Colin DeJong joined the Department of Dance in 2024. He was previously Lead Accompanist at Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy (2022-24), following several years as an independent dance pianist in Chicago (2012-22) assisting various local organizations – Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet company & Joffrey Academy of Dance, The Chicago High School for the Arts (“ChiArts,” where he also co-taught Music For Dancers), Visceral Dance Chicago, Chicago Ballet Arts, COMMON Conservatory, the Hyde Park School of Dance – and accompanying such notable visitors as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, and YAGP during their incidental engagements in the area. He was also a staff pianist for the dance department at Interlochen Arts Camp (2010-13).