So you know Amy and Jennifer have been putting their heads together...and you know there is a third person VERY much involved in making this all happen...so let's meet him :)
Steve House has been an athlete his whole life. With Wrestling, Football, and Track back in the day and getting into Running and Triathlons to fuel his energetic drive, he is go, go, go! Adding dance lessons to the mix a couple of years ago for something new and fun, he gained an appreciation for the creativity within athleticism. The idea of performing and putting the details to the test stirred a love of arts and its intricate movement. The excitement has grown with his connection to GI Alliance and the inner workings of the dance company. The possibilities are excitingly endless!
Steve brings to Northside Dance Theater a wonderful burst of energy and excitement with getting to start his own business. A dream he has always had, but it had not yet been the right time to dive into, until now. He didn't think it would be a dance studio...but couldn't be more enthused with the amazing ideas that have grown. He is a research fanatic and software specialist and Northside is exceedingly happy to have him on the team.
Three dreams, one vision, and an aligning of the stars, brings Northside Dance Theater to you. We can't wait to share it with you!
~J
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Our "Grand" debut
There's so much to get done right now that my head is exploding. I don't even know where to start on "The List." So instead, I'm blogging. Getting the word out to the people of the world! (a.k.a procrastinating)
Our official first day of classes is Tuesday, September 7, but our Grande Debut to the world will be at the Glenwood Arts Festival on August 21-22. We will open our doors that Saturday, having a booth in the middle of the festival (we'll let you know exactly where later,) and performing on the Lifeline Stage on the south end of the festival. Even though we want you to come to the festival just to see us, it's a wonderful time with great artists and music!
We're still getting our ducks in a row; but hopefully, we'll have some free mini classes and demonstrations at the studio throughout the weekend. Keep checking back for the schedule.
Finally, and most importantly because we know it's all about free stuff, we'll be giving away free Northside Dance Theater t-shirts to anyone who registers for classes at the festival. We can even do it at the tent. So while you're wandering around the fabulous festival listening to music, drinking beer and eating elephant ears, you can check "Northside registration for Fall classes" off your list.
Stay tuned. There will be lots of important information coming up in the next couple of weeks. It's August already........ (oh nooooo!!! must get to work now......)
Amy
Our official first day of classes is Tuesday, September 7, but our Grande Debut to the world will be at the Glenwood Arts Festival on August 21-22. We will open our doors that Saturday, having a booth in the middle of the festival (we'll let you know exactly where later,) and performing on the Lifeline Stage on the south end of the festival. Even though we want you to come to the festival just to see us, it's a wonderful time with great artists and music!
We're still getting our ducks in a row; but hopefully, we'll have some free mini classes and demonstrations at the studio throughout the weekend. Keep checking back for the schedule.
Finally, and most importantly because we know it's all about free stuff, we'll be giving away free Northside Dance Theater t-shirts to anyone who registers for classes at the festival. We can even do it at the tent. So while you're wandering around the fabulous festival listening to music, drinking beer and eating elephant ears, you can check "Northside registration for Fall classes" off your list.
Stay tuned. There will be lots of important information coming up in the next couple of weeks. It's August already........ (oh nooooo!!! must get to work now......)
Amy
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Unofficial Story
I promised you the unofficial version that isn't so boring. Here it goes.
This dream began when, for a lack of a better term, the stars aligned. Jenn and I were both in somewhat transitional spots in our dance careers and started discussing all the ills of running a dance company in Chicago. If only we could get space to rehearse in that was clean, well run and had modern amenities such as air conditioning. If only we could have a performance space for 100-150 people that, once again, was clean well run and had air conditioning that we didn't have to pawn off our first born to afford. (Don't think I haven't considered this at times.) This is not even putting in the pie in the sky type "needs" like mirrors and floors that don't leave you with shin splints for life. (Yeah, I got em.) You'd think this was not too much to ask in a city the size of Chicago. (To all non-dancer readers, this is a HUGE request.)
About the same time, the final star dropped in and the seed funds needed to start this venture arrived.
