Paul is an accomplished caller of traditional American square and contra dances and an instructor of ethnic folk dance.  He is the director of Ethnic Dance Chicago and co-director of the Door County Folk Festival, approaching its 27th year as one of Midwest's most popular and enjoyable ethinc folk dance and music festivals.  He is also director of the C & J Dancers (an ethnic dance demonstration group) and a long-time member and former officer and director of the Folk Dance Council of Chicago.

Paul began dancing in Chicago with his parents at the age of 8 and has been very active in the Chicago area folk and square/contra dance scene ever since. While dancing with his parents' adult group, he had the opportunity to call his first square dance at the age of 12.

Paul was the leading force in transforming, growing and producing the University of Chicago "International Folk Festival" from 1967 through 1979. In 1980 and 1981 he organized and coordinated the dance activities for the Door County Folk Festival (DCFF). In 1982 became DCFF co-director in and has played the major role in expanding and producing that festival. He has also produced special dance and music events for numerous businesses, organizations and private parties.

During the high school (Tilden Tech) and college (University of Chicago), Paul became more involved with International Folk Dance and eventually became a leader of several recreational dance groups in the area. He has also has taught dance workshops in the USA, Canada and Europe. He was one of the primary leaders and mentors of the University of Chicago Folk Dance Club from 1966 through1984). Paul led a very popular recreational dance group at the Old Town School of Folk Music from 1974 through 1983, and again in 1985 to1986. Paul now leads "Ethnic Dance Chicago" on Fridays at the Chicago Latvian Center and at the Portage Park Arts Center (last Fridays).

Paul's interest in ethnic dance ranges the full spectrum - Balkan, Eastern European, Western European, Afro-Caribbean, Latin American, Traditional American Squares & Contras, British Isles, Scandinavian and Israeli). His favorite dance types include Macedonian, Bulgarian, French Bourrées, Serbian, Mexican, Croatian and Traditional American Squares & Contras.

Throughout the years, he has attended, sponsored and taught many dance classes and workshops and has been a member and director of several ethnic dance performing groups.

Paul is the proprietor of a management consulting firm (Jordan-Webb) that 1) facilitates and coaches individuals, teams and organizations about communication styles in order to help them interact effectively; and 2) provides and facilitates web collaboration that enables clients to use the internet to do collaborative work from around the corner, around the office and around the world.

Paul's ethnic dance clients have included: City of Chicago, Leo Burnett, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Wisconsin Dells School District, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, De Paul University, Danforth Foundation, Sheboygan County School District, Notre Dame High School, Skokie Park District, Lifelink Adoption Agency, Arlington Heights Public Library, Institute of Cultural Affairs, Illinois Institute of Art, Des Plaines Public Library, Children's Museum of Chicago, Old Town School of Folk Music, Ravinia Association, Chicago Public Library, Chicago Park District.

Paul Collins

pcollins@ethnicdance.net - www.ethnicdance.net - www.dcff.net

Office/Voice: (773)-463-2288 - Fax/Voice: (773)-463-1830

Ethinc Dance Chicago
2656 W Montrose Ave - Suite 110
Chicago, IL 60618