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. 

Meet Daniel

Daniel Cheoweth is from El Cerrito, CA. While Studying at Skidmore College he received a BA in Biology and a BS in Dance Performance, receiving honors in each as well as performing works by Ohad Naharin and Robert Battle. Daniel has performed at the Tulsa Ballet as well as touring in New York, St. Louis, and Scotland. In Chicago Daniel has danced for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater, Kristina Isabelle, Anna Long, Jessica Miller Tomlinson, and is excited to work with Chicago Reparatory Ballet for his second season!

Meet Jamie

Jamie Brokan is originally from Chicago, IL and was fortunate to have spent her formative years training under the direction of Artistic Director Lizzie Mackenzie with Extensions Dance Company. She went on to study at the Fordham University/Ailey School where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in dance and a minor in Business Administration. Jaime worked as a season apprentice with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company and was privileged to perform in their winter production under the direction of Igal Perry. She then went on to perform for Royal Caribbean International as a dancer/aerialist onboard two of their ships. While at The Ailey School Jaime had the pleasure of working with prestigious choreographers such as Hope Boykin, Jennifer Archibald, Thang Dao, Jessica Lange, Robyn Mineko Williams, Rena Butler, and many others. Jaime has spent her summers attending programs including the Movement Invention Project under the direction of Alexandra Wells and Sidra Bell, the River North Summer Apprenticeship and intensive, and the Hubbard Street intensive. This is Jaime’s first season with Chicago Repertory Ballet, and she is thrilled to begin working with the company! 

Meet Emily


Emily Fugett first began dancing at the age of 3. Over the years she has danced at several  local studios, striving to get the best training. She has trained in every style and competed at the national level. In 2013, with a love of ballet, she moved her training over to Ballet Chicago. There she worked there to concentrate and hone her technique in pursuit of a career in dance.

She has had great success with Ballet Chicago especially with the assistance of Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair. In the Ballet Chicago's Nutcracker she has performed roles including Dewdrop, Snow Queen, and the Arabian solo. She also danced in many Balanchine ballets such as Who Cares?, Serenade, Divertimento No. 15, and Valse Fantasie.

She first met Mr. Wade Schaaf at a summer intensive in the Chicago Western suburbs at the age of 13. Emily is excited to have the opportunity to dance with wade and begin her dancing career at the Chicago Repertory Ballet.

Meet Carley

Carley Klebba (she/her) began her training in Howell, MI where her primary focus was the Cecchetti Method of Ballet. She went on to earn her B.A. in dance from Grand Valley State University where she graduated with honors and was the recipient of the Marlene Kenneway Love of Dance Scholarship. In addition to performing with the Grand Valley Dance Company throughout college, she also performed with The Grand Rapids Opera and The Plymouth-Canton Metro Shores Ballet Company.

After graduating, Carley moved to Chicago to start working with LEVELdance. Since moving to Chicago Carley discovered her love of teaching, she recently passed her Grade IV Cecchetti teacher exam and loves to share her passion for dance with her students all throughout the Chicagoland area. As a freelance artist Carley has performed with Aerial Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago in New Dances, Jaxon Movement Arts, and Schaumburg Dance Ensemble in The Nutcracker. Carley joined Chicago Repertory Ballet in 2015, and is excited for her seventh season dancing with the company.

Meet Sarah Olson

Sarah Olson, originally from Charleston, WV, began her dance training with the School of the Charleston Ballet under Kim Pauley.  Ms. Olson continued her training at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, graduating magna cum laude with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and a minor in Political Science. Upon moving to Chicago, Sarah has performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Nomi Dance, Inaside Chicago Dance, LEVELdance, as well as a guest artist for Chicago Dance Crash, the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble, and Thodos Dance Chicago’s New Dances Concert. She has had the pleasure of performing choreography by Wade Schaaf, Randy Duncan, Nick Pupillo, Eddy Ocampo, Autumn Eckman, Lizzie MacKenzie, Paul Christiano, August Tye, and many others. Ms. Olson has choreographed for Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Nomi Dance, Dance Chicago, RASA Dance Chicago, Dance Chance, and Chicago Freelance Dance. Sarah began dancing with Chicago Repertory Ballet in 2013 and began serving as the company’s Ballet Mistress in 2015. She would like to thank her friends and family for their continued support.

2016 Season

MACBETH

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Choreography: Wade Schaaf

Lighting Design: Sarah Lackner

Costume Design: Nathan Rohrer

World Premiere: March 4th 2016, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, (Chicago IL)

This full length ballet is CRB’s ballet adaptation of William Shakespeare’s original work of the same title. This ballet explores Shakespeare’s characters in a contemporary world built by Schaaf with projections by designer John Pobojewski. Enjoy all the drama, passion and political intrigue of this full length ballet.