THE DANCE CENTER PRESENTS
SPRING FORWARD: STUDENT PERFORMANCE NIGHT
April 11–12, 2024
Photo by: Julie Lucas
dance.colum.edu
ABOUT
SPRING FORWARD gives students experience in a professionally produced dance concert to let their original work shine. Be inspired by the soaring creativity of student choreographers collaborating with Theater lighting designers on original, brand new, short works. Engage with multi-media performances that break the boundaries of the typical stage and tap into the palpable energetic lift of early Spring.
CREDITS
the sky’s the limit...
CHOREOGRAPHER AND PERFORMER: Kaya Gross
MUSIC: Riffittelyä III by Cucina Povera & Haro, Acte IV Kære Linedanser by Jens
Nielsen & Anette Bilde Jacobsen
MUSIC EDIT: Kaya Gross
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Socorro Park
FACULTY MENTOR: Bevara Anderson
Special thanks to Bevara for the patience, support and endless inspiration.
Vantage Point
CHOREOGRAPHER: Nautica Turner-Briscoe
PERFORMERS: Rylee Binkley, Naliah Brown, Courtney Cooper, Anejha Hines, Armani Ray, Amari Smith, Imani Smith, Keshauna Smith, Nautica Turner
MUSIC: Wena Wa Pallwa by Jimmy Maradona, Hamba Wena by Deep London & Boohle, Yahyippyah by Uncle Waffles, Chipi Ke Chipi by Mellow, Sleazy, & Justin 99
MUSIC MIX: Nautica Turner-Briscoe
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Kevin Rechner
FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Ayo Walker
Blessed Be
CHOREOGRAPHER: Dale “Darla Tisdale” Perry, in collaboration with dancers.
PERFORMERS: Amanda Baity, Isabel Bastardo, Violet Czerwinski, Sophie Daker, Lola Jett-Beachley Shannon Lane, Ashley Lo, Dale “Darla Tisdale” Perry, J Stephens, Rhianna Young
MUSIC: Mind Control Made Easy by Carey Burtt, Jeremy Mather, Ptolemaea by Ethel Cain
COSTUME DESIGNER: Dale Perry, Soi Sauce
VIDEO AND EDITING: Xachary “Marcel” Johnson
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Cade Riley
FACULTY MENTOR: Lisa Gonzales
Escaping Servitude
CHOREOGRAPHERS AND PERFORMERS: Courtney Cooper and Diamond Turner
MUSIC: I Been ‘Buked arranged by Hall Johnson, I Wanna Be Ready arranged by James Miller
MUSIC MIX AND EDIT: Elijah Williams
COSTUME DESIGNERS: Courtney Cooper and Diamond Turner
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Kevin Rechner
FACULTY MENTOR: Dardi McGinley-Gallivan
We would like to dedicate this piece to Alvin Ailey, as his amazing work inspired us to create this piece. INTERMISSION
Our Digital Reality
CHOREOGRAPHER: Eryn Jones
PERFORMERS: Rylee Binkley, Artrell Brown, Jacque Campbell, Taylor Davis, Eryn Jones, Myka Okot, Alondra Portero, Jasmin Rios, Amari Smith, Imani Smith
COMPOSER AND MUSIC EDIT: Breslin “Bre5lin” Webb
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Will Donovan
FACULTY MENTOR: Kelsa Rieger-Haywood
In The Presence
CHOREOGRAPHER AND PERFORMER: Maliaka O’Niyea Hughes
MUSIC: Fine By Myself by Odeal, Time And Trust by Naomi Sharon, Shackles (Praise You) by Mary Mary, Shackles (Praise You) by MALARKEY, Brighter Days - Dajae - Underground Mix ‘93 by Cajmere
MUSIC MIX: Carl Griffin III
COSTUME DESIGNER: Maliaka O’Niyea Hughes
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Clara Valladares
FACULTY MENTOR: Lisa Gonzales
This Is A Dedication To My Younger Self And My Mother. I Thank And Love You.
