Meet Our Summer 2023 Guest Artists

Shelby Moran Amarantos will be joining our Summer Faculty

on Thursday evenings this year!

Shelby is a Chicagoland native whose early dance education started at Bataille Academy and continued at Dance Center Evanston. Shelby received her BFA from the Juilliard School in New York. After graduating, Shelby danced with Thodos Dance Chicago for two seasons touring nationally as well as performing at the Auditorium and Harris Theaters in Chicago. Following TDC, Shelby apprenticed with Visceral Dance Chicago, and then danced with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre for four seasons. She is currently a freelance artist in Chicago doing many projects with C5: Create With No Limits. Shelby also currently teaches at Dance Center Evanston and Northwest Ballet Academy.

Shannon Alvis and Cara Hansvick

will be teaching our Ballet Intensive in June!

Shannon Alvis

Originally from Greenwood, Indiana, Shannon received her training at Butler University and the University of Utah. She had her professional career with both Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Nederlands Dans Theater, performing around the world for over twelve years and dancing works by many world renowned choreographers such as: Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Jorma Elo, and Crystal Pite. After returning from Europe, Shannon rounded out her stage career with seven productions at the Lyric Opera Chicago including Rob Ashford’s Carousel and Francesca Zambello’s West Side Story. Through this concert dance and musical theater experience, much knowledge was gained that she now integrates into her teaching and her own creating. Shannon has choreographed work for Visceral Dance Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, DanceWorks Chicago, The Big Muddy Dance Company in St. Louis, the University of Iowa, and was also a recipient of the Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Work’s Choreographic Competition. She teaches and mentors dancers throughout the Chicago area and has been on faculty at the Joffrey Academy, Interlochen School for the Arts summer faculty, and Visceral Dance Center. Most recently, Shannon completed an MFA in Dance from the University of the Arts with a continued commitment to the revealing of the power of dance as a language that transcends the tangible and to the creation of the future through art.

Cara Hansvick

Cara Hansvick began her training at Dance Center Evanston before attending Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music. She was accepted on the Dean’s Scholarship, and received her Bachelor of Science in three years in Ballet and Arts Management. During her time there she performed principal roles in Balanchine’s “Serenade,” “Concerto Barocco,” “Elegie,” and “Swan Lake,” as well as Merce Cunningham’s “Duets,” and Antony Tudor’s “Dark Elegies.” Her summer studies include Chautauqua Institution, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Milwaukee Ballet. Following graduation, she joined the Charlotte Ballet, where she danced for two seasons. She performed leading roles in works by Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, George Balanchine, Dwight Rhoden, Sasha Janes, and Mark Diamond. Cara joined the American Contemporary Ballet as a principal dancer in 2018 where she danced principal roles in Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” “Who Cares?” and “Raymonda Variations” as well as Lincoln Jones’ “Verklarte Nocht” “Death and the Maiden, “Astaire Dances” and “The Nutcracker Suite”. After 5 years she became a founding dancer with Ballet Project OC, where she still dances professionally, choreographs, and teaches. With this company she has performed principal roles in Balanchine’s “Four Temperments” as well as new works by Artistic director Ally Hellman, and up and coming choreographers Mate Szentes and Christina Ghiraldi. In addition to dancing, she also is a classical trained Pilates and GYROTONIC instructor.

Brian Hare and Connie Sweeney

will be teaching our Contemporary Intensive in July.

