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. She then went on to receive her Bachelor's Degree in Dance and Psychology from Northwestern University. Christina has also studied with David Parsons Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Christina joined Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre as a performing apprentice in 2009. She is also a certified and 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.

Rachel Cortes

Rachel Cortes (Chicago,IL) Rachel is a graduate of the Chicago Academy for the Arts, where she had the opportunity to study 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.

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.

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 in many shows including Hilarion in Giselle, Birbanto in Le Corsaire, and The Soldier in History of a Soldier, to name a few. He continues taking class at Visceral Dance Center and is grateful for the opportunities to have danced with many great choreographers and dancers throughout Chicago. He is proud to be a company member with Cerqua Rivera in their 2009 season. Many thanks to his friends and family.

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.

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

Chicago based Jazz Violinist, James Sanders currently performs with Dee Alexander and the Evolution Ensemble, Nicole Mitchell ‘s Black Earth Orchestra, Gypsy Jazz group Swing Gitan, Doug Lofstrom and New Quartet. James also leads his own Latin Jazz band Conjunto. Conjunto has performed at the Taste of Chicago, Andy’s Jazz Club, Preston Bradely Hall, Checkerboard Lounge, The Hot House and concerts presented by The Jazz Institute of Chicago. As a Jazz soloist he has recently appeared with the Chicago Sinfnoietta at Orchestra Hall. This recording has been released on the Emphasis Label. Jazz Violinist Sanders recieved a Masters degree in Violin performance from the Yale University School of of Music in 1989 and is a member of the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra.

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), originally from 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, 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.' He has received a Jeff Citation for choreography in Bailiwick Theater's production of Nagasaki Dust. Recent projects include: Oklahoma at ATC, Urinetown at Columbia College and CRDT appearances at The Auditorium Theater and Orland Park Auditorium. He 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.