Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Paul.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I studied dance at Indiana University, receiving a B.S. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Contemporary Dance. After graduation, I relocated to Chicago where I met Krissie Odegard Geye, the owner of the Dance and Music Academy. I began teaching at DMA and have grown with the studio as programming continues to expand.
In 2016, Krissie formed Trifecta Dance Collective, DMA’s resident professional company. I had the opportunity to be a founding company member of TDC and also set choreography on the company.
In 2017, Krissie continued to expand her vision for our studio, specifically in creating opportunities for our students to use their artistry to serve others. She asked me to step into the role of Director of Outreach and Community Presence. Through this position, I have collaborated with our amazing parent volunteers and overseen several projects that directly connect our dancers to opportunities to give back to our community.
In November we hosted The Honor Project at Barbara’s Bookstore; our students performed for local families and veterans and we collected almost 400lbs of donations for Operation Support Our Troops Illinois. In December our dancers sponsored a local family through Glenview Youth Services Holiday Gift Drive. In February we will host a benefit performance to support Misericordia and our dancers will perform for residents at local retirement and assisted living communities.
Additionally, in October fellow DMA instructor Colleen Welch and I partnered with Photoserve to produced a benefit performance for clean water organization Wine to Water. DMA sponsored our evening, donating rehearsal space towards the event!
Has it been a smooth road?
The role, Director of Outreach and Community Presence, was created last Spring. Since this is a new position, it took some time to discover what ways our dancers can effectively connect and impact our local community. Thankfully, DMA has a culture of collaboration and creativity, which helped! We found unique opportunities to connect our dancers to service experiences and open their eyes to the potential their passions hold. It has been an exciting road, and because we want to partner with other businesses and non-profit organizations in the area, there are many possibilities for future projects!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dance and Music Academy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
The Dance and Music Academy’s mission is to empower young minds through the arts. We have locations in Edgebrook and Glenview, IL, and offer classes in voice, piano, silks, ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, jumps and turns, hip hop, modern/contemporary, musical theatre, Pilates, and stretch and strengthen. Class sizes are kept small to ensure individual attention to each student. We offer performance opportunities to our students through our annual Nutcracker and recital performances, and our student companies perform throughout the year.
DMA is unique in the opportunities and resources we provide to our dancers. With the professional dance company Trifecta Dance Collective in residence, our students have the ability to train and look up to professionals in the field and some eventually apprentice with TDC. Our vision to connect our dance students to service and outreach opportunities also sets us apart. Not only are we passionate about training technically strong dancers, but we are committed to creating an atmosphere that encourages leadership, service, and excellence.
Contact Info:
- Address:5347 W. Devon Avenue Chicago, IL 60646
3230 Glenview Road Glenview, IL 60025 - Website: http://www.danceacademyinc.com/
- Phone: (847) 832-1855
- Email: trifectadma@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmadancers5678/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dance-and-Music-Academy-181964811814022/
Image Credit:
Jorge Sigler
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