Chicago-based company of international reputation that embodies contemporary American jazz dance. The Company has performed in New York, London, Glasgow, Bonn, Moscow and St. Petersburg. Highlights of the Companys national and international tours include three seasons at the prestigious Joyce Theatre in New York City. The Joel Hall Dancers was scheduled to tour Europe again in early 1994. A devastating fire in August of 1993 of the building that housed the Centers school, offices, and rehearsal space destroyed everything from costumes to equipment. Touring activity was canceled. After a year in temporary spaces, the JHDC moved into a near North site where it thrived for three years until a major retail development forced yet another relocation. In the spring of 1999, the Joel Hall Dance Center moved into its current facility, featuring five studios. The Joel Hall Dancers defies simple classification. Its repertoire includes Nuts & Bolts (holiday fun for the family), The Crossing, a dance chronology of African-American influence on American culture, El Gato Negro, and Caliente, Por Favor, illustrating the companys trademark melding of street-smart funk with the earthiness of jazz and the technical discipline of classical dance. The past several seasons have featured Joel Hall Dancers concerts at Theaters throughout Chicago and the Midwest. The Joel Hall Dancers were featured at events sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislators and the Illinois Governors Awards for the Arts. Programs for Chicagos disadvantaged youth serve about 100 students each week. A scholarship program offers dance classes to 40-50 young people each term, many of whom have had no formal dance training. In conjunction with Chicago concerts, the Center stages matinees for up to 3,000 Chicago elementary school students each year. Other unique programs include performance and choreographers' workshops in which 80-100 students have the opportunity to stage and present original works three times each year and master classes featuring teachers and performers from leading national and international dance organizations.

The Joel Hall Dancers and Center, originally formed as the Chicago City Theatre Company, seeks to become Chicagos global destination point for the art of dance. Through three dance companies and three current outreach programs the JHDC expresses the many social issues of contemporary urban life incorporating ballet, jazz and modern dance in order to educate, enlighten and inspire in an all-inclusive, multi-cultural, ethnically diverse, open and creative environment.

150 Classes each week provide Illinois Performers with instruction in a wide variety of disciplines such as Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern-Dance, Afro-Caribbean, Hip-Hop and Pilates. Our instructors number 40 of Chicagos finest and most accomplished Artisans. Each one endows their class with energy, discipline, fun and a breadth of knowledge which has made them as renowned as they are sought-after. We have thus been able to attract an exponentially growing number of over 1,300 willing students along with a Childrens Program which serves 500 of our communitys kids. The JHDCs relentless commitment to helping those in need still be able to participate in this unrivaled environment is best illustrated by our Scholars Initiative. This program, open to any of our communitys under-served who wishes to audition, provides dance lessons in exchange for in-kind services to the organization. The philosophy is to give everyone a chance at their dreams no matter what their income level. An Intensive Apprenticeship Program focuses on training for minority dance students with the goal of training them to one day become members of professional dance companies. Opportunities for young performers of color are lax at best. JHDC is working to change that one step at a time. The JHDCs open door policy is not limited to instruction. Each year we have welcomed independent choreographers from across Chicago, the nation and the world to bring their innovative ideas and ways to enhance the visibility of dance to the organization and the city itself. Master Classes, workshops and performances with these professionals have provided Illinois Artists with exposure to national and international talent. The JHDC is more than a classroom. It is a meeting place and a think tank of creativity where participants can network, share event news and form lasting friendships. The JHDC currently has four Outreach programs designed to address social issues and enhance the loves of our community: Two Joel Hall Dance Companies: JHD 1511 and JHD II: This extraordinary group of talented individuals cover a wide spectrum of age, race, gender and background. Aside from their substantial performance duties, the JHDC companies have participated in community fundraising activities across the city. Project Butterfly: Now in its second year, this extraordinarily innovative program speaks to the issues young women face every day: such as self-esteem, body image, defying stereotypes. It reaches girls who are most at risk in terms of their weight and physical activity and who live in economically disadvantaged households. Through dance instruction, nutrition awareness and confidence building, 100% of our participants have finished the program as literally different, strong, assured and renewed people aware of their abilities to accomplish anything. Dance is a language: Along with its sister program: Dance to enhance the JHDC has been able to enhance the lives of over 6,000 children in Public Schools across the city. Using activities such as performance, workshops, professional and cultural enrichment for teachers and student training, Dance is a Language has brought a curriculum to these institutions that otherwise they would not have owing to their limited budgets.