|
KRISTEN BARON Artistic Director of Meraki Dance Company, has been dancing since the age of four. After training with Miss Evon at Studio B in Orland Park and Lou Conte ,choreographing many pieces for Orchesis at Lockport Township High School, and winning a dance team State Championship as an athlete she realized her passion for dance would last a lifetime. As a high school dancer she was awarded a Best Choreographer at Joel Hall where she also received a scholarship. Kristen started at University of Iowa as a dance major under the direction of Armando Duarte and the late David Berkey. She later obtained her BA in Dance at Northern IL University under the direction of Randall Newson. This is where her love of Horton Modern began! After graduating from NIU, she worked as a personal trainer, nutrition coach and metabolic specialist before obtaining her MA in Educational Leadership and MS in Physical Education. She has been a high school teacher for 9 years teaching dance, yoga, health and physical education. In 2018, she accomplished a lifelong goal of winning IHSA State as the coach of the York Dance team! She is currently the dance educator at Niles West High School. She has performed with Northern Dance Theatre, was a choreographer and dancer for the NIU showcase Art of Life and Dance Chicago. After dancing on three professional companies, she became inspired to blaze her own path in the dance industry. She is ready to provide technical dancers a place to train that makes them feel challenged, yet at home. |
|
|
NATALIE FISHER began dancing and performing at the age of three and has been on stage ever since. She attended the American Dance Center in Orland Park where she trained in ballet/pointe, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and musical theatre. Natalie graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in History with a minor in Secondary Education and Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. While at Illinois, she danced and choreographed for the Illini-N-Motion and performed in numerous Illini Union Board musicals, including Chicago, Singin’ in the Rain, and Cinderella. Natalie applies her love for both history and dance as a high school teacher, dance team coach, and choreographer. She is blessed to be able to have turned her passions into a career. Natalie enjoys teaching her dancers more than just technique and instills life skills -- team work, responsibility, and confidence. Along with dancing as a Meraki company member, Natalie continues to perform in local musical productions in the area, including Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can. She is also currently pursuing her Masters in History from Northern Illinois University. Natalie is excited to be back on Meraki for season four as a full cast member and to carry on her joy for dance.
|
LAURA SUE JENSEN was born and raised in Schaumburg, IL. From the age of 3, Laura has always had a passion for dance. She danced with the Schaumburg School of Dance and Rise Dance Center, under the direction of Noel Stanton, Jan Powers and Christine Costello. Growing up, she participated in multiple productions with Schaumburg's Dance Ensemble, including; The Nutcracker, Hansel and Gretel, and Beauty in the Beast. In June of 2017, she graduated from North Central College with her degree in Organizational Communications. While attending college, she dance on the 3X National qualifying Dance Team and Cardinal Dance Company. Since graduating, Laura works full time at 25N Coworking, teaches, and directs the Hoffman Stars Dance Company. She is more than thrilled to be dancing with Meraki for her first season!
AMY JESIONOWSKI was born and raised in La Grange, IL but relocated to Chicago for her teaching career. She has been dancing in studio and competitive settings for 25 years. In 2013, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in English and Dance Education from Illinois State University where she served as the vice president of Illinois State Dance Theatre for two years. There, she had the opportunity to dance under the instruction of several renowned choreographers, including Randy Duncan, Keith Elliott, Joanna Rosenthal, Julie Tice, and Kim Nofsinger. In 2010, she was cast as the Yellow Woman in a recreation of Martha Graham's masterpiece Diversion of Angels under the direction of Graham dancers Sandra Kaufman and Denise Vale. Her own choreography was chosen to perform in 2012 at Dance Chicago. She choreographed for Grayslake Central High School's annual musical and single-handedly organized and ran the Grayslake Central Orchesis Dance Company, which was comprised of 41 aspiring dancers from 2013-2016. Now, she directs the dance program at Senn Arts High School, where she teaches dance theory and dance technique in modern, jazz, ballet, contemporary, and cultural dance. Here, the directs the students as they put on three annual concerts of pieces choreographed by the students, by herself, and by guests artists from Joel Hall, the Joffrey Ballet, and Gus Giordano Jazz. She is thrilled to be performing again and is excited to have been given the opportunity to be a Meraki full cast dancer and choreographer for the fourth year in a row. Her work was performed at the previous three showcases at Madison Street Theatre and the SEA conference, and she recently choreographed for DePaul's dance company.
