Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell

Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell- is the Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Linda-Denise ascended to this role in 2021, after an extraordinary career as a professional dance artist and educator. Ms. Fisher-Harrell is the first alumni of the company, first woman, and first person of color to lead the organization. Her vision of honoring her predecessor’s legacies while simultaneously keeping bold groundbreaking work coursing through the company has successfully brought Hubbard Street back to live performances while curating sleek memorable, powerful programming to showcase the company’s new era. Her journey was highlighted in the New York Times article entitled: At Hubbard Street: Making a Place for ‘the Other Folks”: and in the August 2023 issue of Dance Magazine (cover story): Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is returning to stability- And its roots: Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Linda-Denise began her dance training at the Baltimore School for the Arts under the guidance of Sylvester Campbell and Stephanie Powell. She was an apprentice with the Capitol Ballet in Washington D.C. under the direction of Doris Jones and a full fellowship student at The Ailey School before attending The Juilliard School. She was invited by Hubbard Street founder Lou Conte to join the main company thus beginning her professional dance career. After three seasons with Hubbard Street, Linda-Denise became a Principal Dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, under the direction of the legendary Judith Jamison. During her 13-year tenure with the company, Linda-Denise performed all over the world and was featured in the works of Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, Talley Beatty, Ron K. Brown, John Butler, Donald Byrd, Ulysses Dove, George Faison, Rennie Harris, Geoffrey Holder, Judith Jamison, Louis Johnson, Alonzo King, Lar Lubovitch, Donald McKayle, Elisa Monte, Jennifer Muller, David Parsons, and Dwight Rhoden. Linda-Denise was invited to give several special performances throughout her career, including the White House State Dinner in honor of the President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki, and the 12th Annual Kennedy Center Gala with Nancy Wilson and Liza Minelli. Linda-Denise has also led a distinguished career as a dance educator in her hometown of Baltimore where, since 2005, she has been a Professor of Dance at Towson University and has served on the faculty of her alma mater, the Baltimore School for the Arts. Her research and scholarship in continuing the Ailey legacy within the Towson University and Greater Baltimore communities has resulted in Ailey II residencies from 2011-2019 hosted by Towson University and the establishment of AileyCamp Baltimore at Towson University in 2014 where she served as Director and principal grant writer. Her technical instruction and mentorship of young artists has resulted in her students’ acceptance as members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; notably Jacqueline Green, Courtney Celeste Spears, Jessica Amber Pinkett, and Corrin Rachelle Mitchell. Ms. Fisher-Harrell holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from Hollins University. Her pedagogy is dual focused; she is an instructor of the Lester Horton Technique and is an ABT® Certified Ballet Teacher. As a scholar, she has been featured in the book, A Life in Dance: A Practical Guide and her entry Alvin Ailey has been published by the Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism.