Leah Allen

Leah Miller Allen (Schaller, IA) earned a BFA in dance performance from the University of Arizona. There she was a member and featured soloist of the U of A Dance Ensemble. Leah was awarded the Citron Award for Outstanding Talent and the Kenneth Comstock Award. Chicago performance credits include Impetus Dance Theatre, Instruments of Movement, Chicago Dance Crash, FLIRT Cabaret and Jay-Son Tisa Dance Company. Leah also enjoys teaching dance with students throughout the Chicago-land area. She is currently on faculty at Dance Motions, Inc. and Jennys Dance Centre.She would like to thank her husband for his love and support.

Laura Blatterman

Laura Blatterman (Atlanta, GA) has danced with Ballet Magnificat, Atlanta Ballet, Tri-Coastal Ballet Theater and Luna Negra Dance Theater. In addition to making the Deans list at Columbia College of Chicago in the Dance Program, Laura directed and taught dance programs for several years in Atlanta,GA, worked with various non-profits, the YMCA, churches, and inner-city childrens outreach organizations. Laura has won numerous awards for her work with inner city dancers including the Dorothy Mullins Humanities Award. Laura is finishing her business degree and is excited to be joining the Cerqua Rivera family.

Rachel Cortes

Rachel Cortes (Chicago,IL) Rachel is a graduate of the Chicago Academy for the Arts, where she had the opportunity of studying with great teachers and choreographers such as Eduardo Vilaro, Randy Duncan, Anna Paskevska and Ginger Farley, to name a few. She continued her dance studies under Joel Hall as a company member for the Joel Hall Dancers before joining Cerqua Rivera in 2006. Rachel would like to thank her friends, family, and fellow dancers for their continuous support.

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.

Stephane Duret

Stephane Duret (Miami, FL)started his Musical Theatre training at the New World School of the Arts. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Roosevelt University. After graduating, he joined the cast of Porchlight Music Theatres Joseph Jefferson Award winning show Ragtime. Other Chicago Theatre credits include Zanna, Dont! (Baliwick), Sweet Charity (Drury Lane), and understudying the part of The Boy in A Taste Of Honey (Shattered Globe). He was last featured in The Producers at The Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana.

Alejondra Gonzalez

Alejandra Gonzlez (Monterrrey, Mexico) began her training at the Le Jazz-Ballet Studio. In 2004 she graduated from the National Institute of Fine Arts, with a major in Dance Education, specialized in Cuban Ballet School. Alejandra became a member of the Giodarno Jazz Dance Chicago Second Company in 2005. She joined Luna Negra Dance Theatre in 2007 and a member of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre in 2008.

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.

Tyne Shillingford

Tyne Shillingford (Tulsa, OK) earned her BFA in Dance from Webster University in St. Louis, MO, under the direction of Gary Hubler and Beckah Voigt.Sheattended summer programs at the AileySchool and BroadwayDance Center. Tyne moved to Chicago in 2007 after graduation to pursue a career in dance. She hasdanced with Inaside Chicago Dance, Rasa Dance Chicago, Nicole Gifford Dance, and From The Hip Dance Project; as well as worked with choreographers Jon Lehrer, Nick Pupillo, and Eddy Ocampo.

Laura Tomlinson

Laura Tomlinson (Geneva, IL) began dancing at the age of two and began studying ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, and tap in dance schools throughout the Chicago-land area. Laura continued her dance education at Northern Dance Theatre of Northern Illinois University and Columbia College Chicago earning a BA in dance performance. Laura has been teaching in the Chicago-land area since 1999 and choreographs professionally for AJ Ensemble and competitive performance groups. She has danced with Chicago Dance Crash, Corpo Dance Company, Inc. Laura would like to thank her family and friends for their support.

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, 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.

Larry Bowen

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Alan Burroughs

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Joe Cerqua

Joe Cerqua (Producing Director, Composition, Vocals, Trombone) is a freelance composer, sound designer, vocalist, and producer. He is a founding member of CRDT and had the pleasure to serve as CRDT's first artistic director. Joe's music and sound have been featured locally at venues such as Steppenwolf, The Goodman, and Victory Gardens and internationally in Scotland, Ireland, Austria, and Australia. He is the resident composer/sound designer for Madison Repertory Theatre and serves as production consultant for Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. Joe is the supervising Producer of the Music Department at Columbia College. His music has been Jeff recognized 14 times. He is the recipient of 4 After Dark Awards, and 1 Ostrander Award.

Stu Greenspan

Stu Greenspan (Music Director, Electric Bass Guitar, Composer/Arranger) is a founding member of CRDT. He has collaborated with Joe Cerqua for over two decades. As a studio engineer, he has contributed to sound designs for all of Chicago's major theater companies and many regional theaters throughout the country. Stu regularly performs with many different jazz and pop music groups including the experimental sextet Trapeze, the Jamaican music ensemble Waterhouse, the Midway Ramblers Cajun Band, and his own jazz trio. He is on the music faculty of Columbia College Chicago and the Francis W. Parker School.

