ARTIST PROFILES
Simone Baechle
Simone Baechle hails from Randolph, NJ and began intensively studying dance as a student in New Jersey School of Ballet’s pre-professional division. Simone performed in works by MOMIX, Jeff Hancock, Laura Wade, and Molly Shannahan while studying at Northwestern University. In 2007, Simone graduated cum laude with majors in Dance and English. Her interdisciplinary thesis Playful Subversion: The Body as a Site for the Generation of Meaning in Morris and Donne earned her departmental honors in English as well as the department’s prize for Best Undergraduate Research Essay. After graduating, Simone spent two years as a company member of Saint Louis-based MADCO (Modern American Dance Company), where she performed works by Robert Battle, Michael Foley, and John Beasant III. Since moving to Chicago in August 2009, she has performed with Winifred Haun & Dancers, VADCO, Thodos New Dances, Chicago Dance Crash, and various independent choreographers. Simone is also on faculty at several area dance studios including Irinia Makkai School of Dance and The Academy of Dance (the official School of Joffrey Ballet).
Annie Beserra
Annie Beserra is the Artistic Director of Striding Lion Performance Group, a company of dance theater artists and collaborators making new work through the collision of live performance and new media, a stalwart commitment to original music, and the inventive use of both traditional and non-traditional performance spaces. Beserra also oversees SLPG’s extensive multidisciplinary arts education program, training students and teachers in SLPG’s collaborative approach to interdisciplinary performance development. Beserra’s choreography has been presented in Chicago at Links Hall, The Vittum Theater, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, The Atheneaum, and Theatre Building Chicago. Her work for theater includes: Speed the Plow, Madforest, Abingdon Square, The Guys, and Gogol Stories for Piven Theater Workshop; Some Explicit Polaroids for Roadworks Productions/Steppenwolf Garage; Bluebeard and Other Less Grisly Tales of Love for Toad Productions; The Perjured City for Street Signs; The Giver for Apple Tree Theater and Metropolis; Search for Odysseus for Adventure Stage Chicago; and Ill Met by Moonlight, Billy the Mountain and Other American Card Tricks, and Birdsongs (Remount 2010) for Striding Lion. In addition to performing in her own work and with Striding Lion, Beserra has danced for XSIGHT! Performance Group, Lucky Plush Productions, Peter Carpenter, Asimina Chremos, and Billy Siegenfeld’s Jump Rhythm Jazz. She has been a guest artist at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, The University of Alaska at Anchorage, Northwestern University, Southern Methodist University, Western Michigan University, UC Irvine, Louisiana Dance Theater, and Alaska Dance Theatre. She has an MFA in Dance from The Ohio State University and a BA in Dance and Comparative Literary Studies from Northwestern University. Beserra teaches in the Dance Program at Northwestern University.
Cresence Birder
Cresence Marie Birder, originally from San Diego, California, is currently a senior at Northwestern University. She will earn her bachelor’s degree in June with majors in dance and English/writing, as well as a minor in Chinese language and culture. She has studied dance at UCLA and the Idyllwild School of the Arts, and was thrilled to perform with Striding Lion Performance Group in 2010 both in Chicago and in Colorado at the Boulder International Fringe Festival. While at Northwestern, Cresence has been an active choreographer and dancer, performing works by Jeff Hancock, Molly Shanahan, Billy Siegenfeld, Nora Chipaumire, and Viola Elkins, among others. In 2009, she attended the Harvard Beijing Academy, a Mandarin language intensive, which ironically reminded her of her love for dance and the creative arts. She is fascinated with the creative process and loves generating interdisciplinary material, often works that combine her love for dance, writing, the visual arts, and the crazy that is dying to get out in all of us. She will be joining the Teach for America corps next year in Miami, where she will teach high school English.
