Mark Yonally is the founder and Artistic Director of Chicago Tap Theatre, one of the most critically well-regarded dance companies in Chicago.

 

They perform an annual three-show season in Chicago and tour both throughout America and Europe. Their performances have been chosen as the Top Ten Dance events of the year by the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, SeeChicagoDance and Windy City Media. Their 2016 Time Travel Story Shoe, “TimeSteps” was selected as the Best New Production of 2016 by the Dance Magazine Reader’s Poll. Mark has developed a national and international reputation as a performer, with solo performances in Chicago, Helsinki, Barcelona, New York, Amsterdam and Paris.

 

He has been blessed to have Sam Weber, Sarah Petronio, Dianne Walker, Bill Evans and Billy Siegenfeld as mentors. Mark has also recorded with live musicians, including an appearance with the Polyphonic Spree on their song “Mental Cabaret” and on stage with them at Lollapalooza.

Richard Elszy is passionately dedicated to training the next generation of dancers through his technical expertise, and inspiring them with inventive and picturesque choreography. In his current endeavor, Richard has created “Building Blocks of Dance” an online dance technique program for teachers.  BBD provides strategies and tips on how to make complex concepts relatable to young dancers.  This program has successfully inspired teachers throughout the US and across the globe.  However these are not the only online tools he has to offer. Richard has become a teaching sensation, offering online Lyrical Dance Classes, which are featured on DancePlug.com and as well has his own “Dance Technique on the Edge” videos available to dancers around the world.

As a Los Angeles bases choreographer, Richard’s classes at the esteemed Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles are a popular place for students to work toward formulating technique into artistry. He has presented numerous works of choreography at Club Jeté – LA’s Premier Dance Showcase, as well as coaching and choreographing dance concept videos featuring Nia Frazier of ‘Dance Moms’ titled “Young Love”,  Chelsie Hill and the Rollettes “Be Boundless” and “We Can Together” campaigns and choreographing a TV pilot for TV star and Emmy nominated actress Shanti Lowry of ‘Family Time.’

 

Richard also travels throughout the US....CLICK HERE TO VISIT RICHARD'S WEBSITE TO CONTINUE READING!

Ohio native, Drew made his industry debut on Live with Regis during Amazing Kids Week. Upon relocating to California, he trained at L.A.’s best studios including EDGE, Millennium, Fusion, and the PAC Annex. Drew is highly sought after as a performer, choreographer, guest teacher, dance supervisor, & dance captain.

 

Drew can be seen on teaching & adjudication panels for: Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Dance Teachers Club of Boston, Leap! Competition, Dance Masters of America Regional Chapters, Dance Educators of America, Encore Dance & the Rhee Gold Company. A former competitor himself, Drew’s regional titles include Master, Junior, and Teen Mr. Dance of Ohio, as well as, Mr. Dance of the Pacific Coast. Nationally, Drew is a former Jr. Mr. Dance of America and Mr. Dance of America. Drew is certified by test to teach through DMA & DEA in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, & Acrobatics and is an active member in both organizations. Drew is also proud to be Acrobatic Arts Certified (M1-M3) & part of their U.S. Division Staff of Course Conductors & Adjudicators. Drew’s passion for dance circles the globe with guest workshop classes, technique clinics, & choreography, year-round. His corporate & live entertainment credits include performances with the Radio City Rockettes, Taylor Swift, & The Baha Men. Drew’s students have accolades including: Teen Miss Dance of Arizona, Male Dancer of the Year, Miss Dance of Ohio, Mr. Dance of America, and one of Radio City’s newest Rockettes!

 

His National Choreography merits include the Sherry Gold Memorial Choreography Award from DMA & Best Small Group & Production from NexStar. Drew has toured worldwide with Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance as a Swing in Rock the Ballet 2 and Romeo & Juliet. He was honored to serve as the Tap Director for four years at Spisak Dance Academy in Glendale, Arizona; and now resides in Columbus, Ohio and is part of of the weekly teaching staff at Straub Dance Center. Drew has also filmed several episodes of class content at CLI Studios in Los Angeles.

Julie Chapnick began her career classically trained in the Cecchetti ballet method. She studied with the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet, American Dance Machine and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Julie received a BFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and went on to earn an MA in Dance and Dance Education with a concentration in K-12 from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education.

