Choreographers: Richard Grund, Michel Rodriguez Cintra, and Monique Haley
Scenic Designer: Alicia Margerum
Costume Designer: Christina Leinicke
Lighting Designer: Brandon Wardell
Properties Designer: Ski Sciaraffa
Stage Manager: Gwen Jones
Assistant Stage Manager: Madie Barnas

Runtime for the concert is 75 minutes with no intermission.

Flames of Paris – Act III Pas de Deux
Choreographer: Vasily Vaynonen (1933)
Staged by: Richard Grund
Music: Boris Asafiev
Costume Design: Randall Newsom
Lighting Designer: Brandon Wardell
Performers:
Jeanne – Alyssa Altadonna
Philippe – Antonio Houston

Choreographer’s note:
A three-act ballet about the passionate conflagration of the French Revolution, Flames of Paris feeds upon the danger of history, showcasing the command of flight and speed in ballet technique. The Act III Pas de Deux, is a celebration of marriage and a war over.

<3
Choreographer: Richard Grund
Music: Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor, Johann Sebastian Bach, recomposed by Peter Gregson
Once Upon A Time In America, Ennio Morricone
Celloverse, Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser
Costume Designer: Christina Leinicke
Lighting Designer: Brandon Wardell
Performers:
Ensemble: Celia Carpenter, Millicent Collins, Courtney Ellis,
Anna Lindstrom, Francesca Ryan, Talia Sigismondi and Kendall Woodberry
Duet: Millicent Collins and Talia Sigismondi

Choreographer’s note:
An original abstract work in the language of contemporary ballet, creating space.

Curtain Announcement

Walls Within
Choreographer: Michel Rodriguez Cintra
Music: Danza de vision by Nicola Cruz, Reich/Richter: Ending by Steve Reich, performed by George Jackson. Ensemble InterContemporain, Invocacion by Nicola Cruz
Costume Designer: Christina Leinicke
Lighting Designer: Brandon Wardell
Performers:
Alyssa Altadonna, Celia Carpenter, Athei Chagai, and Darya Ellickson

Choreographer’s note:
Walls to keep us in. Walls to keep us out.

El Largo Camino
Choreographer: Michel Rodriguez Cintra
Music: Oye by Systema Solar
Amenaza by Systema Solar
Lighting Designer: Brandon Wardell
Performers:
Clara Coran, Ava Martin, Thomas Readling, Francesca Ryan, Toby Thomas, Kyia White and Kendall Woodberry.
Choreographer’s note:
A group of creatures find themselves on a treacherous trek.

ROOT: mwanzo wa mwili ni roho (2019)
Choreographer: Monique Haley
Music: Original music composition: Joe Cerqua
Staging: Brennen Renteria
Rehearsal Director: Marc Macaranas
Composition: Joe Cerqua
Original Costume Design: Jordan Ross
Reimagined Costume Design: Christina Leinicke
Lighting Design: David Goodman-Edberg
Reimagined Lighting Design: Brandon Wardell
Performers:
Kemarion Bryant, Athei Chagai, Millicent Collins, Darya Ellickson, Courtney Ellis, Antonio Houston, Daquise McDonald, Darius Murray, Talia Sigismondi, Tianna Stubbs, and Ariana Williams

Choreographer’s note:
Monique Haley was inspired by West African maxims from a book titled African Cultural Values: An Introduction by Kwame Gyekye. Her ancestral pull toward this African-centered foundation led to a powerfully rooted piece of art. This signature piece expresses Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre’s core value of diversity—that the health and beauty of a community are supported by each member contributing their authentic selves.

Alyssa Altadonna is a third-year B.F.A. dance performance major. Before joining the NIU School of Theatre and Dance, she lived in England, training at Cygnets and Hazelwood Dance studios. Before moving to England, she lived in Germany where she trained in the Netherlands with Danziara. Since coming to the U.S., Alyssa has had the opportunity to be in many performances and hopes you will enjoy tonight’s show! After graduating, Alyssa hopes to move back to Europe and join a company, particularly, she hopes to gain a position in the Dutch National Ballet Company.

