Napoli – Act III

Choreography: August Bournonville
Adaptation and Directing: Richard Grund
Music: Edvard Helsted, Holger Simon Oaulli, Hans Christian Lumbye
Premiere: March 29, 1842 Royal Danish Theatre, Copenhagen Denmark
Lighting Design: Brandon Wardell
Costume Design: Elias Dennis 

Performers: Mercedes Buchanan, Clara Coran, Catherine Cummings, Teresa Dingman, Ivan Flores, Chloe Franklin, Sydney Ketterman, Aubrey McGee, Dion Morris, Thomas Readling, Francesca Ryan, Kalin Schaefer, Talia Sigismondi, Sophia Testa 

Mavelyn Terry, understudy 

Gallup
Everyone

Pas de Cinq
Catherine Cummings, Teresa Dingman, Dion Morris, Thomas Readling, Talia Sigismondi

Meno Mosso
Catherine Cummings, Teresa Dingman, Talia Sigismondi

Allegro Vivo
Clara Coran, Aubrey McGee, Francesca Ryan

Allegro non Troppo
Thomas Readling

First Allegretto
Teresa Dingman

Polonaise
Catherine Cummings

Second Allegretto
Talia Sigismondi

Pas de Cinq Coda
Catherine Cummings, Teresa Dingman, Dion Morris, Thomas Readling, Talia Sigismondi

Tarantella
Everyone

—–Five Minute Pause —– 

States of Change 

Choreography:  Michel Rodríguez Cintra
Rehearsal Director: Michel Rodríguez Cintra
Music: Gustavo Santaolalla & Juan Luqui;  Nicola Cruz
Lighting Design: Ross Wheeler
Costume Design: Kylee Galarneau

Performers: Teresa Dingman, Alice Duncan, Antonio Houston, Kiavanae Kelly 

Choreography: Sarita Smith Childs
Rehearsal Director: Darius Murray
Music:
Lighting Design: Kev Kollmann
Costume Design: Lori Hartenhoff 

Performers: Clara Coran, Catherine Cummings, Chloe Franklin, Chamayze Hall, Antonio Houston, Ava Martin, I’Yanna Miller, Vivian Petersen, Thomas Readling, Francesca Ryan, Talia Sigismondi, Stephanie Tenorio Zavala, Toby Thomas, Kai White, Kendall Woodberry 

—–Five Minute Pause —– 

On to the Other 

Choreography:  Original Idea and Choreography by Elijah Motley in collaboration with the Chicago Dance Crash ensemble
Reset and additional choreography by KC Bevis in collaboration with Phillip Wood and the cast
Staged by: KC Bevis and Phill Wood
Music: Slow Hot Wind by Penny Goodwin
Original Sound Score: e j e c t; I mulini del riccordi (feat. Esperanza Spalding)
Lighting Design: Ross Wheeler
Original Costume Design: Design by Chicago Dance Crash team, Elijah Motley, KC Bevis, and L2Klothing
Costumes Reimagined by: Jeremy W. Floyd 

Performers: Aashyrah Bennet, Alice Duncan, Antonio Houston, Kiavanae Kelly, Ava Martin, Irismichelle Martinez-Garcia, Aubrey McGee, Dion Morris, Vivian Petersen, Jaelynn Rivera, Aja Sanders, Naija Sherwood, Toby Thomas, Stephanie Tonorio Zavala, Kai White, Kendall Woodberry 

States of Change

Michel Rodríguez Cintra: Early in the creation process, the idea of water continued to resurface. The choreographer and dancers focused on their different states as a starting point to convey emotion and tension. 

Remembering Who We Are

Sarita Smith Childs:  Remembering Who We Are is a journey to remember who we are; what we stand for;  what we can be to each other and ourselves; and how we can reclaim our joy and personal power.  It is an exploration of how we can resist overwhelming outside influences and to return to the empathy necessary to support our communities and ourselves

Aashyrah Bennett

Mercedes Buchanan

Clara Coran

Clara Coran (she/her) is in her final year as a B.F.A. dance performance major at Northern Illinois University. Past performance credits include Fall Dance Concert (2023), Spring Dance Concert (2024), Paquita (2024), and Spring Dance Concert (2025). Before attending NIU, she trained with Elise Flagg Academy of Dance, Ballet 5:8’s conservatory program, and Beth Fowler School of Dance. She has also performed as a member of the Embody Dance Company in Geneva, Illinois. This year she participated in Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s EXPLORE summer intensive and co-directed Northern Dance Theater’s 2025 Student Choreographic Showcase. She thanks you for coming and hopes that you enjoy the show.  

