Catherine Barrone
Catherine is a New York City based Ballet Instructor, Guest Teaching Artist, and Choreographer. She is on faculty as the Ballet Teacher for the competition team at Encore Dance Academy. Catherine has been certified in Progressing Contemporary Technique (PCT) since 2023 and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) since 2020. She has been an instructor for over fifteen years and specializes in Classical Ballet, Pointe/Variations, Choreography, PBT, PCT, and Contemporary Ballet. Catherine has traveled as a guest teaching artist during the summers and has brought her innovative classes, workshops, and choreography to all ages throughout the United States and Bermuda. She has been invited by studios across the US to choreograph/coach for concert pieces, commercial competitions, and ballet competitions including the Youth America Grand Prix.
Catherine continued her pedagogy education at the renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Teacher Workshop. Catherine’s students have been accepted into prestigious summer intensives, performing arts high schools, University dance ensembles and programs. Many have won awards for outstanding technique, and have gone on to teach and dance professionally.
Classical and Contemporary Ballet Workshop (CCBW) is one of the five workshops Catherine has created; Classical Ballet Workshop, Classical Ballet & Pointe Workshop, Pointe & Variations Workshop, and Contemporary Ballet & Improv Workshop. CCBW being the most popular, consists of classical ballet, improv, mindfulness, and contemporary choreography that has been taught across the US. CPYB, RAD, and Vaganova syllabi have been inspirations for the creation of these workshops.
Catherine was classically trained in New Hampshire under the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. Presented by Mignon Furman, Catherine received Silver and Gold with Distinction medals from the American Academy of Dance Performance Awards. Catherine spent summers training at Walnut Hill, Ballet Workshop of New England, Boston Ballet, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
She was a scholarship recipient under the direction of Peggy Lyman, to attend The Hartt School and holds a BFA in Dance Performance. Catherine has danced principal and soloist roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Graduation Ball, Paquita, Pas de Quatre, Don Quixote, Serenade, and Cinderella, as well as many original contemporary pieces. Catherine has danced professionally with several companies including Adams Company Dance (CT), Eastern Connecticut Ballet (CT), Neville Dance Theatre (NYC), Exit12 Dance Company (NYC), and The Metropolitan Opera Ballet (NYC). She has also appeared in magazines, music videos and tv/film internationally. Some credits include; The New York Times, PRADA, Yosi Horikawa, Great Performances PBS, Vice Magazine Mexico City, and Photo Dot South Korea.
Catherine continued her pedagogy education at the renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Teacher Workshop. Catherine’s students have been accepted into prestigious summer intensives, performing arts high schools, University dance ensembles and programs. Many have won awards for outstanding technique, and have gone on to teach and dance professionally.
Classical and Contemporary Ballet Workshop (CCBW) is one of the five workshops Catherine has created; Classical Ballet Workshop, Classical Ballet & Pointe Workshop, Pointe & Variations Workshop, and Contemporary Ballet & Improv Workshop. CCBW being the most popular, consists of classical ballet, improv, mindfulness, and contemporary choreography that has been taught across the US. CPYB, RAD, and Vaganova syllabi have been inspirations for the creation of these workshops.
Catherine was classically trained in New Hampshire under the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. Presented by Mignon Furman, Catherine received Silver and Gold with Distinction medals from the American Academy of Dance Performance Awards. Catherine spent summers training at Walnut Hill, Ballet Workshop of New England, Boston Ballet, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
She was a scholarship recipient under the direction of Peggy Lyman, to attend The Hartt School and holds a BFA in Dance Performance. Catherine has danced principal and soloist roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Graduation Ball, Paquita, Pas de Quatre, Don Quixote, Serenade, and Cinderella, as well as many original contemporary pieces. Catherine has danced professionally with several companies including Adams Company Dance (CT), Eastern Connecticut Ballet (CT), Neville Dance Theatre (NYC), Exit12 Dance Company (NYC), and The Metropolitan Opera Ballet (NYC). She has also appeared in magazines, music videos and tv/film internationally. Some credits include; The New York Times, PRADA, Yosi Horikawa, Great Performances PBS, Vice Magazine Mexico City, and Photo Dot South Korea.