Brian Hare

Originally from the Detroit area, Brian graduated with honors from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Arts Entertainment Media Management and Dance. As a performer Brian spent four seasons as a company member with Chicago Dance Crash and five seasons with Thodos Dance Chicago. He has been a part of original processes by Melissa Thodos, Tony winner Anne Reinking including as an original cast member of rare Bob Fosse archival work. Ron De Jesus, Brian Enos, Harrison McEldowney, KT Nelson of ODC San Francisco, Elijah Gibson, Lizzie Mackenzie, Jessica Deahr and many others. He was administrator, costumer and dancer for LEVELDANCE under the direction of Eddy Ocampo. As a choreographer he has presented work in Dance Chicago, Dance in the Parks Chicago, Still Inspired, set multiple works on Chicago Dance Crash and had work in the rep of Thodos Dance Chicago. He teaches students of all ages and disciplines at several dance studios and is Artistic Director of the nationally recognized youth ensemble Denise Sabala Dance Company in Lake Zurich, IL. He is a master teacher and adjudicator for competitions and conventions including Chicago Dance Connection and Masquerade Dance. Brian has had the privilege to work with College and University dance programs including MaryGrove College and Madonna University, having works selected for the ACDA Gala. In addition to his company and teaching credits Brian is an aerialist and circus arts performer. As an aerialist and producer he is an Associate Director with C5:Createwithnolimits under the direction of Jeremy Plummer. With C5 he has performed at events with Jennifer Hudson, Lady Gaga and former President George W. Bush.

Connie Sweeney

Connie Sweeney has been dancing for over 35 years. She has advanced level mastery in the art of tap, jazz, ballet, and modern. She is on staff at Jo’s Footwork Studio in Western Springs, IL and at the Dance Workshop/City Nation in Orland Park, IL. Connie attended the NFAA in Madison, WI where she received a “platinum” in tap, and “honorable mention” in jazz. Connie has been on faculty for workshops/conventions such as CNADM, CDC, DMW, and STARQUEST. She has been a member of Matrix Dance Improv – modern, The Kirby Reed Ascension Project – jazz, Instruments of Movement – modern, and Rhythm ISS – an all female tap ensemble. She has performed with her brother, Jay Fagan, in “Sibling Rivalry,” and was a member of Same Planet Different World – a modern company- for 9 years. Connie was also the artistic director of an “all discipline” dance company, Footwork Dance Ensemble, for five years. Connie continues to share her love of dance by choreographing for youth dance companies all around the Chicagoland area.

Shelby Moran Amarantos will be joining our Summer Faculty

on Thursday evenings this year!

Shelby is a Chicagoland native whose early dance education started at Bataille Academy and continued at Dance Center Evanston. Shelby received her BFA from the Juilliard School in New York. After graduating, Shelby danced with Thodos Dance Chicago for two seasons touring nationally as well as performing at the Auditorium and Harris Theaters in Chicago. Following TDC, Shelby apprenticed with Visceral Dance Chicago, and then danced with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre for four seasons. She is currently a freelance artist in Chicago doing many projects with C5: Create With No Limits. Shelby also currently teaches at Dance Center Evanston and Northwest Ballet Academy.

Shannon Alvis and Cara Hansvick

will be teaching our Ballet Intensive in June!

Shannon Alvis

Originally from Greenwood, Indiana, Shannon received her training at Butler University and the University of Utah. She had her professional career with both Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Nederlands Dans Theater, performing around the world for over twelve years and dancing works by many world renowned choreographers such as: Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Jorma Elo, and Crystal Pite. After returning from Europe, Shannon rounded out her stage career with seven productions at the Lyric Opera Chicago including Rob Ashford’s Carousel and Francesca Zambello’s West Side Story. Through this concert dance and musical theater experience, much knowledge was gained that she now integrates into her teaching and her own creating. Shannon has choreographed work for Visceral Dance Chicago, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, DanceWorks Chicago, The Big Muddy Dance Company in St. Louis, the University of Iowa, and was also a recipient of the Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Work’s Choreographic Competition. She teaches and mentors dancers throughout the Chicago area and has been on faculty at the Joffrey Academy, Interlochen School for the Arts summer faculty, and Visceral Dance Center. Most recently, Shannon completed an MFA in Dance from the University of the Arts with a continued commitment to the revealing of the power of dance as a language that transcends the tangible and to the creation of the future through art.

