Faculty Members
 Fabrice Calmels
Mike Gosney
Kate Jablonski
Becca Lemme
Lizzie MacKenzie
Peff Modelski
Dionna PridGeon
Kris Rhodes
Evelyn Rice
Joanna Rosenthal
Ricky Ruiz
Michael Snipe Jr.
Nikki Stanek
Trae Turner
Laura Wade |
Nick Pupillo
Founder, Director
After an extensive career as a dancer, teacher and choreographer, Nick Pupillo decided that his main priority would be to nurture young talent by establishing Visceral Studio Company. In 2007, Nick founded Visceral Dance Center to provide the Chicago community with a new venue for artistic and technical growth. This fall, Visceral Dance Chicago will begin, in its infancy stages, as a new professional company here in Chicago. Nick has devoted himself wholeheartedly to each of these projects, because he has the determination to make his vision a reality.
Nick attended Indiana University on full scholarship, where he studied with Jacques and Virginia Cesbron, as well as Leslie Peck and Violette Verdy. He graduated with a B.S. in ballet, concentrating in teaching and choreography. A former member of Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Nick toured with the company throughout the United States and internationally for three years. He has worked with many esteemed choreographers, including Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Ron DeJesus, Randy Duncan, Mark Godden, Jon Lehrer, Eddy Ocampo, Tony Powell, and Davis Robertson. Additional performance credits include various roles with the Ruth Page Foundation Nutcracker, Brass Theater featuring the Star of Indiana, Dance Chicago, Schaumburg Dance Ensemble, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Stars of Dance Chicago, and Dance for Life.
Nick has worked with the Pride of Cincinnati, a world class winter guard, and The Cavaliers, an award-winning DCI champion drum corps, as a choreographer and instructor. He has set pieces for Inaside Chicago Dance, Terpsichore Dance Company, Webster University, University of North Carolina, Greenville, The Chicago Academy of the Arts, and numerous Chicago area high schools. He has received various awards for his choreography, including a Dance Chicago Outstanding Choreography Award in 2005. Nick teaches across the country, providing master classes for companies, institutions, and universities. He has also taught for the Chicago Dance Connection and the Jazz Dance World Congress. In the summer of 2007, Nick co-founded INTENSITY dance workshop with Lizzie Mackenzie and Eddy Ocampo. He is currently a continuing artist in residence at Culver Military Academy.
Nick has a strong connection with his students and dancers who, in turn, are dedicated to him and to the discipline of dance. This dynamic, along with Nick's drive and innovative vision for the future of Visceral creates an exciting atmosphere of growth and artistic excellence.
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Fabrice Calmels
Ballet
Fabrice Calmels joined The Joffrey Ballet in 2002. Born in Colombes,
France and raised in Paris, Mr. Calmels received his training from
the Paris Opera School working with school director Claude Bessy.
Prior to joining The Joffrey, he performed with the Pennsylvania
Ballet, the Boston Ballet and the School of American Ballet. While in
Pennsylvania, Mr. Calmels danced in The Nutcracker and Dracula; in
Boston, he had roles in Sleeping Beauty and La Bayad're. Since
joining The Joffrey Ballet, Mr. Calmels has performed in Apollo, The
Clowns, Creative Force, I/DNA, Italian Suite, Le Sacre du Printemps,
Les Noces, Light Rain, The Nutcracker, N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz!,
Parade, Serenade, Suite Saint Sa«ns, Valentine, Viva Vivaldi, and A
Wedding Bouquet. His other interests include swimming, biking and
reading.
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Mike Gosney
Ballet
Mike Gosney began his training at the age of 15 and studied many forms
of ballet under the direction of Ken Von Heideke, Sherry Morray, Anida
Sedala, Birute Barodicaite, Anna Czajun, Pam Tanis, Betsy Herskind,
and others, primarily in the Chicagoland area. Training under numerous
ballet masters all over the country, his education is both classical
and contemporary, and his style is unique and modern. He has received
numerous scholarships and currently continues his training at the Ruth
Page Foundation. After dancing professionally on stage for over 10
years, he retired from the stage early to form his own contemporary
ballet company, Elements Contemporary Ballet, in Chicago.