Echoes of Conditioning
CHOREOGRAPHER: Caitlin Wonsowski in collaboration with dancers
PERFORMERS: Paris Anderson, Carissa Bracken, Sophia Cozzi, Sara Dennis, Najah Iman, Vi McMahon, Ash Williams
MUSIC: 3166 by Michael Wall, Gosh by Jamie xx
COSTUME DESIGNER: Carissa Bracken
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Kevin Rechner
FACULTY MENTOR: Bevara Anderson
4th Dimension
CHOREOGRAPHER: Prince Adrean
PERFORMERS: Amanda Baity, Nailah Brown, Grace Butt, Adrean Maxwell, Amari Smith, Imani Smith, Nautica Turner, Breslin “Bre5lin” Webb
MUSIC: To Sleep by Jacob Collier, Track 6 by Andre 300, Voiceover by Adrean Maxwell, Weedie B. Good by Ghost-Note / Weeedie Braimah
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Kevin Rechner
MENTOR: Amber Johnson
Thank you to the ancestors for always guiding me and sending Wisdom in the time of need.
THE DANCE CENTER PRODUCTION CREW
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AND PRODUCTION MANAGER: Kevin Rechner
MEDIA/TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR: Jane Jerardi
LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR: Anna Shultz-Breef
SOUND ENGINEER: Dante Giramma
SPN CONCERT COORDINATOR: Kelsa Rieger-Haywood
COMING UP NEXT
CHICAGO ARTIST SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL
April 19–20 and 26–27, 2024
BIOS
Paris Anderson’s training resides in Tap, Ballet, Graham, Improvisation and Hip Hop styles such as Waacking from artists all around the country. Paris has studied at Arizona School for the Arts, graduated from Chicago High School for the Arts and is currently an undergraduate at Columbia College Chicago for Dance. Amanda Baity currently pursuing her BA in her sophomore year as a Dance major at Columbia College Chicago. She began her dance journey with Ballet 5:8 and has since remained connected to them. Additionally, she built connections outside her home studio with Ballet Chicago, performing in their studio company and dancing their spring repertoire in 2022. Amanda’s commitment to dance drives her to pursue excellence as she progresses in her studies and performances.
Isabel Bastardo is a Junior Dance and Arts Management double major from Milwaukee, WI. She has been dancing for 12 years, training primarily in Jazz and Contemporary under the direction of Gina Laurenzi. Isabel’s work spans from concert dance to Musical Theatre. She aims to continue performing and researching movement with a focus on Latin social dance.
Rylee Binkley is a sophomore dance major here at Columbia College Chicago. Originally from Plainfield, Illinois, Rylee came to the city to study film and changed to a Dance major this fall semester. This semester has been her first time receiving professional training and she can’t wait to show you how much she has improved so far!
Carissa Bracken is a senior at Columbia College Chicago graduating in May with her bachelor’s degree in Dance and a minor in Fashion Styling. She has been dancing since she was four and loves teaching, connecting with other creatives, and choreography. In the next few years, she plans to continue teaching dance and connect with her other passions and hobbies.
Artrell Brown (‘21) is a freelance choreographer originally from Gary, IN. Artrell is a recent CLI Conservatory Alum where he studied under the direction of Teddy Forance. During his time at the conservatory he worked with choreographers such as Marlee Hightower, Shannon Lewis, Lucy Vallely, Brian Nicholson, Micaela Taylor and Lloyd Knight. Artrell is delighted to be back home sharing his art and the things he has learned with his community teaching Modern at Ballet 5:8, Hip Hop at The Hammond Academy For The Performing Arts, and fulfilling his duties as an apprentice with Winifred Haun & Dancers in Chicago.
Nailah Brown is a Chicago native who is currently a sophomore studying dance at Columbia College Chicago. She started her dance journey at the age of eight, exploring styles of West African, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, and Jazz.
Grace Butt was born in the vibrant city of Chicago. Her dance journey began at a very young age, setting the stage for a lifelong passion. Now a dedicated dance student at Columbia College Chicago, she seamlessly integrates different dance styles into each expressive movement. Grace’s commitment to the study and profound love for the captivating world of dance shines through in every harmonious step.
Jacque Brejay Campbell is an artist, vocalist, conversationalist, creative director, choreographer and aspiring socialite. He is a professional dancer, arts consultant for City-Side Arts and Education, and he is also studying digital marketing at Triton College. He has been dancing since he was ten years old. He started training under City-Side Arts and Education because it is family owned and moved on to train with groups such as The Pack Drum-line , BPD Dance-force, and Xtreme Dance force.
Courtney Cooper is a gifted dancer from Washington, DC with over six years of training in Classical Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, and West African. Courtney is a freshman attending Columbia College
Chicago pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Courtney is a dynamic talent, with a love for people and exploring how her energy and ambition can uplift and positively influence humanity and culture. Courtney is a bold artist with passion, enthusiasm, and a fierce curiosity for life and art.