Our plan was simple: open a dance center that was one stop shopping for dancers and small companies. You could take class, rehearse and put up a nice sized show all in one place. This place would have marley floors, mirrors, a nice sound system (we'd like to say "state of the art" but that would be going a little overboard), a decent flexible light system and....(((GASP))) AIR CONDITIONING so that the dancers and the audience didn't die of heat exhaustion during performances. We've seen and experienced all the badly managed spaces, so we already know the things that are being done wrong. We're not foolish enough to repeat other people's mistakes. And the final thing that is really important to us. Accessibility to public transportation (i.e. train.) It really sucks to have to walk to a bus, to take a train, to get 3 miles after a long rehearsal.
So where are we now? With the space that we're opening in the Glenwood Arts District, we've accomplished 2 out of our 3 missions. Here, we'll be able to have classes for all ages and rehearsal space. Our goal is to be here for a year(ish.) During our current residency, we'll still be looking for and building out our dream studio. It can be done.
We now need your support (and let's face it, money) to make this happen. We ARE NOT asking for a hand out. We're a for profit corporation. Here's the deal: You give us said money, and we'll give you great training and a really nice place to rehearse.
I told you that it wasn't too much to ask.....
Amy
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Official Story--Northside Dance Theater
So I'm sure that you've been wondering exactly who Northside Dance Theater is and what we do? Well here's the official business-like answer as described in our official business plan. This is the way that the banks and non-creative people like to see it. Stay tuned for more casual and truthful insights on why we're doing what we're doing. I promise that it'll be lighter reading with a hint (or smathering) of sarcasm and irony.
Happy Reading!
Northside Dance Theater Inc. was created on 04/02/2010 by Amy Russell and Jennifer Gage. Amy and Jennifer have been teaching, choreographing, producing and dancing in Chicago and throughout the US for the past 20 years.
The company is dedicated to providing the dance/theater community a warm, comfortable,
well managed place to rehearse. In addition we will be offering dance classes in the areas of ballet, jazz, hip-hop and modern for students of all ages and levels of dance. Our goal is to provide a warm and friendly environment for learning, performing and enjoying dance.
A major issue in the Chicago dance community is the lack of adequate rehearsal and teaching spaces. The majority of the existing spaces are in inconvenient locations, in disrepair and/or are poorly managed. Chicago supports a large group of dance companies that are looking for a well managed convenient place to rehearse and . In addition, the Chicago area supports a diverse community with a dedication toward the arts. There is growing population of kids in this community looking for a place to express themselves through dance.
The following are goals and objectives of Northside Dance Theater:
Provide a spacious, well run and convenient location for dance/theater companies to rehearse.
Provide additional services to dance/theater companies not commonly provided by other studios such as marketing assistance and business mentoring.
Provide dance training in the areas of ballet, jazz, hip-hop and modern for students at all levels, from beginners to advanced.
Create a studio with a warm, supportive atmosphere, which is based on satisfying its customers.
Provide continual training, benefits and incentives for staff to encourage a long-term commitment of employees.
To substantially increase profitability each year by getting more customers thru strong marketing.
Happy Reading!
Northside Dance Theater Inc. was created on 04/02/2010 by Amy Russell and Jennifer Gage. Amy and Jennifer have been teaching, choreographing, producing and dancing in Chicago and throughout the US for the past 20 years.
The company is dedicated to providing the dance/theater community a warm, comfortable,
well managed place to rehearse. In addition we will be offering dance classes in the areas of ballet, jazz, hip-hop and modern for students of all ages and levels of dance. Our goal is to provide a warm and friendly environment for learning, performing and enjoying dance.
A major issue in the Chicago dance community is the lack of adequate rehearsal and teaching spaces. The majority of the existing spaces are in inconvenient locations, in disrepair and/or are poorly managed. Chicago supports a large group of dance companies that are looking for a well managed convenient place to rehearse and . In addition, the Chicago area supports a diverse community with a dedication toward the arts. There is growing population of kids in this community looking for a place to express themselves through dance.
The following are goals and objectives of Northside Dance Theater:
Provide a spacious, well run and convenient location for dance/theater companies to rehearse.
Provide additional services to dance/theater companies not commonly provided by other studios such as marketing assistance and business mentoring.
Provide dance training in the areas of ballet, jazz, hip-hop and modern for students at all levels, from beginners to advanced.
Create a studio with a warm, supportive atmosphere, which is based on satisfying its customers.
Provide continual training, benefits and incentives for staff to encourage a long-term commitment of employees.
To substantially increase profitability each year by getting more customers thru strong marketing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)