2008-2009 Choreographer Biographies

  

Frank Chaves, Artistic Director (Miami, FL) joined the company in 1993 as Associate Director, became Co-Artistic Director with Sherry Zunker in 1994, and in May 2001, Mr. Chaves assumed sole artistic directorship of River North Chicago. Since then, he has created over 20 works in the Company’s repertoire.  An international choreographer and teacher, Mr. Chaves has created numerous works for River North Chicago and other companies including Spectrum Dance Theatre, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Point Park College for the Performing Arts, Barat Repertory Dance Company, Kaleidoscope Dancers, Pori Dance Company (Finland), and Ballet Pacifica’s Choreographer’s Workshop. Mr. Chaves’ theatrical commissions include work for Steppenwolf Theatre and the Cleveland Playhouse.  As a performer, Mr. Chaves has danced with Ballet Concerto of Miami, New York’s Ballet Hispanico, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and six years with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In 2000, Mr. Chaves received a Ruth Page Dance Achievement Award for Mission, co-created with Sherry Zunker, Co-Artistic Director Emerita of River North Chicago, in honor of the Company’s 10th anniversary and; in 2008, he was awarded a Choo-San Goh award for choreography from the Choo-San Goh & H. Robert Magee Foundation for Tuscan Rift. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Dance for Western Michigan University. 

Robert Battle - originally from Miami, Florida, Robert Battle is a graduate of the New World School of the Arts where he studied under the direction of Ms. Gerri Houlihan. Mr. Battle holds a BFA in dance from the Juilliard School where he studied choreography with Bessie Schoenberg, Elizabeth Keen, and Doris Rudko. While at Juilliard he received the Princess Grace Dance Scholarship and the Martha Hill Prize.  As a member of the Parsons Dance Company (1994-2001), Mr. Battle began setting his work on the company in 1998.  After founding the Battleworks Dance Company in 2001, Mr. Battle's work has been presented in New York City at the Joyce Theater, St. Mark's Church, Evening Stars, The Juilliard Theater, Dancing in the Streets, Symphony Space, dancenOw/NYC, Joyce Soho, and Dance Theater Workshop.  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey II, Introdans, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Ruth Rosenberg Dance Ensemble, and PARADIGM have all commissioned Mr. Battle for both new works and re-stagings of Battleworks repertory. Recent commissions include Ballet Memphis, Ballet Idaho, Koresh Dance Company, another work for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the American Dance Festival.

Daniel Ezralow, a native of Los Angeles, has been called “and of the best young American dancer-choreographers now working on an international scale” (Richard Christiansen of the Chicago Tribune).  He has danced with Lar Lubovitch, Paul Taylor, and Pilobolus, and was among the founding dancer-choreographers of MOMIX and ISO Dance.  He has choreographed original works for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Batsheva Dance Company (Israel), Paris Opera Ballet, London Contemporary Dance Company, and Helsinki City Theater Dance Company, plus for Julie Taymor’s Broadway production, “The Green Bird.”  Mr. Ezralow is an Emmy Award winner for the PBS Special Episodes and is the 1996 recipient of both the Bob Fosse Dance Award and the American Choreography Awards Innovator’s Award.  He also received an Emmy nomination for the 1998 Academy Awards telecast on ABC.  He has created choreography for recording artists Andrea Bocelli, U2, David Bowie, Sting, Pat Metheny, Ricky Martin and many more. Among the advertising campaigns that have sought out Mr. Ezralow’s creative collaboration are The GAP, Issey Miyake, Ermenegildo Zegna, Hugo Boss, Xerox-Fuji, Ilford Film, and Raymond Weil Watches.

Ginger Farley has worked in the field of dance in Chicago as a dancer, dancemaker, teacher and community member since 1978. An early member of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (1978-1988) Farley also taught technique at the affiliate studio, the Lou Conte Dance Studio, for 20 years. From 1988 -2004 she served as part-time faculty at the Dance Center of Columbia College. From 1996- 2001 she directed The 58 Group with colleague Cameron Pfiffner. Farley now produces her work independently, is a part of the consortium that directs the Chicago Dancemakers Forum, and serves on the board of Links Hall.

Monique Haley (Springfield, VA) is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in performing arts specializing in jazz dance. Monique is currently in her seventh season with River North Chicago after training and performing with the Company as an apprentice. Her 22 years of training in competitive and professional dance experiences include Chris Collins Dance Studio (Alexandria, VA); Gary Pates Superstars Show Troupe (Waldorf, MD); workshops sponsored by Dance Theatre of Harlem and Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago; training with Philadanco, the Philadelphia Dance Company; and working as an instructor of competitive dance with the Universal Dance Association. Monique is a former member of the Bermuda Dance Company and the Eleone Dance Theatre of Philadelphia. In Chicago, she keeps busy teaching and performing in various commercial and industrial events.

Kevin Iega Jeff is an accomplished choreographer, director, teacher, and performer with over twenty years of artistic direction and management experience. In 1982, Iega founded the internationally acclaimed JUBILATION! Dance Company in New York. In 1994, he served as Artistic Director of Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theater and presently is Co-Founder/Artistic Director of Deeply Rooted Productions in Chicago. A native New Yorker, Iega discovered the joy of dance and developed the spiritual foundation and professional commitment to his art at Bernice Johnson's School of Dance under Bernice Johnson and his mentor, Lee Aca Thompson. He then enhanced his artistic skills at the High School of Performing Arts, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Darvash School of Ballet, and the Juilliard School. Iega's choreography is part of the repertoires of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Ensemble, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Williams/Henry Dance Theater (Kansas), Dallas Black Dance Theater, SUNY Purchase and Howard University's Dance Programs and DC Contemporary Dance Theater in Washington. His intricate and explosive work Walls premiered during the 1996 Summer Olympics Festival in Atlanta.