Sophia Cozzi is a freshman at Columbia College
Chicago majoring in Dance and Art History. She has been dancing since age six, training most recently at Elevate Dance Experience in Naperville, Illinois. She has trained mainly in Contemporary and Hip Hop styles and hopes to further her technical and choreographic skills throughout her next few years at Columbia.
Violet Czerwinski (she/her) is a sophomore Dance BFA at Columbia College Chicago. She has been dancing for 15 years, 10 of those competitively. She trained in mostly Contemporary and Jazz work.
Sophie Daker is a freshman here at Columbia College
Chicago! She has been dancing for 16 years training is various styles growing up. Sophie has passion for challenging work and performance with the influence of Contemporary, Jazz, and Modern forms.
Taylor Davis is a junior studying Film and Creative Writing. She has danced her whole life and enjoys performing at Columbia as a way to continue her passion. She uses both dance and writing to express herself and explore the human experience.
Sara Dennis is a freshman at Columbia College
Chicago majoring in Dance, with a minor in Fashion Communications. She has trained in many styles throughout her dance career and is currently focusing on leveling up her personal style. She hopes to continue pursuing her dreams by expressing an unbound love towards the arts and by furthering her knowledge and technical skills.
Kaya Gross is a Danish and American dancer, aerialist and performer. They are a Junior at Columbia College Chicago working towards a BA in Dance with a minor in Film and Television Studies. Since Kaya was six years old, they have performed with Girl Circus at the Oregon Country Fair, doing a variety of acts including Aerial, Acro, Dance and Poi. During high school Kaya spent a year studying dance at Efterskolen for Scenekunst, a performing arts boarding school in Denmark. She has also trained and performed with A-WOL Dance Collective in Portland, Oregon for many years as part of both their youth performance group, Aeros, and their pre-professional training company, Flyco.
Anejha Hines is a Joliet native with a completed degree in Dance and Theatre at Columbia College Chicago. Anejha is well versed in various dance styles with a foundation In Liturgical and African dance. She is currently a Dancer at Ayodele Drum & Dance and will continue to broaden her horizon in her dance journey!
Maliaka O’Niyea Hughes, a native of Chicago, Illinois, is a versatile artist with a deep passion for creativity across various disciplines. From Acting and Stand-Up Comedy to Poetry, Photography, Pottery, Painting, and Makeup Design, Maliaka’s artistic journey is rich and diverse. Currently pursuing her senior year at Columbia College Chicago, Maliaka’s primary focus lies in dance, where she delves into an array of styles. Exploration includes Social Movement, Vogue, House, Modern, and Contemporary dance forms. She approaches her studies with a fervent dedication, constantly expanding her expertise and seeking new horizons. Post-graduation, Maliaka aims to further explore acrobatic and aerial artistry, adding new dimensions to her artistic repertoire. Beyond her dedication to dance, Maliaka sees herself as more than just a dancer; she envisions herself as a performer with a passion that intersects seamlessly with all her artistic pursuits. Excited for the opportunities that lie ahead post-graduation, Maliaka is committed to further exploring and expanding her artistic journey.
Najah Iman is a dedicated mover who’s been dancing for about 5 years. With a background in Musical Theatre, her first dance performance was Student Performance Night in 2023. Since then, she has been eager to perform dance, looking for any opportunity to be on the stage.
Lola Jett-Beachley is a first year Dance BFA student from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She studied for 11 years with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Bodiography Contemporary Ballet. Lola hopes to pursue a career in Performance and Choreography.
Eryn Jones (she/her) is a senior film & television major and dance minor at Columbia College Chicago. She grew up in Bolingbrook Illinois where she was a competitive dancer for over 10 years and trained in variety of styles such as Hip Hop, Contemporary, Modern, Ballet and Jazz, and even trained with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in New York. While growing up, she took an interest in music videos and live shows, and was inspired by icons such as Paris Goebel, Ian Eastwood, Teyana Taylor and Ciara, and she aspired to become a choreographer and creative director. She is currently a videographer and editor for Chicago Dancemakers Forum and Jump Street Entertainment, as well as a dance instructor at Columbia’s Student Center and at the Dome Studio. Some of her recent dance accomplishments include being a dancer for the Pack Drumline on America’s Got Talent Fantasy League and a backup dancer for 90s artist CeCe Peniston. Today she continues to learn and strives to be recognized in both the film and dance fields
Shannon Lane is pursuing her BFA in Dance as a sophomore at Columbia College Chicago. She started dancing when she was 7 years old in her hometown Oak Park, Illinois, training primarily in Ballet and Modern techniques at the Academy of Movement and Music. Currently, she is a dance teacher for the Park District of Oak Park.
