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Playbill - Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Contents

  1. Introduction, Cast and Staff
  2. Tonight's Program
  3. About the Artists
  4. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
  5. Special Note on Max Abramovitz

Introduction, Cast and Staff

This performance and the commission of Gimme supported by Gary A. and LaDonna K. Wicklund

Dancers

Apprentices

Artistic Staff

Production Staff

Chase

2005 Season Sponsor

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.

Rooster is funded in part by the National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts, with lead funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Additional funding provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and The Ford Foundation.

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Tonight's Program

SF/LB

New work in preview

SF/DL and SF/LB are exclusively underwritten by Meg and Tim Callahan in celebration of Meg's 50th birthday.

Created for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in May 2004. From the disc A Total Embrace: The Composer, published by The Leonard Bernstein Music/Publishing Company LLC & Universal Music Publishing Group, 2004, Sony Classical/S3K 90578: "Prelude for the Brass," "Fugue for the Saxes," and "Riffs for Everyone."

Short pause

GIMME

World premiere

Hancher Auditorium/The University of Iowa is the exclusive underwriting presenter of Gimme.

Gimme was created with funds from HSDC's 2005 Program for Emerging and Developing Artists.

Created for and premiered by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at Hancher Auditorium/The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, October 9, 2004. Based on Just Give Me a Kiss, created for Inside/Out, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Choreographic Workshop, June 4 & 5, 2004, at The Dance Center of Columbia College, Chicago. Inside/Out was part of HSDC's 2004 Program for Emerging and Developing Artists, sponsored by The Chicago Community Trust and The Boeing Company, with additional support from Regents Park by The Clinton Companies, Music from the disc Bla Bergens Borduner, produced by Bla Bergens Borduner and Mats Hellberg, 1993, Amigo Musik AB. AMCD 727: "Polska Efter Blinda Pelle."

Intermission

TABULA RASA

New work in preview

Tabula Rasa is underwritten in part by Sidney and Sondra Berman Epstein.

Originally commissioned and premiered by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre 1986. Staged for HSDC by Ohad Naharin and Adi Salant in June 2004. "Everytime We Say Goodbye," published by Warner Chappell Music.

Intermission

ROOSTER

The Sara Lee Foundation is the exclusive sponsor of Christopher Bruce's Rooster, a significant addition to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's International Masters Initiative.

Created for and premiered by Ballet du Grand Theatre on October 10, 1991 at the Grand Theatre de Geneve, Switzerland. Staged for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago by Christopher Bruce and Miranda Lind. Premiered by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at The Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago, Illinois, March 9, 2004. "Paint It, Black," "Ruby Tuesday," "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Lady Jane" written by Mick Jaggar and Keith Richards, "Play With Fire" written by Nanker Phelge; published by ABKCO Music, Inc.; by arrangement with ABCKO records. "As Tears Go By," written by Mick Jaggar, Keith Richards and Andrew Oldman; published by ABKCO Music, Inc. and Essex Music, Inc.; by arrangement with ABKCO Records. "Little Red Rooster" written by Willie Dixon; published by HOOCHIE COOSHIE MUSIC (BMI)/administered by Bug Music, Inc.; all rights reserved/used with permission; by arrangement with ABKCO Records. "Not Fade Away" written by Charles Hardin and Norman Petty, used by permission of Wren Music Co. & MPL Communications, Inc.; by arrangement with ABCKO Records.

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About the Artists

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) was founded in 1977 by dancer and choreographer Lou Conte who served as artistic director until his retirement from HSDC in 2000. Originally the company's sole choreographer, he developed relationships with emerging and world-renowned choreographers as the company began to grow, adding bodies of work by a variety of artists. In the 1980s, Conte commissioned several works by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Margo Sappington and Daniel Ezralow. He continued to build HSDC's repertoire by forging a key partnership with Twyla Tharp in the 1990s, acquiring six of her works and commissioning an original work for the company. Conte further expanded the company's repertoire to include European choreographers Jirí Kylián and Nacho Duato. These long-term relationships, along with Conte's participation in selecting Jim Vincent as the company's new artistic director, have paved the way for HSDC's future. Through a relationship cultivated by both Conte and Vincent, HSDC further expanded its repertoire with the works of Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, including Minus 16, Passomezzo, Queens and Black Milk.