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Kate Jablonski
Contemporary and Jazz
Kate began her professional career training in New York City as a member of Broadway Dance Center's Professional Program. Under the direction of Wes Veldink, this scholarship program allowed Kate to work alongside some of the greatest teachers and choreographers on the east coast. Kate is currently the owner and artistic director of Beyond Words Dance Company. She recently choreographed the 2009 All-State production of Hairspray which debuted at the Krannert Center at the University of Illinois this past January. In 2007, Kate was honored with the Silver Choreography Award at Leo's Competitive Event through Jazz Dance World Congress. Most recently, Kate was honored to be chosen as a finalist in the Capezio Ace Award for Choreographic Excellence.
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Becca Lemme
Modern
Becca Lemme has performed with Luna Negra Dance Theater, River North Chicago, Hedwig Dances, Instruments of Movement, RTG Dance, and Thodos' New Dances. In addition to Visceral, she is currently on faculty at Columbia College, the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Roosevelt University, and University of Chicago, and has been a company instructor for Luna Negra, River North, Thodos Dance Chicago, and Hedwig. Additionally, she has
choreographed for Instruments of Movement, Disney, RTG, and Dance Chance. Becca holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Theater and Dance from Princeton University, where upon graduation she was the recipient of the Francis LeMoyne Page Theater Award.
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Lizzie MacKenzie
Ballet, Pointe and Jazz
Lizzie MacKenzie is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen Michigan where she graduated with “High Honors in Dance”. Since graduating she has danced for and toured internationally with such companies as Rivernorth Chicago Dance Company, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Dance Chicago touring company (“Stars Of Dance Chicago”), Lehrer Dance, the Boston Youth Ballet, and the Michigan Classic Ballet. She has worked with many of todays biggest names in choreography including, Randy Duncan, Ron De Jesus, Mia Michaels, Liz Imperio, Davis Robertson, Tony Powell, Frank Chavez, Laurie Stalllings, Keving Iega Jeff, Lynn Taylor Corbit and Harrison Mceldowny. In August of 2002 she was featured on the cover of DANCE magazine and has since been featured in various magazines as a model for Leo’s Dancewear, Illinois Theatrical and various other organizations. Lizzie spends most of her free time teaching and choreographing all over the U.S and her jazz class has been listed in Dancespirit magazine as one of the top 3 dance classes to take in Chicago. She has been given various awards for her choreography, including the “New Voice” honor from Dance Chicago in 2006. Always on the move, Lizzie has recently taken her love of teaching to another level and founded Extensions Dance Company, a Chicago based, Not For Profit dance company for young people dedicated to creating well rounded, free thinking artists, She has also recently co-founded INTENSITY dance workshop with her colleagues and very close friends, Eddy Ocampo and Nick Pupillo in the summer of 2007.
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Peff Modelski
Ballet
Peff Modelski was a former professional dancer with the Royal Ballet, Berlin Opera Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet and Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Mme Modelski has Broadway performance credits which include the original company of Fiddler On The Roof, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and Camelot. She is now a Master Teacher of Classical Ballet. As a Nationally Registered Dance Educator and Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner (Feldenkrais Method ®), she teaches professional performers in pure classical ballet technique and style and conducts Teacher Trainings, and public Awareness Through Movement workshops. She taught ballet at Steps NYC for 30 years. Recently relocating to Chicago she has been at Visceral for two years. Peff is a published author on Pointe work and ballet teaching, and will be the Teacher Trainer at the 2010 International Ballet Competition including competitors daily class. As author of teaching materials on teaching pointe work, Mme Modelski, in association with David Howard has written a series of notebooks entitled PeffPointe to accompany her CDs for Roper records. www.movementprocessforliving.com
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Dionna PridGeon
Jazz
Dionna PridGeon is a native of Chicago, IL and a graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She received her B.A. in Dance, May 2004. She has had the privilege to work with well-known choreographers such as: Lou Conte, Carmen de Lavallade, Daniel Ezralow, Kevin Iega Jeff, Donald McKayle, Lizzie McKenzie, Harrison McEldowney, Margo Sappington, Kevin Maher and many others. Her recognitions include: tour scholarships from Monsters of Hip Hop and The Pulse On Tour - Protégé Award, Mia Michaels/Wild Dance Intensive, Millennium Dance Complex, and the Future Star Award issued by Dance Spirit Magazine. Dionna has promoted D.A.R.E. Dance Education in Chicago Public Schools through Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Kraft Foods. Currently, Resident Choreographer for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Teaching Artist for Hubbard Street Dance Center and The Joffrey Ballet Academy, as well as many others throughout the Chicagoland area. She has set many of her own works on Pillow Project Dance Company, Xpressions Contemporary Dance Co. (PA), Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble (PA), in addition to high schools, colleges and dance studios throughout Illinois. Her more recent credits include: Black Nativity at the Goodman Theatre, Thodos Dance Chicago - New Dances, Coachella Palm Springs Music Fest, Dancejam.com/Jessi Malay Showcase in Orlando, FL, and Dance Chicago 08.
