Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Vollmer of The Joel Hall Dancers.
Kristin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started with the Joel Hall Dancers as a trainee in 2004. Over the years I have worked with the organization in a variety of roles including dancer, instructor, administrative employee, Youth Company Director, and now as the Community Engagement Director.
Has it been a smooth road?
The work that goes into Non-profit management is very vast but extremely rewarding. I love what I do every day, and love this organization! The company has been around for over 40 years, and we plan to make it 40 more. Dedication and Passion keep our organization running, and the overwhelming desire to keep the arts alive in our great city.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Joel Hall Dancers & Center story. Tell us more about the business.
The ongoing mission of Joel Hall Dancers & Center is to use the arts to enrich the lives of its community through dance performance and education. JHDC is passionate about making dance accessible and affordable to all people… regardless of age, economic circumstance or experience level.
JHDC proactively reaches out to the entire Chicago community — seeking to serve those who may not otherwise be exposed to the arts — by providing ongoing dance classes, along with showcase performances that seek to enhance the lives of all participants. An authentic embrace and celebration of diversity have always been the hallmarks of the JHDC organization, it’s programming and its performances. Both JHDC and its audiences exhibit a rare and varied spectrum of cultural, ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
As most industries, we are more digitally focused, but with dance being a visual art, that primarily relates to marketing and outreach efforts. We will never go totally virtual, but we are certainly able to reach a larger audience through the use of social media, and video.
As the world goes more and more digital, it is important that we hold onto the authenticity of the art of dance, nothing can compare to seeing live dance, and training in the studio with a dance master at your side. It is our goal to preserve that magic, while still staying relevant and connecting with the community around us.
Pricing:
- Drop in rates for Adult classes $15 ($13 online)
Contact Info:
- Address: 5965 N Clark Street
- Website: www.joelhall.org
- Phone: 773-293-0900
- Email: outreach@joelhall.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelhalldc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelhalldc/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoelHallDC
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/joel-hall-dancers-and-center-chicago
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqh51kNIiwLN-5Vm_Ycoytw/featured
Image Credit:
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, Howards End, Sean O’Connor, Dean Paul
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