Kemarion Bryant is a sophomore B.F.A. dance major with a business minor. He danced and put on productions with Global Girls Incorporated for three years who went by the motto: “Courageous Talented Girls (And Guys) Changing Our World.” The fall Carmina Burana show was his first production show at NIU. This is his third production he’s been a part of. Kemarion plans to graduate in the spring of 2026, and hopes to be a well-known background dancer for celebrities and/or in movies. He then hopes to grow
into a choreographer, open his own studio and break off into other business adventures later down the line.

Celia Carpenter is a senior B.F.A dance major. Her dance training includes Beth Fowler School of Dance, State Street Dance (Geneva, Illinois with Guillermo Leyva and Vilma Machin), Dimensions Dance Academy, and Sycamore Performing Arts Academy. She looks to get her master’s in physical education with endorsements in math, science, and dance. Celia is excited to have the opportunity to be performing again for her fourth semester here at NIU.

Athei Chagai is a junior at NIU from Clinton, Iowa. Athei is a B.F.A. dance major and has been dancing for the past 17 years. Before NIU, Athei received most of her dance training at the Carousel School of Dance in Clinton, Iowa, where she was also a member of the Gateway Contemporary Ballet Company. Athei has also attended summer dance programs such as Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Ballet Quad Cities School of Dance, and Milwaukee Ballet School. Athei is very excited to be back performing in this 2023-2024 school year.

Millicent Collins is a junior B.F.A. dance major, and plans to earn a minor in non-profit and NGO studies. Before attending NIU, Millicent trained with Turning Pointe Academy of Dance, in Maryville, Illinois, and was a member of TourDance pre-professional dance company. She performed in the Student Elevate Project with The Big Muddy Dance Company in St. Louis, Missouri, 2018-2021. Millicent has participated in summer intensives with The Big Muddy Dance Company, COCA St. Louis, Nashville Ballet, and DanceWorks Chicago. In 2018 and 2019, she performed in Dance For Food, an outreach performance to benefit the St. Louis Area Food Bank. Post-graduation from NIU, Millicent hopes to combine her love of social justice, community outreach, and the performing arts, to help others and inspire them through dance.

Clara Coran (she/her) is excited to be a part of this year’s Fall Dance Concert. Her past dance training includes Elise Flagg Academy of Dance, Ballet 5:8 Conservatory, and Beth Fowler School of Dance. She has also performed as a member of the Embody Dance Company in Geneva. She thanks you for coming and hopes you enjoy the show!

Darya Ellickson is a senior B.F.A. dance major with an English minor from DeForest, Wisconsin. She danced at Ultimate Leap Dance Center for nine years and also performed with DeForest, a show choir, for four years. In the summer of 2021, Darya attended the Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre Summer Intensive program in Chicago and in December of 2021 and 2022, Darya performed for the Spirit of the Horse equestrian show in Lake City, Florida. In addition, Darya held the role of Northern Dance Theatre secretary for three semesters and now holds the role of Northern Dance Theatre president. Darya plans to graduate in spring of 2024 and hopes to work on Broadway or dance with Disney.

Courtney Ellis is a 17-year-old dance major originally from a small Illinois town near St. Louis, Missouri. She’s been a dance teacher for three and a half years, and danced with Stompin Beatz professional dance company through her three years in high school. She would like to thank God, her professors, the special people in her life, and especially her mom and her late father. Enjoy the show!

Antonio Houston is a 20-year-old third-year B.F.A. in the dance program here at Northern Illinois University. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, Antonio started dancing at his local park district at the age of five. Not long after, he joined their competition company. After a while dancing at the District he studio-hopped until around the age of sixteen. After that, Antonio started dancing in the city. He has been a part of Ballet Chicago and an understudy at MADD Rhythms; a professional tap company based in Chicago. Through this, he got the opportunity to travel overseas to the U.K. with the company for a tap festival. Antonio is also a working photographer. During the spring seasons he works for a dance competition named Precision Arts Challenge shooting the photos for the competition dancers. His passion is for tap but he enjoys doing many different styles of mainstream dance. Now that he is in school, he is training less in tap and more in ballet and modern. He enjoys these styles and is always striving to get better so he can confidently add them to his ever growing list of dance trades.

