Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell (she/her) is the Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, appointed in 2021 after an extraordinary career as a professional dance artist and educator. Her appointment marked a historic first: she is the first alumna, woman, and person of color to lead the organization. Under her visionary leadership, Hubbard Street has experienced a revival, returning to pre-pandemic vibrancy with sleek, memorable programming and a renewed era of artistic excellence. Her impact has been recognized in The New York Times (“At Hubbard Street: Making a Place for ‘the Other Folks’”) and on the cover of Dance Magazine (August 2023, “Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is Returning to Stability—And Its Roots”). Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Linda-Denise trained at the Baltimore School for the Arts with Sylvester Campbell and Stephanie Powell, apprenticed with the Capitol Ballet under Doris Jones, and studied on full fellowship at The Ailey School before attending The Juilliard School. She began her professional career with Hubbard Street at the invitation of founder Lou Conte. She performed with the company for three years before becoming a Principal Dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, under the legendary Judith Jamison.

During her 13-year tenure with Ailey, Linda-Denise toured globally and was featured in works by Alvin Ailey, John Butler, Ronald K. Brown, Ulysses Dove, Rennie Harris, Judith Jamison, Alonzo King, Lar Lubovitch, Donald McKayle, Elisa Monte, and Dwight Rhoden. Career highlights include guest artist performances at Les Étoiles du 21e Siècle in Paris and Toronto, and World Stars of the Opera in Budapest, and special appearances at the White House State Dinner in honor of the President of Kenya, and the Kennedy Center’s 12th Annual Gala alongside Nancy Wilson and Liza Minnelli. As an educator and leader, Linda-Denise has had a profound impact in her hometown of Baltimore. A Professor of Dance at Towson University (TU) since 2005, she also served on the faculty of the Baltimore School for the Arts, served as director, founder, and principal grant writer for AileyCamp Baltimore at TU, and facilitated nine Ailey II residencies at TU. Her mentorship has shaped the next generation of artists, many of whom now perform in professional companies and productions worldwide. Linda-Denise holds an MFA in dance from Hollins University. Her pedagogy is dual focused, employing both the Horton Technique and her training as an ABT® Certified Teacher; she remains a sought-after instructor for universities, companies, and organizations nationwide. Her scholarship includes the entry “Alvin Ailey” in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism. In 2025, she was honored with the Martha Hill Mid-Career Award for her artistic excellence, visionary leadership, and enduring impact in the field of dance.

Photo by Frank Ishman