Ashley Lo is a sophomore BA Acting Major. She was born in Wausau, Wisconsin where she grew up competing in dance competitions and went on to perform in community theatre shows in high school. Ashley has a passion for storytelling, standing up for racial representation, and having fun.
Vi McMahon grew up learning dance at Ballare Teatro Performing Arts Center, a dance studio just a short walk from their home in South Minneapolis, MN. Now, pursuing a BA in Dance with a minor in Creative Writing at Columbia College Chicago, Vi aims to communicate and share stories with people through embodied, spoken and written language.
Malika “Myka” Okot is a creative mover, freestyler and choreographer who is currently a student at Columbia College Chicago with a major in Dance and minor in Hip Hop studies. Originally from Portland, Maine, Myka focuses her dance training in Hip Hop and Popping as well as other street styles including, Breaking, House, Locking, Krump, Chicago Footwork and any other forms that she has the oppurtunity to learn. Her current work is focused on studying Hip Hop dance and how it was, how it is, and how it will be performed, practiced and represented.
Dale “Darla Tisdale” Perry (Any Pronouns) was raised in the Chicago-land area, growing up in Wooddale, IL where they took a liking to dance and were put straight into classes at a nearby studio, where they found their home on stage. They currently have their AA from College of Dupage. Transferring to Columbia College Chicago they are majoring in Dance for their BA, graduating this spring. They are a jack of all trades artist, including Dancing, Choreographing, Sewing, Drawing, Acting, Photography, and Singing.
Alondra Portero, also known as Nola, is a very skilled dancer, artist manager, digital content marketer, and artist branding developer from Puerto Rico. She’s currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing with a concentration in Entertainment Business from Columbia College Chicago. Portero started her dance career in South Korea in 2019 and to this day holds part of the Columbia College Chicago’s Renegades Hip Hop Dance Team. Alondra Portero is also currently working with very talented artists like JM and companies like Double Lightning Studios delivering spectacles across multiple stages. Alondra is a hustler focused on growing JM, a hot new artist’s on the rise’s social media page and helping him launch himself by using marketing and branding tactics, promoting his music, and managing his productions. She’s eager to work with other managers, producers, publishers, choreographers, and artists who share the same hunger and drive for excellence the same way that she does.
Prince Adrean’s dance journey began at Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, where he learned praise/ liturgical dance. At the age of 8, he started African dance training and later joined the Ton Ko-Thi Children Performing Ensemble and Ko-Thi Dance Company where he was able to learn from master teachers like Youssuf Koumbasa and Mbemba Bangoura. Adrean dedicated himself to mastering West African dance. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in dance at Columbia College Chicago, he performs as a Company 2 artist with Muntu Dance Theater. Adrean study’s around the is Bring a wealth of knowledge from Guinea, Senegal, and Mali, blending African Diasporic themes with Western concert style. He has choreographed and taught works for Signature Dance Company, Lincoln Center of the Arts, Dance Works, and Winifred Haun’s First Draft Chicago Dance Makers.
Armani Ray, a current Columbia College Chicago dancer from the south side of Chicago, began her journey practicing and experimenting with movement at 12 years of age. Improvisation is the foundation of her practice and she continues to expand her skill in ballet, modern and hip hop.
Jasmin Rios is a senior at Columbia as well as a Chicago based dancer. Their beginning years of dance were self taught, first receiving training at Columbia in forms such as West African, Modern, Contemporary and various styles of Hip Hop. They’ve been surrounded by dance their entire life as they’re family is deeply rooted in their Latin/Mexican culture but have grown love for street and commercial hip-hop throughout their adolescent and teenage years, continuing to further their practices in and out of Columbia spaces. They hope to evoke inspiration and emotion from their audiences as they move, mainly wishing their audience to feel excitement and flavorous energy.
Amari Smith is a dedicated dancer studying and training in dance programs in Chicago IL, focusing on various styles such as Ballet, Modern, Jazz, West African, and Hip Hop. She has been a part of many programs within her community, while also training with The Joffrey Ballet. Amari is currently a junior at Columbia College Chicago acquiring her BA in Dance, while also taking many dance classes in the Chicago community. Amari is extremely excited to continue her passion and journey in dance auditioning for companies, becoming a commercial dancer, performer, and choreographer.
