Graceful Insights

• Ballet’s introduction in Harvey established key schools and a thriving dance community, nurturing local talent and love for the art form.
• Influential figures like Irene Davis, Howard Thomas, and Jennifer Bush have significantly shaped Harvey’s ballet culture through education, artistic direction, and youth programs. Their contributions are evident in the various performances and renowned ballets like ‘Firebird’ and ‘The Nutcracker, ‘ which have been significant in Harvey’s ballet history.
• Community outreach initiatives and collaborations with local arts organizations have made ballet more accessible, fostering inclusivity and celebrating the local dance culture.

Early Beginnings of Ballet in Harvey

The introduction of ballet to Harvey, Illinois, marked the beginning of a new and evolving art form in the town. Ballet companies played a crucial role in the early development of ballet in Harvey. Several significant ballet schools were founded, each contributing uniquely to the local dance community. These schools offered curricula tailored to various skill levels, catering to a wide range of students and laying the foundation for a vibrant ballet scene in Harvey.

These schools nurtured local talent and instilled a love for dance among residents. The community’s interest grew as ballet took root, leading to a thriving ballet culture that endures today. Familial connections, including the influence of a younger sister, played a crucial role in nurturing local talent.

Key Figures in Harvey’s Ballet Scene

Ballet’s growth in Harvey owes much to the dedication of key figures like Irene Davis, Howard Thomas, and Jennifer Bush in January and August. These key figures have significantly contributed to the success of local ballet companies. Their efforts have enriched local culture and inspired future generations of dancers.

Irene Davis

Irene Davis is a significant figure in Harvey’s ballet history. Her profound influence on local ballet companies has shaped the direction and quality of performances. As an educator and mentor, she developed ballet education in the town, inspiring a love for dance in her students and leaving an indelible mark on the community. One notable moment was when David, a renowned ballet historian, praised her innovative teaching methods and highlighted her role in preserving the cultural legacy of American ballet.

Davis’s influence extended beyond the classroom. She created a supportive environment for aspiring dancers, laying a strong foundation for the local ballet scene. Her legacy lives on through the many successful dancers who began under her guidance.

Howard Thomas, Artistic Director

Howard Thomas’s contributions to Harvey’s ballet community are invaluable. He has significantly supported local ballet companies, enhancing their growth and development. As an artistic director and choreographer, he guided the creative direction of local productions, elevating artistic standards and bringing innovative performances to the stage. Maria Tallchief, a notable figure in ballet, has also influenced or been influenced by Thomas’s work, highlighting the interconnectedness of their contributions to the art form.

Thomas’s integration of creativity with community involvement has left a lasting impact on the world of ballet in Harvey. His innovative choreography, often showcasing local talent, has captivated audiences and inspired many young dancers.

Jennifer Bush

Jennifer Bush has played a key role in the continued growth of ballet in April in Harvey. Her influence on local ballet companies has profoundly shaped their development and success. Her educational programs and performances have nurtured young talent, fostering a new generation of passionate dancers.

Bush’s dual role as a performer and educator has significantly impacted Harvey’s ballet culture. Her dedication to the growth of young dancers has enriched the local community, ensuring its vibrancy for years. In October, she was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the arts.

The Growth of Ballet Schools and Programs

The growth of ballet schools and programs has been crucial to Harvey’s dance scene. Ballet companies have played a significant role in this growth by supporting and collaborating with these institutions. These institutions emphasize technical training and creative expression, offering local dancers diverse opportunities to hone their skills and showcase their talents through music and various ballets.

Establishment of Dance Schools

Founded in 2018 by Pagan McClure, the Legacy School of Performing Arts is a cornerstone of ballet education in Harvey. Ballet companies have significantly influenced the establishment of dance schools in Harvey. McClure honors artistic heritage while integrating modern cultural trends and innovative storytelling into the curriculum. Chicago’s influence on the establishment and growth of dance schools in Harvey is notable, particularly in the revival of ballet and the founding of local dance companies.