Nina-Rose Wardanian
Nina-Rose Wardanian is currently the Co-Artistic Director of Noumenon Dance Ensemble in Chicago, IL. The mission of NDE is to elevate dance artists of varying genders/ethnicities/physiques, fostering an environment of diversity and representation. Nina began her professional career with the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater, where she performed numerous works by Artistic Director Bernard Gaddis as well as “Vespers” by Ulysses Dove. She spent the majority of her performance career with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (2012-2019), where she also served as rehearsal director. Nina was a founding cast member and dance captain for the Lawrence Arts Center’s “Midnight Visit to the Grave of Poe.” She was also a guest artist in the Moncler fashion show for Giambattista Valli in the fall of 2017 at Paris Fashion week. Additionally, she served as resident choreographer for the Bryant Youth Professionals from 2014-2020.
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Melanie Eakman
Melanie is currently a dance professor at the University of Indianapolis specializing in ballet, jazz, and musical theatre. A native of Indianapolis, Melanie’s professional performing career began with Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre in Carmel, Indiana. During her time with GHDT, she performed lead roles in many productions as a featured company dancer. She also was Rehearsal Director and Assistant Director during her time with GHDT. Melanie is a graduate from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and received her BA with a major in Jazz Dance Performance. Melanie had the pleasure of visiting Pittsburgh later in her dance career to participate in Giordano Dance Chicago’s Jazz Dance World Congress in 2012. Believing in the powerful impact dance can have on young people ‘s lives, she was a main teaching artist for Kids Dance Outreach for 5 years focusing on high-quality dance programs reaching children throughout central Indiana. She has also had the pleasure of teaching at many dance studios throughout the Indianapolis area as well as choreographing dozens of musicals for Roncalli High School. Melanie began her early dance training at Jordan Academy of Dance at Butler University in Indianapolis. She trained under the direction of Larry Attaway, Laura Byram, Roberta Wong, and Jane Hachiya-Weiner. Melanie was also a member of the pre-professional performing ensemble, Jordan Dance Ensemble. In 2005, she was a dance major at Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. |
Read below for our past visiting adjudicators!
Alicia Pociask
Alicia Pociask is a Brooklyn based choreographer, director and educator. She attended Point Park University, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Dance and Minor in Theater Arts. Alicia’s worked at theme parks and theaters around the country, performed in industrials for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was a video tracked dancer for Pepsi.
She spent her last performance years as a dancer with Holland America Cruise Line. Alicia spent 8 years as a resident show supervisor, choreographer, and director for the Emmy Award winning production company, RWS Entertainment Group where she choreographed five mainstage production shows for Holland America Cruise Line, was an associate choreographer for STEP ONE Dance Company, and directed and choreographed three mainstage shows for Azamara Club Cruises. Alicia had the honor of assisting Al Blackstone for the workshop of Crazy in Love, an original short musical written by Kooman and Dimond. Most recently she choreographed and directed six shows for Carowinds in Charlotte, NC. Alicia is extremely passionate and invested in the education of young performers. She travels around the world as a guest teacher, choreographer and judge and is the Owner of NYC based company bold dance project. |
Michael Lambert
Michael Lambert is from Buffalo, NY, where he received his BA in Dance and Visual Communication from the University at Buffalo. Upon graduation Michael pursued his dream of traveling and performing around the world.
His performance credits include: Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Seas, Walt Disney World, and Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruise lines. He was honored to be a swimmer/dancer for the research and development team of Franco Dragone’s Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas which led him to join the Azure Underwater Shows at the Silverton Casino in Las Vegas performing alongside Olympic gold medal winning synchronized swimmers. Michael was invited to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage Series and Jazz Dance World Congress. He performed in special events and projects for Busch Gardens, Fisher Price, Disney, and numerous Las Vegas engagements. Michael was also the model for the male dancer icons that decorate Disney’s Pop Century Resort in Orlando, FL.
Upon returning to Buffalo Michael transitioned from dance performer to dance educator. He was invited to join the faculty at Walh Performing Arts Studios and shortly after began teaching dance at Buffalo State College. Michael was also a part-time faculty member in the Theatre & Dance department at the State University of New York at Buffalo for 5 years. He is also a faculty member of Dance Masters of America’s (D.M.A) Student Honors Intensive Program (S.H.I.P.) and Teachers Training School (T.T.S). D.M.A is a national member driven organization promoting the education of dance teachers and their students. Michael continues to visit regional D.M.A. affiliated chapters to teach at conventions and adjudicate competitions. These opportunities allow Michael to teach dancers of all ages and abilities across the country.