Anna Lindstrom is a junior B.F.A. dance major. Anna is from Morrison, Illinois, and danced at Jennifer’s Dance Center for 14 years and continues to help and teach students there. She trained in multiple styles with special interest in contemporary modern with a background in clogging. During high school, she was involved with the dance team where she choreographed many routines and competed in high kick. She was also involved with Summer Stock Theatre at Timberlake Playhouse which included many dance ensemble roles. Last December, Anna was able to perform in Spirit of the Horse in Ocala, Florida, a show choreographed by Paula Frasz that benefits the nonprofit organization, Horses Without Humans Rescue. Post graduation, Anna plans to teach and choreograph for younger dancers, work with athletes to incorporate dancing in athletics, and try out for NFL cheerleading to continue her love of field performing.

Ava Martin is a second-year illustration major and dance minor attending Northern Illinois University. She has taken dance since she was three and jumped into the competitive dance scene at the age of nine. As a competitive dancer, she won multiple scholarships and titles for her performances. She has been certified to teach ballet, tap, and jazz through the Southern Association of Dance Masters (fall 2020), and was able to take on the role of dance teacher at her home studio, Kinner and Company Dance Studio, for a year and a half following her certification. Following high school, she took a year off from intense training, but then rekindled her passion for dance by becoming more involved in NIU’s dance program. After college, she hopes to work for a performance company and/or as an independent choreographer in addition to her illustration career.

Daquise McDonald is a third-year dance major at Northern Illinois University. They started dancing at the age of 12 just freestyling. Once high school came, they started to join dance teams to get a bit of experience. Throughout the years it helped them grow. They aspire to one day become a drag artist and they are using NIU to gain all the tools needed to succeed.

Darius Murray is from Chicago, Illinois, and is a 20-year-old dance major who currently attends Northern Illinois University. Darius began his journey on to dance at the age of three, performing at various functions as well as church with praise and worship dance. Darius began his professional dance career at ETA Creative Arts, located in Chicago, Illinois, where he studied hip-hop, modern, West African, and majorette dance. He recently graduated from the Chicago High School for the Arts where he studied various dance styles such as ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, African, Spanish, and hip-hop dance. He received many rewards, such as the honor roll student back in 2018, as well as the scholar artist of the year from 2019 to 2020. Darius’ dream in life is to open up his own dance studio and be a choreographer as well.

Thomas Readling is a 19-year-old dance major here at Northern Illinois University. He has been dancing since third grade and has loved it ever since. Everything from regular class, tech week, performances, costumes, and all the in between. Before dancing at NIU, Thomas was involved at the Academy of Movement and Music where he got his ballet, Graham, and modern training. Thomas has also danced for his high school company, Orchesis, and even Salt Creek Ballet. He is extremely excited to put his experience to use at the NIU dance company and see where it takes him next!

Francesca Ryan is a first-year dance major and has been dancing since she was three-years-old. She has background training in numerous different dance styles. Prior to dancing at NIU, Francesca trained at Studio 83 Dance Academy. Growing up some of her favorite shows she performed in include The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland. This is her first performance at NIU, and she is looking forward to many more shows in the future.

Talia Sigismondi is a sophomore B.F.A. dance major at NIU. Talia started dancing at the age of three at the Academy of Movement and Music in Oak Park, Illinois. She was also a part of Momenta Dance Company where she had the opportunity to perform in ballet, contemporary, and the modern techniques of Doris Humphrey and Martha Graham. In 2019, Talia traveled to Cuba where she trained at the Pro Danza dance school and performed at Teatro Nacional De Cuba. She also enjoys teaching ballet and sharing her love of dance with young students. Talia is thankful for all the support from friends, family, and the NIU dance faculty. Talia is very excited to dance in the upcoming dance concerts.