Imani Smith was born and raised in Chicago and is currently a junior at Colombia College Chicago. Her dance journey started at a very young age exploring a variety of different styles. She focuses on discovering different techniques and mastering the intention behind the movements.
I am Keshauna Smith, a Chicago, IL born and raised artist who mainly works in the performing art of dance. As of May 2024 I will have a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Columbia College Chicago. I am well experienced in West African, Modern, Hip Hop, Street Dance, Commercial Dance, Improvisation and Composition. A common theme in my work is the movement of one’s soul where I like to find a challenging medium of allowing dancers to move freely through choreographed movement combinations.
J Stephens (they/them) is from Buffalo, New York and is currently a third year student pursuing a B.A. in Dance at Columbia College Chicago. J has been dancing for over 15 years and has a background in Musical Theatre as well. They have trained and competed in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, and Lyrical and is currently focusing on progressing their movement vocabulary through Street Dance styles and Modern based aesthetics.
Diamond Turner is freshman here at Columbia College Chicago pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in Marketing. Diamond is an extremely talented and well rounded dancer from the Southside of Chicago, IL. Who has been dancing for almost 10 years now and has trained in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, West African, and even Ballroom Dance. Diamond is a dancer who’s very passionate about the artistry of the craft, as she uses dance as an outlet for self expression!
Nautica Turner is a Chicago native who’s in her final year at Columbia College Chicago completing a degree in Dance. Her dance training stretches across various styles but is grounded in Afro Centric movement and Modern influences.
Breslin Webb, also known as Bre5lin (pronounced B-5), is an upcoming dancer, rapper, and DJ who was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He grew up in the city learning about the culture of Hip Hop, but soon started studying an array of dance styles like West African and Afro Brazilian. He currently lives in Chicago and is studying Dance at Columbia College Chicago. Ash Williams is a dancer and performer from Oregon. They have studied with various organizations such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, DanceWorks Chicago, Common Conservatory/Commemoration, NW Dance Project and Open Space. They are currently working towards achieving their BA in Dance at Columbia College Chicago.
Caitlin Wonsowski, born and raised in Normal, Illinois began her dance training at USA Ballet Academy, in Bloomington, IL. She attended Illinois State University for two years, before transferring to Columbia College Chicago in 2022 where she is now in her final year working towards her Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She has been able to continually pursue her passion for performing and has recently been putting her focus on utilizing her training and love of collaboration to grow her choreographic abilities and artistic research.
Rhianna Young was born and grew up in Frankfort, Illinois. She trained at Braemar Dance Center for ten years where she took classes in a variety of styles, was on the competition team, and taught and assisted classes. Rhianna is now in her third year of pursuit of a BFA in dance at Columbia College Chicago, where she focuses on contemporary forms and ideas of dance within her movement and choreography.
PRODUCTION AND DESIGN BIOS
Will Donovan (he/him) is a Chicago-based lighting designer and programmer. Recent credits include: Twihard! The Musical, Little Women (Taylor’s Version), Purgatorio, Chance The Rapper @ The Wit, and The Wizard of Oz. He also oversees lighting at notable Chicago venues including TAO, Roof on The Wit, LPs Tap House, and Joy District. Proud member of IATSE Local 2
Dante Giramma is a composer, multimedia artist, and sound engineer from Western Massachusetts. His work spans many mediums including fixed media, generative composition, composition for dance and film, CGI & interactive media, sound sculpture, and multimedia installation. He is incredibly invested in creating artistic experiences that are both playful and impactful, using installation work and collaboration with dancers as a catalyst to explore interactivity and physicality in art and sound.
Carl Griffin III is a software engineer from the south side of Chicago. His unwillingness to be still crafted him into a jack of all trades, picking up many skills including audio engineering, driven by his love for music.
Jane Jerardi serves as the Media/Technology Coordinator for the Dance Center, providing video documentation for both the Presenting Series and its academic programs. As a part of its faculty, she teaches video for dance and choreography courses. In her role, she has documented and edited over 250 performances, workshops, and events, providing essential documentation to artists and adding to the Dance Center’s leading, regional archive of materials dating from 1980 to the present. An artist working in the media of performance, choreography, and video installation, her work has been presented at galleries and theaters in Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC
I am Xachery Johnson, better known as “Marcel”. I am a freshman at CCC pursuing a BA in Film and Television. Since I was little, I always loved the idea of creating things and expressing myself in those creations, and film became my favourite way of doing that. Fun fact, I used to be a dancer too, so taking on this project excites me a lot.
