Lauren Herrmann began her professional career in her hometown of Portland, Oregon. She performed as a dancer in the Portland Opera’s La Traviata. Prior to moving back to Portland, she trained in Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Graduate Program and graduated magna cum laude from Point Park University. During her time with PBT, she performed in excerpts of classical ballets such as La Bayadere and Lew Christensen's Sinfonia, along with performing with the company in The Nutcracker. At Point Park, she had the opportunity to perform in modern and contemporary works by choreographers Darrell Grand-Moultrie, Dan Karasick, José Limón, and Dominic Walsh.
Meet Alex
Alex Goodreau began his dance training at the age of 15 in Detroit, MI, where he danced competitively and was recognized on the regional and national level for his solo work. In 2012, Alex was accepted into Grand Valley State University's Department of Music and Dance on scholarship. While earning Bachelor’s degrees in Dance and Public Relations, he had the opportunity to choreograph and work with various guest artists including Rebecca Lemme, Eddy O'Campo, Mike Esperanza, and Josh Manculich. Alex moved to Chicago in 2017 to pursue a professional performance career and has danced with Dance in the Parks, Alma Dance Theater, Ballet Illinois, and is currently in his third season with Chicago Repertory Ballet.
Meet Akilah
A Chicago native, Akilah Harris (she/they) received the majority of her dance training at the Joffrey Academy of Dance. They graduated from the Joffrey trainee program in 2016 and joined the scholarship program at Visceral Dance Center. Akilah joined CRB in 2017 for their 5th-year anniversary performance. After taking some time away from performing, Akilah attended the Alonzo King Lines Ballet Summer Intensive, where they danced works by Alonzo King and Maury Kerr. She worked with the Ruth Page Civic Ballet for their production of the Nutcracker, where she performed Ruth Page’s “Waltz of the Flowers” and snow scene. Akilah re-joined Chicago Repertory Ballet in 2020 and is excited to return for the 10 year anniversary season.
Meet Christopher
Christopher started his dance training under Homer Hans Bryant at the Chicago Multicultural Dance Center in the west loop. He later went on to do summer intensives at CMDC, The American Dance Center and The Broadway Theatre Project. He studied ballet at Butler University before eventually transferring to the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music to receive his BFA in Musical Theatre, Dance Emphasis in 2018. Dance credits include: Nutcracker Swing and Swan Lake (CCM), Awaited (Crossroads Church), The Nutcracker, La Fille Mal Gardee (Le Jeune Ballet). Theatre Credits: The Wizard of Oz, The Producers, Newsies and Beauty and the Beast (The Paramount) Carousel, Evita and Mary Poppins (Timberlake Playhouse) New Faces Sing Broadway: Now, How to Succeed… (Porchlight) Gypsy (The MUNY) Hairspray in Concert (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra)
@christopherjkelley
Meet Molly McGivern
"Molly McGivern began her training at Illinois Ballet Theater under the direction of Susan Snider. At 16 she moved away from Iowa for boarding school, attending The University of North Carolina School of the Arts under Dean Ethan Stiefel and Interlochen Arts Academy under Director Cameron Basden. She received her BFA in Dance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under Director Jiang Qi. Senior year she had the opportunity to move to Boston as a trainee for BoSoma Dance Company, and upon graduating, was promoted to company dancer by director Katherine Hooper. While in Boston, McGivern was also a company dancer for Tony Williams Dance Company (City Ballet Boston) under Tony Williams and SundanceX under David Sun. Additionally she taught for Tony Williams Dance Center and Boston College. Summer 2018 McGivern returned to the MidWest and moved to Chicago. Prior to dancing with CRB she performed with Joel Hall Dancers under Jacki Sinclair and Esoteric Dance Project under Brenna and Christopher Tucker.“
Meet Hannah Johnson
Hannah Johnson, a native to Indiana, began her formal dance training at The Academy of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre. While dancing under the direction of Gregory Hancock, she joined the pre-professional company of Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre, G2. Hannah was also a recipient of the Florence Marie Hancock Memorial Scholarship in both the Fall of 2015 and the Summer of 2016. During her summers through high school and college, Hannah had the privilege of dancing alongside the professional company as an intern. Hannah performed in GHDT’s The Nutcracker, SUPERHERO: The Story of a Man Called Jesus, the premiers of The Violin Under the Bed, La Casa Azul: The Musical, Exodus, and many other GHDT productions. In December of 2019, Hannah graduated with a B.A. in Dance Performance from Anderson University where she received Excellence in Overall Dance Performance from the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. While studying at Anderson University, she had the opportunity to work with notable choreographers such as Eddy Ocampo, Earl Mosley, Gregory Hancock, and Ian Poulis. Hannah continued her professional training through various summer intensives including Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, Elements Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Visceral Dance Chicago. Hannah is very excited for her first season with Chicago Repertory Ballet.