Tianna Stubbs was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She is now in her senior year here at NIU, pursuing her dance career as a dance major. Tianna started dancing at the age of four, starting out at Mayfair Dance Academy. She then attended Walter H. Dyett High School For The Arts, trained under Stephaine Kawesch, where she got a lot of exposure, all while being a majorette captain for three years. Due to the training, experience, and exposure, Tianna was more than prepared to start her college career. Since she has been on campus, she has joined a dance organization on campus and was granted the vice president position. This opportunity was a great leadership and business experience. This is Tianna’s last year and she has grown tremendously as a dancer, choreographer, and person. She is excited to showcase her skills in the piece she is cast in.

Toby Thomas is a senior at NIU and is a double major (B.F.A. in dance; B.S. in art), from Normal, Illinois. He then moved to Rockford, Illinois in 2014, where he found his love for dance. Prior to attending NIU, Toby danced as a member at Rockford Dance Company from 2014 to 2018. He trained in ballet with artistic director, Penna Browman, while also attending Rock Valley College working on receiving his associate in arts degree, before he transferred to NIU for his B.F.A. During the seasons, Toby has taught dance to elementary students and middle school students in the after school program where he worked with the Boys and Girls Club from 2017-2020 in Rockford, Illinois. Toby has also performed in productions of Nutcracker and has danced in Russian as a party parent in previous Nutcrackers. Toby has also danced as a gargoyle in Snow White and had the lead role of Prince Lemon in Cipollino with Rockford Dance Company. Toby has also danced in the production of Dracula where he danced the lead role of Doctor Van Helsing. He has also performed with Dimensions Dance Academy in DeKalb, Illinois, in the production of Coppelia as one of the princes. Toby also has performed in Dance of the Decades with Beth Fowler Dance Company in St. Charles, Illinois, dancing the lead role of Michael Jackson in Thriller, and in the Nutcracker ballet where he danced in Spanish Couples, Waltz of the Flowers, and as Spanish Chocolate Couples. Toby proudly has also recently been nominated for the 2023 Performing Arts award from the Rockford Arts Awards. After graduating from NIU with his B.F.A., Toby’s dream is to dance with Alvin Ailey Dance Company in New York, or dance at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Kyia White is a sophomore dance major here at NIU pursuing her dance career. Kyia started dancing when she was five-years-old. She is a hip-hop dancer trying to learn new things so in the future she will be an amazing dancer. When she was in middle school, Kyia decided she wanted to act and make her own music in the future as well, she decided when she graduates from college, she will start making more music and showing it to the world for them to hear.

Ariana Williams began dancing when she was four-years-old. Since then, she has participated in many genres of dance such as ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and liturgical dancing. Ariana is currently a junior studying dance performance. After college, she plans on becoming a commercial dancer and a professional dance choreographer. In addition, she wants to own a dance studio. Ariana would like to give thanks to her mother, grandmother, family and friends and most importantly God for supporting her through her journey.

Kendall Woodberry is a junior dance major, a Chicago native, and a graduate of Walter Payton College Prep who has been studying dance since the age of five. Matriculating the Ruth Page Center of Performing Arts, her training included classical ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and Afro-Cuban. Kendall has performed in many dance productions throughout the years and is looking forward to being involved in even more productions here at NIU.

Richard Grund (Choreographer) Richard Grund’s performing career includes principal and soloist roles in over 40 ballets in the Dayton Ballet repertoire, and tours throughout the U.S. and Canada. Other international credits include dancing by invitation with the Finnish National Ballet, and performing a residency in Cuba commissioned through the Harkness Foundation. His credits include director and répétiteur for Hong Kong Ballet Artistic Director Septime Webre’s productions of Romeo and Juliet, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, and Carmen ballets, for the Colorado Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Royal Winnipeg Ballet companies. His research in learner centered ballet teaching practices awarded him the M.A. degree in education from the Royal Academy of Dance, and the University of Bath, and he is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 7 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Richard is an associate professor of dance at Northern Illinois University, and is on faculty at the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Chicago, Illinois.