From 2014-2016 Michael was honored to serve as the National Director of D.M.A’s Miss/Mr. Dance of America Scholarship Competition as well as the Chairman of D.M.A’s College Outreach Program and College Forum. He served on the board of directors for D.M.A’s affiliate Chapter #8 of Western New York and for 4 years as the director of Chapter #8’s Jr. Membership program which he started in 2014
His performance credits include: Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Seas, Walt Disney World, and Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruise lines. He was honored to be a swimmer/dancer for the research and development team of Franco Dragone’s Le Reve at Wynn Las Vegas which led him to join the Azure Underwater Shows at the Silverton Casino in Las Vegas performing alongside Olympic gold medal winning synchronized swimmers. Michael was invited to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage Series and Jazz Dance World Congress. He performed in special events and projects for Busch Gardens, Fisher Price, Disney, and numerous Las Vegas engagements. Michael was also the model for the male dancer icons that decorate Disney’s Pop Century Resort in Orlando, FL.
Upon returning to Buffalo Michael transitioned from dance performer to dance educator. He was invited to join the faculty at Walh Performing Arts Studios and shortly after began teaching dance at Buffalo State College. Michael was also a part-time faculty member in the Theatre & Dance department at the State University of New York at Buffalo for 5 years. He is also a faculty member of Dance Masters of America’s (D.M.A) Student Honors Intensive Program (S.H.I.P.) and Teachers Training School (T.T.S). D.M.A is a national member driven organization promoting the education of dance teachers and their students. Michael continues to visit regional D.M.A. affiliated chapters to teach at conventions and adjudicate competitions. These opportunities allow Michael to teach dancers of all ages and abilities across the country.
From 2014-2016 Michael was honored to serve as the National Director of D.M.A’s Miss/Mr. Dance of America Scholarship Competition as well as the Chairman of D.M.A’s College Outreach Program and College Forum. He served on the board of directors for D.M.A’s affiliate Chapter #8 of Western New York and for 4 years as the director of Chapter #8’s Jr. Membership program which he started in 2014
Matt Borchers, originally from Saint Louis, is grateful to be on the rewarding, never-ending journey of becoming a “New Yorker.” Aside from performing, he's found a new joy in teaching and adjudicating, as it's a homecoming to his competition roots.
With a background in rhythm tap, ballet and jazz technique, Matt strives to bring style, musicality and performance quality to his work and therefore, his students. He has taught in several studios across the tri-state area, as well as judged for Beyond the Stars, Headliners, Precision Arts, and Dance Masters of America. Credits: Nat’l Tour: Dirty Dancing (Neil u/s). 54 Below: Theory of Relativity. St. Louis MUNY: Holiday Inn. OKC Philharmonic: The Christmas Show. MTWichita: West Side Story (Baby John), Joseph...(Benjamin), 42nd Street (Soldier, Shadow Boy). Westchester Broadway Theatre: Happy Days (James Dean). Lyric OKC: Bye Bye Birdie (Harvey Johnson). Follow his adventures! www.matthewborchers.com @mattyluvs |
Kendra Jorstad
Kendra is the artistic director and founder of jorsTAP Chicago, the only all female concert tap dance company in Chicago. Originally from Newark, IL, Kendra graduated from Point Park University with a BA in Dance Performance and an emphasis in jazz dance. She moved to Chicago and began her career with the Joel Hall Dancers. During that time, she also performed with Rasa Dance Theatre and became an original member of Chicago Tap Theatre. Kendra was the rehearsal director and dancer for Chicago Tap Theatre for nine seasons. She choreographed many pieces for the company as well, receiving critical acclaim. Performance credits include Dance Chicago, Giordano Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Lollapalooza (with the Polyphonic Spree), Ravinia, Duets for my Valentine, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, and other Chicago Tap Theatre performances in Chicago, France, Cincinnati, Pennsylvania, and NYC.
Janell Burgess
Janell’s passion for the arts began at a very young age with her committed studies in the Ballet Pacifica School, DeFore Foundation of the Arts, and Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. She is the recipient of the Tremaine Scholarship, Giordano Merit Scholarship, and American Legion Award for her advocacy and commitment to art education in the Southern California school districts. She has been a professional choreographer and performing artist for over 20 years, teaching, choreographing, and performing worldwide.
As an educator, Janell’s teaching career, spanning over the last 25 years, has included serving on faculty at Debbie Reynolds Dance Center, ABT Gillespie School, StarQuest Dance International, Jimmie DeFore Foundation for the Arts, LA Choreographers & Dancers, Newport Mesa Unified School District, LA Unified School District, Educator for ArtsTeach thru Segerstrom Performing Arts Center, and guest speaker at Orange Coast College and UCLA. As a certified Zena Rommett Floor Barre Instructor, Certified Yoga Instructor. Certified FoodnSport Fitness Instructor, & Holistic Healthcare Practitioner, Janell brings a strong focus to body alignment, physical health, and mental wellness to the classes she teaches and dancers she educates.