OLIVIA LINK is from Lisle, IL, and has danced all her life in various capacities. As a child she took park district classes and by high school was a member of both the dance team (Poms/Starlettes) and the dance club (Orchesis). In college, she was a 3-time member and choreographer on the EIU Dancers Company where she lead the company as president her junior year. Olivia graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2016 with a double major in Psychology and Foreign Languages (Spanish) and a minor in Latin American Studies. After graduating college, Olivia found her way back to dance and is a second year member of the company. She is currently earning her Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Benedictine University and works for Northwestern Medicine. Olivia feels blessed to be a part of this creative, passionate group and is thankful to be dancing again.
|
KIMMY MATAS is from Tinley Park, IL and has been dancing since the age of three, mostly with Creative Dance Center, IL. In high school, she was on the varsity dance team where she competed at state, as well as UDA Nationals in Florida each year. As a high school dancer, she received the Most Improved and Sportsmanship award from her dance team, and most proudly was awarded as All Conference her senior year. After high school, Kimmy attended North Central College and was a member of the Cardinal Dance Company where she performed and choreographed for their showcase each year. During her time in the company, she received the Best in Show Dancer and Best Choreographer award. As a junior, Kimmy was nominated to the dance company’s executive board, and as a senior led the company as President. Kimmy graduated Cum Laude from North Central in 2017, and currently works as an elementary school teacher in Woodridge. She has five years of experience as a coach, and has recently returned to Creative Dance Center as an instructor for the studio she grew up in. Kimmy is honored to be dancing with Meraki for her second season!
|
|
ROSE MULVEY is originally from Springfield, IL. She started dancing at the age of six in ballet, tap, jazz, and tumbling. Rose received her BFA (emphasis: Dance Performance) from Northern Illinois University. After graduation Rose danced with various Chicago based companies: Aerial Dance Chicago 2nd Company, Alliance Dance Company, and Matter Dance Company. During her time in Chicago she also trained extensively in aerial dance, specifically, Aerial Silks. In 2013, she became a founding member of Glenwood Dance Studio, a non-profit, all-adult studio located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. Rose works for HNTB Corporation as a consultant for IDOT in Schaumburg. Rose is also known as "Naomi's Mom," her favorite role to date. This is Rose's 2nd season dancing with Meraki Dance Company and feels honored to work and dance with such a great group of strong, beautiful women. She is a featured choreographer for the company.
|
MARY READ trained in gymnastics from age 3 until 16, then transitioned into studying dance. She has trained in ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, Latin and improv. She has participated in master classes with Hubbard Street, Paul Taylor and Diavolo at College of DuPage, and attended master classes with River North and Alvin Ailey at Northern Illinois University (NIU). Read has also received partial scholarships to dance in summer intensives with Thodos Dance Chicago in 2010 and 2011. Read earned her BFA in dance performance from NIU in 2013. Upon graduation, she received the Dean's Award for the College of Visual and Performing Arts; an award that reflects academic excellence, leadership and artistic versatility. That year she was voted "Best Modern Contemporary Dancer" by NIU students. She stayed at NIU to earn her Masters in Education with a focus in Physical Education in 2017. Read has taught technique and choreography for the Élan Dance Company at the Naperville Park District (2012-2015), and has taught dance and choreography at College of DuPage for 4 semesters (2017-2018). She is currently the School Director at Rockford Dance Company, and is in her fourth season of Meraki! |
|
DANAE SAVITSKI has been dancing since 3-years-old. She started her training at Studio One in Oregon, IL, then continued her dance education at Kathy Nelson School of Dance in Rockford, IL. In 2005, Savitski found her home at Steps to Grace Dance Academy (STG) in Caledonia, IL. She has trained in ballet, pointe, modern, lyrical, tap, jazz, improv, and musical theater. Her specialties are contemporary and hip hop. She has participated in master classes with Moriah Gorman at STG and attended master classes with Michelle Malone at Misty’s Dance Unlimited (MDU) in WI. In high school and college, she performed in 8 musicals and she choreographed for 2 musicals at The Studio Rockford. Savitski has dance teacher certification for “Leaders Training Leaders’” at MDU and has attended Dance Revolution (DR) in Chicago, IL for 6 years. She has been teaching at STG for 7 years. She has taught multiple styles of dance and choreographed for the Shine and Illuminate Companies at STG and served as head choreographer for Illuminate for the past 5 years. She performed at DR in 2015 and her choreography was featured at that convention in 2016 and 2017. From 2019-2020, she was STG’s Assistant Director/Outreach Coordinator, and currently holds the title of STG’s School Director/Office Manager. Savitski sees dance as an opportunity to share joy and passion with the community. She also uses dance as an outlet to worship God and hopes to continue dancing and learning in all seasons of life.