Monique Haley (Choreographer) is an accomplished dancer, teacher and choreographer. She endured nine memorable years with the River North Chicago Dance, as well as created and performed in theaters such as the Drury Lane Oakbrook, Paramount Aurora, and the Marriot Lincolnshire. Ms. Haley was the recipient of the 3Arts award in 2012. Currently, she is assistant professor at Western Michigan University, teaching jazz dance curriculum and working with the musical theater students.

Gwen Jones (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be stage managing for the first time at her alma mater, having graduated in May from Northern Illinois University with a B.F.A. in dance performance and a minor in special education. As a B.F.A. Dance Service Award winner, she has had the opportunity to appear in pieces such as Rite of Spring, Carmina Burana, Pas de Quatre as Fanny Cerrito, as well as Spirit of the Horse in Ocala, Florida with the Pas de Cheval dancers. In school, Gwen had the opportunity to choreograph for individuals with disabilities through Penguin Players, as well as direct student-led shows. Currently, Gwen dances with the Merkai Dance Company in Aurora, Illinois. After her professional performance career, she plans to teach classes for individuals with disabilities.

Christina Leinicke (Costume Designer) Off Broadway: Othello: the Remix (Westside Theater). Regional credits: Bayard, Freedom Riders, Legendary, Walt & Roy (Allen & Gray Musical Festival), Dressing the Part (Shakespeare Festival St. Louis), Big Fish, A Little Night Music, Cyrano (BoHo Theatre), Notes & Letters, Proxy, Haymarket, Wife Material (Underscore), Birds of a Feather, Machinal (Greenhouse Theatre Center), Long Way Home (CCC), Shakespeare in Love, I Heart Juliet, Q-Gents (ISF), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Deathtrap (Palace Theatre), The Importance of Being Earnest (ASC), Star Girl (FSM). Educational Tours: Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet (USF). Costume shop and design associate, Paramount Theatre, Aurora. M.F.A. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. christinaleinicke.com

Marc Macaranas (Choreographer) is a choreographer, media designer and dance futurist. His creative practice includes choreography for proscenium stages and digital screens, projection and installation design, augmented and virtual reality performances, and Spotify canvases. His choreography has been staged for DanceWorks Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Big Muddy Dance Company and has been seen in Chicago, St. Louis, Iowa City and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. He is an assistant professor at Northern Illinois University and an ensemble member of Lucky Plush Productions.

Alicia Margerum (Scenic Designer) is a second-year M.F.A. student at Northern Illinois University studying scenic design. Credits include: Red, Once On This Island, and All American Boys at Mississippi State University where she completed her undergraduate degree, and Big Love at Northern Illinois University.

Brennen Renteria received his B.A. in dance at CSU, Fullerton in 2014 under mentorship of Gladys Kares and Debra Noble, performing works by Louis Kavouras and Colin Connor. In 2014 he joined Thodos Dance Chicago, working with Brian Enos, Lucas Crandall, Garfield Lemonius, Brian McGinnis, Kevin Iega Jeff, Melissa Thodos, and Ann Reinking. In 2017, Brennen began dancing with Elements Contemporary Ballet and Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, where he has since assumed the position of rehearsal director.

Wilfredo Rivera is a co-founder of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, artistic director and CEO since 2007. He is responsible for the evolution of CRDT’s bold multicultural program and for establishing the company’s authentic interdisciplinary trademark. He is a rare Latinx artist serving as full-time arts leader. Every season he carefully selects the leading collaborators and thematic concepts for Cerqua Rivera’s season and curates the company’s artistic process. He leads and manages all aspects of long-term planning and day-to-day administration of the 20+ year old company. Decades as a working artist forged Wilfredo’s belief that only a diverse group can create the artwork for which the company is known—eclectic, culturally rich, deeply moving, utterly relevant.