 

Working with world-renowned teachers and choreographers alike, Julie performed in numerous works during her undergraduate and graduate studies. She danced with the New Dance Ensemble, 2nd Avenue Dance Company, New Dance Collective and American Dance Art with whom she performed at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Julie has served as Director of summer dance camps and intensives, worked as a Ballet Mistress and has presented her choreography in dance festivals and regional competitions.

 

She has taught for privately owned studios, the public school system and as a volunteer for community outreach programs. She was appointed Adjunct Dance Professor at Central Piedmont Community College and Johnson C. Smith University. Since moving to Chicago, Julie has had the pleasure of being a teaching artist at the School of Performing Arts, Academy of Dance Arts, Hubbard Street Dance Youth Program and Joffrey Academy, the official school of the Joffrey Ballet.

Shanna VanDerwerker is an educator and choreographer in Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Point Park University. Favorite choreography credits include "Mamma Mia" at Music Theater Works, "Sunset Blvd" and "Can Can" at Porchlight Music Theater, "Spamalot" at Mercury Theater Chicago, "Singin’ In The Rain," "Newsies," "42nd St." and "Saturday Night Fever" at The Fireside
Theatre in Fort Atkinson, WI. She received a Jeff Nomination for her choreography on Lysistrata Jones for Refuge Theater Project and has also been the Associate Choreographer for "Pippin" at Venus Cabaret Space, Matilda and "Joseph" at Drury Lane in Oakbrook. Shanna was Christopher Gattelli’s associate for over 10 years, working on shows "Amazing Grace" and "High Fidelity" on Broadway, and "Silence! The Musical" at the NY Fringe Festival.

In 2019 Shanna was named an Inaugural Honoree of the Rachel Rockwell Foundation’s Fierce Women Behind the Table by Porchlight Music Theater.

 

As a performer and member of Actors Equity Association, credits include: Broadway and first national touring companies of "Wicked," "Evita" and "Beauty and the Beast" (Drury Lane Oakbrook), "Kiss Me, Kate" (TUTS Houston), dre.dance company (NYC), and Kids of the Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

 

After over four years as the Dance Captain of the First National Tour of Wicked, Shanna relocated to Chicago where she is on faculty at Columbia College Chicago and Visceral Dance Center. She also choreographs and teaches workshops for studios across the country. shannavdance.com

JC is the Co-Director of Xtreme Dance Force, and grew up and resides in the Chicagoland area. With a credited bachelors degree in Political Science from UIC, JC trained in jazz, tap, ballet, acro and hip hop since age 7. Through his performing and training years, JC lived in the competition limelight winning countless overall 1st place awards and being offered scholarships throughout the country.

 

He was recently featured as a top 10 finalist with Xtreme Dance Force on MTV’s Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew Season 2. JC was also an assistant hip hop coach on MTV’s hit show MADE. He has performed and opened up for several top recording artists such as Ludacris, Ciara, Twista and Soulja Boy. JC has also been showcased in top shows in Las Vegas. He was a choreographer for the internationally broadcast MLS All Star Game Half-Time Show featuring top recording artist Lupe Fiasco on ESPN. He is also a choreographer for the NBA Detroit Pistons dance team Automotion.

 

JC continues teaching all over the country while he sets award winning hip hop routines for numerous dance studios and companies. Since becoming Co-Director of Xtreme Dance Force, the company has opened up for celebrity recording artists such as Chingy, Tyrese, Bow Wow and Mims, just to name a few. JC is currently choreographing and working with brand new up and coming recording R&B artist Stevie Brock (recently signed with Mosley Music Group/Interscope Records). He was a part of the Dance Power Express faculty for 2 years, and was also an instructor on the dance convention/competition WILD. JC is also a dancer/model/actor for the top recognized agency, CTG, Clear Talent Group.

Connie Sweeney has been dancing for over 30 years. She has trained in advanced level mastery in the art of tap, jazz, lyrical, ballet, modern and hip hop. She is on staff at Jo's Footwork Studio in Western Springs, IL teaching tap, lyrical and jazz. She is also a choreographer for City Nation – a multi discipline dance company based in Orland Park, IL- and has been for the last 5 years.

 

Connie attended the NFAA in Madison, WI where she received a "platinum" in tap, and "honorable mention" in jazz. Connie has been on faculty for workshops/conventions such as CNADM, CDC, DMW, and STARQUEST. She has been a member of Matrix Dance Improv - modern, The Kirby Reed Ascension Project - jazz, Instruments of Movement - modern, and Rhythm ISS - an all female tap ensemble. She has performed with her brother, Jay Fagan, in "Sibling Rivalry," and was a member of Same Planet Different World - a modern company- for 9 years.  Connie was also the artistic director of an “all discipline” dance company, Footwork Dance Ensemble, for five years.