Catherine Cummings

Catherine Cummings is a second-year political science major and dance minor from Mankato, Minnesota. She began dance at the age of three and has trained with Ballet Blake and Mankato Ballet Company. She has performed in NIU’s Paquita and Spring Dance Concert. Catherine thanks her friends and family for their unwavering support! 

Teresa Dingman

Teresa Dingman is currently a sophomore B.F.A. dance performance major at Northern Illinois University. Before coming to NIU, she trained at Chicago Ballet Arts under the instruction of Patti Eylar, Leslie Saunders, and Maliwan Diemer where she trained in and performed classical ballet repertoire. So far, Teresa has performed in two faculty dance concerts, Art For Life, and SCS during her time at NIU. She is so excited for the opportunity to keep performing and collaborating with such inspiring faculty and peers. She’d also like to thank her family and close ones for their unwavering support throughout her dance journey. She hopes you enjoy the show! 

Alice Duncan-Abushalback

Alice Duncan-Abushalback (she/her) is a recently transferred junior at NIU, majoring in dance. She has studied at many different schools, including Plainfield Dance Academy, Ballet 5:8, and Marymount Manhattan College. She’s participated in ballet-focused intensives such as A&A Ballet, Master Ballet Academy, The Bolshoi Ballet, and The Rock Center for Dance. 

Ivan Flores

Ivan Flores is a senior B.F.A. dance major at NIU, freelance dancer and choreographer of Hispanic descent. In childhood, he started exploring art by participating in several school festivals and performances in Mexico City. At the age of 13, he moved to Illinois where he discovered his passion in self-taught choreography by creating dances for high school and quinceañera events. After attending his first dance-technique classes at College of Lake County, he decided to pursue dance as a full-time career. In 2013, he established LatinoXpressions (LTX) dance, the first Latin dance studio in the Round Lake area. LTX’s focus is on Latin-inspired dance choreography for quinceañeras, weddings and community events. Ivan continues his dance passion by teaching Latin dance classes and workshops as well as choreographing for various events and dance concerts. He plans to use his studies at NIU to expand on his network and his artistic and pedagogic portfolio. 

Chloe Franklin

Chloe Franklin is a first-year B.F.A. dance major at Northern Illinois University. Her journey started around age 10 at the Academy of Ballet Wauconda near her hometown in McHenry, Illinois. Here, she trained in ballet, pointe, lyrical, and contemporary and competed with the elite competition team for two years. She was also a member of her high school varsity dance team for four years, participating in both competitive and sideline dancing. She enjoys preforming dance and teaching dance at her home studio. Chloe looks forward to teaching after graduation and working towards owning her own studio one day! 

Chamayze Hall

Chamayze Hall, known as Maz, is a multidisciplinary artist and performer whose work blends technical precision with expressive movement. As a dance and art major with a military science minor, she brings both discipline and creativity to the stage. Maz proudly serves as president of Idol Club, where she leads performances that celebrate K-Pop and contemporary dance culture. She is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and enjoys taking and teaching heels dance classes, using dance as a tool for empowerment and self-expression.

Antonio Houston

Antonio Houston is a dance artist based in the Chicagoland area. He is currently completing his senior year of his B.F.A. in dance program at Northern Illinois University. Originally from Aurora, Illinois, he has received dance training from Ballet Chicago, Von Heidecke, Next Generation Ballet, Madd Rhythms, Chicago Tap Theatre, and many local dance studios. His primary passion lies in tap dancing, but he also harbors a keen interest in exploring various conventional and unconventional dance styles. Once Antonio graduates, his next steps are with Chicago Tap Theater. There he will be a trainee dancer with the company and get the opportunity to take classes and preform. Additionally, Antonio is a photographer and videographer. His unique perspective on movement enables him to create captivating images and videos primarily within the dance scene. If you would like to check out his work his Instagram is @Ant._.ography. 

Kiavanae Kelly

Kiavanae Kelly says, “For as long as I can remember I always danced anywhere for different reasons whether happy or sad. I thank my mother for how far I’ve come considering her support on every little thing I did. She said I was creative and unique in my own way. Those were words I had never heard.  I didn’t know what they meant but they sounded special. Sometimes I could not find anything to smile about, so I’d bump the music and let my body take over. The more I grew up, the more I wanted to be free. Soon enough, I learned what my freedom outlets were; Christ, singing, and dancing. I‘ve run to Christ and singing at full speed with no limitation and now dance has opened an experimental door for me. I know I’ve told my story through dance before but not with technique, skill, and routine. With so much talent around me I wonder what kind of story I’m great at expressing.” 

