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Robin Hill - Teacher/Director
This will be Robin’s 14th season as Director/Owner/Teacher of the Dance Center of LaGrange. Robin has taught dance to all ages and levels for over 25 years. Her background includes 14 years at Oak Park-River Forest High School as the Choreographer/ Director of the Dance Program and Orchesis Dance Troupe. A sampling of Robin’s theatrical choreography includes: Singing in the Rain, The Wiz, Oklahoma, West Side Story, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, The Wizard of Oz and Cabaret. In 1995, she received the Dance Educator of the Year Award. Robin received her B.S. in Dance Education from Illinois State University, continued her dance studies at Harvard University, and received an M.A. Degree from Northeastern Illinois University. She continued her training in New York with Alvin Ailey Dance Center and Broadway Jazz Dance Center. Locally, Robin has studied at Gus Giordano Jazz and Stone and Cameron School of Ballet. Currently, Robin studies at the Lou Conte Dance Studios-Home of the Hubbard St. Dancers (One of Robin’s former students is now in the company). Robin choreographs and works with several local dance troupes… Lyons Township-Eurhythmics Dance Company, Oak Park and River Forest-Orchesis Dance Troupe, Wabonsee Valley- Orchesis Dance Troupe and most recently, Momenta. Robin has several alumni students dancing in professional dance companies all over the country. She is looking forward to working with your children for another great dance year. |
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Emma Draves- Teacher
Emma is a native of Marion, IN. She graduated from Denison University with degrees in Dance and Sociology/Anthropology. Working as an Administrative Assistant for Les Ballets Trockadero in New York City, Emma performed work by Dwight Rhoden/Desmond Richardson, Sean Curran, and Jana Hicks. Since moving to Chicago, Emma has worked with Hedwig Dance, Zephyr Dance Ensemble, Maureen Janson/SMARTDance, Rosenthal et al, Martha Mulligan, and Peter Bingham. Emma has performed as part of the cast for Lookingglass Theatre's Sita Ram and Victory Gardens' production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. And, worked with acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma on the duet Yanzi to honor the opening of Millenium Park. This year, she was awarded a Links Hall Residency for the 2010 season. As an active performer, Emma is entering her seventh year with Natya Dance Theatre. And her sixth year with Mordine & Company Dance Theatre. In addition, Emma will begin her first year as Mordine & Co's Associate Artistic Director. As a teacher, Emma has taught and choreographed for Central Ohio Youth Ballet, the Illinois High School Dance Festival, Oak Park-River Forest Orchesis, Lockport High School Orchesis, and Lyons Townships Varsity Poms team. Emma is thrilled to begin her eighth year teaching for the Dance Center of LaGrange. She will be teaching Pre-Ballet II, Ballet I/II, Ballet/Jazz II, Jazz/Hip-Hop, Pre-Pointe, Int/Adv Pointe I and various Adv. level classes. |
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Amanda Olson - Teacher/Guest Artist
Mandy has taken dance with Robin for 14 years. She was in Robin’s opening day advanced dance class! She was also a student of Robin's in the O.P.R.F.H.S Orchesis Dance Troupe. She graduated from Hope College with a Dance/Elementary Education major. Her professional experience includes choreographing and performing in Strike Time Dancers (a children's education company), Insync Dance Theater (a jazz and tap company), and Aerial Dance Theater (a modern dance company) that toured internationally in Querretero, Mexico. She taught a beginning jazz class at Hope College and has taught for the Dance Center of LaGrange for the past 10 years. She is very excited about her fifth year teaching K-8 dance at Franklin Fine Arts Center in Chicago Public Schools! Mandy is pleased to be guest teaching and choreographing for another season at the Dance Center of LaGrange.
Kim Pinkston- Teacher/Guest Artist
Kim has been teaching with the Dance Center of LaGrange for 12 years. She received a BS in dance from Western Michigan University before moving to Chicago to pursue her Masters in Dance/Movement Therapy. Kim was the stage manager for the Michigan Youth Arts Festival after graduating from Western. Five years ago she completed training in Laban movement analysis and is now a graduate level certified in movement analyst. She has several years of dance training and a Master Degree in Dance Therapy. Kim’s past experience includes teaching preschool ages through adult classes in Ballet, Jazz and Tap. She has danced and performed with the Dance Center of LaGrange, and has taught Pre-Ballet, Ballet/Tap, Ballet I/II, Dance I/II, Jazz/Tap and Advanced dance classes.