As an educator, Janell’s teaching career, spanning over the last 25 years, has included serving on faculty at Debbie Reynolds Dance Center, ABT Gillespie School, StarQuest Dance International, Jimmie DeFore Foundation for the Arts, LA Choreographers & Dancers, Newport Mesa Unified School District, LA Unified School District, Educator for ArtsTeach thru Segerstrom Performing Arts Center, and guest speaker at Orange Coast College and UCLA. As a certified Zena Rommett Floor Barre Instructor, Certified Yoga Instructor. Certified FoodnSport Fitness Instructor, & Holistic Healthcare Practitioner, Janell brings a strong focus to body alignment, physical health, and mental wellness to the classes she teaches and dancers she educates.
Brandon Koepsell
Brandon Koepsell is a Detroit native and graduate of the Walnut Hill School in Natick, MA. After graduation in 2005, Brandon spent time performing with “Companie Coline" in Istre, France, Rapture Dance Project and Ron DeJesus Dance in Chicago. Brandon has been a guest performer and choreographer with several college programs including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, Oakland University, Alma College and Wayne State University. He has appeared with the Michigan Opera Theater in the productions of “ Aida" and "The Merry Widow". He was the choreographic assistant on the set of Disney’s “Oz, the Great and Powerful” and a credited dancer in “A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas”. In collaboration with Jaclyn Walsh, Brandon has presented work at the Boston Contemporary Dance Festival in 2015 and 2018 and at Green Box Arts Festival in Green Mountain Falls, CO in 2019 as part of Larry Keigwin’s “Dynamic Duets”. Brandon has served as a faculty member with the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, the Southern Association of Dance Masters and as a faculty member in the Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance at Wayne State University in Detroit. He is a current dancer with Take Root dance company and a company instructor for Eisenhower Dance Detroit. Brandon also has been teaching weekly Dance for Parkinson’s classes hosted at the Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit to individuals afflicted by Parkinson’s disease for the past 3 years.
Devin Baker
(Indianapolis, Indiana) trained with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater in Chicago and has performed for Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Seamless Dance Theater, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, along with various choreographers such as Ray Mercer, Milton Myers, Kevin Iega Jeff, and Nejla Yatkin.
This is his seventh season with DCDC. Mr. Baker has danced for the first company since 2013.
This is his seventh season with DCDC. Mr. Baker has danced for the first company since 2013.
Michelle Fortner
Michelle Fortner is a 3rd generation dancer/teacher/choreographer. She has trained extensively in all forms of dance, but holds a special passion for tap dancing. Michelle has toured the country with “TAP: The Show" choreographed by Mike Minery. She has choreographed world tours, award shows, music videos, TV specials, cruise ships, theme parks, and live stage production shows. She has worked with artists such as Taylor Swift, Big and Rich, Pam Tillis, and Brooks and Dunn. Industrial credits include Disney's Animal Kingdom, Harley Davidson, Ingles Supermarket, and FedEx to name a few. She serves as a faculty member and adjudicator for several dance conventions and competition circuits. Michelle enjoys teaching workshops and master classes across the country and internationally, as well as sharing her passion with her students back home in Nashville. She is currently on faculty at Millennium Dance Complex Nashville, and American Academy of Dance.
Sayiga Eugene Peabody
Sayiga Eugene Peabody
was raised in Stevensville, MI of Liberian descent. He began his dance training as an original member of Southwest Michigan’s premier high school dance program, Berrien County Dancers. He trained there with Nancy Myers Gitlin, a protégé of Frank Hatchett (BDC NYC), as well as Theresa Cozzi Graziano (Graham and Taylor modern techniques). He later moved to Chicago to study Jazz Dance with pioneer, Gus Giordano. Some professional credits include:
T.V.: Fosse/Verdon Series on FX. Theater: Disney’s The Lion King (Rafiki Tour), An American In Paris (1st National Tour Broadway), Maria De Buenos Aires (Chicago Opera Theater), Cats, Anything Goes, Sister Act, and Evita (Marriott Lincolnshire).
