Dancer Spotlight: Akilah Harris

Q&A with Akilah!

CRB: What should someone expect if they've never been to a CRB show?

Akilah: They should prepare to feel all of the feelings! You might laugh, you might cry; you will definitely have a good time!

CRB: What are you most excited to perform?

Akilah: I'm really excited to perform "A Symphony for Hope" because it has a strong focus on team work and community. It feels like this piece in particular really brings us together as a company. There's a certain sense of support I feel in this piece and I'm excited to share that with more people.

Dancer Spotlight: Pablo Sanchez

Q&A with Pablo!

Pablo Sanchez

CRB: What has been the most rewarding experience this season?

Pablo: Joining Chicago Repertory Ballet has been a trek into a new dance-scape for me. Wade's artistic vision is approachable and clear yet vast and curious. As a dancer, the most exciting experience is the creation of a new work, and being a part of that process is a reward in itself.

CRB: What inspires you?

Pablo: My family inspires me to dance! They have always stood behind me in my decision and pursuit to become a dancer: my mother and father, brothers and sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces... I dance because of you! Thank you!

Meet Emily

Emily Price is from the city of Chicago and has been dancing since she was three years old. She is currently dancing with the Joffrey Ballet. This year she had the opportunity to work with Ashley Wheater, Christopher Wheeldon, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Thodos Dance Chicago studying the dance technique developed by Bella Lewitzky. Emily has performed in various Joffrey Performances including Copellia, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and the Joffrey Gala performance. 

Before joining the Joffrey Ballet, Emily danced competitively and has won numerous awards, scholarships, and titles as a soloist. She has won Elite Dancer at WCDE, Jump VIP, Miss Showbiz, Hall Of Fame Inductee, Miss mini, junior, and teen at KAR, and Dancer of the Year. She has also had the opportunity to dance with the Rockettes in New York City and the Lion King on Broadway. 

Emily is currently a high school sophomore and is eager to start a professional dance career with the Chicago Repertory Ballet. 

Meet Taylor-Nicole

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.