Legacy School offers various dance styles and fosters a supportive environment for all skill levels. Its non-traditional approach and commitment to cultural roots have made it a significant platform for ballet and other dance forms in Harvey.

Community Programs and Outreach

Community outreach initiatives have made ballet accessible to all in Harvey. Ballet companies play a significant role in these community outreach programs. The Legacy School of Performing Arts offers free ballet classes and performance opportunities, allowing children from diverse backgrounds to participate regardless of age or financial situation.

These programs foster confidence and artistic expression in young dancers, breaking economic barriers and creating an inclusive ballet community. The increased participation and enthusiasm for ballet in Harvey highlight these initiatives’ impact. Family-oriented programs also play a crucial role, often involving the support and encouragement of a younger sister in these efforts.

Collaboration with Local Arts Organizations

Collaboration with local arts organizations has enriched Harvey’s ballet community. Ballet companies are crucial in these collaborations, working closely with local arts organizations to create dynamic cultural experiences. These partnerships enhance cultural programs and improve community engagement, offering additional platforms for performers to showcase their artistry.

Together, ballet schools and arts organizations create a vibrant and inclusive cultural scene in Harvey. These collaborations benefit the ballet community and contribute to the broader arts landscape, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art form. Influential collaborations, such as those inspired by Agnes de Mille, have significantly shaped the cultural impact of ballet in the region.

Notable Performances and Events

Notable performances and events have shaped Harvey’s ballet culture, bringing the community together to celebrate and showcase local dancers’ talents. Ballet companies play a crucial role in organizing these events. Significant contributions by prominent figures like Maria Tallchief, whose exceptional career and cultural heritage as a member of the Osage Nation, have also profoundly impacted American ballet and Native representation in the arts.

Annual Nutcracker Performances

The annual Nutcracker performances in Harvey have become a beloved tradition, drawing the community together each holiday season. Ballet companies play a crucial role in organizing these performances. These elaborately choreographed productions feature innovative choreography and showcase local dancers’ talents, making the Nutcracker a festive highlight. Preparations and milestones in October set the stage for these highly anticipated performances.

Community involvement in these performances is remarkable, with residents eagerly participating and supporting the production. The Nutcracker’s success testifies to the strong bond between the ballet community and the broader Harvey population.

Celebrations and Festivals

Harvey hosts various celebrations and festivals for the first time in February that bring the community together to celebrate ballet. Ballet companies play a crucial role in organizing these celebrations and festivals in Harvey. The Legacy School of Performing Arts offers free community events, including festivals and performances, to engage residents and foster appreciation for the art form. Notable figures like David have participated in these celebrations, contributing to their success and cultural significance.

These events significantly enhance community spirit and provide a fun platform for local dancers to showcase their talents. During these celebrations, the collective joy and pride underscore ballet’s importance in Harvey’s cultural life.

Guest Performers and Choreographers

Renowned guest performers and choreographers have visited Harvey, significantly enriching the local ballet culture. Ballet companies play a crucial role in hosting these guest performers and choreographers. These artists perform and conduct workshops, sharing their expertise and providing valuable learning experiences for local dancers. Influential guest artists like Agnes de Mille have also visited Harvey, further enhancing its cultural landscape.

The blend of guest performances and community partnerships fosters Harvey’s vibrant and inclusive ballet culture. These collaborations raise the profile of ballet in the town and inspire many young dancers.

Challenges and Triumphs

Harvey’s ballet community has faced challenges like economic instability and limited resources. Ballet companies have played a significant role in overcoming these challenges and achieving triumphs in Harvey. Despite these obstacles, the community’s resilience and commitment to ballet have led to remarkable triumphs. Support from nearby cities like Chicago has also played a crucial role in overcoming regional challenges.