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Kris Rhodes
Hip Hop
A Chicago native Kris Rhodes has been dancing for 17 years. Starting with a strong base of classical ballet at the age of 4, it wasn't until he joined Nonstop Dance Productions (2005) that he began to take hip-hop seriously. Three years following he then joined Dance2xs Chicago upon which he trained with choreographers such as Gigi Torres, Patrick Chen, Lee Daniel, and Nikki Stanek (past director of Dance2xs Chicago). His choreography has been featured in: ABDC live tour (in Chicago), "The Revolution" (Akira Fashion Show), Dance Chicago, Power 92 Freak Fest Concert, And the Solider boy concert. He has taught Masterclasses at: Visceral Dance Studio, IDTA dance convention, Lou Conte, Joffrey, and NADAA National convention.Currently Kris is the artistic director of Vicious and was recently artistic Director of Dance2XS Chicago, he continues to dance and hopes to teach his style of movement worldwide.
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Evelyn Rice
Hip Hop
Evelyn Rice started dancing professionally as a member of the UIC
dance team, and she eventually became captain/choreographer for the
group. Alongside, she modeled and performed with the Chicago HB Dance
Company. Since then, Evelyn has ventured onto dance stages with
recording artists including, Universal's Alfonso Hunter, Do or Die,
Twista, and local artists, Javante Monet and Kim Keller. She has
performed at convention centers and sports arenas nationwide. As a
freelance choreographer, she works with many local high schools and
colleges that compete at State and National competitions. Evelyn is
also an instructor/choreographer for the Cheer and Dance Association
(CDA). She just completed the 2008 Future Vision Tour, which was a
traveling production featuring the talents of Nick Arrojo, Kimberly
Locke, and Jennifer Holiday, along with many others. Other recent
credits include: Dance 2XS (an international hip hop company),
Glamour Magazine April 2007 issue, NIKE Rockstar Workout Winner 2006,
and featured in Atlantic recording artist, Bayje’s “Jealous of
Your Whip” music video.
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Joanna Rosenthal
Joanna Rosenthal is the Artistic Director and Dancer of Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre. Performing credits include Lucky Plush Productions, Mordine and Company Dance Theatre, Hedwig Dances, The Chicago Moving Company and work with other independent choreographers. While dancing with Mordine and Company Dance Theatre, she was Associate Artistic Director and director of the Youth Dance Company. Joanna teaches at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago and has taught at The Chicago Academy for the Arts and other recently completed her MFA in choreography at the University of Iowa.
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Ricky Ruiz
Jazz
Ricky Ruiz received his initial dance training in his hometown of
Miami, FL and was a graduate of Coral Reef Senior High Magnet Dance.
He attended the University of South Florida on academic and talent
scholarships and graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance Performance
in the Spring of 2007. While in college, he was an apprentice at Ann
Reinking's Broadway Theatre Project for two consecutive summers.
Ricky has worked with such choreographers as Dan Karaty, Laurie
Stallings, Kiki Lucas and Melissa Thodos among others. He has
performed a wide variety of repertory ranging from works by Jos©
Lim³n to Bob Fosse. He's had the opportunity to perform and showcase
his choreography in numerous regional festivals. As part of a week-
long residency in 2006, he presented work in Castano Primo, Italy.
Ricky is an enthusiastic and eager instructor and travels the country
teaching and setting choreography. Among the many teams and schools
he choreographs for are FSU, GSU and OU. He is a guest teacher
throughout Florida, and works permanently at Focal Point Dance
Studios in Miami. Ricky is currently in his second season dancing
with River North Chicago.
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Michael Snipe Jr.
Ballet and Modern/Horton
Michael Snipe Jr, was born and raised in Baltimore Maryland. He
attended the Baltimore School for the Arts where he studied under
Sylvester Campbell and Stephanie Powell.
While in high school he guested with the Ballet Theater of Annapolis
under Edward Stuart.
He moved to New York City to attend the Juilliard school where he
earned his B.F.A in dance and graduated with the Hector Zaraspe award
for Choreographic honors.
