Taylor originally from Willowbrook, Illinois, received her training at Salt Creek Ballet under the direction of Sergey Kosadayev and Zhanna Dubrovskaya. She enjoyed attending summer programs at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Lines Contemporary Ballet. In 2016, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dance Arts Administration from Butler University. While at Butler, Taylor had the privilege of dancing overseas in the 35th Anniversary of Dance Conservatory of Eva Jacz in Bratislava, Slovakia and Butler Ballet's Eastern European Abroad Tour. Her repertoire with Butler Ballet includes works by Marek Cholewa, Susan McGuire, Cynthia Pratt, Derek Reid, Stephan Laurent and Patrick Hinson.
After graduation, Taylor pursued her dance training with the Lou Conte Scholarship program under the direction of Claire Bataille with the summer and fall session. This is Taylor's first year with the Chicago Repertory Ballet and she cannot be more thrilled to start her professional career with them.
Meet Irina
Irina Gass hails from Deerfield, IL and began her early training in the Chicago area. She has attended summer intensives at institutions with Interlochen Arts Academy, Piel Morena Contemporary Dance, and River North Dance Chicago. In the summer of 2012, Irina had the wonderful opportunity to dance for the Giordano Dance Chicago scholarship program. She graduated from the University of Iowa, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts with concentrations in Performance and Choreography with Highest Honors. At UI Irina had the pleasure of performing in many faculty concerts, as well as touring as member of the UI Dancers in Company. Her great passion for choreography was showcased in multiple UI performances, culminating in her own full-length show "Kaleidoscopic Memoirs", in which she acted as the choreographer and producer. Upon graduation, Irina moved to Chicago where she performed works by Mary Tisa, Laura Thurston, and Kate Vandivier in "Still Inspired: A Series of Four", as well as "MacBeth" with Chicago Repertory Ballet. Irina is excited to perform with CRB for her second season!
Meet Nathan
Nathan Crewe-Kluge is from La Grange IL. He began dancing at the age of 5 at Dance Center of La Grange under Robin Hill. He went on to train in the Hubbard Street Youth Program, and the Joffery Academy of Dance. He received additional training from members of Giordano Dance Chicago. Nathan has attended numerous summer intensives, including the Giordano Summer Workshop, the Hubbard Street Summer Intensive, the River North Teen Intensive, and the Point Park International Summer Dance program. Nathan performed with Winifred Haun and Dancers as an Associate Dancer in 2016. He also performed in the River North Elite Choreographic Initiative, and in the Indianapolis, Kansas City, and Elgin Fringe Festivals. He has been training in the Lou Conte Scholarship Program under Claire Bataille since April 2016. In his spare time, he enjoys producing electronic music. Nathan is incredibly thankful for the support of his family and teachers, and looks forward to dancing with Chicago Repertory Ballet.
Meet Miriam-Rose
Miriam-Rose LeDuc is thrilled to be joining Chicago Repertory Ballet for her third season. As a dancer with the company, she has been featured in several of Wade Schaaf's original ballets, including Illuminations, The Four Seasons, and A Symphony for Hope, in addition to works by Ryan Nye and Shannon Alvis. Other notable performances include guest starring in Bossov Ballet Theatre's Giselle, and dancing in works by George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, Antony Tudor, Twyla Tharp, and other choreographers at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Ballet with an Outside Field in Performing Arts and Business. Ms. LeDuc also enjoys teaching, and is currently on faculty at the Joffrey Academy of Dance. She has given master classes and taught throughout the Midwest at the Jacobs School of Music, the Beverly Arts Center, and The Academy for the Arts in Spring Arbor, Michigan, among others. Additionally, Miriam-Rose loves to play the violin, compose music, and choreograph.
In the spring of 2017, Miriam-Rose made her choreographic debut in Chicago, premiering two pieces: Morning Song and Reflection. She was invited to perform Reflection at the College of DuPage 3rd Annual Choreography Showcase, in addition to An Evening of F.A.M.E. (Foundation of Artists Mentored in Entertainment), where she placed first in the dance category. She has since created Into Each Life for Project 606, and, most recently, Creekwood for the dancers of Chicago Repertory Ballet, with original music by Matty Mattsson.
Meet Megan
Megan Biolsi is from Evanston, IL, and trained at Dance Center Evanston under the direction of Béa Rashid where she studied ballet, modern, jazz, tap, Cecchetti, and hip hop. She danced with the Evanston Dance Ensemble for four years and performed in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Alice in Wonderland; The Music Moves; The Best of EDE, Volume One; The Big Night; An Evanston Symphony Christmas; On Site: Putting Dance on the Map; and Turning Point: The Young Choreographers Project, for which she also choreographed. Megan performed "Portraits," a solo modern piece, at the Studio5 grand opening and was a dancer in Mr. Olsen's Holiday Party variety show. She was an apprentice with Elements Contemporary Ballet and performed in Mike Gosney's "Pathos." She is the assistant director and a choreographer for ede2, a youth dance ensemble, and is also a dancer in "SOFT," an upcoming film by Da'Niro Elle Brown. Megan is excited to be in her first production with Chicago Repertory Ballet.