Economic and Social Hurdles

Local economic downturns have significantly impacted ballet programs in Harvey, reducing funding and participation. Ballet companies have played a crucial role in overcoming financial and social hurdles in Harvey. The ballet community relies on support from small businesses and donations to sustain its programs and reach more students.

Despite financial challenges, the community’s efforts to overcome these hurdles have been commendable—their dedication to keeping ballet accessible and inclusive drives the continued success of ballet in Harvey. Notable figures like David have played crucial roles in overcoming these economic and social challenges, contributing to the preservation and growth of ballet.

Adaptation and Innovation

Harvey’s ballet community has embraced new technologies and innovative teaching methods to maintain engagement during challenging times. Ballet companies have played a crucial role in adapting and innovating to keep the art form alive. Online classes and diverse styles have been integrated into ballet programs to stay relevant and accessible. Innovative approaches inspired by notable figures like Maria Tallchief have also contributed to this evolution.

These adaptations have sustained the community during difficult periods and enriched students’ learning experiences. The innovative approach to ballet education has taught Harvey’s art form to remain vibrant and dynamic.

Legacy and Future Prospects

Harvey’s ongoing commitment to community outreach and education in ballet indicates a positive future. Ballet companies play a crucial role in ensuring this future by fostering talent and promoting the art form. Strong community ties and continuous development efforts promise further growth.

Local ballet initiatives enhance Harvey’s cultural fabric, ensuring ballet remains vital and cherished. Educational programs and community engagements ensure ballet’s relevance and survival in the future.

Resume

The history of ballet in Harvey, Illinois, is a testament to the town’s resilience, creativity, and commitment to cultural enrichment. Ballet companies have played a pivotal role in both the history and future of ballet in Harvey. From its early beginnings to its current status, the ballet community has grown significantly, thanks to the dedication of key figures, the expansion of schools and programs, and the support of the local population. Various performances, including renowned ballets, have played a crucial role in shaping Harvey’s ballet culture.

As we look to the future, the legacy of ballet in Harvey continues to thrive. The ongoing commitment to community outreach, education, and collaboration with local arts organizations promises a bright future for ballet in this vibrant town. The story of ballet in Harvey is one of triumph over adversity, and its future looks promising.

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Average temperature in Harvey

The warm season lasts 3.7 months, from May 27 to September 18, with average daily high temperatures above 73°F. The hottest month of the year in Harvey is July with an average high of 83°F and a low of 66°F.

The cold season lasts 3.1 months, from November 30 to March 3, with average daily high temperatures below 42°F. The coldest month of the year in Harvey is January, with an average minimum temperature of 20°F and a maximum of 32°F.

Clouds

In Harvey, the average percentage of the sky is covered by clouds experiences significant seasonal variations throughout the year.

The clear part of the year in Harvey begins around June 12 and lasts 4.5 months, ending around October 27.

The clearest month of the year in Harvey is August, during which on average the sky is clear, mostly clear or partly cloudy 67% of the time.

The cloudier part of the year begins around October 27 and lasts 7.5 months, ending around June 12.

The cloudiest month of the year in Harvey is January, with an average of 58% clear or mostly cloudy skies 58% of the time.

Precipitation

A rainy day is a day with at least 0.04 inches of liquid or liquid equivalent precipitation. The probability of wet days in Harvey varies throughout the year.

The rainy season lasts 7.1 months, from March 26 to October 31, with a 26% chance of a given day being wet. The month with the most wet days in Harvey is June, with an average of 10.9 wet days with at least 0.04 inches of rainfall.

The drier season lasts 4.9 months from October 31 to March 26. The month with the least amount of wet days in Harvey is February, with an average of 4.8 days with at least 0.04 inches of rain.

Among the rainy days, we distinguish between those with only rain, snow, or a mixture of both. The month with the highest number of rainy days in Harvey alone is June, with an average of 10.9 days. Based on this classification, the most common form of precipitation during the year is rain only, with a maximum probability of 38% on June 12.

