Dustin Crumbaugh

Dustin Crumbaugh (Houston, TX) began his dance training under Rose Thayer in Orange TX. He has trained and performed with Houston Met Too, Point Park University, Ballet Austin, LINES Ballet School, and Lou Conte Dance Studio. He has been a company member with Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and Luna Negra Dance Theater. Dustin joined Cerqua-Rivera Dance Theater in February 2010.

Christina Audrey Chen

Christina Audrey Chen (Holmdel, NJ) began her formal dance training at Center Stage Dance and Theatre School, where she competed both regionally and nationally. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Dance and Psychology from Northwestern University, where she studied under Laura Wade, Jeff Hancock, and Molly Shanahan, and Billy Siegenfeld. Since graduating, Christina has worked with both AMEBA Acrobatic and Aerial Dance Company and Corpo Dance Company. She had the privilege of joining Cerqua Rivera as a performing apprentice in 2009. Christina is also a licensed massage therapist and encourages you to be good to yourself.

Erin Clyne

Erin Clyne (Jacksonville, FL) is a graduate of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts where she had the opportunity to work with and perform choreography by Ronen Koresh, Yanis Pikieris, Eddie Toussaint, and Bill Evans. She has performed with Brazz Dance Theater in Miami, FL as well as Movement/Addiction in Baltimore, MD while graduating Summa cum Laude with her Psychology degree from George Mason University. Erin is excited to be joining Cerqua Rivera and is grateful to friends, family, and teachers for their encouragement and support.

Andrea Deline

Andrea Deline (Midland, MI) has trained with various companies across the U.S. including the Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, ODC/San Francisco, Diavolo Dance Theater and Thodos Dance Chicago. After graduating with honors from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance, Andrea moved to Colorado where she danced professionally with Kim Robards Dance and the Boulder Ballet. She received an opportunity to study aerial dance with Frequent Flyers Productions, and after joining the company began teaching and performing on aerial silks, lyra, and trapeze. Since relocating to Chicago, Andrea has performed with Inaside Chicago Dance, Against the Grain Dance Project, Ballet Legere's Nutcracker and Thodos Dance Chicago’s New Dances. Andrea is very excited to be joining CRDT.

Kate Dempsey

Kate Dempsey (Elgin, IL) serves as the Rehearsal Director and Education Outreach Instructor for Cerqua Rivera, of which she is also a founding member. Her early training began at the Dance Theatre of Elgin at the age of four; it was then that she discovered she communicates best through dance. Kate explains, 'I feel it, I speak it, it belongs to me, and I am at my best when I share it'. She gives thanks to the company for many wonderful moments, and to her family for their love and support.

Biliana Iontchev

Biliana Iontchev (Sofia, Bulgaria) started her exploration of movement through rhythmic gymnastics in Bulgaria. After coming to the Unites States with her family, she discovered a great world of modern and jazz dance in Stevenson High School. Biliana went on to earn a BA in Dance Teaching from Columbia College Chicago, while coaching rhythmic gymnastics in Glenview, IL. She continues to choreograph gymnastic routines and dances for North Shore Rhythmics to girls of all ages and loves to challenge the border of dance and sport everyday with her work.

Laura Chiuve

Laura Chiuve (Boston, MA) relocated to Chicago in 2000, after receiving a Merit Scholarship to train at the Giordano Dance Center. There she had the opportunity to study under Eddy Ocampo, Jon Lehrer, Anna Czajun, and Nan Giordano. In 2002, she became one of the founding members of Chicago Tap Theatre. Other performing opportunities have included Thodos Dance Chicago's New Dances, and guest performances with Chicago Dance Crash and theMASSIVE. Laura has had the privilege of appearing in works by Paul Christiano and Jay Franke. Currently, Laura is the Dance Coordinator for the Des Plaines Park District, as well as the co-founder and director of their performance company, Artistry in Motion. She teaches at the Dance Connection in Grayslake. Laura is excited to be a part of CRDT.

Josh Pawelk

Josh Pawelk (Delano,MN) has studied, choreographed and taught ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, modern and many others for over 18 years. In Chicago he has performed in Dance Chicago, the Gay Games, and the Annual Chicago House Benefit. He has danced with Body Movin' Dance and Choreography, Irreverence Dance and Theatre, Corpo Dance Company, and is very honored to be a part of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. Throughout his lifetime dance has continued to perpetuate his purpose to live, love, learn and laugh.

Joseph Schuman

Joseph Schuman received his BFA in Dance Performance from Northern Illinois University under the direction of Randall Newsom.  As part of Northern Dance Theater, he performed many roles including Hilarion in Giselle, Birbanto in Le Corsaire, and The Soldier in History of a Soldier, to name a few. After a contract at sea performing on Holland America Line Cruise Ships He is excited to be back in Chicago. He continues to take class and perform all over the Chicago land area and is grateful to work with such talented choreographers, teachers, and dancers.

Peter Vandivier

Peter Vandivier is originally from PIttsburgh, PA, where he began training with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. He later received his BFA from Point Park University in Concert Dance Performance. Since then he has performed and taught in Southwest Pennsylvania and Northeastern Illinois; working with such companies as Attack Theater (Pittsburgh), Pillow Project Dance Company (Pittsburgh), Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago, and the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble (Illinois) among others. He is very pleased to be working with the wonderful artists and technical staff of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre for the first time.

Raphaelle Ziemba

Raphaelle Ziemba (Oak Park, IL) began her training at the Academy of Movement and Music. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance from SUNY Purchase. In Chicago Raphaelle has worked with Instruments of Movement, Concert Dance Inc., The Civic Ballet, Tyego Dance, Hedwig Dances; apprenticed with River North, Chicago Opera Theater, Sarasota Opera Theater, and The Lira Ensemble. Currently, Raphaelle dances and choreographs for MOMENTA, and is on faculty at the Illinois Dance Academy and Naperville School of Performing Arts. Raphaelle joined Cerqua Rivera in 2006 and serves as the Wardrobe Mistress as well as Assistant to the Artistic Director.