Performing Arts Training Center

The Performing Arts Training Center (PATC) was opened in 1967 in East St. Louis, Illinois by African American dancer Katherine Dunham who was then Artist-in-Residence at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Dunham partnered with SIUE's Experiment in Higher Education to add educational resources to the program and give the youth of East St. Louis a better educational experience.^[1][2]

Performing Arts Training Center
East St. Louis , St. Clair County , Illinois United States
Information
Other name	Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts
Established	1967; 58 years ago (1967)
Founder	Katherine Dunham
Affiliation	Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

The PATC (later known as the Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts) offered credit and non-credit courses in such arts as dance, martial arts, and crafts. At times, its company of dancers has toured widely. Now known as the Performing Arts Program, it is a part of SIUE's East St. Louis Center,^[3][4]