ELIZABETH STEPIEN is originally from Wilmington, IL. She received her early training from the Major School of Dance where she later started her teaching career. She also trained at the Von Heideke School of Ballet where she performed in the Chicago Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker. While studying theater, dance and Costume Design at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, Elizabeth danced with The Robert Ivey Ballet and performed with the Footlight Players. After returning to IL, Elizabeth finished her dance degree with a concentration in teaching at Columbia College Chicago. She studied with Liz Burrit, Peter Carpenter, Margi Cole, Johanna Rosenthal as well as attended workshops with Same Planet Different World, The Joe Goode Performance Group, and Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan to name a few. Since graduating in 2011, her main focus has been taking care of her family, as well as sharing her love of dance while teaching at Elite Dance academy, Southwest Synergy Dance, Dance FX, and Forte Arts Center. She is also an affiliate of the American Academy of ballet and teaches workshops in Progressive Ballet Technique. She is also a wife and mother of two, who are her biggest supporters as well as the center of her life. Elizabeth is excited to be with Meraki as a full company cast member for her third season. She is a featured choreographer for the company.
|
AMANDA SZABO is currently a first year member of Meraki. She is a recent graduate of North Central College in Naperville, receiving her bachelors degrees in athletic training and psychology. Currently she is practicing as an athletic trainer in a physicians practice while also working toward her doctorate of athletic training degree at Indiana State University. Amanda began her dance career at the age of 3. Growing up Amanda received her technical dance training at several studios in the Naperville area, with her true love being ballet. She also had the opportunity to dance competitively with Steps Dance Center, DanceWest Ballet’s Inside Out Dance Company, Bolingbrook Park District, Neuqua Valley High School Dance Team, and Extensions Dance Company as well as performed in productions of the Nutcracker with DanceWest Ballet and Moscow Ballet. Most recently Amanda was a member of North Central College’s dance team and Cardinal Dance Company. She is very excited to have the opportunity to continue dancing with Meraki!
|
|
NICOLE VARVAREZOS is from Mundelein, Illinois, and a second year member on Meraki. Nicole first began dancing at age 6, but really committed her freshman year of high school when she joined the Mundelein Dance Team and took her first ballet class. At Eastern Illinois University she was a member and choreographer for the EIU Dancers and continues to guest choreograph for their annual show. While working towards her Bachelor’s of Science in psychology and Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she also danced with Legend Dance Company, as a member, choreographer, and co-director. Most recently, she danced with Movement Revolution Dance Crew, a hip hop team based out of Chicago. Now, Nicole is a Licensed Social Worker and therapist in an adolescent behavioral health program. She loves to find ways to incorporate her passion for mental health into her love for dance, and is thankful to have found a company that appreciates the art of story telling. She is excited for the opportunity to learn from and dance with such amazing artists and is grateful to share a stage with them. She is a choreographer this season!