Our Top 6 Moments of 2019!
Reviging Macbeth
RADfest in Kalamazoo
Launching CRB Youth Performing Ensemble
Our growing Summer Intensive
An amazing gala at the Goodman Theatre
YOU!
None of this would be possible with the dedication of our Patrons, Volunteers, and staff. 92% of our operating budget comes from individual supporters like you!
Podcast interview with Artistic Director Wade Schaaf on 5, 6, 7, EIGHT!
Recently, Founding Artistic Director had the opportunity to appear as a guest on Aleksandra Eifmova’s podcast 5, 6, 7, EIGHT!
Enjoy this episode as Wade talks about life, dance, Pilates and CHICAGO REPERTORY BALLET!
“Yes, there is a big crossover between art and technology…but at the same time, concert dance is a phenomenal opportunity for people that are oversaturated with imagery all the time and have a very fast paced life. Going to sit down in a theater and encountering something in real time that human beings have created is a phenomenal reset button for people.”
Hear this and more now!
CRB Summer Intensive: Student Monica Nelson
We talked with CRB Summer Intensive attendee Monica Nelson about her experience at the intensive. Here’s what she had to say!
CRB: What was the intensive like, for you?
Monica: The intensive was short but was very productive. The day consisted of multiple technique classes as well as learning repertoire from the company members. The intensive was very well organized and the teachers gave a lot of individual attention to the dancers to help better them as well.
CRB: How was the intensive helpful for you as a dancer?
Monica: Since there were multiple teachers/company members we learned from, it was very interesting and helpful to hear multiple opinions on certain dance techniques. Each teacher had a unique way of understanding and interpreting movement which helped me grow as a dancer to keep an open mind and encourage curiosity.
CRB: What insights you gained from attending?
Monica: I learned that in order to create movement worth watching, you have to exert energy from your inside and let your passion and personality paint the picture you want to create with your body.
CRB: What were your favorite parts of the intensive?
Monica: Probably my favorite part of the intensive was the fact that I had the privilege to work with the company members of CRB as well as the director. It was inspiring to learn from them and to see them dance along side of us in class.
More information and registration here!
CRB Summer Intensive: Student Payal Parida
We asked Payal if she would share with us some of her thoughts about her experience at the 2019 CRB Summer intensive. Read about Payal’s experience below!
“The Chicago Repertory Ballet Intensive was definitely a highlight of my summer in 2018. I am so glad I decided to audition and attend because it was an intensive that taught me valuable information, helped me grow as a dancer and person and also gave me a memorable experience that I will cherish forever. The intensive was a total of five days and consisted of ballet technique, variations, pointe, modern, improvisation and getting to learn Chicago Repertory Ballet’s Company pieces. We danced for about six hours a day and on the last day we got to show our friends and family all the pieces we had learned at the Intensive Showcase, which was one of my favorite parts of the intensive. The summer I took the intensive was also the summer I was entering my senior year of high school and I was starting to prepare myself for the college audition and application process. I knew that taking this intensive would help me improve my technique and it did! I started to train in ballet, modern, jazz and more at the age of thirteen and I knew I was technically behind. By taking this intensive I was able to learn so much about my strengths and weaknesses as a dancer and was able to work on them with the help of the amazing faculty and company members of Chicago Repertory Ballet. I could see a significant difference in my dancing, such as gaining a lot more confidence and a stronger technique, which helped me not only with my college auditions, but also my competition/performance pieces for my studio. Within the five days I spent in the city of Chicago training for six hours a day I got to dance my heart out, make an amazing group of friends and learn from professional artists. It gave me an insight of what it’s like to be in the professional dance world and gave me the time to work on my weaknesses as a dancer. I am now a freshman dance major at the University of Michigan and I believe that this intensive played a vital role in getting me to where I am today. They are a welcoming, vibrant and a talented group of dancers, artists, teachers and people that continue to inspire me and many others everyday. I am so grateful for them and the experience they gave me.”
More information and registration for our 2020 intensive here!