Lois Bauman described Chris Jackson as one of the kids that came into her studio and never went home. Jackson loved dance so much he moved to New York City to pursue a career as a professional dancer. However, the attacks on September 11, 2001 nearly derailed his dream.

Jackson, a Maywood native, transferred to the Chicago Academy of the Arts after a year Walther Lutheran High School in Melrose Park. He was accepted to the famed Alvin Ailey School in midtown Manhattan on a full scholarship after graduating from the Academy. A week before the attacks Jackson moved to downtown Manhattan, a mere six blocks from the World Trade Center.

“My mom was hysterical. She wanted me to come back. But I really wanted to stay,” Jackson said. Luckily, the morning of the attacks Jackson was already at school.

“I had just missed the whole thing by about 45 minutes. It was really really rough,” Jackson said.  “I didn’t have any family in New York City…I couldn’t live in my apartment for a month.”

 “It was two weeks before we could get back in just to grab some things, and even then we were escorted by police and had to grab everything we could in 30 minutes, clothes, everything in 30 minutes,” Jackson said.

Luckily Jackson had befriended a girl in the Ailey College Program, a program for dance students enrolled full-time in college, who let him stay in her dorm room, even though it was against the rules.

“Thank God for her or else I would have had to come back to Chicago because I didn’t have anywhere to go!” Jackson said.

Jackson’s tenacity paid off as he is now in his third year as member of the prestigious Alvin Ailey Dance Company and just signed on for his fourth year. 

“I might not be where I am today if it wasn’t for Stairway of the Stars,” Jackson said. He credits his instructors at Stairway with showing him the art of performance and how to add charisma to his movements.

“Learning how to dance from the heart, rather than just strict technique, I got that from here,” Jackson said.  “I’m really thankful for Lois, she’s so sweet. They (the Baumans) are like my second family, they do everything for me, its great.”

Although Jackson has made a home away home in New York City with a slew a friends after six years in the “Big Apple,” he still misses Chicago.

“I miss my family, the food, and being able to drive,” Jackson said. “Sometimes I’m stuck in New York and I’m like, ‘Man I wish I could just drive myself somewhere. I do not want to get on the train today!’”

Jackson hopes to be in a Broadway production someday, but for now he is more than content with dancing and teaching.

“I get to travel all around the world. There are dancers that look up to me. People that trying to get to where I am,” Jackson said. “Thanks to Lois (and the Baumanns) for having this studio, providing opportunities, and bringing the kids off the street.”

“Stairway gives kids in the neighborhood something to do after school and provides opportunities for kids like me that want to be in productions and want to learn the art” Jackson said.