Today, under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Jim Vincent, HSDC is among the most original forces in contemporary dance. Critically acclaimed for its exuberant, athletic and innovative repertory, HSDC presents performances that inspire, challenge and engage audiences worldwide. The company's 21 dancers display unparalleled versatility and virtuosity, allowing HSDC to continually expand its eclectic repertory and serve as a living archive for significant choreographic works by world-class choreographers and a platform for new dance works by emerging choreographers. HSDC also contributes to dance's evolution by developing new choreographic talent and collaborating with artists in music, visual arts and theatre.

HSDC performs in downtown Chicago and its metropolitan area, and tours nationally and internationally throughout the year. The company has appeared in 44 states and 17 countries at celebrated dance venues including the American Dance Festival, DanceAspen, the Holland Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, The Joyce Theater, the Kennedy Center, Philadelphia's "Dance Celebration," the Ravinia Festival, Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds (Italy), Spoleto Festival U.S.A. (Charleston, SC), Sadlers Wells Theatre, The Brighton Festival and Wolf Trap. In January 2004, HSDC joined forces with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for an engagement conducted by Pinchas Zukerman that brought one of Vincent's goals to fruition by performing his piece, counter/part, to live music.

Hubbard Street 2 (HS2), under the leadership of Artistic Director Julie Nakagawa Bottcher, is a company of six dancers between the ages of 17 and 25 who perform a repertoire of works by some of the nation's most promising young choreographers. HS2 reaches as many as 35,000 people annually through performances in schools, community centers and theaters. Since its inception in 1997, the company has become a respected training ground for young, professional dancers and choreographers; a major component of HSDC's Education & Community Programs; a resource for new dancers for HSDC's main company, and a performing company in its own right. As a part of its mission to identify and nurture young choreographers, HS2 initiated a National Choreographic Competition in the summer of 1999. Each summer, the competition provides three winners each with a one-week residency to create an original work on the company.

Through its multi-layered Education and Community Programs, HSDC exposes students to dance, works with teachers to integrate dance and movement into the curriculum and helps Chicago-area schools and arts organizations create interdisciplinary collaborations. HSDC partners with more than 25 schools each year through its education initiatives: MIND (Moving In New Directions), a K-8 residency program that provides schools with a balance of performances, teacher workshops and classroom experiences; DIAMOND (Dance Inspires Achievement, Movement Opens New Doors), a professional development program for high school dance students; The Kennedy Center's Partners In Education Program, a new initiative to create whole-school model programs; Kraft Foods Art Discovery II, a partnership with other Chicago arts organizations to provide schools with interdisciplinary arts curricula and D.A.R.E.® America, an after-school dance program.

The Lou Conte Dance Studio (LCDS) offers more than 60 classes per week to adults and teens in ballet, jazz, modern, African, tap, hip-hop/funk and dance fitness. Named "Best Dance Class for Adults" by Chicago magazine, LCDS offers various levels of classes for dancers from beginners to professionals, taught by some of Chicago's finest dance and music artists. One of the most comprehensive dance centers in the United States, this facility houses five dance studios equipped with state-of-the-art floors and audio systems, including two stage-sized spaces; production shops for building and maintaining sets and costumes; storage space for the company's advanced sound and lighting systems; a sound mixing studio, administrative offices and meeting rooms. In 2002, LCDS opened a satellite location in partnership with the Beverly Arts Center of Chicago to offer classes to adults and teens as well as expanded offerings to children of all ages.

In 1977, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago was launched to fill a community need. Today it stands as one of the most renowned dance institutions in America, reaching out to more than 150,000 people each year through dance creation, performance, training and community education. HSDC continues to serve as an emblem of Chicago's international cultural profile and a model of excellence in dance.

Jim Vincent (Artistic Director) joined HSDC in August 2000 following an extensive career as a dancer, teacher, ballet master and choreographer. Vincent's dance training began at the age of five and continued through his childhood with Mercer, Burlington and Princeton Ballets in New Jersey. He studied on scholarship at the Washington School of Ballet in Washington, D.C., Harkness House of Ballet in New York City and North Carolina School of the Arts at the University of North Carolina. Vincent's distinguished career as a professional dancer includes a 12-year tenure with Jirí Kylián's Nederlands Dans Theater, a guest appearance with Lar Lubovitch and two years with Nacho Duato's Compañía Nacional de Danza in Spain. As a dancer, he worked with many choreographers, including Kylián, Duato, Lubovitch, William Forsythe, Mats Ek, Hans van Manen, Christopher Bruce and Ohad Naharin.