He has performed with Ailey 2, The David Parson Dance Company and
Robert Battle's Battleworks and Kevin Jeff's, "Deeply Rooted".
Throughout his career he has worked with Hinton Battle, Paul Taylor,
JiÅ™í Kylián, Hans Van Manon, and Twyla Tharp. He has also performed
in Swing! The Musical and Movin' Out. He was original cast for the
1st national tour of Movin' Out. He can be seen in a soon to be
released film about the late and great Buddy Bolden. It was directed
by Dan Pritzker, and choreographed by Hinton Battle.
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Nikki Stanek
Hip Hop
Nikki Stanek has been teaching hip hop for 8 years. She started dancing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with Dance2XS UIUC. She was Director of Dance2XS UIUC in 2005-2006. After graduating she continued dancing with their Chicago branch, Dance2XS Chicago, where she is currently the Artistic Director. Aside from teaching Dance2XS Chicago, she has danced and taught around the world. In November 2008, she went to Ukraine as a guest choreographer on the hit TV show, So You Think You Can Dance. She has also taught in Algarve, Portugal, and Kiev, Ukraine, at Nike Conventions. She has taught Dance2XS Michigan (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), Dance2XS Purdue (Purdue University), Hip Hop Connexion (Chicago Branch), Nonstop Productions, Redefinition, 625 Beat St., and Xtreme Dance Force, as well as various high school groups around Illinois and Indiana. Nikki currently teaches at North Shore School of Dance in Highland Park. In October 2008, Nikki started a girls crew called, The Misses. This is a group of women that is taking the dance community by storm. Each Miss holds an identity true to her personality and characteristics. Nikki, who is known as Miss Madam, hopes that The Misses can show the true power of females. Look out for performances and classes in 2009! www.youtube.com/themisses8. Nikki has trained under Patrick Chen, Gigi Torres, Lee Daniel, Marty Kudelka, Kevin Maher, Tabitha and Napoleon Dumo, as well as various other choreographers. She continues to grow as a dancer while sharing her passion with others.
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Trae Turner
Hip Hop
Trae realized his passion for dance, choreography and teaching early in life after he began break dancing with the J-Town Breakers. Having grown up in urban America with limited hip-hop classes or instructors, Trae developed an expressive, unfiltered style that reflects his experiences and combines commercial pop with raw Hip-Hop movements such as B-Boy style and California hip hop. Trae has taken master classes from the top Hip-Hop choreographers on the West Coast such as: Theresa Espenosa (Janet Jackson), Wade Robson (‘N SYNC, Britney Spears), Super Dave, Havic, Dante, Jason Wright, Sleepy (You Got Served) and Sky Hoffman (Justin Timberlake) and trained locally with Angela Molsson, Matt Maclenden (The Collective, Lil Brat Ent.) and Lisa Torres (OSU, The Collective). As founder of and choreographer for The Collective Hip Hop, the only multi-cultural, professional, all adult crew in Chicago and the official dance crew for the Midwest chapter of the Ruff Ryders, Trae performs regularly, most recently with The Collective College Tour, The Showcase of Life and with rapper Sasolina, among other benefits, events and competitions. Trae has also performed across the nation with the interactive entertainment company Charizma and Revelation Productions, where he trained dancers and choreographed for clients. He has also taught at Jays Day Camp and Mazur Dance Studio.
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Laura Wade
Ballet
Laura Wade is Rehearsal Director for Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and is in her 2nd year on faculty at the Giordano Dance School. As a performer, Ms. Wade long danced the parts of Cantiniere Doll and Arabian in the Ruth Page production of The Nutcracker, and appeared as a soloist in modern and ballet works of David Dorfman, Robin Lakes/Rough Dance, Ballet Chicago, Ballet Theatre of Chicago, Ballet Espanol of Louisville, The Moose Project, and Scott Putman. For 9 years she served as Artistic Director of AKASHA Dance Company, leading the company on tours to Scotlands Edinburgh Festival, England, and throughout the Midwest. Ms. Wades early training was with Velta Cernonok and Marie Vogt at the Toledo Ballet. She earned a BS in dance education from Indiana University, where she danced in works by Nicolas Beriosov, Marina Svetlova, and Anna Paskevska. Larry Long, Warren Conover, and Nana Shineflug are other important artisitic influences. Currently in her 8th year on faculty at Northwestern University, Ms. Wade also gives company class for River North Dance Chicago and teaches at the Lou Conte Dance Studio.
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