Socorro Park is a Los Angeles, California native and a Chicago-based lighting designer. Currently in their third year at CCC, they have designed multiple shows such as Or, Lemons Lemons Lemons, and Prequel to Animal Farm. They have also designed The Fallen Angels Hotel at the GreenHouse Theatre. This is Socorro’s second dance design, and they could not be more excited to share it.
Kevin Rechner has been Production Manager and Technical Director for the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago since 1996. He has a bachelor’s degree in Theatre from Illinois State University and spent 3 years in Paris, France studying Movement Theatre with Jacques Lecoq and Daniel Stein. He has created four solo performance works including I AM HUGO and performed in Emily Johnson’s Thank You Bar at the Dance Center. Technically, he has worn many hats for The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Daniel Stein, Akira Kasai, Kota Yamazaki, Momenta!, Hedwig Dances, Urban Bush Women, HT Chen and Dancers, Natya Dance Theatre, Mordine and Company Dance Theatre, The Seldoms and many more. Kevin’s work with Lucky Plush Productions includes Cinderbox 18, The Sky Hangs Down Too Close, Punk Yankees, The Better Half, Cinderbox 2.0, Trip the Light Fantastic: The Making of Superstrip, and Rink Life. Recent lighting designs include Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, and Junie B. Jones, The Musical for The Young People’s Theatre of Chicago
Cade Riley is a Lighting Designer based in the Chicago area. Previous designs include On The Town at Columbia College Chicago, Neon Nights at Valleyfair Amusement Park, and previous SPN’s. Cade also works in live shows and nightclubs doing lighting and laser operation.
Anna Schultz-Breef (she/her/hers) is a Stage Manager for theater and dance, as well as a Theatre Artisan with an adoration for Lighting and Carpentry. Her most recent work consists of: Stage Manager for Owensboro Dance Theater’s Nutcracker, Lighting Designer for Northwestern University’s Emperor of Atlantis, Asst. Stage Manager for the Joffrey Ballet’s Frankenstein, Assistant Stage Manager for Joffrey Ballet’s Chicago and D.C. run of Anna Karenina, the Master Electrician for the Northwestern University Opera department, and Stagehand for Columbia College Dance Center. Anna graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2021 and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts. Along with a double minor in Theatre Design & Technology, and Asian Studies.
Clara Valladares (she/her/hers) is a senior year lighting and costume design major from Las Vegas, Nevada. Her most recent projects at Columbia College Chicago include On the Town (Costume Designer) and The Bluest Eye (Lighting designer). Elijah Williams, who first gives an honor to God who is the head of his life, is a music producer and multi-instrumentalist from Chicago, IL. He is a Business Administration and Music Composition Double Major at Morehouse College, who is currently pursuing a career in the music and film industry.
CHOREOGRAPHIC MENTOR BIOS
Bevara Anderson is a professional dance artist from the Maryland coast. Bevara focuses on the embodied research that lives within Umfundalai, house footwork, Horton, contemporary ballet, improvisation, and many other contemporary movement styles. Bevara is now rendering dance work based in narrative, abstraction, meditation, and continues to consider the experience of joy as a form of resistance in the Black American community. Bevara is of the final generation of dancers to study under the direct tutelage of Dr. Kariamu Welsh, and holds this feat with pride as she continues to share Dr. Welsh’s technique, Umfundalai.