Vincent has served as ballet master for Nederlands Dans Theater II, Compañía Nacional de Danza and Opéra National de Lyon, where he rehearsed repertory by renowned choreographers Kylian, Duato, Forsythe, Ek, George Balanchine, Angelin Preljocaj and Bill T. Jones, among others. He has restaged choreographies for Duato, including Jardi Tancat, Synaphai and Na Floresta, and for Kylian, including Return to the Strange Land and Stamping Ground. Vincent has choreographed a number of works for Nederlands Dans Theater I and II, Quebec's Bande a Part and Switzerland's Stadttheater Bern. In 2002, during his second season with HSDC, Vincent choreographed counter/part for the company, his first work as artistic director, which he has dedicated to the HSDC Board of Directors. His teaching experience includes Holland's Royal Conservatory of the Hague, Australia's Victorian College of Art, Compañía Nacional de Danza and Opéra National de Lyon. He served as assistant artistic director of Compañía Nacional de Danza from 1990-94.

In October 1997, Vincent joined the creative team of Disneyland Paris as a concept designer and show director. He specialized in creating original concepts for corporate entertainment, press and gala events. Born in New Jersey, Vincent is both a U.S. and French citizen, speaks four languages and is married to France Nguyen, a former dancer with Nederlands Dans Theater, Compañía Nacional de Danza and Lyon Opéra Ballet, who is currently the Assistant to the Principal at Lycée Français de Chicago. They have three daughters, Léna, Claire and June.

Gail Kalver (Executive Director), a native Chicagoan, joined HSDC in 1984. She received a degree in music education from the University of Illinois (Champaign/Urbana) and a master's degree in clarinet from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. Kalver founded the Windy City Wind Ensemble and also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra and Grant Park Symphony. She joined the Ravinia Festival staff in 1976, where she became associate manager before joining HSDC. Kalver was also music consultant to the Peabody Award-winning National Radio Theatre. She has served on the boards of the Chicago Dance and Music Alliance, Dance/USA and the National Association of Performing Arts Managers and Agents and on numerous funding panels. She currently serves on the boards of the Illinois Arts Alliance, Chicago Dancers United and the Arts & Business Council, on the advisory councils of Dancers Responding to AIDS and on the Excellence in Dance Initiative Advisory Committee of the Chicago Community Trust. Kalver is the recipient of the Chicago Dance Coalition's 1988 Ruth Page Award, was recognized by Today's Chicago Woman in 1996 and has co-chaired Dance for Life and the Midwest Arts Conference. In 2003, Kalver was the recipient of the Arts & Business Council of Chicago's ABBY Award for Arts Management Excellence.

Lou Conte (HSDC Founder; Director, Lou Conte Dance Studio), after a performing career including Broadway musicals such as the original production of Bob Fosse's How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Cabaret and Mame, established the Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago in 1974. In 1977, he founded what is now Hubbard Street Dance Chicago with four dancers performing at senior citizens' homes in Chicago. In 2000, he retired as artistic director of HSDC but remains the director of the Lou Conte Dance Studio. Throughout his 23 years as the company's artistic director, Conte received numerous awards, including the Chicago Dance Coalition's inaugural Ruth Page Artistic Achievement Award in 1986, the Sidney R. Yates Arts Advocacy Award in 1995 and the Chicagoan of the Year award from Chicago magazine in 1999. In 2002, he was elected a Laureate for Lincoln Academy, the state's highest award for individual achievement. He has been credited by many for helping raise Chicago's international cultural profile and for creating a climate for dance in the city, where the art form now thrives.

Lucas Crandall (Artistic Associate) was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and began training in modern dance at the age of 14. After receiving several scholarships in the United States and serving as an apprentice with the Milwaukee Ballet, Crandall went to Europe to perform with the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève, Switzerland. In 1985, he joined Nederlands Dans Theater where he first worked with Jim Vincent, HSDC's current artistic director. After performing with Nederlands Dans Theater for two years, Crandall returned to the Ballet du Grand Théâtre, working with choreographers including Ohad Naharin, Jirí Kylián, Mats Ek and Christopher Bruce. In 1996 he became the company's rehearsal director, assisting choreographers including Oscar Araiz, Lionel Hoche, Amanda Miller, Toru Shimazaki and Etienne Frey, as well as rehearsing ballets by William Forsythe, David Parsons and Ohad Naharin. Since Crandall's arrival in August 2000, he has assisted choreographers such as Harrison McEldowney and Marguerite Donlon. He has also been on faculty with the Lou Conte Dance Studio, as well as ballet and repertory instructor for master classes throughout the United States. A choreographer since 1982, his pieces have been performed in a variety of countries including Switzerland, Italy, France, Canada and the United States. In 1999, Crandall was selected from 60 candidates to be one of six participants for the third SIWIC International Choreographic Workshop in Zürich, Switzerland. He created his first production for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, entitled Atelier, which premiered in March 2003.