Peter Carpenter
Peter Carpenter is an independent choreographer whose physical theater
performances have often intersected with political activism and critical theory. Often acclaimed for his choreographic staging of queer theatricality, Carpenter has dedicated the majority of his career to excavating relationships between dance and social justice. His independent work has resulted in numerous repertory pieces and six evening-length works including Bareback Into the Sunset (2003), The Sky Hangs Down Too Close (2008)—which was named one of the top dance events of the decade by Time Out Chicago—and My Fellow Americans (2009). Carpenter's work as an independent artist has been presented by numerous galleries, museums and theaters including the 29th Street Repertory Theater in New York, the Steppenwolf Theater, Chicago's Links Hall, and the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, N.C. Carpenter has also received funding to create new work from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois
Arts Council and the Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Grant, and has received a Joseph Jefferson Citation for Outstanding Theater Choreography. Carpenter's independent work has been supplemented by affiliations with Chicago's XSIGHT! Performance Group where he served as an artistic associate (1993-2001) and the StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance in Chicago and Chapel Hill, N.C. where he served as the resident choreographer (1992-2001). Commissions include: Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, Lucky Plush Productions, Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, Robin Lakes/Rough Dance, and numerous High School and University Dance Programs nationally. Carpenter is currently an Associate Professor at the Dance Center of Columbia College in Chicago.
performances have often intersected with political activism and critical theory. Often acclaimed for his choreographic staging of queer theatricality, Carpenter has dedicated the majority of his career to excavating relationships between dance and social justice. His independent work has resulted in numerous repertory pieces and six evening-length works including Bareback Into the Sunset (2003), The Sky Hangs Down Too Close (2008)—which was named one of the top dance events of the decade by Time Out Chicago—and My Fellow Americans (2009). Carpenter's work as an independent artist has been presented by numerous galleries, museums and theaters including the 29th Street Repertory Theater in New York, the Steppenwolf Theater, Chicago's Links Hall, and the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, N.C. Carpenter has also received funding to create new work from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois
Arts Council and the Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Grant, and has received a Joseph Jefferson Citation for Outstanding Theater Choreography. Carpenter's independent work has been supplemented by affiliations with Chicago's XSIGHT! Performance Group where he served as an artistic associate (1993-2001) and the StreetSigns Center for Literature and Performance in Chicago and Chapel Hill, N.C. where he served as the resident choreographer (1992-2001). Commissions include: Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, Lucky Plush Productions, Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, Robin Lakes/Rough Dance, and numerous High School and University Dance Programs nationally. Carpenter is currently an Associate Professor at the Dance Center of Columbia College in Chicago.
Christina Chen
Christina Audrey Chen (Holmdel, NJ) began her dance training at Center Stage Dance and Theatre School and went on to receive her Bachelor's Degree in Dance and Psychology from Northwestern University. During her time at NU, Christina studied under Brill Barrett, Jeff Hancock, Molly Shanahan, Billy Siegenfeld, and Laura Wade. After graduating in 2007, Christina had the privilege of working with, and teaching for, AMEBA Acrobatic and Aerial Dance Company and Corpo Dance Company. Christina is currently in her second season with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre and is honored to perform works by Artistic Director Wilfredo Rivera, Eddy Ocampo, Dionna Pridgeon, and Michelle Manzanales. One of Christina's most rewarding experiences to date is having served as the choreographer for Mac 'n Cheese Productions' "Dance Experiment," a project involving 17 strangers with no dance experience, sharing a thirst for life. Twelve weeks later, they put on a full-evening concert, featuring video footage and the performance of four pieces. Christina is currently heading up "Dance Experiment 2." Christina is also a certified and licensed massage therapist, and encourages you to be good to yourself.
Juli Farley
Juli Farley is
currently a senior Dance and Anthropology double major at Northwestern
University. Originally from Downers Grove, IL, Juli grew up dancing with
the
Salt Creek Ballet Company in a multitude of full length ballets. At
Northwestern, Juli was fortunate enough to perform in works by Jeff
Hancock,
Molly Shanahan, Laura Wade, Annie Bessera, and Billy Siegenfeld, among
others. She also has been developing her skills as a choreographer and
has created six original pieces to date on fellow students. Upon
graduation, Juli plans/hopes/dreams to begin dancing professionally here
in Chicago.
