awaken the dancer in everyone’s soul
mission
Founded to showcase and celebrate the artistry of Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ performers, Joel Hall Dancers & Center stands as the embodiment of Joel’s life-long passion for creating, performing, and teaching dance artistry and technique. While holding the highest standards of excellence, Joel Hall Dancers & Center is a welcoming and accepting home for all artists. Defiantly and unapologetically diverse, accessible, and inclusive since 1974, Joel Hall Dancers & Center lives at the leading edge of the anti-racism, LGBTQIA+ Pride, and DEAI movements, actively pursuing opportunities to dismantle oppressive systems, amplify oppressed voices and cultivate a better world for all. The Joel Hall Dancers’ creation and performance of professional dance and the world-class instruction of The Center enrich lives, enhance our collective culture, and improves the world around us.
values
JHDC builds upon its longstanding tenets of diversity and accessibility to provide movers of all backgrounds the same diligent commitment to artistry, curiosity, self-expression, and growth. JHDC rejects the idea that high-quality artistic programming should be a privilege; at JHDC, this level of programming is a right. Moreover, this programming is a tool for community building, fostering creativity, and having difficult but necessary conversations about how to productively dismantle issues like racism, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia.
classes
JHDC continues to offer online as well as in-person classes to meet your needs.
events
vision
to be an arts incubator, an activist space, and a champion of diversity among dance studios in the greater Chicago area by:
Retaining skilled artists
Sharing support and resources with other local arts organizations
Uniting and uplifting its community’s artistic ecosystem through various performances and programs
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CORE PROGRAMS
Top-level artistic programming, dance education and service
LEGACY
Make your contribution to the next generation of Joel Hall Dancers
CORPORATE
Join Joel Hall Dancers & Center on its journey as a contributor and partner
Use our secure online forms to GIVE NOW.
Please consider making a gift that is significant to you. Whether it’s a one-time contribution or a monthly sustaining gift, every dollar will help Joel Hall Dancers & Center awaken the dancer in everyone’s soul.
Thank you for your support!
company
Joel Hall Dancers & Center’s company is comprised of three tiers, the First Company, the Second Company, and the Youth Company, where dancers fresh or seasoned assemble to strut, leap and show out in front of the bright lights of the Chicago Dance Scene!
classes
Dance education should not only be accessible but should enrich the lives of its students. Joel Hall Dancers & Center provides programming aimed at developing dancers’ individual skills but also allowing them the chance to grow, express themselves and develop their artistry.
joel hall
CO-FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Joel Hall — a native of Chicago’s Cabrini Green neighborhood — established and co-founded the Chicago City Theatre Company in 1974. This unique performing arts organization includes the Joel Hall Dancers, one of Chicago’s premiere professional concert dance companies, and a training facility known as the Center. Hall was the Artistic Director and prime choreographer for his dance company and the Chief Dance Instructor for the training studio. He has mentored dancers who direct Joel Hall Dancers II and Joel Hall Dancers Youth Company.
legacy
48 YEARS OF IMPACT
Founded in 1974, The Joel Hall Dancers (JHD) have a rich 48-year history. Today, JHD continues to dazzle audiences in venues throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, across the country, and around the world. Having dedicated his life to the development of Urban Jazz Dance, a method that translates life experience through dance, Joel has touched the lives of thousands of young artists.
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