Monica Trogani (Rehearsal Director) began dance training at age five, while studying ballet and jazz on scholarship at the New Jersey Ballet School, where she later became a company member and also performed with Dance Compass and the Inner City Dance Ensemble. In 1984, Trogani moved to New York City to study at the Neubert Ballet Institute at Carnegie Hall on scholarship, while studying classical voice technique and joined Dance Theatre of Long Island as a rehearsal assistant in 1985 and eventually became ballet mistress. In 1988, Trogani was invited as a guest to work with the Alberta Ballet in Canada before joining the company the following year as assistant to the artistic director, ballet mistress and dancer. Four years later, she joined Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montréal as ballet mistress before moving to Chicagoland with her husband Jay, who is a painter, and her children Esmé and Casey to become HSDC's rehearsal director in 2003. During her career, Trogani has worked on repertory Naharin, Hans by choreographers such as Jirí Kylián, Nacho Duato, George Balanchine, John Butler, Ohad van Manen, Mark Morris, Nils Christie, José Limon, Birgit Cullberg, Kevin O'Day, Itzik Galilli, Edouard Locke, Septime Webre, Didy Veldman, and many others. In collaboration with Roslyn Anderson, she has set Jirí Kylián's Sechs Tänze for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens as well as having set choreographies for Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ballet du Nord, and Ft. Worth-Dallas Ballet.

The Company

Shannon Alvis (Indianapolis, IN) trained at Jordan Academy of Dance at Butler University and at the University of Utah. She has performed with the Utah Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and the Chautauqua Ballet Company and has attended numerous summer programs including Boston Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, School of American Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Alvis joined Hubbard Street 2 in June 1998 and moved to the full company in June 2000.

Brian Corman (Fairfax, VA) began his dance training with Ken Ludden at the age of 11 and continued with Kirov Academy of Ballet at age 16. In 2000, Corman attended the Houston Ballet Academy where, after five months, he became a company member of the Houston Ballet, under the artistic direction of Ben Stevenson. In 2002, he performed with Compañía Nacional de Danza 2, under Artistic Director Nacho Duato. Corman is currently a history major through correspondence with UC Berkeley. He became an apprentice with HSDC in July 2003.

Tobin del Cuore (Norway, ME) began dancing at the age of 12 after studying acting, mime, juggling and acrobatics with a group of "New Vaudevillians" in Maine. In 1995 he was invited to begin his ballet training at the Walnut Hill School in Natick, Mass. Del Cuore attended the Juilliard School graduating in 2001 with a B.F.A. He joined Hubbard Street 2 in June 2001, became an apprentice with HSDC in January 2003 and a full company member in September 2003. Thanks to Bob, Cris, and Collin for their unwavering love and companionship.

Erin Derstine (Darien, IL) graduated with honors from the University of Chicago with a bachelor of arts in the history, philosophy, and social studies of science and medicine. She began her training with the Salt Creek Ballet and has performed with several Chicago dance companies. Derstine danced with Hubbard Street 2 for two years before becoming an apprentice with HSDC in January 2002 and a full company member in January 2003. She thanks her family and friends for their unconditional love and support.

Brian Enos (Cotati, CA) began his dance training at age 14 and has studied with the Houston Ballet Academy, Maria Vegh, the Santa Rosa Junior College and Sara Stuber. At age 18, he joined the Houston Ballet where he performed works by Trey McIntyre, David Parsons, Lila York, Ben Stevenson, Dominic Walsh, Priscilla Nathan-Murphy, James Kudelka and Fredrick Ashton. Enos performed with the Houston Ballet for two years before joining HSDC in July 2002.