Michaela Federspiel
Michaela Federspiel is a recent graduate of Northwestern University where she received Bachelor's degrees in Dance and Human Communication Sciences. During her four years at NU, she had the chance to work with, and perform pieces by Annie Beserra, Jeff Hancock, Joseph Mills, Molly Shannahan, Billy Siegenfeld, Joel Valentin-Martiniez, as well as several other guest artists. She was also awarded an Undergraduate Research Grant, and with Susan Manning as her mentor, she traveled to Spain to further pursue her research. Post graduation, she has performed with MaryAnn McGovern and Dancers, and is currently dancing with Striding Lion Performance Group, where she also teaches children through their outreach programs.
Genevieve Garcia
A native Chicagoan, Genevieve Garcia has had her choreography presented since 2005 at venues across Illinois, Georgia, Texas, and California. She has choreographed for artists such as Striding Lion Performance Group, Cindy Brandle Dance Company, and the Northwestern Dance Program. Her work is currently performed in the repertory of Boomshaka, which has toured nationally and in Canada. Ms. Garcia has enjoyed teaching classes and workshops at Joffrey Academy, Northwestern University, Dance Center Evanston, Latin Street Dancing, Dance Arts Center of Wisconsin, and Dance and Music Academy in Glenview. As a performer, Ms. Garcia danced with several companies and choreographers, including Striding Lion Performance Group, Cindy Brandle Dance Company, Jeff Hancock, Nora Chipaumire, Joel Valentin-Martinez, Viola Elkins, John Malashock, Jean Isaacs, and performed in The Snow Queen at Victory Garden. She has trained all over the Chicago-land area, San Diego, and Mexico and holds a BA from Northwestern University. She is thrilled to be working with such beautiful movers and minds and is ever grateful for the space to play.
Adam Gauzza
Adam Gauzza graduated cum laude from Northwestern University in
2009 with a B.A. in Dance and Gender Studies. At NU, Adam studied with
the amazing faculty and performed in works by Jeff Hancock, Jan
Bartoszek, Joel Valentin-Martinez, Glen Leslie, and Viola Elkins. As
part of the New Movement Project, Adam co-produced the 2008 Fall Dance
Concert and co-coordinated the group's first national residency
initiative. In 2008, the School of Communication honored Adam as the
first dance major to win the Mercy Simerall Parkhill Award. Outside of
Northwestern, Adam's training has included intensives with the Merce
Cunningham Dance Company, the Mark Morris Dance Group, the Joe Goode
Performance Group, Summer Stages Dance, and the Ruth Page Foundation.
Adam has been a member of Same Planet Different World Dance Theater
since 2008 performing all over Chicago and the U.S. Additionally Adam
has performed with Striding Lion Performance Group, Hedwig Dances, and
Renata Sheppard, and appeared in the feature film Were the World Mine (2007).
Jeff Hancock
Jeff Hancock was a founding member and principal dancer for River North Chicago Dance Co. from 1991-2001. He also danced for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Dance Kaleidoscope, Jan Erkert and Dancers, Joe Goode Performance Group and others. He has appeared in 5 productions with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, most recently working with Wayne McGregor of Random Dance, and Sir Peter Hall. Jeff is currently on faculty at Northwestern University, and Lou Conte Dance Studio. He teaches Master classes nationally and internationally, at Ballet Nurnberg, University of Arizona Tucson, Ohio Northern University and others. He has developed outreach programs with SPDW and River North Chicago Dance Co. His choreography has been set on River North Chicago Dance Co., Hubbard Street II, SPDW, Columbia College, Ohio Northern University, Chicago's Next Dance Festival, the Edinburgh Festival and numerous regional companies. He was nominated for Ruth page Awards for his dancing and his choreography and is a grant recipient from the Illinois Arts Council. Jeff has designed and constructed costumes for numerous companies and artists, River North Dance Chicago, Columbia College, Ginger Farley, Same Planet Different World, Shirley Mordine's YDC and many others.