Sydney Ketterman

Sydney Ketterman is a sophomore at NIU studying general elementary education with a minor in dance. This is her first dance production at NIU, and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform beside these incredibly talented dancers. Outside of school, she enjoys performing in musicals at Rock Valley College Starlight Theater and choreographing for the Fourth Street Singers. Sydney appreciates you all for taking the time to support the School of Theatre and Dance and hopes you enjoy the show! 

Ava Martin

Ava Martin is a senior illustration major with a dance minor. She began her journey in Springfield, Illinois training for the dance competition stage from the age of three. During this time, she became certified to teach ballet, tap, jazz, and acro through the Southern Association of Dance Masters. At university, she’s continued to refine her technical and choreographic skills. During this time, she has performed in five of the school’s dance concerts, five of the student shows, and choreographed four works.  During the summers she has trained at both Danceworks 360s and Hubbard Street’s summer intensives. In the future, she hopes to become a children’s book illustrator alongside her career as a dance artist. 

Irismichelle Martinez-Garcia

Irismichelle Martinez-Garcia (she/her) is a second year B.F.A. dance performance major at NIU with plans to expand her journey as an artist with dance. Her performance credits include Vamos : A Latino Heritage Month Concert, Concert Culture Sharing, Art for Life (fall 2024), the Fall Dance Concert 2024, SCS (spring 2025) , and the Spring Dance Concert 2025 at NIU. She is beyond grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such a talented cast. She hopes you enjoy the show!  

Aubrey McGee

Aubrey McGee is a third-year transfer B.F.A. dance major at Northern Illinois University having trained at Maywood Fine Arts, Stairway of the Stars, and College of DuPage. Aubrey is trained in many genres of dance including ballet, modern, jazz, and tap and is excited to continue to share her talents and love for the arts through dance, choreography, and performing. Some of her performances opportunities include Snow White, Cinderella, Le Corsaire, and more. Her experiences extend to choreographing for COD’s Black History Month celebration as well as choreographing for The Creative Circle’s celebration of Juneteeth. Aubrey is very excited to be continuing her education at NIU and is grateful for the support from those around her. 

I’Yanna Miller

I’Yanna Miller (she/her) is a junior majoring in psychology on a pre-med track with a minor in dance. She has trained in dance for several years, beginning self-taught before attending a performing arts school where she majored in dance from middle through high school, while also taking classes at Divine Dance Institute. Outside of dance she plans to pursue a graduate degree in health administration to help coordinate facilities that implement stronger mental and physical health treatments. 

Dion Morris

Dion Morris is a second-year B.F.A. dance major at NIU. During his first semester, he was an acting major but was drawn to the dance program and switched his major. He is a part of dance clubs on campus and is very engaged in his community. This is Dion’s first performance at NIU and he is very excited to dance for you all!  He would like to thank the NIU dance faculty for their support and believing in him, and pushing him past his limits. 

Vivian Petersen

Vivian Petersen is a B.F.A. dance major. She recently graduated after studying with the University of Iowa Youth Ballet School throughout high school. This pasat summer she attended Cincinnati Ballet and Ballet Des Moines’ summer intensives. She is always searching for new opportunities to get out of her comfort zone and continue to learn. 

Thomas Readling

Thomas Readling (he/him) is a junior dance major and business innovation and entrepreneurship minor at Northern Illinois University. Thomas started his dancing journey at the age of eight with the Academy of Movement and Music where he got his ballet, Graham, and modern training. It wasn’t until high school that he got involved with the audition-based, student-led dance company Orchesis, which opened his eyes to more community and technique. Since then, he’s had the opportunity to perform for Salt Creek Ballet, VH Dance Center, and Dimensions Dance Academy. Thomas also attended Chicago DanceWorks’ Dancer’s Tool-Kit intensive as well as Ruth Page Center’s International Dance Experience. These opportunities, gigs, and experiences have shown him life as a professional dancer; a life he hopes to grow and thrive in for many years to come. Thomas would like to thank his parents for supporting him and his brother Michael for giving him the joy of dance. He is excited to put his experience to use at the NIU and hopes you enjoy the show! 