Cara Hansvick

Cara Hansvick began her training at Dance Center Evanston before attending Indiana University Jacob’s School of Music. She was accepted on the Dean’s Scholarship, and received her Bachelor of Science in three years in Ballet and Arts Management. During her time there she performed principal roles in Balanchine’s “Serenade,” “Concerto Barocco,” “Elegie,” and “Swan Lake,” as well as Merce Cunningham’s “Duets,” and Antony Tudor’s “Dark Elegies.” Her summer studies include Chautauqua Institution, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Milwaukee Ballet. Following graduation, she joined the Charlotte Ballet, where she danced for two seasons. She performed leading roles in works by Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, George Balanchine, Dwight Rhoden, Sasha Janes, and Mark Diamond. Cara joined the American Contemporary Ballet as a principal dancer in 2018 where she danced principal roles in Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” “Who Cares?” and “Raymonda Variations” as well as Lincoln Jones’ “Verklarte Nocht” “Death and the Maiden, “Astaire Dances” and “The Nutcracker Suite”. After 5 years she became a founding dancer with Ballet Project OC, where she still dances professionally, choreographs, and teaches. With this company she has performed principal roles in Balanchine’s “Four Temperments” as well as new works by Artistic director Ally Hellman, and up and coming choreographers Mate Szentes and Christina Ghiraldi. In addition to dancing, she also is a classical trained Pilates and GYROTONIC instructor.

Brian Hare and Connie Sweeney

will be teaching our Contemporary Intensive in July.

Brian Hare

Originally from the Detroit area, Brian graduated with honors from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Arts Entertainment Media Management and Dance. As a performer Brian spent four seasons as a company member with Chicago Dance Crash and five seasons with Thodos Dance Chicago. He has been a part of original processes by Melissa Thodos, Tony winner Anne Reinking including as an original cast member of rare Bob Fosse archival work. Ron De Jesus, Brian Enos, Harrison McEldowney, KT Nelson of ODC San Francisco, Elijah Gibson, Lizzie Mackenzie, Jessica Deahr and many others. He was administrator, costumer and dancer for LEVELDANCE under the direction of Eddy Ocampo. As a choreographer he has presented work in Dance Chicago, Dance in the Parks Chicago, Still Inspired, set multiple works on Chicago Dance Crash and had work in the rep of Thodos Dance Chicago. He teaches students of all ages and disciplines at several dance studios and is Artistic Director of the nationally recognized youth ensemble Denise Sabala Dance Company in Lake Zurich, IL. He is a master teacher and adjudicator for competitions and conventions including Chicago Dance Connection and Masquerade Dance. Brian has had the privilege to work with College and University dance programs including MaryGrove College and Madonna University, having works selected for the ACDA Gala. In addition to his company and teaching credits Brian is an aerialist and circus arts performer. As an aerialist and producer he is an Associate Director with C5:Createwithnolimits under the direction of Jeremy Plummer. With C5 he has performed at events with Jennifer Hudson, Lady Gaga and former President George W. Bush.

Connie Sweeney

Connie has been dancing for over 35 years. She has advanced level mastery in the art of tap, jazz, ballet, and modern. She is on staff at Jo’s Footwork Studio in Western Springs, IL and at the Dance Workshop/City Nation in Orland Park, IL. Connie attended the NFAA in Madison, WI where she received a “platinum” in tap, and “honorable mention” in jazz. Connie has been on faculty for workshops/conventions such as CNADM, CDC, DMW, and STARQUEST. She has been a member of Matrix Dance Improv – modern, The Kirby Reed Ascension Project – jazz, Instruments of Movement – modern, and Rhythm ISS – an all female tap ensemble. She has performed with her brother, Jay Fagan, in “Sibling Rivalry,” and was a member of Same Planet Different World – a modern company- for 9 years. Connie was also the artistic director of an “all discipline” dance company, Footwork Dance Ensemble, for five years. Connie continues to share her love of dance by choreographing for youth dance companies all around the Chicagoland area.