Greetings Dance Students,

Welcome to the wonderful world of DANCE! I am so excited you selected my dance class as your Performing Arts Class!

I am Mrs. Chatman, your Dance Teacher. I have been teaching dance for over 40 years. It all began at the age of six, when I began to study Ballet, Tap, Modern, and Jazz Dance, and eventually dance competitively throughout the country. I have been married for 31 years to my wonderful husband, and I have 3 amazing adult daughters, who also sing, dance, act, and play classical instruments. We are a family who is passionate about the Arts. I am the Owner of my private dance studio, Danspiration Center, Inc., where our mission is to “Inspire through the Gift of Dance”. Danspiration Center partners with many other learning institutions and organizations, to provide quality dance instruction to students of all ages. I am also Founder and former Director of the Liturgical Dance Ministry at Apostolic Church of God for 25 years, under the Pastorship of the Late Bishop Arthur M. Brazier and the current Dr. Byron T. Brazier.

I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University in Dance and Art Education, and my Masters of Art degree from Columbia College Chicago in Dance/Movement Therapy. I am also a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist. Prior to shifting my career path to Education,  I treated patients with Learning, Behavioral, Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Disorders through the use of Dance/movement Therapy, at various medical facilities in the Chicagoland area, including Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago Hospital. 

Upon raising my three daughters, my decision to transition into Education was prompted by my desire to align my schedule with theirs as they approached school-age. In 2001, I became the Art Instructor at Huth Middle School for 16 years. “Wearing two hats”, in 2010 when Southland College Prep High School opened its doors, I walked in with the rest of our SCPHS Family as the First Coordinator of Dance at Southland. Looking Back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made, as I have been afforded the opportunity to impact so many lives through Dance and Art Education.

Each year, our Dance program grows stronger by leaps and bounds (literally and figuratively). Every student is required to study Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, and Ballroom Dance. This year promises to be another extraordinary year at Southland. In spite of our “New Normal”, here at Southland College Prep, we rise above our circumstances, while we remain safe. We chose to take the letters, D. A. N. C. E out of the word, “Pandemic”, and continue to Dance to the Mountaintop in all that we do. “We will mount up with wings of Eagles, we will run and not be weary, we will walk (DANCE) and not faint”. Is 40:31

Once again, Welcome!

Have a phenomenally exciting school year! 

WE GOT YOU!!!

Feel free to contact me anytime!

Gracefully yours,

Mrs. Gloria L. Chatman