Peabody has taught on faculty at Broadway Dance Center NYC, Ballet Hispanico, and several performing arts high schools in the NY/ Chicago areas. He is also a guest master teacher for universities and conventions worldwide! He lives to inspire and share his passion for the arts with young aspiring artists.
was raised in Stevensville, MI of Liberian descent. He began his dance training as an original member of Southwest Michigan’s premier high school dance program, Berrien County Dancers. He trained there with Nancy Myers Gitlin, a protégé of Frank Hatchett (BDC NYC), as well as Theresa Cozzi Graziano (Graham and Taylor modern techniques). He later moved to Chicago to study Jazz Dance with pioneer, Gus Giordano. Some professional credits include:
T.V.: Fosse/Verdon Series on FX. Theater: Disney’s The Lion King (Rafiki Tour), An American In Paris (1st National Tour Broadway), Maria De Buenos Aires (Chicago Opera Theater), Cats, Anything Goes, Sister Act, and Evita (Marriott Lincolnshire).
Peabody has taught on faculty at Broadway Dance Center NYC, Ballet Hispanico, and several performing arts high schools in the NY/ Chicago areas. He is also a guest master teacher for universities and conventions worldwide! He lives to inspire and share his passion for the arts with young aspiring artists.
Matthew Farmer
Matthew Farmer is currently the Chair of the Dance Department at Hope College and the Dorothy Wiley DeLong Professor of Dance. Farmer has had great success as a director, educator, choreographer, performer, and author; co-authoring the book Introductory Modern Dance: A Teaching Manual. Farmer is the Co-Artistic Director of R.G.Dance Productions and the Co-Artistic Director of H2 Dance Co, and has been the Director of Dance at Anderson University, Associate Director and company member of LehrerDance, and company member of The Peter Sparling Dance Co. Matthew received his MFA from the University of Michigan in Dance Performance and Choreography, and his BA in Theatre and Dance from Hope College. As a soloist and guest performer, his performance credits include Stars of Ballet and Broadway, Dance Chicago, Chicago Dance Festival, Dance in the Desert Festival, Men Dance Michigan, Next Step Dance, Chicago Humanities Festival, The Rein Orange (Duesberg, Germany) The European Cultural Bid (Liverpool, UK), The Roof (Germany), The Summer Stage (Brugge, Belgium), and various other festivals. Farmer has also had the privilege of working with and/or performing works by Avi Kaiser, Sergio Antonino, Merce Cunningham, Laura Dean, Matthew Thornton, Doug Varone, Daniel Nagrin and many more.
Aside from Modern/Contemporary dance, Farmer specializes in Improvisation and Jazz technique; which he is hired by many universities, conventions, and private studios to teach. He has taught for Dancer’s Inc. and On Tour dance conventions, the Chicago National Association of Dance Master’s (CNADM), the Southern Association of Dance Masters (SADM), and continues to teach at conventions and master classes in US and abroad. Other teaching credits include: Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camps, Interlochen, Musiker Productions and Camps, Chelsea Dance Theatre, Anderson Young Ballet, Texas State University. Anderson University, Oakland University, Hope College, The University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, the Summer Stage (Brugge, Belgium), and various Masters Classes around the U.S.
His choreography has been produced by the Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, ICTF and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Dance in the Desert Festival, Mid-West RAD Festival, Fort Wayne Dance Collective, Western Kentucky University, Hillsdale College, Anderson University, Eastern Michigan University, Hope College, Anderson Young Ballet, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, Chelsea Youth Dance Theatre, Musiker Productions, Spezio Dance Dynamics, Men Dance Michigan, Hope College, Next Step Dance, dANCEpROjECT, Oakland University, and many more venues and companies. His works have been presented in the United States, Mexico, Germany, and Scotland, and he has been awarded best choreography by multiple dance conventions and competitions throughout the United States. Farmer has also contributed to articles in Dance Teacher Magazine and Dance Studio Life.
Molly Vass
Molly Vass began her dance training at the age of 3, performing and competing for many years before becoming a dance instructor and choreographer. She has appeared in numerous plays, musicals, show choirs, and dance teams throughout Northwest Indiana and has taught high school dance teams across the U.S. while on staff with Fred J. Miller Summer Clinics. She has trained at Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World as well as the Joffrey Ballet School’s jazz and contemporary summer intensive. Molly graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hope College in Holland, MI, receiving a BA in English and dance education. While at Hope, she performed with Striketime Dance Company as well as Insync Dance Theater, serving as choreographer and tap rehearsal director.