Dan Hesler

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Michael Levin

Michael Levin (Reeds) has performed and or recorded with artists ranging from the Temptations to Mothra, from Barrett Deems to Robert Irving III. His numerous appearances at clubs and festivals include performances at Ravinia and three appearances at the Chicago Jazz Festival. He has played music for theatrical productions at the Goodman Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre, and can be heard in current dance club tracks by producers such as Jere McAllister and Vic Lavender.

Tomeka Reid

Tomeka Reid (Cello) is a sought after freelance musician in the Chicago metropolitan area who consistently strives to expand her musical pallette to include other musical styles and performance techniques. Originally from Washington, DC, Ms. Reid moved to Chicago to continue her studies at DePaul University. Ms. Reid currently performs with the AACM's Great Black Music Ensemble, Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble/Strings, Mike Reed's Loose Assembly, Dee Alexander's Evolution Ensemble, Chicago Sinfonetta, and the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Ms. Reid also codirects the String Orchestra program at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools.

James Sanders

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Shirazette Tinnin

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Bobbi Wilsyn

Bobbi Wilsyn (Vocals) is a singer, actress, and motivational speaker. Her appearances have included Beehive, Sophisticated Ladies, and It Ain't Nothing But The Blues. In addition to being one of the featured singers with the Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Wilsyn has gained international recognition as the featured jazz-blues vocalist with the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Symphonic Jazz International. Ms. Wilsyn also leads the all-female jazz combo SHE, and is a frequent soloist at New Thought churches all around the Chicago area. Wilsyn is an Artist-in-Residence and the Voice and Choral Studies Coordinator at Columbia College Chicago where she teaches music and voice. Her debut CD, co-produced with Joe Cerqua, is entitled It's About Time and features the Miguel de la Cerna Quintet and other fabulous Chicago Jazz musicians.

Wilfredo Rivera

Wilfredo Rivera (artistic Director) having been born in Honduras, brings a strong sense of history and performance of Latin music and dance to CRDT. A former soloist and founding member of River North Dance Chicago, he has also worked with many award-winning theaters (The Goodman, ATC, Pegasus Players etc.), dance companies, Chicago composers, choreographers and performers. Mr. Rivera is the recipient of the 2001 After Dark Award for outstanding choreography in CRDT's premiere of 'The American Plan.' In 1997, he received a Jeff Citation for original choreography in Bailiwick Theater's production of Nagasaki Dust. Recent projects include: Oklahoma at ATC and Urinetown at Columbia College, and CRDT appearances at The Auditorium Theater and Orland Park Auditorium. Mr. Rivera is on faculty at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, home of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

Kevin Holt

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Joe Cerqua

Joe Cerqua (Producing Director, Composition, Vocals, Trombone) is a freelance composer, sound designer, vocalist, and producer. He is a founding member of CRDT and had the pleasure to serve as CRDT's first artistic director. Joe's music and sound have been featured locally at venues such as Steppenwolf, The Goodman, and Victory Gardens and internationally in Scotland, Ireland, Austria, and Australia. He is the resident composer/sound designer for Madison Repertory Theatre and serves as production consultant for Jon Faddis and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. Joe is the supervising Producer of the Music Department at Columbia College. His music has been Jeff recognized 14 times. He is the recipient of 4 After Dark Awards, and 1 Ostrander Award.

Stu Greenspan

Stu Greenspan (Music Director, Electric Bass Guitar, Composer/Arranger) is a founding member of CRDT. He has collaborated with Joe Cerqua for over two decades. As a studio engineer, he has contributed to sound designs for all of Chicago's major theater companies and many regional theaters throughout the country. Stu regularly performs with many different jazz and pop music groups including the experimental sextet Trapeze, the Jamaican music ensemble Waterhouse, the Midway Ramblers Cajun Band, and his own jazz trio. He is on the music faculty of Columbia College Chicago and the Francis W. Parker School.

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, 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.

Corrie Besse

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Laura Blatterman

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Theresa Lipo

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Marty Higginbotham

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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.

Rachel Steelman

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Hannah Leben

Hannah Leben (graphic and web designer), a veteran dancer of CRDT, studied photography, design and fine art at Michigan State University, and University of Illinois. A trained ballarina and modern dancer, she danced professionally for 15 years in Dublin, Grand Rapids, and Chicago before retiring in 2007 to co-found GooseDog Design, a graphic design business. She has worked on projects for Bill Kurtis Productions, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, and Crain Development in Chicago

Hillary Leben

Hillary Leben (graphic and web designer) is an award winning animator, filmmaker, and graphic designer working out of Chicago. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, her films and animations have been screened in Illinois, Michigan, and California, and have aired on the Travel Channel, and Lonely Planet TV. After living in Spain for two years, she returned to Chicago to work at Answers Media where she was closely involved in projects for clients such as Chicago Symphany Orchestra, Accenture, and Chicago Public Schools. She co-founded GooseDog Design, a graphic design business in 2007 and also works freelance as a motion graphics designer throughout Chicago.

Renee Gooch

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