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According to an analysis by the Chicago Tribune, as of 2015, effective residential property tax rates in Harvey were approaching 6 percent of home values, while the effective rate for businesses was over 14 percent. All told, home values in Harvey fell by nearly 60 percent from 2007 to 2015.

While property taxes are strangling residents, the question Jones asks doesn’t require a good answer. Over the past few decades, as Harvey’s population has dwindled and the remaining residents have had to pay the bills, few have chosen to set up shop in the city in part because of the fear of that bill – in addition to corruption and uncertainty.

Clark sees burdensome property taxes – among the highest in the state – as a justifiable major source of frustration for the city when residents don’t see improvements in services or quality of life.

Much like the pension crisis, other municipalities are a few steps away from being in the same situation as Harvey.

Communities in the central part of the state, such as Danville, East St. Louis, Kankakee, and Granite City, have firefighter pension funds that are less than 30 percent funded and police pension funds that are less than 40 percent funded. Alton is also in the same boat, with a firefighter pension fund that is about 30 percent funded and a police pension fund that is less than 40 percent funded.

In 2017, Danville passed a property tax increase to pay for its effectively bankrupt pension fund. Local property owners in the struggling city now face a special annual assessment of up to $1,020 just to pay for pensions. In 2018, Kankakee decided to raise sales taxes, with the additional revenue going entirely to local pension funds. In Alton, officials are moving forward with a plan to sell the city’s water treatment plant to cover an upcoming $8 million police and fire pension.

But ultimately, hundreds of millions of dollars in additional taxpayer contributions across Illinois have been unable to keep up with the rapid growth in pension benefits, which are mandated by the state, not local governments.

Between 2008 and 2015, Illinois residents saw their property taxes grow six times faster than household income. And state data shows that as of 2016, Illinois home prices are still down 10 percent from 2006. The phenomenon of rising property taxes without new or better services – and the resulting hit to home equity – is by no means limited to the south suburbs.

While other cities are following the same path, the property tax burden in Harvey has already reached a completely unmanageable point for many homeowners.

Not only are more and more vacant or burned-out homes popping up left and right – as many as 20 percent of the city’s 12,000 homes are abandoned – but current property owners can also have their tax bills rejected. More than 4,000 property tax bills in Harvey remained unpaid at the beginning of 2018, the highest number of any municipality.

The government should have enacted reforms to meet the shrinking tax base, but it did not. The Harvey Public Library District, which issued $6 million in bonds in 2015 to pay for an expansion of the facility, has found itself unable to keep up with its bills due to declining property tax revenues.

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The Har-V Community Coalition, a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 to galvanize citizens around the city’s major issues, was scheduled to meet regularly that day. But a few days before, news broke that brought Harvey into the spotlight and gave the group plenty of additional material to discuss.

National news outlets such as Fox Business Network and the Associated Press, along with Chicago television stations and newspapers, ran a catchy headline: More than $7 million in pension backlog, the city of Harvey was forced to lay off 40 police officers and lay off staff to cover court-ordered pension payments. The story was a microcosm of Illinois’ fiscal recklessness and a warning of what lies ahead for other municipalities – and the state as a whole – if things don’t change quickly. For viewers across the state and the country, it painted a picture of what financial suicide looked like.

But the headline about his retirement did not paint a picture of all that Harvey is and was. It was not the whole story of Harvey. Now synonymous with financial mismanagement and political corruption, Harvey was once a place for businesses and families. It was a place where people ran to, not away from.

Instead of being a city that was weakening, with almost no businesses and a declining economy, Harvey was once vibrant, prosperous and full of hope. In January 1960, the Chicago Tribune wrote in detail about the city’s “boom” in the 1950s. The city had gained nearly 6,000 residents and retail sales had increased even more, by nearly 90 percent.

But this growth – in population, real estate and business values – slowed, then stalled and turned into a steep decline over several decades.