Upon graduation, Molly was the sole recipient of the Florence Cavanaugh Award for demonstrating excellence in dance technique, choreography, performance, and teaching. Since graduating she has choreographed musical theater productions for the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso and has earned multiple nominations and awards for choreography from Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation. A founding member of jorsTAP Chicago, she has had the opportunity to perform and choreograph as well as collaborate with artists and musicians in a variety of venues. She has also performed and taught tap classes through Audible Odyssey and Mirror Image Dance Academy. Most recently she has returned to Hope College to set choreography for Striketime Dance Company. She is currently pursuing all of her passions and staying busy by teaching high school English and dance as well as directing and choreographing musical theater productions
Upon graduation, Molly was the sole recipient of the Florence Cavanaugh Award for demonstrating excellence in dance technique, choreography, performance, and teaching. Since graduating she has choreographed musical theater productions for the Memorial Opera House in Valparaiso and has earned multiple nominations and awards for choreography from Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation. A founding member of jorsTAP Chicago, she has had the opportunity to perform and choreograph as well as collaborate with artists and musicians in a variety of venues. She has also performed and taught tap classes through Audible Odyssey and Mirror Image Dance Academy. Most recently she has returned to Hope College to set choreography for Striketime Dance Company. She is currently pursuing all of her passions and staying busy by teaching high school English and dance as well as directing and choreographing musical theater productions
Jay Fagan - Judge, Workshop Tap
Jay Fagan hails from Chicago and is amongst the most sought after Tap Masters in the industry today. Entering his third decade of international dance experience, his mastery of rhythm tap has been performed, taught, and choreographed worldwide. He’s also known as one of the most fun teachers and entertaining performers of today.
Technically, he has been trained by the very best tap dancers in the business including, Lane Alexander, Gregory Hines, Henry LaTang, Sam Weber and Savion Glover. Jay has shared the stage with Dianne Walker, Lane Alexander, Acia Gray, Barbara Phillips, Sarah Savelli, Ayodele Casel, Derick Grant and so many more. His polished performances have been seen by the President of the United States, Kupio Dance Festival in Finland, Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, Canada Windsor Casino Showroom, Las Vegas’ Flamingo, Luxor and Suncoast Hotels, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Third Coast Rhythm Project, Soul To Sole Tap Festival, Scotland B.A.T.D, Germany, Mexico and many more.
Mr. Fagan was an artist in residence for two years at Oklahoma City University at the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management under the direction of Jo Rowan. He has taught all over the Chicago land area for over 20 years and is part owner of Jo’s Footwork Studio and The Dance Workshop.
Beyond his master of tap, Jay has studied and still teaches all mediums of dance. His choreographic works have consistently and always placed within all top ranking national competitions. Jay has worked with Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Dance Olympus, Starquest, Chicago Dance Connection, Texas Association of Teachers and Dance, British Association of Teachers of Dancing (which he is a member), Sheer Talent and many many more.
A recipient of both the Presidential Scholar Award and the American Dance Award, Jay has danced with AM/FM Dance Company, Especially Tap Chicago, Sarah Savelli/Jay Fagan Project and Sibling Rivalry with his sister Connie Fagan.
All this could not be possible without his first dance teacher Jo Irbe (his second mother) who trained him from the start and showed him the love and wonderful life that dance really is. Thanks Jo!
Technically, he has been trained by the very best tap dancers in the business including, Lane Alexander, Gregory Hines, Henry LaTang, Sam Weber and Savion Glover. Jay has shared the stage with Dianne Walker, Lane Alexander, Acia Gray, Barbara Phillips, Sarah Savelli, Ayodele Casel, Derick Grant and so many more. His polished performances have been seen by the President of the United States, Kupio Dance Festival in Finland, Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, Canada Windsor Casino Showroom, Las Vegas’ Flamingo, Luxor and Suncoast Hotels, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Third Coast Rhythm Project, Soul To Sole Tap Festival, Scotland B.A.T.D, Germany, Mexico and many more.
Mr. Fagan was an artist in residence for two years at Oklahoma City University at the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management under the direction of Jo Rowan. He has taught all over the Chicago land area for over 20 years and is part owner of Jo’s Footwork Studio and The Dance Workshop.
Beyond his master of tap, Jay has studied and still teaches all mediums of dance. His choreographic works have consistently and always placed within all top ranking national competitions. Jay has worked with Dance Educators of America, Dance Masters of America, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Dance Olympus, Starquest, Chicago Dance Connection, Texas Association of Teachers and Dance, British Association of Teachers of Dancing (which he is a member), Sheer Talent and many many more.
A recipient of both the Presidential Scholar Award and the American Dance Award, Jay has danced with AM/FM Dance Company, Especially Tap Chicago, Sarah Savelli/Jay Fagan Project and Sibling Rivalry with his sister Connie Fagan.
All this could not be possible without his first dance teacher Jo Irbe (his second mother) who trained him from the start and showed him the love and wonderful life that dance really is. Thanks Jo!
