We were honored that Sharon Hoyer of New City Stage picked our Artistic and Producing Directors as part of their 50 Players for Chicago in 2026:

For more than fifty years, the Dance Center of Columbia College has been a center for presentation, research and education of the next generation of Chicago artists. The Dance Center recently wrapped up a study on the effects of dance on quality of life in older adults while increasing opportunities for students to lead projects, workshops and productions, while getting paid for their time. Roell Schmidt and Meredith Sutton held a dance symposium in celebration of the Center’s fiftieth, which has since become an annual event. This year the Dance Center will present works by local companies including Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Natya Dance Theatre and The Seldoms; serve as a site for the Physical Theater Festival and Destinos Chicago International Latino Theater Festival; and host the U.S. premiere of “Didę” by Benin-based choreographer Marcel Gbeffa and French designer Sarah Trouche.