This decline is what motivates a group like the Har-V Community Coalition to meet and discuss what the city is facing. Conversely, the decline is also what encourages apathy in much, though not all, of the city.

The remnants of what was a city are evident in Harvey’s empty downtown. Boarded up buildings and houses are a reminder of the city’s previous success and its decline.

It’s disappointing. But for some, it may also be motivation. If Harvey can fall this far, perhaps it will rise again.

For a long time, Harvey was the center of the southern suburbs. Not only did the city have the amenities Jones mentions – which other cities may take for granted – it had major employers in industry, which cemented its reputation as a strong blue-collar city. This was part of the goal for the city in the first place: its founder, Turlington Harvey, wanted to plan a city with a strong industrial base and a strict code of restraint. While the evolution of liquor laws defeated his latter goal, the former was still realized, and for decades Harvey was known as an industrial city. Employers such as the Wyman-Gordon Co. which set up shop in the city in the 1910s and Allis-Chalmers, which opened in 1953, were mainstays.

The city’s strong industrial presence fostered the development of one of the nation’s first indoor shopping centers, the Dixie Square Mall, built in Harvey in 1966. The mall had 64 stores, including Montgomery Ward, Walgreens, and Jewel.

But in the 1970s, partly due to concerns about crime, stores began to leave Dixie Square, and Jewel, the last tenant to leave, closed the store in 1979. The last ones in the mall can be seen in the classic police chase scene in the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers.

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The founders envisioned Harvey as a model city, a combination of capitalism and Christianity. Investors provided residents with high quality city services similar to the neighboring Pullman. Unlike Pullman, however, Harvey encouraged homeownership by offering potential residents a variety of house plans. By 1900, the town had 5,395 residents, a bank, and 11 industrial enterprises. In 1895, however, the residents voted by a small majority to license saloons, putting an end to the temperance experiment.

During the first decades of the twentieth century, industrialists and local merchants worked in tandem. Thanks to their efforts, Harvey created an excellent public school system, centered on Thornton High School. In the 1920s, industrialist Frederick Ingalls founded a community hospital whose board brought together prestigious members of the community. The development of the Young Men’s Christian Association also brought together the interests of outsiders to industry and the local community.

During the 1920s, Harvey’s population grew from 9216 to 16374. The development created a modest downtown and housing for industrial workers of various classes, as well as upscale residences for local merchants and white-collar workers traveling to Chicago. To a large extent, Harvey remained an evangelical Protestant community. The first Roman Catholic church, Ascension, founded in 1899, was a small, predominantly Irish parish. Poles attended mass in nearby Poznan until 1914, when they established St. John the Baptist. Despite the growth of the Catholic community, Protestants retained control of the city through the adoption of a commission form of government in 1912, which replaced county-elected aldermen with commonly elected commissioners.

In the 1930s, Harvey experienced an economic crisis. Two local banks closed, and the city could not maintain basic services because most residents could not pay their property taxes. However, the high school basketball team, led by Lou Boudreau, became the state champion in an incredible winning streak.

Development resumed after World War II. In 1948, Sinclair Oil established a 38-acre technology-oriented research and development center to develop new products. By 1960, Harvey’s population had reached 29,071, with many residents employed by local businesses. In 1966, the Dixie Square shopping center opened on the western edge of town, containing 41 stores.

From 1960 to 1980, Harvey changed dramatically as the African American population grew from 7 percent to 66 percent. This change led to racial violence at Thornton High School and to race riots in 1969. At the same time, Harvey lost its industrial and commercial base. The closure of Dixie Square became a symbol of the city’s worsening social problems. Many residents who had received HUD loans could not pay their mortgage payments, leading to abandoned homes. The crime, unemployment, and poverty rates in Harvey were among the highest in the suburbs. The city tried to redevelop industrial sites and improve its reputation as a residential city.

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