Why is JHDC’s Summer Intensive a great value?

- Dedicated intensive classes with other intensive students – 10 per week

- One-on-one time with instructor

- Skills Assessment – pre and post intensive

- 3 master classes – free to intensive students

- Lab time – dedicated studio time for practice – 2 hours

- Dedicated rehearsal time – placement by skill level, 2 hours per week

- Professional development with artistic director, through seminars and one-on-one discussions

- Portfolio review/building with feedback

- Get valuable feedback, including video!

- Exercise your mind as well as your body with challenging choreography!

- Connect with your fellow dancers!

- Recital at The Raven Theater

- Audition for JHD, JHD II, or JHDYC!

Congratulations to dancers in all divisions who participated in our spring concerts on April 28th! We sold out three shows, and filled the others nearly to the brim, and we gave each and every member of the audience a show to remember. Many hours of rehearsal (and many more hours, months, and years of training) went into every dancer’s performance, and it showed.

Thank you to the choreographers who gave us as dancers the opportunity to perform in beautiful, meaningful works. Thank you also to Victory Gardens Theater for hosting us so graciously. And finally, thank you to our wonderful audience and friends of JHDC – as we grow and change, your continued support has been a constant and a source of inspiration, and we thank you.

2012 Authentic! Award Recipients

Congratulations to the 2012 recipients of JHDC’s Authentic! Awards! These individuals have made extraordinary contributions in the growth and development of JHDC, showing commitment as artists and professionals towards furthering the mission of JHDC. Click on their names for full bios:

Mary V. Benker – Director of Financial Services/Apprentice
Valerie Bushey – Executive Director
Duwane Pendarvis – Instructor/Artistic Director, JHD II
David Leef – Instructor/Front Desk Supervisor

JHD and JHDYC perform at the Athenaeum!

Encore! Just one day after I Believe In Radiance, JHD and JHDYC performed magnificently at the Athenaeum Theatre! Congratulations to both companies for representing Joel Hall Dancers and Center ~ Chicago’s Global Destination for Dance!

Relive and enjoy your dancer’s performance – Order Your Show Videos Now!

Video orders will be taken now through May 9, 2012, and you may order as many videos as you wish for $10 per video. On May 10th and beyond any orders can still be filled but the rate will be $15 per video. Orders can be made by clicking on the show link below and within a few weeks we will have your DVD’s available for pickup at the front desk.

Select from the shows below the Youth Performance DVD you would like to keep as a treasure and/or share with family and friends:

Preschool division – Joel’s Magical Garden – 9:00 am, $10 through May 9, 2012
 
Elementary division – International Flair – 10:30 am, $10 through May 9, 2012
 
JHD Teen & Satellite programs – Global Dance – 3:30 pm, $10 through May 9, 2012
Dancers in this program will include: Boitsov Classical Ballet School & Company, The Robert R. McCormick Boys & Girls Club, Southshore Dancers, South Shore Cultural Center Ballet Workshop, South Shore Cultural Center Jazz Workshop, E-M Dancers of Douglas Park, JHDC Teen Division and the JHD-Youth Company.
 
Teen division – International Flair – 5:00 pm, $10 through May 9, 2012

Mary V. Benker

Mary V. Benker has served as Director of Financial Services for the Joel Hall Dancers & Center since the fall of 2011. She has a business background with specializations in human resources, project management, and business operations. In her last two positions with the American Academy of Art and Everest College, Mary handled both financial aid and student accounts. Mary also worked 12 years for Marshall Fields as an H.R. Generalist in addition to spending eight years in Project Management for Illinois Bell/Ameritech/SBC. Mary’s financial skill sets are an invaluable asset to Joel Hall Dancers & Center. Mary has helped transform our financial systems, implemented checks and balances, and streamlined our financial processes. Mary is also an extremely talented artist who trains as an apprentice with the Joel Hall Dancers.

Valerie Bushey

Valerie Bushey has served as Executive Director for the Joel Hall Dancers & Center since the spring of 2011. Valerie is an Advancement Consultant specializing in business strategies for national and local companies, organizations and events. Formerly serving as the Executive Director of the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), Valerie brought the organization out of debt and implemented creative strategies for sustainable income. Prior to CARA, Valerie was the Director of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s GoGirlGo! Chicago Initiative and Regional Office. She also previously held leadership positions with the Department of Defense, the Chicago Park District and the National Educational Service. She holds a Master’s degree in Sports Management from Indiana University and a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Augustana College. Valerie is also a two time collegiate Track & Field All American in the Heptathlon. Since coming on board with the Joel Hall Dancers & Center, Valerie has given the organization’s systems a complete overhaul, increasing efficiency, productivity and accountability Center-wide. Valerie has handled all organizational issues from upgrading facilities to ensuring regulatory compliance to overseeing the creation of a long term plan for organizational growth.

