For over 45 years, Gloria Chatman has used her passion for dance to teach, inspire and mentor.
She is credited with creating one of the most outstanding high school dance programs in the state as coordinator of the award-winning dance program at Southland College Preparatory Charter High School in Richton Park and chair of the fine arts department.
Her influence extends far beyond choreography, said Blonde Davis, superintendent of Matteson School District 162 and founder and CEO of Southland College Prep.
“She poured her heart out to our students, using dance as a language of hope, healing and empowerment,” Davis said. “Her leadership has created confident, expressive young people who understand the power of discipline, artistry and excellence.”
Chatman was honored Sunday at the duo's 16th annual Christmas concert and gala fundraiser for the Timeless Gifts performing arts program for youth and young adults in Chicago. Timeless Gifts was created to fill the gap left when performing arts programs were removed from many public schools. Founded by producer, songwriter and Emmy Award-winning vocalist Joan Collazo, it provides training, exposure and professional performance opportunities for young, aspiring artists.
Chatman received the organization's Juanita Passmore Legacy Award, named in honor of late Passmorelongtime Chicago community activist who served in Mayor Harold Washington's administration and helped found the Chicago Gospel Music Festival.
“My mission is to inspire through dance,” Chatman said.
She uses her skills and experience to teach students to develop their technical, choreographic and performance skills, “and as a tool for self-expression and the development of social emotional skills,” Chatman said.
“Some of our students have a very difficult time expressing themselves verbally, expressing what they really feel. But they can do it through music, dance, movement.”
Davis invited Chatman to launch the dance program at Southland College Prep when the school opened in 2010. Although Southland is not a performing arts school, more than half of its students participate in the performing arts program. School officials credit the dance and other arts programs as major reasons for the school's strong academic performance.
Southland College Prep is the only charter high school in Illinois to receive the state's top rating of “exemplary” this year, placing it in the top 10 percent of high schools statewide. It has received the designation six of the last seven years and ranks 11th out of 712 schools, school officials said.
Students in the dance program range from beginner to intermediate level. They leave the program with four years of technical experience and performance experience in ballet, tap, modern, jazz and ballroom dancing, Chatman said. The program produces annual productions, including in winter and spring.
Chatman holds a bachelor's degree in dance and arts education, a master's degree in dance and movement therapy, and is a registered dance and movement therapist.
Before changing her career to education, she treated patients with learning, behavioral, physical, emotional and cognitive disorders through dance/movement therapy in medical settings in Chicago, she said. She is a former high school art teacher and the founder and former director of the liturgical dance ministry at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago.
Her dance experience includes producing, directing and choreographing dance productions over the past 45 years, as well as performing, she shared. Her choreographic work includes theater productions of “The Wiz,” “The Lion King” and “A Raisin in the Sun,” she said.
Chatman previously ran her own private dance studio, Danspiration Center, where she taught children and adults, including students with special needs. Classes included dance education, therapeutic dance and liturgical dance tailored to the needs of the individual.
The studio helped students gain confidence, self-esteem and body image. It was here that Timeless Gifts board member Pam Oliver, who nominated Chatman for the Legacy Award, first met her. Oliver has been attending Southland College Prep dance productions for a long time.
“I was just in awe of the professional performances, music, choreography and themes,” she said. “I was amazed. What Gloria does, the mentor that she is to these young people, I truly admire her. I thought we should honor Gloria because of her commitment to the arts, mentorship and education.”
“It all comes from her heart for these children,” she said. Fred Nelsonartistic director of the school, musical director for various artists and owner of his own production company. “It's not just about the dance. She cares about them and makes them want to give it their all. She created an amazing program.”
Chatman's love for dance began at age 6, when her mother enrolled her in a Park District ballet class.
She estimates that she taught dance to about 1,200 students during her years at Southland College Preparatory School. Some have gone on to careers in dance education and performance, she said. Among them is Stephanie Charles, who graduated from Southland College Preparatory School in 2017.
“She’s pushing you,” Charles said. “She knows who you are and expects great things from you. She is very concerned and interested in what is going on in her students' lives and is interested in understanding how to nurture them, help them and encourage their growth.”
Charles received his bachelor's degree in fine arts and dance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She said she worked with Chatman at summer performing arts camps. Charles is currently in his fourth year of teaching dance at the Michelle Obama School of Technology and the Arts in Park Forest.
“I still use many of the techniques I learned from Mrs. Chatman in my classes,” Charles said.
She said she was the first Southland College Preparatory School student to choreograph a dance and perform it on the show. Charles teaches this dance to his students.
She tells her students that there are opportunities in the arts if they choose to pursue them, work hard, pay attention and concentrate. She lets them know that she is an example of what can be achieved.
According to Charles, some of Charles's students later became Chatman's students.
“To see it all come full circle is a blessing,” she said. “I wanted to be able to provide quality dance instruction to people who can't afford to go to traditional dance studios because that's who I was. I do what I said I wanted to do.”
She gives Chatman credit for that.
Chatman says she is touched and honored to be recognized for following her passion.
Francine Knowles, [email protected], is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.