Francesca Ryan

Francesca Ryan (she/her) Is a junior B.F.A. dance performance major at Northern Illinois University. She began dancing at the age of three. Growing up, she trained at Studio 83 Dance Academy. She trained in multiple genres of dance, with jazz and modern being her favorite. During that time, she spent countless years in the competition circle earning many awards and scholarships for her dancing and performance abilities. Those years on the competition stages left her with a deep passion for performing. She was also fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a teacher’s assistant during her high school years at her childhood dance studio. Aside from competition, some of her favorite performances she was a part of growing up include The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Francesca has also had opportunities to further herself as an artist by attending multiple dance conventions and a wide range of classes with CLI Studios, and Visceral Dance Center where she continues to be inspired. Aside from her passion for dance she is also a screen actor and has spent numerous years training in tumbling. She would like to thank her family for their ongoing support. You can follow her on Instagram at @francesca_ryan_official. 

Aja Sanders

Aja Sanders (she/her) is a third-year biological sciences major and a second-year dance performance minor at Northern Illinois University. Aja began dancing at Generation Dance Company in Joliet, Illinois where she first explored the freedom of movement. Her performance credits include NIU SOTD’s Spring Dance Concert (2025), for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf (2025), and now the Fall Dance Concert. Aja is very appreciative of the opportunity to work with such a talented cast and crew and thanks her mentors, past and present, along with her family and friends for their unwavering support.  

Kalin Schaefer

Kalin Schaefer (she/her) is a third-year elementary education major with a minor in dance performance at Northern Illinois University. This is Kalin’s second performance with the School of Theater and Dance, and she’s excited to share the stage with these other incredible dancers. She is passionate about dance education, having taught dance classes throughout high school and at her home studio over the summer. Kalin is extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with such a talented cast and director, and wants to thank her mentors, family, and friends for their unwavering support. 

Naija Sherwood

Naija Sherwood (she/her) is a second-year B.F.A. dance performance major at NIU. She began her training at the age of three as a competition dancer and has since trained with, but not limited to, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Hyde Park School of Dance, Chicago Multicultural Dance Center, and is an alumna of The Chicago High School for the Arts. Her performance credits include the Fall Dance Concert (2024), Art for Life (2024), Spring Dance Concert (2025), SCS (2025), and the recently closed for colored girls… (2025) at NIU. She thanks her loved ones for their unwavering support and hopes you enjoy the show. 

Talia Sigismondi

Talia Sigismondi is a senior 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. Not long after, she joined Momenta Dance Company, where she had the opportunity to perform 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 has participated in a summer intensive with Milwaukee Ballet and DanceWorks Chicago. In 2025, Talia had the opportunity to perform in the Dance For Life finale at the Auditorium Theater and with Momenta Dance Company at the Navy Pier Chicago Live performance. 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. She is very excited to dance in the upcoming dance concerts. 

Stephanie Tenorio Zavala

Stephanie Tenorio Zavala is an illustration major and dance minor. She says, “I have always been interested in the visual and performing arts, but I did not start dancing until the age of 10. At the time I was not thinking of entering a preprofessional school; I just knew I loved being on the dance floor, so I was dancing mostly recreationally at my home dance studio in Mexico, Union Varsity Dance Company, under the guidance of my professors Jesús Zúñiga Pérez, and Alberto Zúñiga Pérez. At this studio, I was able to learn choreography in the styles of hip hop,  jazz, and Latin modern rhythms; and had multiple opportunities to perform at local events. Then, when I moved to the United States, I joined the dance team at Westmont High School until I graduated in 2019. I stopped dancing for a while and just started taking classes again here at NIU in the Fall of 2024, and I am really excited because this is my first semester performing at a school dance concert. I hope to continue dancing after I graduate in the fall semester of 2026, and will love to share my passion for dance as a teacher one day while also working on illustration projects.” 

Sophia Testa

Sophia Testa is a freshman dance performance major who received a dance scholarship at Northern Illinois University. She has been dancing since age six. She does mainly ballet and pointe. She competed at YAGP two years in a row.  She loves doing ballet because she has lots of fun doing it. 

