Moving Moments: Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell

Hosted by Artful Narratives Media | Release Date: October 2, 2024

Introduction

In this heartfelt episode of Moving Moments, host Alicia Graff Mack, Dean and Director of Dance at The Juilliard School, sits down with the illustrious Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and former principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. This conversation delves deep into Linda's journey, her creative process, and the profound impact of dance on her life and others.

Early Beginnings and Influences

Alicia Graff Mack opens the conversation by highlighting Linda-Denise’s remarkable background:

“Linda Denise Fisher Harrell embodies grace and grit. Her spirit and energy are unmatched, and she recognizes her body as a vessel for expressing these qualities.” [00:03]

Linda shares her upbringing in Baltimore City, emphasizing the influence of her visually impaired parents who instilled in her resilience and independence:

“I believe that they shaped my outlook on life. They're both fiercely independent and fearless and resourceful and loving and completely supportive of whatever my sister and I wanted to do.” [03:39]

Growing up surrounded by jazz musicians and engaging in athletic activities, Linda developed a natural affinity for movement:

“Movement was always a part of my childhood. I had baseball, softballs, Nerf footballs, all those things. I was always an athletic child... I could dance on the table at lunch. I'm auditioning because that's what they do in Fame.” [07:00]

Dance Education and Career Beginnings

Linda recounts her transformative audition for the Baltimore School for the Arts, where her lack of formal training was seen as potential rather than a hindrance:

“I think they took a chance on me because they saw potential. I just listened to everything that they told me to do.” [07:13]

Under the mentorship of dance legends Stephanie Powell and Sylvester Campbell, Linda honed her skills and developed a deep appreciation for both technical precision and emotional expression:

“Ms. Stephanie is so encouraging and supportive... Sylvester was more of a taskmaster. He knew exactly what it took to rise to a certain level in this profession.” [09:12]

Joining the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Linda describes her first encounter with the Alvin Ailey company at age 15, which ignited her passion for dance:

“I saw so many extraordinarily beautiful dancers who looked like me. The movement that they were doing spoke to me. I really felt like they were talking my language.” [12:44]

After receiving a full scholarship, Linda’s training at the Ailey School was both rigorous and inspiring, surrounded by future leaders in the dance world:

“My training just took off. I had all these fantastic classes that were at such a high level. Mr. Ailey would walk by and peek in your class or if he would shuffle by the dancers lounge and say, hello, dancers.” [15:28]

Career at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

At 19, Linda joined Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, where she thrived under the leadership of Lou Conte. She highlights the high standards and collaborative spirit of the company:

“Lou Conte is a stickler for detail. It was the first time I worked with a multitude of choreographers... the level of technique, the level of expectation and artistry was set really high.” [18:48]

Auditioning for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Linda shares the emotional journey of auditioning for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater after the passing of Alvin Ailey and the transition to Judith Jamison’s leadership:

“Judith Jamison was coming to Chicago... she saw me, and she was like, girl, you need to get to New York to audition. That was one of those dream aspirations and made it to the company.” [20:32]

She reflects on performing alongside her idols and the high standards set by Judith Jamison:

“She was an extraordinary leader... There was a certain humility that I appreciated as well. I fully trusted her vision.” [23:26]

Memorable Moving Moments and Personal Challenges

Linda discusses the therapeutic power of dance during challenging times, including her divorce:

“Dance became therapeutic for me. I could be vulnerable. I could transform. I could transport the audience.” [00:23]

A particularly memorable moment was her return to rehearsal after maternity leave, performing the demanding solo "Vortex":

“If I can be a mom and juggle and do the things that I need to do to raise my kids, then dance is just a privilege.” [26:49]

This resilience and dedication epitomize what Alicia describes as Linda’s "grace and grit."

Transition to Academic Roles

After leaving the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2005, Linda transitioned to academia, teaching at Towson University and the Baltimore School for the Arts. She found immense joy in mentoring young dancers and sharing her experience:

“I was able to evolve into something else that gave me such joy. I wasn't just a dancer.” [32:17]

Current Role as Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

As the Artistic Director, Linda emphasizes her commitment to sustaining the legacy of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago while pushing the company to new artistic heights:

“My first priority is this must go on. Harbor Street must continue. People have to know about who we are... bringing in voices like Darrell, Graham Moultrie, who have never choreographed on Hubbard Street.” [33:02]

She seeks dancers who are versatile and unbounded by genre, reflecting her belief in the power of diverse movement forms:

“I look for dancers who are proficient in everything, a multitude of forms, ones who are not defined by genre.” [34:38]

Personal Life and Motivation

Linda attributes her daily motivation to her loving family and the gratitude she feels for their support:

“My family is awesome. My kids are good, genuine people who care about other people. Gratitude gets me a lot of places.” [35:52]

Balancing motherhood and a demanding career, Linda exemplifies the resilience and dedication required to excel both personally and professionally.

Conclusion

Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of dance, the importance of mentorship, and the strength derived from personal resilience. Her leadership at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago ensures that the company not only honors its rich legacy but also embraces innovation and inclusivity, inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Notable Quotes:

• Linda Denise Fisher Harrell:
  “Dance became therapeutic for me. I could be vulnerable. I could transform. I could transport the audience. There was a certain power there.” [00:23]
  “You have to be willing to give, give, give, give. And if you're not willing to do that, there's something that's going to be missing in your dancing.” [30:12]
  “Dancing was an act of generosity, full stop.” [29:50]

• Alicia Graff Mack:
  “There is no guidebook on how to do [the artistic director role]. And so beautifully, you have all of these experiences to guide you...” [03:05]
  “When you do something that's so hard, beyond what you know that you can do, the dancing part is just all love.” [29:15]

Thank you for listening to this episode of Moving Moments. To stay updated with future episodes, follow us on Instagram at @MovingMomentsPodcast and visit artfulnarrativesmedia.com.