 

She continues to guest teach and choreograph for studios in the Chicagoland area. 

Molly Smith (they/them) is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and arts administrator originally from Charlotte, NC. Molly has a BS in Dance & Arts Management from Oklahoma City University and has been a company member of Chicago Tap Theatre since 2018.

 

Molly has almost a decade of experience teaching dance and currently teaches tap at Visceral Dance Center in Chicago as well as being on faculty with Activate Your Artistry dance convention. Molly is a choreographer and
dancemaker, presenting works recently through Take Up Space Dance Festival, Chicago Tap Theatre, and Joel Hall Dance Company's Dances in the Hall; they are also a co-founder of and tap dancer/musician in Them the Band. Molly is so grateful for their circle of support and for everyone who makes tap dance happen!

Sarah Ford Hardy is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and is a graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School. Sarah has trained at the Joel Hall Dance Center and Columbia College in Chicago IL, the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, CA and Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles.

 

She has performed with numerous dance companies such as Inaside Chicago Dance, Midwest Dance Collective, DanceWerks Dance Productions, The Joel Hall Dancers and The JADD Co. Sarah was a member of the Joseph Allen Decker Dance Company where she assisted Mr. Decker for two seasons. She spent eight years choreographing and performing with Inaside Chicago Dance. Her time with Inaside also included 6 years as the company’s Youth Training Program Director and 9 years as the Summer Intensive Director. Sarah has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with artists such as Weird Al Yankovic, Soulja Boy, Hannah and Joshua Welton of Counter Culture, 3rd Eye Girl and Prince. Sarah was a featured dancer in the movie Dreams in 2013. In 2006, she choreographed the Nationally Televised MLS All-Star Game Half-Time Show Featuring Recording artist Lupe Fiasco. She also choreographed for Nick Cannon’s Wild N’ Out Tour 2017 in Chicago.

 

Sarah is currently residing in Illinois where she is teaching and choreographing all over the Chicagoland area. She is the Regional Director of 360° Dance Festival and has been on faculty at the Gus Giordano Dance School in Chicago for the last 7 years. She is a Co-Director at Xtreme Dance Force and for the last decade, Sarah has choreographed for numerous State Award winning high school and collegiate dance teams. She enjoys teaching dancers of all ages, styles and levels and has recently been on the faculty of Dance Olympus, Dance Masters of WI, One Family Festival and 360 Dance Festival. In 2019, Sarah and her husband Marcus founded Sarcus Entertainment to provide dancers with high end performance opportunities on a commercial and corporate level. She is also a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and is working towards a specialization in Pre- and Postnatal Coaching.

With her love of performing and explosive style style, Chicago native Nickie Del Re-Masino's vast experience included touring the country as a world renowned Radio City Rockette in the annual production "Radio City Rockette Christmas Spectacular," "The Masquerade Village Show in the Sky" at the Rio Suites Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, the World Cup opening ceremonies, and featured role in "Dance Chicago," "Jazz Hot," and Lisa Boehm's annual of the "Nutcracker Suite Ballet." Nickie has performed with recording artists such as Tony Bennett, Richard Marx, Kristine W. and Jon Secada.

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She has choreographed and performed in numerous industrials across the United States and has appeared in commercials for Reebok, Rio Suites Hotel and Casino Las Vegas, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and the Broadway musical "The Producers."

 

You may have also seen her 'eye high' kicks as a Radio City Rockette on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and her choreography was spotlighted on NBC's Americas Got Talent in 2014. Nickie has been teaching for more than 25 years and is one of the original faculty members of "Street of Dreams" dance convention. She receives high praise for teaching award winning choreography, exceptional technique, and a strong work ethic, which has advanced many of her students to the professional level. In recent years, her students have gone on to perform in "Hamilton" in Chicago and on tour, "Beetlejuice" on Broadway, and the new movie "West Side Story."

 

Nickie's never-ending passion for dance keeps her students inspired and devotion strong to reach full potential.

Star Dixon is an original principal dancer of world-renowned tap company, MADD Rhythms.  She has taught and performed at such festivals as The L.A. Tap Fest, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Detroit Motorcity Tap Fest, and MADD Rhythms' own Chicago Tap Fest.