Karen Harmon-Teacher/Guest Artist
Karen began her dance training at the School of the Salt Creek Ballet and was a member of the Salt Creek Ballet Company for many years. Karen attended the University of Iowa where she had the honor of performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. for the National College Dance Festival. Following graduation with a B.A. in Communications and a minor in Dance, Karen had the pleasure of dancing professionally with Zephyr Dance Ensemble, The Joel Hall Dancers, The 58 Group, Thodos Dance and many independent artists. Karen has traveled nationally and internationally with these companies as well as performed in many festivals including Dance Chicago, Dance For Life and The Rising Stars Series at Ravina. Karen is one of the directors of the Gallery 37 Summer Dance Ensemble in Chicago. She is also a graduate of L.T.H.S. and a former Eurythmics Dancer. This will be Karen’s 13th year guest teaching and choreographing for the Dance Center of LaGrange. She is looking forward to another great year!
Peggy Herman - Teacher/Senior Assistant
Peggy is very happy to be starting her seventh year at the Dance Center of LaGrange. She loves working with the children and especially enjoys being able to watch the progression in their dance ability from one year to the next. Peggy has studied dance for over 20 years including the past six years at DCL and more than 10 years at the School of the Salt creek Ballet. She has enjoyed performing with the Dance Center of LaGrange, Ballet Legere and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Peggy will be teaching Pre-Ballet/Creative Dance, Ballet I/II and Dance I/II.
Bethany White - Teacher
Bethany began her dance training in Sao Paulo, Brazil, at the Companhia da Danca under the direction of Raquel Nakayama. She graduated in 2003 from Hope College with her B.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography. While in college, she choreographed for student dance concerts, was a featured choreographer for Aerial Dance Theater and performed with Strike Time Dance Company. She was also a member of the Costume Shop and was active in costume design for both theater and dance productions. Upon graduation, she worked with River City Ballet in Evansville, Indiana, teaching and choreographing Modern and Ballet. She works for GEAR UP in Chicago and teaches beginning dance in their annual Summer Academies. She has recently received her M.A. in Elementary Education from Roosevelt University. Bethany is thrilled to be teaching at the Dance Center of LaGrange and looks forward to a wonderful year!
Michelle Broecker- Teacher/Assistant
Michelle from Riverside Brookfield High School. During her High School years, Michelle instructed jazz, ballet and modern dance technique classes for a Dance Internship study and was the Orchesis and Repertory Dance Company President 2006-2007. In this position she lead company warm-ups and rehearsals, monitored extra and guest rehearsals and helped lead company technique classes. She also choreographed independently for RDC and Orchesis. Michelle has eight years of teaching/choreography experience. During which her choreography was showcased in the Chicago Dance Slam ’05, Best of the Best Chicago Dance Slam ’05, and the Illinois State High School Dance Festival ’06. Michelle also has experience teaching Ballet/Tap (3-5 yrs) and Pre-ballet/creative movement (2-4 yrs). We at the Dance Center of LaGrange are very excited to have Michelle for a third season. Michelle will be teaching Pre-ballet/Creative Movement, Ballet/Tap, Ballet/Jazz and Dance Techniques. As well as, assisting and teaching Intermediate and Advanced level classes.
Dana Knickelbein - Senior Assistant/Teacher
This will be Dana’s 11th year with the Dance Center of LaGrange and her 17th year dancing. She has taught and assisted all age groups from the Pre-Ballet/Creative Movement level to the Advanced level. During her high school years, Dana was part of the Pom Pons squad, where she was able to bring dance to the football field and basketball court. She was also part of the Eurythmic Dance Company, where she was able to bring all her skills from the Dance Center of LaGrange to the high school. Dana is a Senior at Illinois State University. There, she is in the Illinois State Dance Theater Dance Company, where she has had the opportunity to work closely with the faculty members and guest artists. She is majoring in Math Education and Dance Education. Dana is excited that she has the opportunity to come back and teach/assist throughout the year, and enjoys seeing the students continue to improve.
Brittany Knickelbein - Senior Assistant/Teacher
Brittany is a graduate of Lyons Township High School and will be joining her sister at Illinois State University, where she recieved a dance scholarship. Brittany began dancing at age three and has been with the Dance Center of LaGrange for 10 years. While at LT, she was co-captain of the varsity poms squad and a member of the Eurythmic Dance Company since her freshman year. During her senior year Brittany was chosen to participate in an independent study class at LTHS providing her the opportunity to teach fellow students the art of dance. Brittany has been assisting at the Dance Center of LaGrange for six years. She is excited to come back during college breaks to continue her work with us.
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