Biographies

PAULA FRASZ (CoArtistic Director/Choreographer/Dancer)
Paula Frasz is a choreographer to watch announced Sid Smith in the Chicago Tribune. Tribune critic Lucia Mauro calls her , "...a standout." Her many achievements include: Mordine Company featured dancer and featured dancer at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She created the role of Stella Starbuck in the murder mystery, What Are We Going to Do With Mary? and danced with the Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble. Her choreography has been commissioned by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra. She is one of the founding choreographer's of Chicago's Next Dance Festival, whose work has been called powerfully modern by Lynne Voedisch of the Chicago Sun Times. Frasz received the 1999 Ruth Page Award for Artistic Achievement in Choreography from the Chicago Dance Coalition, and the 2002 Artists Fellowship for Choreographic Excellence from the Illinois Arts Council, and has served several terms on the Illinois Arts Council Dance Panel. Ms. Frasz, an active and vital member of Chicago's dance community, also serves the Chicago Dance And Music Alliance and is a member of Actor's Equity Association. Ms. Frasz holds a B.A. and M.A. in dance from Butler University and an M.F.A. from the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana. She was a faculty member at Colby Women's College, East Carolina University and, for eight years, the Dance Center of Columbia College in Chicago. She is currently Professor of Dance at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, where she teaches Advanced Modern Technique, Choreography, Improvisation, Professional Seminar in Dance and Advanced Tap. She also teaches Musical Theatre and choreographs musical productions for the School of Theatre and Dance. This master teacher has also been in residence at many schools, colleges and universities. .

A tongue-in-cheek choreographer with a spunky stage presence as Lucia Mauro of the Sun Times insists, Paula Frasz continues to produce her choreography around the United States and abroad. Her recent production of Carmina Burana prompted critic E. Nelson James to write, "...this review is filled with superlatives, but this production really deserves them. Thank you, Paula Frasz!"

LUIS MONTERO (Guest Artist)
No stranger to Chicago's Spanish Dance community, Luis is a native of Granada, Spain and a pre-eminent exponent of all styles of Spanish Dance. He has traveled throughout the world as soloist with Pilar Lopez, Mariemma, marie Rosa and Jose Greco. Internationally acclaimed, he is the recipient of ten State Grants for his choreography. He also has been in residence with many United States Universities including Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL and Mercyhurst in Erie, PA. Highly regarded for his artistry and musicality, Luis has lent his talents to choreography and performance with New York City Opera, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Concerto,Los Preferidos, Las Companeras, Flamenco OLE, Yamada Tokyo Ballet Arte Flamenco, Ballet Hispanico, Ballet Flamenco, Grand Rapids Ballet, Erie Ballet Theatre and the Eugene Ballet. Most recently he successfully mounted a full length ballet based on music of Biset's opera Carmen, for Ballet Concerto and the Erie Ballet. With DanceLoop Chicago, Luis is co-choreographing Bernarda, with Artistic Director Paula Frasz, and restaging his show stopping Bolero.

NICOLE SEBASTIAN BETTS (Dancer)
Originally from Chicago, Nicole received her B.F.A. in Dance from Barat College's Conservatory of Dance. She has studied at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance, Interlochen Arts Academy, and apprenticed with River North Chicago Dance Company. She has worked with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater and various independent choreographers in Chicago. Nicole is a certified Pilates instructor and teaches throughout the Chicagoland area.

TARAH BROWN (Dancer)
Tarah began gymnastic trining at age eight, and began to dance at the age of 13 when she met Pamela Bedford, her first dance instructor. She went to on to receive a B.F.A. in dance performances form Northern Illinois University and, following graduation, moved to Chicago. Since then, she has the the privilege to work with Cerqua/Rivera Art Experience, Same Planet Different World, the Schaumburg Ballet Ensemble, Paula Frasz and various other independent artists. Tarah has received critical acclaim as a performer with Thodos Dance Chicago from various Chicago critics. She is currently Co-Artistic Director of the Deerfield High School Orchesis program and teaches throughout the Chicago area. Tarah would like to thank her parents and Bret for their love and support.