Toby Thomas

Toby Thomas (he/him) is a graduating senior and a B.F.A. dance and B.S. art major. He is originally from Normal, Illinois, but he moved to Rockford, Illinois, in 2014, where he found his love for dance. Prior to attending NIU, Toby had been dancing as a Rockford Dance Company member from 2014 until 2018, where he trained in ballet with Artistic Director Penna Browman. He also attended Rock Valley College, where he worked on receiving his Associate in Arts degree, before he transferred to NIU for his B.F.A. Toby has taught dance to elementary and middle school students in the after-school program where he worked with the Rockford Boys and Girls Club from 2017 to 2020. Toby has also performed in productions of The Nutcracker, danced as a gargoyle in Snow White and danced the lead role of Prince Lemon in Cipollino with the Rockford Dance Company. Toby danced in a production of Dracula as the lead role of Doctor Van Helsing, and performed with Dimensions Dance Academy in DeKalb in their production of Coppelia as one of the princes. Toby also has performed in Dance of the Decades, as the lead role of Michael Jackson in Thriller. Toby has danced in productions of The Nutcracker, Spanish Couples and Waltz of the Flowers with Beth Fowler School of Dance in St. Charles, Illinois. Toby has also a three-time nominee (2003, 2004, 2005) for Performing Artist of the Year. He was recently nominated for Arts Educator of the Year by the Rockford Arts Council, for the first time. After graduating from NIU, Toby’s dream is to work with Disney World or Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

Kai White

Kai White is a senior B.F.A. dance major at Northern Illinois University. He has been dancing since he was three-years-old. Kai has been in dance competitions and hip-hop groups growing up. When he graduates college, he will continue his career in dancing for himself, as well as for other celebrities in music videos and go on different tours, but he will also be working on his career in acting. He is incredibly grateful to be dancing along with very talented people, who he knows will do amazing things in the future as well.     

Kylee Galarneau

Costume Designer – States of Change

Kylee Galarneau is a second-year graduate student at NIU studying costume design and technology. She previously received her bachelor of theatre arts at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. When Kylee is not sewing, she can be found curled up at home with her cat, Purrogi. She is thrilled to work with this talented group of dancers! Previous design and technical credits include: Edgar in the Red Room (costume designer/ Le Moyne College, Winner: Best English Production at Montréal Fringe), Macbeth (stitcher/wardrobe supervisor/Northern Illinois University), Holler River (costume designer/Northern Illinois University), Anon(ymous) (assistant costume designer/Northern Illinois University), Sunday in the Park With George (stitcher apprentice/Glimmerglass Festival), and for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf (costume designer/Northern Illinois University). Kylee would like to thank her mother and partner for being her cheerleaders from 700 miles away; along with her mentor, Jeremy Floyd, for his steadfast commitment to education. Find more of Kylee’s work on Instagram: @kyleereneedesign. 

Ross Wheeler

Lighting Designer

Richard Grund

Choreographer

Michel Rodriguez Cintra

Choreographer

Sarita Smith Childs

Choreographer

Scenery

Scenic Coordinator – Sahin Sahinoglu
Scene Shop Supervisor – Adam Rager
Scene Shop Graduate Employees – Emery Foster, Jorge Serrano, Luigi Locascio
Scene Shop Undergraduate Employees – Mike Kozel, Jade Doherty
Run Crew – King Johnson, Payton Shields

Costumes

Costume Design Advisor – Jeremy W. Floyd
Costume Director – Lori Hartenhoff
Costume Shop Supervisor – Elias Dennis
Costume Shop Graduate Employees – Kylee Galarneau, Akaya Chambers, Ski Sciaraffa
Costume Shop Employees – Lexi Foelker, Leni, Emily Christianson, Jay Gonzalez
Student Technicians – THEA 210, 235, and 295 students
Costume Crew – Kayla Crispino, Kyle Daranikone, Monet Johnson, Zoe Michaels, Jamerre Porter, Natalie Shank, Sammer Stockley

Lighting

Lighting Design Advisor – Brandon Wardell
Resident Head Electrician – Chris Kurszewski
Lighting Shop Graduate Assistants – Christopher Christ, Ross Wheeler
Lighting Shop Employees – Conall Doherty, Kateri Pfeiffer
Student Electricians – Drew Bagby, Madie Barnas, Reece Deidrick, Lexi Foelker, Danisha Gilmore, Blake Jablonski, Brianne Jankowski, Sasha Norman, Payton Shields, Zach Zimmerman, THEA 210 students
Light Board Operator – Nya Warner
Sound Board Operator – Alyssa Ramirez

Properties

Properties Director – Dave Doherty
Properties Graduate Assistants – Ski Sciaraffa
Properties Shop Employees – Sasha Norman
Properties Shop 295/395 Students – Kayleena Lopez

Production Management

Technical Direction Advisor – Tracy Nunnally
Production Assistant – Kev Kollman
Stage Management Advisor – Angela A. Miller

Production Promotional Artwork – Cornelia Reed