In 2016, he launched his most ambitious artistic project to date, American Catracho. This four-year exploration of immigration premiered in segments and debuted to critical acclaim in celebration of Cerqua Rivera’s 20th anniversary in 2019. Wilfredo was born in Honduras, trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and was a founding member of River North Dance Chicago. He was honored with the 2009 Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation Choreography Award, a 2001 After Dark Award and nominated for a 3Arts Award in 2016 and 2018.

His concert work has been featured at the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Harris Theater, Chicago Symphony Center with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Ruth Page Center for the Arts, DuSable Museum, Links Hall and Mayne Stage.

Michel Rodriguez Cintra (Choreographer) is a Cuban born dancer, choreographer, acrobat, actor, and educator. He graduated from Escuela Nacional de Arte (National School of Arts) in Havana, Cuba. Upon graduation he was chosen to join Danza Contemporánea de Cuba where he became principal dancer and toured internationally. After moving to Chicago, Rodriguez Cintra danced and choreographed with Hedwig Dances. Michel later became an ensemble member with Lucky Plush Productions, generating multiple roles in their signature devised dance-theater style, and touring nationally and internationally. Michel was a founding member of The Cambrians where he performed and co-choreographed and toured nationally. He has been seen as a guest artist with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Concert Dance Inc., Khecari and Chicago Moving Company. Other choreographic credits include Visceral Dance Company, Dancing in the Parks, and Lit & Luz Festival Chicago-Mexico City, LatinX Chicago Arts Festival, The Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, and at the Latino Artist Festival at Northwestern University. Acting credits include the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, Physical Theater Festival Chicago, Actors Gymnasium, and Lookingglass Theater Company. Other accolades; Michel was named one of The Men of 2010 in dance by Timeout Chicago. In 2013, he was the recipient of the 3Arts Award in Dance and was featured in Dance Magazine’s 25 to watch 2014. Michel joined the faculty of the School of Theater and Dance at Northern Illinois University in January 2023.

Ski Sciaraffa (Properties Designer) is a first-year M.F.A. costume and props design candidate. Though they have worked in the shops at NIU for several shows in the past year, they are excited to have their first official design credit as a graduate student be this show! Previous works include costume craftsperson for The Three Musketeers (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks) and She Kills Monsters (NIU 2022); draper and stitcher for The Children’s Hour (NIU 2023); props designer for Just a Dream: The Green Play (Augustana College) and Anon(ymous) (NEIU); and costume designer for The Actor’s Garden’s productions of Becky Thatcher, Off to Olympus, Just So, and Pots & Pan. They would like to thank their family, friends, professors, and colleagues for their immense love and support.

Alexander F. Adducci (Emeritus)
Richard Arnold (Emeritus)
S.Alan Chelser (Emeritus)
Kaitlyn Cheng
Judith Chitwood (Emerita)
Gibson Cima
Roxanna Conner
Stanton Davis
Frankie DiCiaccio
David Doherty
Lila H. Dole (Emerita)
Jeremy W. Floyd
Paula Frasz (Emerita)
Elizabeth Galba
Kent Gallagher (Emeritus)
Kathryn Gately (Emerita)
Alexander Gelman
Richard Grund
Lori Hartenhoff
Kathryn Hubbard (Emerita
)Jennifer Ingle-Grund
Paul Kassel
Chris Kurszewski
Marc Macaranas
Bethany Mangum-Oles
Christopher J. Markle (Emeritus)
Lorri Marshall
Kay Martinovich
Terrence McClellan (Emeritus)
Ken Miller
Randall Newsom (Emeritus)
Tracy Nunnally
Matt O’Brien
Melanie Parks (Emerita)
Donald W. Polzin (Emeritus)
Richard Poole (Emeritus)
Adam Rager
Patricia Ridge (Emerita)
Deborah Robertson (Emerita)
Michel Rodriguez Cintra
Sahin Sahinoglu
Stephanie Sailer
Robert Schneider
Sarita Smith Childs
Willa Taylor
Jere Tulk (Emerita)
Emily Vitrano
Brandon Wardell