Annie Kahane
Annie Kahane has performed with Piel Morena Contemporary Dance and Striding Lion. She graduated from Northwestern University in June 2010 with majors in dance and creative writing. Annie is delighted to join forces with such talented mentors, collaborators and friends.
Julia Rhoads
Julia Rhoads is a choreographer who has been described as "Chicago's resident surrealist" in the Chicago Sun Times,
and "adept at both provocative and humorous material" in PAJ: A Journal
of Performance and Art. Since founding Lucky Plush Productions in
1999, she has created over 30 original works with the company including
performance installations, 2 dance films and 8 evening-length
interdisciplinary productions. As an independent artist, Julia's work
has been presented in venues and universities across the U.S including
commissions for Alaska Dance Theater, Mordine and Company Dance Theater,
and River North Chicago Dance Company, among others. She has also
directed and choreographed for theater, performance and film companies
including Redmoon Theater, Walkabout Theater, Hyperdelic, and M5. Julia
is formerly a company member of the San Francisco Ballet, a
collaborating ensemble member of XSIGHT! Performance Group, and she has
been a guest artist with Beppie Blankert Danceworks, the Itinerant
Theater Guild, and Baubo Performance Project. She has received a Cliff
Dwellers Foundation Award for Choreography, two Illinois Arts Council
Fellowships for Choreography, a Jacob K. Javits Fellowship, a Chicago
Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Award, a fellowship from the Maggie Allesee
National Center for Choreography, and she was recently named one of
Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" in 2010" and included in New City's 2010
feature "The Players: The 50 people who really perform for Chicago."
Julia earned a BA in History from Northwestern University and an MFA
from the School of the Art Institute Chicago, and currently teaches in
the theater department at Columbia College Chicago and the dance
department at Northwestern University.
Michala Stock
Michala Stock graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northwestern University with majors in Anthropology and Dance. While studying, she was fortunate enough to learn from and perform works by Jeff Hancock, Molly Shanahan and Laura Wade, among others, as well as performing at ACDFA and the Chicago A.W.A.R.D. Show. She was also a producer and leader of New Movement Project, an on-campus group that seeks to enrich and enhance the experience of dancers. As a fresh face in NYC, she is currently performing with Eyes of a Blue Dog Dance Theater, and has very much enjoyed returning to be a part of NU GROUP!
Abby Suskin
Abby
Suskin graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwestern
University with majors in Dance and in Human Development. At NU, she
performed in works by many faculty members and guest artists. She has
studied at the Bates
Dance Festival in Maine and at The Ailey School in New York City. In
2008, she was awarded Northwestern University’s Lynne Ann Blom award for
Outstanding Dance Major. She has performed with Striding Lion
Performance Group, and currently trains and dances with Same
Planet Different World and the
Midnight Circus.
Monica Thomas
Monica Thomas is a recent graduate of Northwestern University. She received a degree in dance with a certificate in music theatre (with an art history minor.) She is currently pursuing theatre and dance performance in Chicago.
Meghann Wilkinson
Meghann Wilkinson has been a performer with Chicago-based
dance theater company Lucky Plush Productions since 2004. An Illinois native
and a graduate of Northwestern University, she has also worked extensively in
Chicago with Mordine and Company Dance Theater. Meghann is currently on faculty
at Columbia College Chicago and Visceral Dance Center and has taught at Northwestern
University and Dance Center Evanston. She has been a guest teacher and
choreographer for the Cecchetti Council of America, the Evanston Dance Ensemble,
and Northwestern University’s Danceworks.
Outside of the studio, Meghann has worked as an organizer for the Chicago
Seminar on Dance and Performance and the Society of Dance History
Scholars. This summer, she will be a
guest faculty member at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival.