Jay Franke (Tulsa, OK) began his formal dance training at the Arts Magnet High School in Dallas, TX. In 1993, he was a Finalist for Presidential Scholar in the Arts and accepted to the Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. Upon receiving his B.F.A. in dance, Franke joined THARP! and has since danced with HSDC, The 58 Group and the Lyric Opera Ballet Chicago. After choreographing numerous works and founding the Chicago Arts Project, Franke returned to HSDC in November 2002.

Taryn Kaschock (Harrisburg, PA) began her dance training at age four with Cumberland Dance Company. In 1992 and 1993, she received a scholarship to Boston Ballet Summer Program. Kaschock joined the Joffrey Ballet in 1995 and performed leading roles in Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring and John Cranko's Taming of the Shrew, and was the first woman to perform David Parsons' Caught outside of his own company. Kaschock joined HSDC in 2002. She would like to thank her loving and talented husband and family.

Charlene Katsuyoshi (Honolulu, HI) graduated from the University of California at Irvine with a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance performance. She performed with MOMIX before joining Hubbard Street 2 in June 1999. Katsuyoshi moved to the main company in September 1999. She would like to thank her wonderful family for their support and love.

Lisa Keskitalo (Houston, TX) received her early training at the Richmond Ballet and continued with the Maryland Youth Ballet and BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio. She has spent summers studying with the schools of the Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet and BalletMet. She joined Hubbard Street 2 in May 2000 and became an apprentice with the main company in January 2003. She would like to thank her mentors, family and friends for their support and inspiration.

Cheryl Mann (Orlando, FL) graduated from Point Park College in Pittsburgh and has performed with the Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera, Southern Ballet Theater in Orlando and at Florida's Walt Disney World. Mann danced with River North Chicago Dance Company for three years before joining HSDC in 1997. In 2003, Mann received the Artist Achievement Award by the Chicago Music and Dance Alliance for her performance in HSDC's Cor Perdut, by Nacho Duato. She adores her family for all of the inspiration and love a girl could ask for.

Jamy Meek (Lubbock, TX) received a Bachelor of Arts degree in performing arts from Oklahoma City University. Meek danced with Ballet Lubbock, Willis Ballet and the San Antonio Metropolis Ballet, joining HSDC in June 1996. He wants to thank everyone in his life for being such incredibly supportive people and for teaching him the value of true and unconditional friendship.

Mary Nesvadba (Houston, TX) began dancing at age three. She has studied with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, the Fort Worth Ballet, the School of American Ballet in NYC and was in Houston Ballet for one year. Nesvadba joined HSDC in 1991. She would love to thank her mom and dad for being true artists and Joey for all his love.

Massimo Pacilli (Torino, Italy) trained at the Torino School of Dance. After an early career in ballroom dancing, he relocated to New York City in 1993 and has since performed with Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, Elisa Monte, Complexions and Donald Byrd/The Group. He joined HSDC in 1999. He would like to thank M. Luna, his first teacher and guide, and Geoff for his love and support. Namaste.

Joseph P. Pantaleon (San Diego, CA) began his formal dance training at the age of 20, while pursuing a degree in clinical psychology at San Diego State University. During his dancing career, Pantaleon has performed with numerous companies in the Chicagoland area and has been a member of HSDC since 1993. He would like to thank the many teachers, friends and especially his family for inspiring and supporting him through his career.

Yarden Ronen (Tel-Aviv, Israel) began dancing at age 14 with Bat-Dor School of Dance where he later trained on full scholarship before performing as a soloist with the resident company until 2000. He has performed works by Lar Lubovitch, Nils Christe, Ann Reinking, Graciela Daniele, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Donlin Foreman, Ed Wubbe, Igal Perry, Ramon Oller, Peter Pucci, Gigi Caciuleanu, Philippe Trehet and Luciano Cannito. Ronen was a principal with both Ballet Hispanico of New York and Buglisi/Foreman Dance prior to joining Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in August 2004.

Yael Levitin Saban (Haifa, Israel) trained in her native Israel, where she danced with the Haifa Ballet for three years. In 1991, she joined Bat-Dor Dance Company as a principal dancer. In 1992, Saban represented Israel at the Paris Opera Dance Soloist Competition, receiving a silver medal for her performance. In the U.S., she worked with Complexions, Connecticut Ballet and Ballet Hispanico of New York City before joining HSDC in August 1999. She would like to thank Yuval for his love and support.