Lisa Gonzales is an Associate Professor and Chair of Dance. She teaches courses in Choreography, Improvisation, Contemporary Technique and Experiential Anatomy. She has been described as a performer of “stunning power and nuance” by the New York Times and remains professionally devoted to the practices of performing, improvising, choreographing and teaching. Domestically her work has been seen in a diverse collection of spaces including in New York City: DTW, Danspace at St. Mark’s Church, Joyce Soho, Dixon Place, WAX, Joe’s Pub, John Jay College, and Brick Studio among others, and Chicago: at the Dance Center of Columbia College, Hamlin Park, Links Hall, and MANA Contemporary as part of an Incubational Artist Residency with High Concept Labs. Internationally, Gonzales’ work has been presented at the historic Lu-Ling Theater in Taipei, Taiwan, at the Dostoyevsky Theater in St. Petersburg Russia, in Helsinki, Finland, and in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. She is a recent recipient of an Individual Artist Grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and she will be presenting her new work, a dance-puppetry collaboration with designer, Tom Lee, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia this fall. Gonzales received a BA from Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT and an MFA in Dance with a specialization in choreography from The Ohio State University
Amber Johnson i s a Philadelphia native who relocated to Chicago to pursue a B.A in dance from Columbia College Chicago. She identifies as an Afro-Contemporary/ West African movement artist, choreographer, arts curator and administrator. During her time as a Principal Dancer and Rehearsal Director with Ayodele Drum & Dance, she was able to serve on the staff committee of Ayodele Youth Programs as an coordinator, instructor and choreographer. Since then, Amber has developed a passion for supporting young artists and organizations whose work is rooted in community support and the African diaspora. She currently serves as the Production Manager for Azania Drum, a youth West African Drum company based out of Chicago, a Teaching Artist with Move Me Soul and is the Youth Coordinator for Team Jukeboxx Mas Band’s junior division, Speaker Boxx. Johnson joined the ensemble of Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago for their Dance Africa 2022 season as a performer and the liaison for The Council of Elders. She previously was the premiere West African Dance Curriculum Developer for The Joffrey Ballet’s Community Engagement Department. Outside of her own staged pieces, Johnson has performed in works by Onye Ozuzu, Pamela McNeil, Dr. Rennie Harris, Jessica Miller Tomlinson, Keyierra Collins, T. Ayo Alston, Imania Detry, Stacy Letrice, and Regina Perry-Curr. She has also performed alongside International AfroBeats Artists, P- Square, Afro B, and REMA. Amber has been a recipient of the Walder Foundation, Chicago Takes10 Project, and was selected by the D’atè Culture Foundation 10 x 10 Global Artist-in-Residence Program in Abuja and Kaduna Nigeria. Johnson wishes to continue uplifting her communities by providing support to the next generation of young artists.
Dardi McGinley-Gallivan is a Professor of Instruction in the Dance Department who specializes in Pedagogy and Modern Technique courses. Dardi is a founding member of Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak Dance Company, performed for Mordine & Company Dance Theatre, and Colleen Halloran Performance Group (live and dance for camera). She received the Louis Sutler Prize for the Arts as an undergraduate and a Ruth Page Award in Chicago for Performance. Dardi has a long history of teaching residencies for Antares Danza Contemporeanea in Hermosillio, Mexico and received two Faculty Development Grants to facilitate projects with Antares company member, Isaac Chau. She received her BA in Art History with a Minor in Dance from Emory University and her MA in Dance from The Ohio State University.
Kelsa “K-Soul” Rieger-Haywood is a dance artist, culturally responsive educator, community organizer and curator. Kelsa is Co-Founder/CoArtistic Director of BraveSoul Movement (since 2016), and a member of the internationally known streetdance crew, Venus Fly (since 2005). Kelsa’s movement training has been through a range of spaces and forms, including underground House and Hip Hop, capoeira, samba, salsa/batchata, modern techniques and gymnastics. Kelsa has performed and presented work at danceGATHERING (Lagos, Nigeria), Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago, IL), B.Supreme (London, UK), B-girl Be (Minneapolis, MN), J.U.I.C.E. Hip-Hop Dance Festival (Hollywood, CA), Constellation/ Links Hall (Chicago, IL) and Pritzker Pavilion (Chicago, IL). A prominent focus of Kelsa’s work is building reciprocal collaboration and meaningful exchange between Hip-Hop and the academy. Kelsa currently serves as Associate Professor of Instruction at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, a Fellow of Columbia’s Antiracist Transformation Team, Coordinator of Columbia’s Hip-Hop Studies Minor, and Curator of The B-SERIES, a biannual festival and co-curricular program celebrating Hip-Hop & street dance culture at the College since 2013. Kelsa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign and a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr Ayo Walker is a performance studies pratitioner, choreographer, and Dance and African American Studies educator. Her praxis is committed to substantiating the techniques, vernaculars, and geneologies and embodiement of historically marginalized and othered dance aesthetics. Her work is rooted in visibilizing the “Blood Memories,” “Aesthetic of the Cool,” and “The Get Down” qualities in Africanist and Black Dance aesthetics. Employing social justice choreography representative of anti-essentialist movement that is at once exposing and undoing stereotypical assumptions historically signifying the body politic, her works challenge what performing blackness is and isnt.