Meet Christine
Christine Humbach grew up in Wilmette, IL studying ballet at Chicago Ballet Arts and Center of Creative Dance. She graduated with a BFA in Dance from University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. During her studies she had the privilege of studying in Glasgow at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She danced as an apprentice at the Ballet Theatre of Maryland under the direction of Dianna Cuatto. Christine has since been on scholarship at Lou Conte Dance Studio. Some of her favorite roles have included Dark Angel in Balanchine's Serenade, a featured couple in Hubert Essakov's Monad, and Arabian in Dianna Cuatto's The Nutcracker. She looks forward to dancing and performing with Chicago Repertory Ballet.
Meet Abigail
Abigail Stachnik was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She began her dance training at the Young Dance Academy under the direction of Sandra Young, and she participated in the Technique Intensive and Competitive Dance programs until her graduation in 2012. Abigail became a faculty member at the Young Dance Academy in 2010 and has continued to teach and choreograph since then. After high school, Abigail attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she earned a BFA in Dance with Honors. While attending the university, she performed in works choreographed by Douglas Becker, Mark Caserta, Meredith Rainey, Roni Koresh, Robert Battle, Sidra Bell, Katie Swords, and many of her peers. Also, she has attended summer intensives with the Milwaukee Ballet, Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Abigail traveled to Lille, France and Brussels, Belgium with the university's "European Touring Ensemble" in 2016. The ensemble dancers spent the week enjoying master classes taught by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Pina Bausch company members. Most recently, Abigail moved to Chicago to train under Claire Bataille in the Scholarship Program at Lou Conte Dance Studio. Along with Chicago Repertory Ballet, Abigail performs with the Mezzo Company of Cocodaco Dance Project.
Meet Jordan Colovos
A native of Chicago, Jordan began his dance training at the age of nineteen, in Schaumburg, Illinois. He graduated from Western Michigan University, with a B.F.A. in Dance. During his time at WMU, he had received the Partners in Dance Scholarship and had the opportunity to perform Antony Tudor’s Continuo, staged by John Gardner and Amanda McKerrow, Lew Christensen’s Con Amore, staged by Leslie Young, and James Gregg. He has also been featured in the works of faculty members, Carolyn Pavlik and David Curwen in WMU’s Winter Gala Dance Concert. In addition to performing in the student-run Orchesis Dance Concert from 2013-2016, he has also had his works selected for the concert. Jordan has set his work on WMU’s touring ensemble, Western Dance Project. His works were also taken to the American College Dance Association (ACDA) regional conference. One of which were adjudicated then selected to perform in the 2016 ACDA East-Central Regional Gala, where his work was described as “masterful in partnering”. After graduation, Jordan moved back to Chicago and is excited to begin work as a company member with Chicago Repertory Ballet.
Meet Pablo
Pablo Sanchez began dancing at Dance Academy of Libertyville and subsequently trained at Boston Ballet School and Ballet Chicago. He graduated from Carmel Catholic High School and then Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and completed his training at the Academy of Dance, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Pablo's professional career launched at Atlanta Ballet and he has since appeared with Rochester City Ballet, Ballet Spartanburg, Neos Dance Theatre, Menlowe Ballet and Madison Ballet. He has had the pleasure to guest with North Shore School of Dance, Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, Dancenter North, Michigan Ballet Theatre, Ballet Indiana, Illinois Youth Dance Theatre, and Inwood Dance Theatre. Pablo's repertoire includes works by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Paul Christiano, Merce Cunningham, Gregory Dawson, Nacho Duato, Sean Hilton, Alexei Kremnev, James Kudelka, JeanChristophe Maillot, Terence Marling, Wayne McGregor, Ohad Naharin, Matthew Neenan, Helen Pickett, Nick Pupillo, Penny Saunders, Michael Smith, Ronn Stewart, Twyla Tharp, and Christopher Wheeldon. Pablo would like to thank his past and present teachers and his wonderful family for their love and support. He is enthused to be dancing in his home city with Chicago Repertory Ballet!
Meet Jordan
Before moving to Chicago, Jordan Mercer danced with the Alabama Ballet in Birmingham, where she danced in a variety of both contemporary and classical works. She taught in the RAD certified School of the Alabama Ballet and choreographed for the Young Choreographers Project. She also performed with Southern Dance Works and Red Mountain Musical Theatre Company. Jordan has trained with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Ballet Austin, Point Park University, and the Paul Taylor School. Since moving to Chicago, Jordan has performed with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, The Schaumburg Dance Ensemble, Deeply Rooted’s Emerging Choreographer’s Showcase, Thodos New Dances, and the Still Inspired Dance Project. Since joining CRB, Jordan has enjoyed dancing in works such as A Symphony for Hope, The Four Seasons, Bolero and as Lady Macbeth in Wade Schaaf's Macbeth. She also teaches at several dance studios in the Chicagoland area. Jordan is thrilled to be back for her fifth season with Chicago Repertory Ballet.