Maddie Kurtz- Judge, Workshop Lyric/Modern
Maddie Kurtz is originally from Westport, CT, and received her early dance training at the D’valda and Sirico Dance and Music Centre under the direction of Angela D’valda Sirico, Steve Sirico, Jessica Stafford, and Jason Marquette. She holds a B.A. in Dance and Religious Studies from Colby College and an M.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from SUNY Brockport. Her most recent performance credits include works by contemporary dance leaders, including Julia Burrer, Heidi Henderson, Annie Kloppenberg, Paul Matteson, and Kendra Portier. Currently based in Rochester, NY, she continues to teach and choreograph at studios and universities throughout the Northeast, while also creating and producing contemporary dance works for the concert stage with her company, MKrep. In addition to teaching dance, Maddie is a certified yoga and Pilates instructor. With interests rooted in the overlaps between concert and commercial dance, she has presented research at conferences including the National Dance Education Organization, The Dance Studies Association, and the Popular Culture Association. Maddie is a sought-after adjudicator and currently judges for StarQuest International Performing Arts Competition, Inspire National Dance Competition, Impact Dance Adjudicators, where she also serves as an administrative assistant and blog editor. For more information, please visit www.madelinekurtz.com.
Connie Sweeny- Judge, Workshop Jazz
Connie Sweeney has been dancing for over 30 years. She has advanced level mastery in the art of tap, jazz, ballet, modern and hip hop. She is on staff at Jo's Footwork Studio in Western Springs, IL and at the Dance Workshop in Orland Park, IL. 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.
Jimmy Weeden- Workshop Hip Hop
Jimmy is an Indianapolis native now living and performing out of LA. Jimmy's travels have taken across the country and the globe.
Roberta Wong- Workshop Ballet
Roberta Wong began her training in northern California with Hanneke Lohse, Katie Heil, Maguerite Phares, and spent summers at San Francisco Ballet and Marin Civic Ballet schools.
She became an apprentice at the Boston Ballet under Bruce Marks, a company member of Indianapolis Ballet Theatre under George Verdak and Dace Dindonis, and was coached by William Glenn and Soili Arvola, among others.
She danced with the Indianapolis Dance Company under Gregory Hancock, completed a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Butler University, and joined Dance Kaleidoscope (DK) under direction of David Hochoy.
In eight years with DK, she originated roles under David's incredibly musical, passionate, and articulate choreography. She became company teacher and rehearsal director before leaving to teach full-time.
Diversity in training has included Dance For Parkinson’s, FACT/SF Summer Dance Lab, Henny Jurriens Stichtung, Hubbard Street Adaptive Dance teachers' workshop, Limon Europe teacher training workshop at ArtEz, and Stott Pilates teacher training at Pilates On Fifth in New York. She currently studies Ashtanga yoga with Carol Tharp Perrin.
She has enjoyed teaching at Anderson University, Butler University and Indiana University Bloomington, Dance for Parkinson’s, seniors in wheelchairs, Indiana Repertory Theatre Summer Conservatory, USA Diving national training center and Bloomington Boys and Girls Club.
Further teaching has included Dance West Virginia Fall Festival, Indiana Dance Festival, Lafayette Ballet, and Mid-States Regional Dance Festival.
She is honored to have won grants from the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the Indiana Arts Commission, and to have served as grant panelist for the Commission and at National Society of Arts and Letters, Bloomington chapter, under the esteemed Violette Verdy.
Her choreographic highlights have included 'Beauty in Dark Times' with the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, 'Candles and Carols' at Anderson University, works for Indy Convergence, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, and repertory presented through Indianapolis School of Ballet, Stage 1 Dance Academy, and Jordan Academy of Dance.
She currently teaches at Indiana University, Indianapolis School of Ballet and Stage 1 Dance Academy.
She is grateful for her teachers and mentors and enjoys the discoveries of her students.