Duwane Pendarvis

Duwane Pendarvis is an experienced vocalist, dancer, educator, teacher, choreographer, model, poet, actor and commercial artist who majored in Voice and minored in Commercial Art at Tougaloo College (Private United Negro College), Tougaloo, Mississippi. Mr. Pendarvis is a Principal Senior Company Member of the world acclaimed Chicago-based Joel Hall Dancers & Center, where he teaches ballet, jazz, modern (Horton based) dance, performance workshop classes and choreographs a professional end of the year dance concert for children and adults. His professional travels and experiences have taken him across the United States, Europe and the former Soviet Union. In 1991, Duwane toured with the National Touring Company of Sesame Street Live. In 1992, Duwane made his professional choreographic debut with Mississippi Ballet with whom he danced until 1999 while he also served as Dance and Drama Director for Department of Parks and Recreation in Jackson, MS. Duwane has also been nominated for a Black Theater Alliance Award. Duwane has served the Joel Hall Dancers & Center as Artistic Director for JHD-II since its inception in 2002. Duwane also continues to encourage, teach, train and inspire young people to strive for excellence and always challenge one’s self to reach his or her fullest potential as an instructor at the Joel Hall Dance Center.

David Leef

David Isaac Leef started dancing when he was fourteen at Sullivan High School with the SHDance Squad. After graduating, he attended college at Columbia College Chicago as a dance major but life changed for the better when he got on scholarship at the Joel Hall Dancers & Center. David has been with the Joel Hall Dancers & Center for over 17 years now. He has had the great opportunity to dance for such choreographers as Joel Hall, Vanessa Truvillion, Kirby Reed, Iega, Angel Abecede, Chris Mccray, etc., as well as dance in such great companies as The Chicago Spirit Brigade, GI Alliance, Fivestar Boogie Productions, Urban Junction Dance Performance Ensemble, School Street Movements Sex Cadets, etc. David has served as Joel Hall Dancers & Center’s front desk supervisor since March of 2011, spearheading the school’s transition to more modern administrative systems. David is also an extremely popular youth division instructor for the Joel Hall Dance Center. He strives to teach his students more than just movements, imbuing them with stage presence and confidence in addition to lessons on putting your entire heart and soul into every step you take, a philosophy that David exemplifies in every aspect.

Adult Winterim Session Classes
JHDC will be closed for the Christmas holiday from Friday, December 23rd to Sunday, December 25th. During the week of December 26th, JHDC will run a modified schedule of classes for adults and teens. The Winterim schedule is as follows:

Monday, December 26th
Ballet III – Betsy Herskind – 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Modern II (Horton) – Will Gill – 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Hip Hop All Levels (Funk) – Will Gill – 8:00-9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 27th
Ballet II – Betsy Herskind – 3:00-4:30 p.m.
Modern III (Horton-based) – Will Gill – 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 28th
Ballet II – Joan Oberndorf – 9:30-11:00 a.m. ($12 for teens)

Thursday, December 29th
Ballet II – Betsy Herskind – 9:30-11:00 a.m.
Jazz II – Will Gill – 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Hip Hop (All Levels) – Will Gill – 8:00-9:30 p.m.
Ballet Fundamentals – Mandy Olson – 8:00-9:30 p.m. (special price – $12)

Closed Friday, December 30th

Saturday, December 31st
Ballet I – Joan Oberndorf – 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm ($12 for teens)

All adult and teen Winterim classes are $15 each, unless otherwise indicated. Only cash will be accepted for Winterim classes (no checks, credit cards, or class cards).

Register now for our Winterim Session Dance Camp for kids ages 7-11! Every day from 12/27 to 12/30, JHDC will host a full day of dance which will include classes in jazz, ballet, Zumbatomic (Zumba for kids), and hip-hop. The daily schedule will be as follows:

Ballet – 10:00-11:00
Jazz – 11:00-12:00
Lunch break – 12:00-12:30
Hip-Hop – 12:30-1:30
Zumbatomic (Zumba for kids) – 1:30-2:30

The camp will cost $45 per day, or $40 per day if you register in advance by 12/20. Call us today at (773) 293-0900 to sign up!

Dancing can Help Your Child Succeed in Life

Dancing will help your child with self-esteem. Their success in learning to dance can turn to success in school and success in life! Children need early wins when it comes to education, and music and dance just comes naturally to them. It’s a lot easier than learning to read or do math. And they are starting to do reading and math in Kindergarten now!

They don’t have to be a Fred Astaire or a Joel Hall to have a feeling of accomplishment, just learning a few steps will start them on the road to realizing that they can do it. With a little push from you, the parent, they can realize that if they can learn to dance, they can learn anything.

When Should My Children Start?