Harrison McEldowney is an awarded choreographer including the Choo San Goh Award, After Dark Award, Ruth Page Awards, and the inaugural Prince Prize. He has created dance pieces for special occasions such as the 97th Birthday Celebration of noted Dance Historian and critic Ann Barzel, the finale of the Dance Chicago Festival Opening, and an original work to open the 10th Anniversary of Dance for Life. He was also choreographer of the Collection Rouge for Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids.  Harrison has locally choreographed for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street 2, River North Chicago, the Cerqua/ Rivera Art Experience, and the Civic Ballet of Chicago. Other companies include Ballet Met, Louisville Ballet, San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet, Ballet of Texas, and he is Resident Choreographer for Configurations.  Harrison has choreographed for Carnegie Hall’s 125 Yr. Celebration of Musical Theater, for the ’92 Barcelona Olympics Closing Ceremonies, the 35th Anniversary Tour of American Bandstand, and the Australian Concert Tour of Dirty Dancing, as well as Salt n Pepa, Carol Channing, and Debbie Reynolds. In addition, he has also co-choreographed “Hot Mikado” on the London West End, choreographed the regional premiere of Miss Saigon, the tour of Chess, and the revival of Cole Porter’s The New Yorkers.  He is also the choreographer of the nationally renowned Baton Show Lounge for Female Impersonation and the Miss Continental Pageant.  Harrison also choreographs and directs shows for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line under the banner of the Entertainment and Communications Company he works for in Chicago- the Wilson Dow Group, where he is a Creative Director. They provided the theatrical productions for Royal Caribbean’s three Freedom class ships, the largest cruise ships in the world.

Ashley Roland is artistic director, along with husband Jamey Hampton, of Portland-based BodyVox. Ashley and Jamey have danced and soared through two decades together – formerly with Momix and later with ISO Dance, a world-touring troupe they co-founded. Their work has been seen frequently on stage and screen. Each has won an Emmy award, and they choreographed and performed together at the 1998 Academy Awards show. Musical artists such as David Bowie, Sting, U2, Pat Metheny, Soundgarden, and John Fogerty have asked Hampton and Roland to choreograph their music, and many dance companies have commissioned Hampton and Roland to create original works, including Ballet Pacifica, Trinity Irish Dance Company, the Lille (France) Opera, and the Geneva Opera Ballet.

Lauri Stallings is an Atlanta based contemporary dancemaker interested in the research of movement and its adherent ability to develop human potential.  Stallings began her performance career at Cleveland San Jose Ballet, Canada's Ballet British Columbia, and the final five seasons with renowned  Hubbard St. Dance Chicago.   In just four seasons as a full time Dancemaker, Stallings has compiled a substantial body of work. Commissioned works include American Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Julliard, Hubbard St. Dance Chicago, American Ballet theatre 2, and Atlanta  Ballet,  where she was Resident Choreographer from 2005-08.  Commissioned works also include River North Dance Chicago, Hong Kong International, American Repertory Ballet, SUNY/Purchase and Vail International.  Several of her works have reflected a creative engagement with other art forms, most notably "big," a multi-disciplinary  work in collaboration with Big Boi of the world hip hop duo OUtkast.  Stallings has choreographed for the Tony award winning Alliance Theatre, was on the original movement research team for Julie Taymor's highly acclaimed film, "Across the Universe," and in July created a site-specific work on the grounds of Renzo Piano's Woodruff Arts Centre campus.  Stallings has garnered several awards for her artistic processes, including an IAC Fellowship, Dance Magazine's 25 to Watch, Atlanta's Artist of the Year Review 2008, Music and Dance Alliance's Ruth Page Award, an NEA support grant, Chicagoan of the Year, and most recently one of four dancemakers to be nominated for the 2009 Benois de la Danse, the profession's highest honor.

Sherry Zunker, Co-Artistic Director Emerita (Manitowoc, WI), joined River North Chicago Dance Company as artistic director in 1990. She choreographed several works for River North Chicago and commissioned the work of numerous choreographers to compile the Company’s diverse, engaging repertoire. Ms. Zunker has set her works on The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and Aspen Ballet and has staged numbers for musical productions, commercials, music videos, live industrial shows, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line productions. Ms. Zunker danced with Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble, was a principal dancer with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and performed as a soloist in Bob Fosse’s “Dancin'” and under Tony Award-winning choreographer Ann Reinking in the Goodman Theater’s production of “Pal Joey.” In 2000, Ms. Zunker received a Ruth Page Dance Achievement Award for Mission, co-created with Frank Chaves in honor of River North Chicago’s 10th anniversary. Ms. Zunker has served on the faculty of Giordano Dance Center, Lou Conte Dance Studio, River North Dance Studio, the Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance, and currently teaches master classes throughout the United States. From 1994-2001, Ms. Zunker served with Frank Chaves as co-artistic director of River North Chicago; this partnership shaped River North Chicago and its repertoire into the entertaining, engaging company that it is today. Ms. Zunker continues her work with the company through teaching and choreographing.