Welcome to Chicago Youth Ballet Festival Festival

Hosted by Dance Academy of Libertyville’s Conservatory Program, Chicago Youth Ballet Festival aims to bring together the Chicago-area’s ballet training institutions for community and celebration. We’re excited that we’ve been joined by 8 excellent ballet training institutions this year. We’re grateful for you joining us for our 3rd annual performance. Enjoy the show!

Emily Winkler, Director

Eilleen is the Executive Director for Culture Shock® Chicago, and a 19-year company member. She trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and is a former company member with Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet, where she performed in productions of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Dracula, and Coppélia. She had the honor of serving as variations assistant to prima ballerina Janie Parker, the first American dancer to win a gold medal in the USA IBC. 

  With Culture Shock, she has performed extensively throughout Chicago, and toured the US and Canada. She assisted with and performed a flash mob for Pillsbury with gospel duo “Mary Mary” and can be seen on film in the Get Hybrid mattress commercial. She has performed for Adidas-Lollapalooza, Coca Cola, Nordstrom and Nike’s Let’s Move campaign launch with First Lady Michelle Obama. In 2019, Culture Shock hosted the International Choreographers Showcase at the Harris Theater, breaking boundaries by presenting the first all hip hop dance programming at this iconic Chicago landmark. Her most recent commercial choreography includes flash mobs for Bacardi, The Thrillist, and Fresh Thyme Farmers Market. 

 Her students and choreography have won National Championships, numerous awards and recognition at regional and national competitions and the city's annual dance festival, Dance Chicago. 

In her spare time, Eilleen also stage manages several dance productions and enjoys being on the tech side. 

 Affectionately known as "Goebs," Mike is a Chicago-based Lighting Designer and Master Electrician. He has been involved in the Chicago dance scene for over 10 years, but finds himself working more in corporate and live events environments these days. During the Covid-19 shut down, Goebs switched gears and became a certified EMT, working on ambulances and in an ER during the pandemic. With the return of theater and live events, Goebs also found himself wishing to return to making shows happen. In his down time, you can find him playing rugby with the Chicago Westside Condors or enjoying a live band. 

USHERS: Teresa Hutchinson & Melissa Haak

CONCESSIONS: Erika Hormel & Tara Strickland 

CONCESSIONS DONORS: Joy Logsdon, the Whelan Family

BACKSTAGE CREW: Stephanie Cihlar, Katie McCann, & Felicity Nicholson

The performance will run approximately 1 hour without intermission

School of Ballet 5:8 | Conservatory, Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager | Orland Park/Chicago

Choreography: Julianna Rubio Slager

Music: Recomposed By Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons: Winter 1 - 2012

Dancers: Anna Hoffman, Lydia Harry, Hope Jensen, Katelyn Young, Anya Hess, Lorraine Robinson, Hannah Chapman, Gabby Wang, Gianna Chikerotis, Lillian Anderson

school.ballet58.org | @b58school 

Dance Center Evanston, Director Béa Rashid | Evanston

Choreography by Laura Brand

Music: Op. 269 Polka, Johann Strauss

Dancers: Malia Coulter, Ava Marcus, and Reana Esther Teodoro

Notes: Dance Center Evanston offers a progressive program in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Men's, Partnering, Adaptive Dance for ages 3-18, as well as adult programming. Having celebrated its 30th birthday, DCE is the home to the Evanston Dance Ensemble, ede2, and Studio5, a beautiful 128 seat theater presenting live music, dance and comedy. 

dancecenterevanston.com | @dancecenterevanston 

MJL Ballet, Director Megan Levine | Itasca

Choreography by Megan Levine

Music: This Version of You, Odesza

Dancers: Emiliia Myronova, Madelyn Matelske, Maggie Chen, Seulgi Kim, Sophia Tang, Yuri Haba

mjlballet.com | @mjlballet 

Ruth Page School of Dance, Director Victor Alexander | Chicago Gold Coast  

Choreography by Jean Coralli, Staged by Randy Newsom

Music: Allegretto & Adagio, Norbert Burgmueller

Dancers: Grace Butler, Sean-Hobbs Waters

www.ruthpage.org| @ruthpagecenter 

Dance Academy of Libertyville Conservatory Training Company | Libertyville

Director Emily Winkler

Choreography by Tom Mattingly

Music: Air Waltz, Oliver Davis

Dancers: Grace Haak, Grace Hormel, Kaitlyn Logsdon, Julianna Mattes, Alexandra Rojas

danceacademyoflibertyville.com |@dalibertyville 

Ruth Page Professional Dance Training Program | Chicago Gold Coast

Directors Victor Alexander & Maray Gutierrez

Choreography by Emmanuel Ramirez

Music: Danzón No. 2, Arturo Marquez

Dancers: Nicole Arboleda, Lucia Escobar, Augustine Hardison, Samantha LaSalle, Molly Rabon, Molly Teschner

www.ruthpage.org| @ruthpagecenter 

Chicago Repertory Ballet Youth Ensemble, Director Wade Schaaf | Glenview

Choreography by Wade Schaaf

Music: Concerto for Adagio and Strings, Tomaso Albinoni

Dancers: Jillia Aralis, Lucille Cokeley, Aria Geye, Neela Murphy, Caroline Van Tuinen

www.danceandmusicacadmyil.com | @crbyouthensemble 

Blanco Ballet Academy, Directors Miguel Blanco and April Daly | Deerfield

Choreography by Lucia Connolly

Music: Rise, Apocalyptica

Dancers: Sabrina Epstein, Katherine Glantsman, Josie Harris, Anna Stump

blancoballetacademy.com | @blancoballetacademy 

Dance Academy of Libertyville Conservatory Company, Director Emily Winkler

Choreography by Brian Enos

Music: Love is Beginning, Zac Colwell & Aquarium, Saint-Saëns

Dancers: Gianna Colosi, Michaela Hutchinson, Jennifer Strickland, Alexandra Whelan, Chloe Winkler

danceacademyoflibertyville.com | @dalibertyville 

Hyde Park School of Dance Studio Company, Director August Tye | Chicago Hyde Park  

Choreography by Allyson Ratliff & Teanna Zarro 

Music: Cello Concerto in A Minor III. Allegro, Antonio Vivaldi 

Dancers: Rachel Benner, Sara Chong, Nisse Danforth, Davis Dyson, Simone Earles, Kemi Ekundayo, Adele Ellis, Faith Hubbard, Elsie Joyce, Alana LaCroix-Birdthistle, Sabrina Lin, Sarah Lin, Katherine Notowidigdo, Caroline O'Connor, Delaney Peet, Eliza Poston, Kalista Ramos, Marianne Rougeau, Eliza Schwartz, Willoh Shields, Ava Tyler, Orlie Weitzman, Priya Yamada

www.hydeparkdance.org| @hydeparkschoolofdance