Don’t be worried that your children are too young. Our classes range from very un-structured for the youngest children (look at the photo to the right), to more structured for somewhat older students (the next photograph down) and finally full-blown classes with the masters themselves when the children are ready for them.

Your children will get in better shape. They will be moving a lot, even in the beginner classes. And as they move up in skills, they will begin to work even harder.

Dance is a form of art, and your children will start to become more creative and have more control after just a few lessons. You can encourage the creativity by having them make up their own dances when they are at home.

The Discipline of Dance

Dance discipline is attendance, attire, respect, punctuality and class etiquette! We are proud of the fact that we not only train students to dance, but many of our young dancers become Teachers’ Assistants, and use that experience for community service and college resumes.

During this year of 2010, I have thought seriously about leadership: leadership as a choreographer, director, teacher, and in personal relationships. I have looked back in discovery and realization about my own family rules, myths and beliefs. During this process, I have discovered how to become a more informed and effective leader. It is through these revelations that I have been able to work through the process of understanding some of the reasons of success and failure in my work. I have learned that we repeat and constantly review who we are through our parents, teachers and other important influences. Not all of that information is good stuff and we end up with stinky thoughts and unfinished business with people, relationships and business.

Transformational Leadership is a re-evaluation of these family rules, myths and beliefs so that we can achieve clarity in ourselves. Our relationships with our dancers, students, parents, friends, family, vendors, stakeholders can change once we, as individuals, change. In doing my own personal work this year, I am realizing that by challenging that which has traditionally been matrixed into behavior is changing it to a positive outcome. We as leaders have the responsibility to teach others to be leaders so that we may continue to develop young artists that are differentiated and individuated. We can do this by learning to have meaningful conversations with them about the importance of the work they do and how to lead by example. My commitment to myself and my community is to be a transformational leader. This has been a great year for my personal growth: the Joel Hall Dancers & Center will continue to provide innovation, differentiation, individuation through dance education. More to come.

Dear Friends,

Dance! I have always said: “It begins with a beat. Everyone has a heart beat; therefore, everyone is dancing without knowing they are dancing.” The Joel Hall Dancers and Center is the heart of Chicago dance. Help us keep this heart beating by making a year-end donation now.

The energy and momentum cultivated through dance is truly part of life itself: your life, your children’s lives and the lives of everyone who has been touched by the dynamic diversity of the Joel Hall Dancers and Center. For over 36 years, you have been there for us. For the next 36 years, we would like to continue to be here for you. Thanks to your support, we provide ongoing professional dance classes and performances for the Chicago community. Your generosity affords otherwise unavailable opportunities for children and young adults to experience dance in an environment also populated with some of Chicago’s most diverse and talented professional dance companies.

We again ask our friends to provide financial support to ensure that we can maintain our current services and thrive in the future. Please know that financial gifts at all levels are greatly appreciated – whether you are able to contribute $1 or $1,000, it means the world to all of us at JHDC. Gifts can be made here by clicking on the “Donate Now” button or by mailing a check to our address above.

The entire Joel Hall Dancers and Center family wishes each of you a joyous holiday season. We look forward to continuing in our efforts towards awakening the dancer in everyone’s soul!

Happy Holidays!

Joel Hall, Founder and Artistic Director

The dancer has so much to be thankful for. What have we been given? The knowledge of the art form: plies, tendue en coix, degage, frappe, ronde jambe en dehors and en dedan, retire, develope, grand battement, petite and grand allegro, pirouettes. We can also be grateful for contractions, along with fall release, pencil turns, laterals, fortifications. We must always mention kick ball changes, jazz squares, improvisation, jazz hands, runs and turns. Alvin Ailey, Lester Horton, Donald McKayle, Talley Beatty, Paul Sanasardo, Martha Graham, Beverly Blossom, Lynne Bloom, Pepsi Bethel, Gus Giordano, Thelma Hill, Lester Goodman, Nana Shineflug, Betsy Herskind, Nat Horne, Shirley Mordine, Lucille Ellis, Stone and Cameron, Joseph Holmes, Mario Rico Fuentes, Sir Kenneth Mc Millan, Maria Tallchief, Anna Sokolov, Judith Jamison, Anna Czajun, Diane McIntyre, Fred Alexson, Jose Limon, Manuel Alum, Alicia Alonzo, Gus Solomon, Alyo Tolbert, Katherine Dunham, John Cranko, Betty Taylor, Gerald Arpino, Robert Joffrey, Poonie Dobson, Cleo Parker Robinson, Rudolph Nureyev, Maya Plisetskaya, Ulyses Dove, Alonzo King, Eleo Pomare, Natalia Makarova, Elisa Monte and I have been privileged to have been given the love of dance. As you know there are only a few artists mentioned here. Thanks For Giving.