|
 |
|
 |
|
Ms. Gina (Studio Director) |
|
Ms. Deartra (Studio
Director) |
|
Gina Miranda (Ingoglia) has over 24 years of
dance training and has been a dance educator for over 10
years. Her training began at a neighborhood studio in
Chicago. It was there that dance became her passion.
Gina continued her training at the Lou Conte Dance
Studio, home of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. During
her first year of teaching she realized how much she
enjoys working with and inspiring young dancers and
shifted her focus to teaching. The positive
enthusiastic atmosphere she creates in her classroom
allows all of her students to feel encouraged and free
when attempting something new. In 2002, Gina earned her
BA in Marketing from Lewis University. She joined the
business world and continued teaching dance part time.
She always said that one day she would have her own
studio, and that dream was realized in July 2006, when
Turning Pointe Dance Company opened and dance became her
full time career. At TPDC, Gina's focus is the
Progressive and Competitive Divisions. She has built
very strong Junior and Senior Companies that have
received many accolades in a very short time. Gina
continues to attend various workshops to hone her skills
and teaching techniques. She has had the pleasure to
train with and be inspired by Jimmy Payne Jr., Lane
Alexander, Malaya, Adam Parson & Christina Woodward to
name a few. In the future Gina hopes to continue
motivating young dancers to reach their goals both
inside and outside of the studio. |
|
Deartra Fry (Cappos) began dancing at a neighborhood
studio on Chicago's south side. She has over 10 years
of teaching experience under her belt and her main focus
on ages 18 months to 8 year olds. For several years she
studied at Lou Conte Dance Studio home of Hubbard Street
Dance Chicago. Over the years, she has attended
numerous dance conventions to advance her knowledge of
instructing young children. In 2004, she received her
Bachelors in Early Childhood Development from the
University of Illinois. Opening a dance studio of her
own was a dream she has had since she was young, and
that dream became a reality in July of 2006. Deartra's
degree has given her the knowledge to develop and lead
TPDC's Early Childhood and Transitional divisions.
Deartra is the primary instructor for children ages 18
months to 8 years old. She loves to wake the creativity
in young dancers. She believes that when a child is
introduced to dance at a young age it helps build
coordination and strengthen memory. It also introduces
children to a classroom setting and teaches them how to
interact with children their own age. Deartra strives
to bring new teaching techniques that constantly bring
out the best in each child. Her career is her life and
her life would be nothing with out dance. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Ms. Kimberly (Associate
Director) |
|
Mr. Teddy
(Hip Hop) |
|
Kimberly Nachowicz is trained in many
styles of dance and has over 20 years of performance
experience. Kimberly graduated with honors from
Columbia College Chicago with her Bachelor of Arts
degree in dance performance. As a student, she was able
to study under renowned choreographers and collaborate
with Bill Young, Emily Stein, and Gesel Mason. Kimberly
worked at Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago as part of
the work-study program, and assisted Zephyr Dance with
their summer dance camp and annual benefit gala. She
also represented Columbia College Chicago in the
performance of "AD[d]" choreographed by Dale O'Reilly at
the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA)
Northwestern Regional Conference in spring 2006.
Kimberly is also certified
as a Pilates Mat instructor by Power Pilates.
Kimberly has found her home at Turning
Pointe Dance Company and is currently the Associate
Director of TPDC's modern and lyrical division and
Ignite Dance Company's competition lyrical, modern, and
contemporary pieces. Kimberly has high ambitions of
furthering her professional dance career and strengthen
her choreographic imagination. She considers it a
blessing to have the opportunity to spread her love and
enthusiasm for dance to a younger generation of future
artists. |
|
Teddy Chavez,
through
his endless determination, dedication and drive, Teddy Chavez
has become an undeniable force with the brightest of futures
ahead. As a performer, choreographer, instructor and director,
he truly understands and appreciates all facets in the art of
dance. Currently represented by Lily's Talent Agency/Clear
Talent Group, his skills have led him to share the stage with
multi-platinum selling music artists such as Twista, Ying Yang
Twins, Nick Cannon, and others. He is frequently training at
local studios and participating in intensives all over the U.S.
with some of the hottest choreographers in the industry such as
Marty Kudelka (Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson),
Gil Doldualao (Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Jennifer Lopez),
Brian Friedman (Usher, Britney Spears, Mario Vaquez, Beyonce),
and Kevin Maher (Missy Elliot, Alicia Keys, Rihanna) to
name a few. It has been through constant exposure to knowledge
and inspiration that he has honed and continues to evolve his
craft. He recently helped lead his professional Hip Hop Dance
Company, CODA, to 6th place in the Nation at the U.S.
& World Hip Hop Championships which is organized by Hip Hop
International (now made famous through MTV's "America's Best
Dance Crew"). He has also made appearances on seasons 1&3 of
FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance", placing top 100 in the
nation on season 3. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Sarah E. Olson |
|
Victoria Platek (Hip
Hop) |
|
Originally
from Charleston, WV, began her dance training with the
School of the Charleston Ballet under Kim Pauley.
Ms. Olson continued her training at Butler University in
Indianapolis, IN, graduating magna cum laude with a B.F.A. in Dance
Performance and a minor in Political Science. She
has danced professionally with NoMi LaMad Dance, Inc.,
Inaside Chicago Dance, RASA Dance Chicago, Cleveland
Contemporary Dance Theatre, the Butler Ballet and the
Charleston Ballet. Ms. Olson teaches throughout
the Chicago area and has choreographed professionally
for NoMi LaMad Dance, Inc., Chicago Freelance Dance,
RASA Dance Chicago, Dance Chance, and FreeSpace Dance
Concert.
|
|
Victoria Platek started her passion for
the arts at the age of 6 years old through piano. It's
these music lessons that have taught her musicality and
the rhythm that she carries over to her dancing career.
In '95 Vicky began Ballet and Jazz classes. One
summer session, Hip Hop was offered and Victoria found
her niche. At 16, Victoria proceeded to travel to
Chicago to take hip hop lessons with Sonia Nieves,
founder of Non-Stop Dance Company and was featured on
Channel 7 news regarding a piece being taped for "Dance
Chicago". In high school, Victoria naturally gravitated
towards, Orchesis, and showed her choreography skills.
Later that year, she was presented with the award "Dance
of the Year" by her peers. Through word of mouth,
Vicky was offered a position to teach at a dance studio
in downstate IL and had realized her passion for teaching the art
form was just as strong as learning the art form
itself.
Vicky had
continued to teach in downstate IL for a little over 5
years, co-choreographing a dance piece called "Trust"
which earned her dancers a national title, at the
National Championships held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While attending UIC (04-05) Victoria became a member of
the UIC Dancing Flames. She had the pleasure of working
one- on- one with famed choreographers, Tabitha and
Napoleon D'Umo (NappyTabs-So You Think You Can Dance) as
they choreographed the UIC Dancing Flames National's
routine. Victoria recently concluded her understudy
program with the professional hip hop group, Hip Hop
ConnXion where
she performed at Dance Chicago and "The One". During
the '08 Monsters of Hip Hop tour, she had the
opportunity to take master classes from the Jabbawockeez
(MTV's ABDC), Kevin Maher (Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey)
and Tony Testa (Janet Jackson) to name a few. She
currently takes classes at Lou Conte, a division of
Hubbard Street, to keep up on her craft, from
instructors Trae Turner and Chris Courtney. |
| |
|
|
|