JILL ECONOMAKOS (Dancer)
Jill Economakos received her BFA in dance performance from Northern Illinois University. Performance credits include: Chicago Festival Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago,Ballet Concerto (TX), Melissa Thodos and Dancer's production of New Dances, Kim Robards Dance (CO), and is currently a company member of Inaside Dance Chicago and DanceLoop Chicago. Ms. Economakos has performed in such festivals as: Colorado Arts Festival, Dance for Life, Dance Chicago, Chicago's Next Dance Festival, Spectrum, and Chicago's Winter Delights Art Festival. Besides frolicking all day, Jill also enjoys teaching dance, rain, pigs, and rock-n-roll.

CHRISTINA DIANE ELTVEDT (Dancer)
Currently Christina has the privilege of dancing with Paula Frasz Dance Company, Joel Hall Dance Company, Chicago Dance Theater, and is a proud teacher for many Chicago land schools. She is excited to perform in the creative collaboration of Paula Frasz and Luis Montero in "The house of Bernarda Alba" and "Bolero." Enjoy the show!

PETER GAONA (Dancer)
Peter is a native of Chicago. He trained at the Joel Hall Dance Center, Deeply Rooted Center of Cultural Enrichment, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Broadway Dance Center, and Columbia College. Peter has danced with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Ascension-The Kirby Reed Project, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Instruments of Movement, Tyego, Joel Hall Dancers, The Willingham Project, The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (Denver, Colorado), Thodos Dance Chicago, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Peter has also appeared as a dancer for Paul McCartney's Driving USA Chicago tour, Cece Penniston, and Jennifer Holiday.

HEATHER KROSKI (Dancer)
Heather Kroski received a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Theatre Arts from Northern Illinois University in 1998. Since that time she has performed with the Zephyr Dance Ensemble touring the Midwest with the company for three seasons. She has worked extensively with several independent choreographers such as Jyl Ferhencamp and Paula Frasz in the Chicagoland area. Heather has been a frequent guest artist with the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble in productions of The Nutcracker, Hansel and Gretel and Snow White. Currently she is a two year company member with Dance Loop Chicago. She is one of the co-founders and directors of C.A.M.P. a multi displinary performance company. C.A.M.P. has produced and directed several shows in the Chicagoland area. Heather has worked with Urban Gateways in Chicago public schools, taught at Northwest Ballet, and is currently teaching creative arts classes in the Chicago Park District.

MICHAEL MCSTRAW (Dancer)
Michael McStraw received his MFA in Modern Dance from the University of Michigan in 1983. He has performed as a dancer extensively in the Midwest with Contemporary Dance Theatre in Cincinnati, and Akasha Dance Company, Jan Erkert and Dancers, and Mordine and Company Dance Theatre (which he also managed for four years) all in Chicago. He has taught and choreographed throughout the United States at institutions such as the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and The National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan

BRADY SANDERS (Dancer)
Brady Sanders, originally from Oswego, IL, attended Illinois State University, where he performed wth the Illinois State Dance Theater and at the American College Dance Festival. Hr. Sanders also trained and performed with the School of DanceWest Ballet in Naperville and has toured nationally and internetionally with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. Heis most recent endeavor includes performing with Inaside Chicago Dance.

JAMES STEVKO (Dancer)
James Stevko is a junior dance performance major at NIU. After starting ballet in 2005, he has been awarded scholarships to train at The Academy of Dance Arts, BalletTech Ohio, and NIU. In addition to performing in Northern Dance Theatre productions, he has performed as a guest artist with Rockford Dance Company and Beth Fowler Dance Company.

NATALIE WILLIAMS (Dancer)
Natalie Williams began her dance training at the age of four at the Academy of Movement and Music. Continuing on, she studied as a fellowship student at The Ailey School in NYC and received her BFA in Dance Performance from Northern Illinois University. Upon graduation, Natalie relocated to tour nationally with Philadelphia's Koresh Dance Company for their 2004-2005 season. Throughout the years, she has also performed with The Rockford Dance Company, Momenta, Glass House Dance, and the Pastiche Dance Ensemble. In addition to performing, Natalie has taught dance throughout Milwaukee and Chicago land areas. Natalie is honored to join the talented collage of dancers that make up the Frasz-Pescov Dance Company.

AIMEE WINKLER (Dancer)
Aimee began dancing at the age of 2 and has never considered doing anything else with her life. She has studied under the direction of Jonathon Levy and other master instructors. She is currently working on earning her BFA in Dance Performance at Northern Illinois University. Aimee is making her professional debut with DanceLoop Chicago.