 

In April, she made her debut teaching and performing overseas in Brazil at Florida Tap 2014. She has been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine twice (Artist On the Rise and Speed Demon), The Chicago Reader, and independent film The Rise and Fall of Miss Thang, starring Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards. She has been a guest artist with Jason Samuels Smith's company ACGI performing at the COCA St Louis festival and in a 20's themed variety show directed by R. Kelly.

Eilleen Mallary is the Executive Director for Culture Shock® Chicago, as well as being a company dancer for the past sixteen years.

 

She trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and is a former company member with Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet, where she performed in productions of "The Nutcracker," "Sleeping Beauty," "Cinderella," "Dracula" and "Coppélia." She also had the honor of serving as the variations assistant to Prima Ballerina Janie Parker, the first American dancer to win a gold medal in the USA IBC. In 2019, Culture Shock hosted the International Choreographers Showcase at the Harris Theater, breaking boundaries by presenting the first all hip hop dance programming at this iconic Chicago landmark.

 

With Culture Shock, she has performed extensively throughout Chicago, as well as touring the US and Canada. She assisted with and performed a flash mob for Pillsbury with gospel duo "Mary Mary" and can be seen on film in the "Get Hybrid" mattress commercial. She has performed for Adidas-Lollapalooza, Coca Cola, Nordstom and Nike’s “Let’s Move” campaign launch with First Lady Michelle Obama. Her most recent commercial choreography includes flash mobs for Bacardi, The Thrillist and Fresh Thyme Farmers Market. Her students and choreography have won National Championships, numerous awards and recognition at regional and national competitions and the city's annual dance festival, Dance Chicago.

 

Eilleen is a passionate and dedicated teacher who strives to inspire and create positive change through dance. 

Adam Houston, Giordano Dance Company.

 

Adam is a main company member from Boone, Iowa and has been with Giordano Dance Company for nine seasons, and is serving as one of this year’s co-Costume Managers. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with the “Outstanding Senior” award from the School of Dance at University of Arizona, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.

 

Adam has many performances under his belt, but some of the most fulfilling in his career include being cast as the male soloist in signature GDC work and personal Gus Giordano favorite, “Can’t Take This Away”, choreographed by Randy Duncan, and has participated in the Finale section of Dance For Life, also by Randy Duncan, for the last four years. Adam has choreographed three pieces for Giordano II, and in the Fall of 2021, Giordano Dance Chicago will premiere his first work, “All For You” on the main company

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Laura Wade has been Rehearsal Director and/or Company Ballet Teacher for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago, Giordano Dance Chicago, River North Dance Chicago, Chicago Repertory Ballet, and Inaside Chicago Dance. All of which took her on tours of the US, Germany, Austria, Russia, Scotland, and England. She is currently on faculty at Visceral Dance Center. She has taught at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Ruth Page Center, Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, Barat College, Stephens College (MO), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Essex Dance Theatre (England), MoMing Dance and Arts Center and many others.

 

As a performer, she long danced the Coffee duet and Cantiniere Doll in Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker, at Arie Crown Theatre, under the direction of Larry Long; and performed both ballet and modern works with David Dorfman, Scott Putman, The Moose Project, Ballet Espanol of Louisville, Robin Lakes/Rough Dance, Ballet Chicago, and Ballet Theatre of Chicago. Ms Wade was the Artistic Director of AKASHA Dance Company for 9 years. The company commissioned original works from leading artists- Claire Bataille (Hubbard Street), Martin Kravitz (Batsheva), Austin Hartel (Pilobolus), Nora Reynolds (Lubovitch), Ginger Farley (Hubbard Street), Poonie Dodson and many others. Early innovators in dance outreach, the company performed and taught for over 100,000 students throughout the Midwest.

 

Growing up in Toledo, OH, she began her training with Velta Cernonok. As a member of the Toledo Ballet, under the direction of Marie Vogt, she danced many featured roles in ballets including Les Patineurs, Old King Cole, and The Nutcracker. Her training continued at Indiana University, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education and performed works by Nicolas Beriosov, Marina Svetlova, Colin Russell, and Anna Paskevska. Other important influences have been Warren Conover, Nana Shineflug, Dan Wagoner, Maya Plisetskaya, Patricia Neary, and Bella Lewitzky