ABOUT THE DANCE CENTER
Home to the academic Dance Department and the Dance Presenting Series, the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago values embodied human expression and nurtures an expansive understanding of dance from the established to the experimental.
Centering pluralism, the Dance Center aims to be a nucleus for innovation and creativity—on stage, in the classroom, and beyond.
By partnering with local, national, and international dance artists dedicated to transforming the field, the Dance Presenting Series offers live performances and other shared opportunities for students, faculty, artists, and audiences to connect, witness, research, experiment, practice, imagine, and grow.
We cultivate an environment and culture that prioritizes respect for self and others, and advances an anti-racist, equitable, and just society.
THE DANCE CENTER
Founder
Shirley Mordine
Chair of Dance
Lisa Gonzales
Associate Chair
Dardi McGinley-Gallivan
Dean, School of Fine and Performing Arts
Dr. Rosita M. Sands Faculty
Bevara Anderson
Lisa Gonzales
Susan Imus
Darrell Jones
Dardi McGinley-Gallivan
Kelsa “K-Soul” RiegerHaywood
Dr. Ayo Walker
Jessica Young
Adjunct Faculty
T. Ayo Alston
Keesha Beckford
Malik Camara
Zineb Chraibi
Shaker Cohlmia
Allen Desterhaft
Emma Draves
Colleen Halloran
Carrie Hansen
Daniel “BRAVEMONK”
Haywood
Gina Hoch-Stall
Matthew Hollis
Jane Jerardi
Mary Klonowski
Hau Kum Leung Kneip
Michael McGinn
Pamela McNeil
Jimmy Payne
Emily Stein
Trae Turner
Meghann Wilkinson
Thomas Zwergel Staff
Michael Caskey Accompanist Coordinator
Dan DiLuciano
Director of Facilities and Operations
Raynner Garcia
Box Office/Reception
Caity Gee
Administrative Assistant/ Communications
Ize Heinzen
House Manager
Jane Jerardi
Media/Technology Coordinator
Amber Johnson
Box Office Associate
Angelika Lewis
Box Office Associate
Pamela McNeil
Academic Manager
Mia Nelson
Box Office/Reception
Disha Patel
Box Office/Reception
Kevin Rechner
Technical Director and Production Manager
Roell Schmidt
Dance Presenting Series Producing Director
Meredith Sutton
Dance Presenting Series Artistic Director
FRIENDS OF THE DANCE CENTER
The Dance Center gratefully acknowledges its donors for their generous support.
$1,000 AND ABOVE
Taylor and Carrie Olivia Adams
Bonnie Brooks
David Colburn
Pamela Crutchfield
William Hunt
Marcia Lazar and Alan Amos
Elizabeth Liebman
Susan Manning and Douglas Doetsch
Kathleen Miles
D. Elizabeth Price
$500-999
Ellen Chenoweth
Melynda Lopin
Robert Mrtek and Marsha Mrtek
Susan J. Stall
Shawn Wax
$250-499
Nancy Church and Charles Jett
Amor Kohli
Jamey Lundblad and Bill Melamed
K. McGriff
Shunda McGriff
Susan F. Rossen
$100-249
Anonymous
Bernadette Casey
Dr. Kurt Christoffel
Margi Cole
Andrea Edwards
Peter N. and Susan F. Gray
Nancy Juda
Arnold and Carol Kanter
Maggie Kast
Cherie Kerzee
Philip Martini
Thomas and Shirley Neiman
Stephen Roy and Lloyd Kohler
Judith Sagan
Clyde Whitaker
$50-99
Charlotte and Alan Bath
Dr. Bob
Cornelio Casaclang
Nancy K. DeDakis
Paul E. Fisher
Lisa Gonzales
Colleen Halloran
Dawn Renee Jones
Dardi McGinley-Gallivan
Pamela Hoffman McNeil
Evemarie Moore
Bette Rosenstein
Dr. Elaine Sachnoff
Emily Stein
Mary Beth Van Dyke
This list includes gifts received through April 1st, 2024. If you have donated since then, thank you and look for your name in the next program!
To become a Friend of the Dance Center, please visit dance.colum.edu/donate
DANCE CENTER SPONSORS
A. Montgomery Ward Foundation
The Dance Center is a member of Dance/USA, See Chicago Dance, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, and the American College Dance Association.
Athletico is the exclusive provider of physical therapy, occupational therapy, sports medicine, athletic training, work rehabilitation, and massage therapy for the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago.