Patrick Simoniello (Los Angeles, CA) began training at 11 in Huntington Beach, California. At 17, Simoniello took a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School Summer Program in NYC and joined Tulsa Ballet Theatre upon completion. In January 1993, he joined the Joffrey II Dancers before being promoted to the Joffrey Ballet in May 1994. He performed works including Robert Joffrey's The Nutcracker, Fredrick Ashton's Monotones II and Agnes De Mille's Rodeo before joining HSDC in 2002. He thanks Momma for believing in any gifts he has to give.

Isaac Spencer (Worcester, MA) began dancing at nine with the Joan Sheary Dance Centre and later graduated from Walnut Hill School for the Arts. In 2004, Spencer earned a B.F.A. from the Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy and Lawrence Rhodes. He has danced works by José Limón, Antony Tudor, Jirí Kylián, Nacho Duato, Ohad Naharin, Lar Lubovitch and Crystal Pite. Spencer has performed with such companies as Batsheva Dance Ensemble and Aszure and Artists. He was the recipient of the 2003 Princess Grace Award and became an apprentice with HSDC's main company in July 2004.

Lauri Stallings (Gainesville, FL) loves the discovery process of moving through space. Prior to joining HSDC three seasons ago, Stallings danced with Canada's Ballet British Columbia, as well as BalletMet and Cleveland/San Jose Ballet. She looks forward to one day giving back to the arts all the generosity and artistry that she has received. Dr. Freddie Fu and Dr. Jonathan Mackoff, ten folds of gratitude, for your healing hands have me here today.

Christopher Tierney (Madrid, Spain) has trained with Betty Seibert, Deborah Guibbord, National Ballet School of Canada, Houston Ballet Academy and Ballet New England where he started his professional career. He joined Hubbard Street 2 in September 1999, became an apprentice with HSDC in January 2002 and became a full company member in January 2003.

Robyn Mineko Williams (Lombard, IL) began dancing at age five under the direction of Yvonne Brown Collodi. She continued studying dance at the Lou Conte Dance Studio on full scholarship from 1993-95. Williams danced with River North Chicago Dance Company for four years before becoming an apprentice with HSDC in June 2000. She became a full member of HSDC in September 2001. Thank you to her mom, dad and brother, J.T. "I love you."

Julia Wollrab (St. Louis, MO) studied at the National Ballet School of Canada in Toronto and entered the National Ballet of Canada in 1987, later becoming a soloist. In 1995 she joined the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève and performed the works of Amanda Miller, Ohad Naharin, Michel Kelemenis, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe and Maguy Marin, among others. Wollrab became a member of HSDC in September 2002.

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Lou Conte Dance Studio

Named "Best Dance Class for Adults" by Chicago magazine, we offer more than 60 classes per week for adults and teens in ballet, jazz, modern, African, tap, hip-hop/funk and dance fitness taught by Chicago's finest dance and musical artists.

1147 W. Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60607
For class information call (312) 850-9766
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Lou Conte Dance Studio
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Chicago, IL 60655
For class information call (773) 445-3838

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Special Note on Max Abramovitz

1908-2004

Max Abramovitz, the architect of Hancher Auditorium, died on Sunday, September 12 in his home in Pound Ridge, NY. Mr. Abramovitz was 96.

Mr. Abramovitz was best known for the design of the controversial Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. With his longtime partner Wallace K. Harrison, he had a hand in the United Nations complex as well as several well known buildings in New York City's midtown area. He was also the architect of the Krannert Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.

But for Iowans, Abramovitz will be remembered for his transformation of the west side of the Iowa River into the arts campus of The University of Iowa. In addition to Hancher Auditorium which opened in 1972, he was the architect of the School of Music, the Museum of Art and the addition to the Theatre Building.

Abramovitz was particularly proud of Hancher. From a technical perspective, the building was the largest at the time to be constructed as a "space frame" with the support around the perimeter. James Wochenfuss, Hancher's first executive director, described the special construction technique. "As the workmen bolted each level together, the building literally lifted itself. The inside was filled with scaffolding, and you could see a huge skeleton of angle iron that worked like one giant truss." Abramovitz also took special pride in the lobby which he felt was the best and most gracious he had ever done.

On Hancher's opening night, Darrell Wyrick, then the executive director of The University of Iowa Foundation, stood with Mr. Abramovitz as patrons from across the state poured into the gleaming auditorium. The New York City architect turned to the university fund-raiser and said, "The cultural life of Iowa will never be the same."

For many Iowans, this building will be his legacy.

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