Joey Hernandez
Joey Hernandez is the artistic director of Resilience Dance Company (Rockford, IL) a pre-professional mentorship program. He is a first generation college graduate receiving his B.A. in Dance and Health& Society from Beloit College where he has been privileged to return as a visiting instructor for the Dance Department and Upward Bound Program. Currently Joey can be found as the associate lecturer of Hip-Hop at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to his position with U-W Milwaukee he was on faculty at Millennium Dance Complex Chicago. In his career, he has studied under the direction of Chris Johnson, Robert Lewis, (Xtreme Dance Force, America’s Best Dance Crew), Cedric Gardner (So You Think You Can Dance, Step Up 3-D), and many others.On Scholarship he has studied with Inaside Chicago Dance, Urban Jamm Dance Convention and Dupree Dance Tour. Performance credits include: Carnival Los Angeles, The Millennium Experience, The Miss Illinois Pageant, Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, and many more. Joey has had the privilege to set pieces for: Chicago’s Choreographers Carnival, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, SueMo: A Dance Experience, Madison Contemporary Vision, and Beloit College’s Repertory Dance. Joey has contributed guest classes at the Athletic Garage (Pasadena, CA) and award winning choreography for many dance studios and high school dance teams across the United States. In addition, to being a featured instructor for Dance Masters of Wisconsin. Joey has the great fortune to be a judge for Applause Talent, Shake the Ground and StarQuest Dance. In his most recent venture Joey has started an open in studio workshop series titled “Dance-4-Change”, to promote advocacy, awareness, and raise donations in support of the Crohn’s Colitis Foundation of America. (CCFA.Org).
Joshua Manculich
Joshua Manculich – born in Windber, PA – started dance at the age of fourteen. He had the pleasure of performing with Thodos Dance Chicago, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Pursuit Productions, Jaxon Movement Arts, Jessica Miller Tomlinson, and The Pillow Project. Brought up in a small-town, he is thankful for the numerous inspiring mentors and creative artists that guided his pursuits as a dancer, choreographer, and person.
Josh’s choreographic work exists in conceptual frameworks, and his choreography has been toured internationally by DanceWorks Chicago, Eisenhower Dance, and The Ohio State University. In 2015, Josh was nominated for a Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship by The Big Muddy Dance Company for which he eventually created “Lyra” through support of the Princess Grace Foundation. Other choreographic adventures include: Collage Dance Collective, Dancing in the Parks, Eisenhower Dance, Grand Valley State University, Interlochen, Metdance, Piel Morena Contemporary Dance, Thodos Dance Chicago, and Western Michigan University.
Josh has also served on the modern and jazz faculty for Chicago National Association of Dance Masters and as ballet faculty for Southern Association of Dance Masters. His teaching focus is centered around contemporary dance technique, rooted in somatic practices, yet informed largely by improvisation and his love of music. Josh holds a B.A. in Dance and Psychology Minor from Point Park University and a M.F.A. in Dance from The Ohio State University. He also holds certifications in Pilates. Josh’s creative research begins in the contemporary dance classroom and spokes outward, investigating how emotional and psychological commonalities are rooted in physical experience.
He is looking forward to joining the dynamic Department of Dance at Sam Houston State University. This year, he is also excited to be commissioned by Santa Barbara Dance Theater, The Big Muddy Dance Company, and his former home, Point Park University.
Joanna Paul
Joanna Paul graduated with highest distinction from Indiana University with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a major in Contemporary Dance. While at IU, she performed works by Elizabeth Shea, Selene Carter, Gwendolyn Hamm, Dance Exchange and Martha Graham. She spent summers studying at the Laban Conservatory and American Dance Festival, and after graduation, The Limon Institute. Joanna has presented her choreography in the Indianapolis area with Motus Dance Theater and For the Glory of Movement. Since relocating to Chicago, she has worked as a dance artist with Perceptual Motion, INC, Matter Dance Company, and the roof-top site specific series, Wake Up! Waltz. Joanna currently performs with Project606 Dance. As an instructor she worked at Dance and Music Academy, Spotlight Youth Theater, Spotlight Youth Theater, Terre Haute Academy of Dance, Assistant Instructor Indiana University Pre-College Dance Program she gave ballet, pre-point, jazz, modern and children’s creative movement lessons and she has worked as a Dance/Movement Specialist at to develop curriculum and co-led classes for pilot Dynamic Music program.
Crystal Chapman
Crystal Chapman's award winning choreography has been seen all over the United States. Along with setting pieces for several dance companies, she has also choreographed Carousel, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Oklahoma! Crystal has performed in all aspects of theater. Her favorite roles include the lead can-can dancer in Gigi, Dream Laurey in Oklahoma!, and Phyllis in 42nd Street. She is fortunate to have danced on some of the great stages of the world, such as Lincoln Center with Tommy Tune, Ann Reinking, and Savion Glover and also at Radio City Music Hall with Bernadette Peters. She is pleased to have worked with Ben Vereen in his video Celebrating Life. Crystal is most proud to have had the opportunity to have worked with Chet Walker and Gwen Verdon in the pre-Broadway workshop of the hit show Fosse. Crystal is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center in NYC.
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