Meet Christine

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Christine Janák is delighted to be dancing with Chicago Repertory Ballet for the 2018 season. She has performed across Europe and nationally since 2012. In Switzerland and touring through Germany, and Liechtenstein, she performed as a soloist with, Cinevox, in productions of; Cinderella, Bolero, Le Sacre du Printemps, and Cielo y Tierra. In the Netherlands she performed in various works by Martine Van Santen and Rianne Slenema. Returning to her home state, she was honored to be a part of the Denver Public Works' Holocaust remembrance piece choreographed by internationally renowned choreographer  Robert Sher-Machherndl, entitled White Mirror. Again in Colorado she danced and choreographed for Mercury Dance Company. While with Ballet 5:8, here in Chicago, she performed in the world premiere of Scarlet, a retelling of the scarlet letter and various other pieces. She has a deep love for dance education and has taught in as many paces as she has danced throughout the Midwest and abroad. She enjoys photography and photo-manipulation, learning new languages and reading books.

Meet Eliza

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Eliza Weekley, originally from Athens, Ohio began her ballet training with BalletMet Columbus, where she became a trainee at the age of 16. There she was given the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Gerard Charles and Edwaard Liang and to perform alongside the company dancing corps de ballet roles in many productions including “The Nutcracker” and “Alice in Wonderland”. After graduating from high school, Ms. Weekley continued her training with the Joffrey Academy of Dance Chicago. She joined the Mezzo company of Cocodaco Dance Project, under the leadership of Ronn Stewart, in 2015, where she continued to dance up until joining CRB as an apprentice in 2018. This will be Eliza’s third season with Chicago Repertory Ballet.


Meet Luis

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 Luis was born and raised in Chicago and began his dance training with various studios throughout the city before attending the dance program at Interlochen Summer Arts Camp with an emphasis in modern technique. His passion for dance grew as he went on to earn his BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. While studying at the University of Illinois, he had the pleasure of performing works by Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, Jennifer Monson, Tere O’Connor, Sahar Azimi, Elijah Gibson, and Jennifer Archibald, among many others. Vazquez continued his professional training through numerous intensives including Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, for which he received a scholarship to attend. Vazquez began his professional career when he joined Thodos Dance Chicago for two seasons, where he performed works by Melissa Thodos, Ann Reinking, Brian Enos, Shannon Alvis, Kevin Iega Jeff, and Garfield Lemonius. He made his debut as a professional choreographer when his piece Siren premiered at the 2017 Thodos New Dances concert. Luis was then selected as one of four winners of the Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works choreographic competition.  In his first season with Chicago Repertory Ballet Luis performed multiple works by Artistic Director Wade Schaaf, as well as works by Shannon Alvis, Tenley Dickey, and Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye. Luis is thrilled to start his second season with CRB. 

 

Meet Michelle

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Michelle Meltzer is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana where she trained at the Indianapolis School of Ballet under the direction of Victoria Lyras. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Ballet with an Outside Field in Education from the Jacob’s School of Music at Indiana University.  Michelle was previously a member of Nevada Ballet Theatre for four seasons where she performed as Juliet in James Canfield’s Romeo and Juliet, in Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Who Care’s, Slaughter on 10th Avenue, and Serenade, in Cynthia Gregory’s staging of Swan Lake, as well as dancing in collaboration with Cirque du Solei. 

Since moving to Chicago, Michelle has danced for Aerial Dance Chicago, Simantikos Annual Celebration of Chicago Art, and in “New Dances” a collaboration between Danceworks and Thodos Dance Chicago. This is Michelle’s second season with Chicago Repertory Ballet.

Dancer Spotlight: Sarah Olson

A Farewell chat with Sarah Olson

 
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CRB: What are you most excited to perform?

Sarah: Of course I love all the works that we are performing, but I am most excited about Wade's new work, A Symphony For Hope. I think there is a lot to worry about in our current political climate, especially in regards to the Arts, and it is easy to get despondent. The flip side to that is this is now the perfect moment in time to band together and to fight for what we hold dear. Hope is a powerful catalyst for change.

CRB: What has been the most rewarding experience for you?

This will be my last season with CRB as I am stepping away from performing and I have to say the most rewarding part of this season was the breadth of the repertoire in this concert. I have both been able to revisit and re-imagine works that I have already performed and also be a part of the vibrant creative process for a new work. It's the best of both worlds.