Joel Hall Dancers Performance Workshop
(JHD PW)
Are you interested in developing your dance skills or gaining performance
experience? Check out our Performance Workshop classes. This series gives
adult students who are enrolled in a technique class the chance to spend an
entire session learning a piece or pieces of choreography, just like the
professionals do in rehearsal! Workshop rehearsals begin September 2013 and
students are required to take the instructor’s technique classes prior to rehearsal
or during the week. Participants will have the opportunity to perform
choreography learned in these classes in JHDC’s Spring Concert (May
2014). JOIN US!
Mike Davis
Sunday – Musical Theater Dance class 1:00 p.m – 2:30 p.m.
Sunday – Musical Theater Performance Workshop 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Mike began dancing at an early age, watching his sister practice for her dance
shows and sometimes assisting her to prepare for upcoming events he instantly
fell in love with dance. In high school, Mike was introduced to theatre his
sophomore year as a featured dancer in ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’. His
mentors/directors Marsha Vanek and Gay Rupert gave him unconditional love
and support and encouraged him to pursue dance. With that, Mike continued to
dance in shows throughout high school. After high school, he wanted to start
taking dance lessons in Chicago and with the help from his dance teacher and
mentor Marsha, she explained what kind of classes are offered in Chicago and
constantly encouraged him to go pursue the field. After many lessons at Lou
Conte Dance and Joffrey Ballet, Mike discovered that dancing was his passion.
in 2010, he auditioned as a leading role in the musical ‘Hairspray’ for
UpAndComing theatre in Palatine. He got the role as Seaweed J. Stubbs, his life
changed. Jenn Cupani who was the director and choreographer for the show
challenged him as an actor and dancer. Her leadership, great communication
skills and honesty with the cast inspired mike to consider becoming a dance
teacher. In 2011, Mike had the privilage to assist as a choreographer in his
former high schools musical production of ‘Hairspray’ Mike went from being the
assistant to the choreographer. With great reviews on the choreography that was
presented in the show, Mike knew this is what was set for him to do. Since then
Mike has been seen in/and choreographed weddings,cotillions and many shows,
musicals and other dance events around chicago. He soon decided that he
wanted to be a freelance choreographer on the side to gain more experience.
David Isaac Leef
Monday – Beginning/Intermediate Jazz Performance Workshop 8:00 p.m. –
9:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Beginning/Intermediate Jazz Class 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
David Isaac Leef (Chicago, IL.) has been a dancer for 23 years. David started
dancing at age 14 with his high school dance squad SHS Tigers. After high
school David attended college at Columbia College as a dance major but fate
changed for him when he auditioned for a scholarship at the Joel Hall Dancers
and Center.
David has been with JHDC for over 20 years now. David has also been on
scholarship with the Joseph Holmes Dance Center, Gus Giordano’s, and part of
the summer intensive with Deeply Rooted. David has trained in ballet, jazz
(Urban, Fosse, and Lyrical), Graham, Horton, and Dunham-style of modern, west
African, voguing, Jamaican dancehall, musical theater-style jazz, and street-style
hip hop, along with different styles of Latin ballroom and regular ballroom.
Along with dance, David has an acting and singing background in improvisation
and character acting and is a baritone/first tenor along with training in puppetry
work like live action, stick and shadow puppetry.
Some of David’s theater credits are Antigone (First Solider), Inherit the Wind
(Meeker), The Wizard of Oz (dancer and puppeteer), Little Shop of Horrors (lead
puppeteer of all 4 Audrey 2 puppets), Into the Woods (Milky White the cow),
Midsummer Nights Dream: A Queer Tale (Fairy), Snow White and The Seven
Drag Queens (Bashful Bubbles), Barnum (choreographer), Blue Nativity
(Joseph), and The Passion Story (puppeteer)
David has been in several movies as an extra as Rookie of the Year, The
Weatherman, Spiderman 2, and Batman returns, and was a main dancer in the
movie The Express. David was also an extra on the cable pilot show The
Factory, as well as, a dancer with U Dance with B96. David’s favorite television
experience was the two Oprah Shows that he got to dance on. David was a
dancer for Oprah’s 25th anniversary surprise flash mob and was a dancer on her
episode “Worlds got talent”. David just recently danced and sang in his first
commercial with Empire Carpets.
Currently David is performing as an ensemble dancer with The Alliance Dance
Company, 5 Star Boogie Productions, and The Chicago Spirit Brigade where he
is also the dance squad coach and choreographer. David is also an ensemble
member and choreographer for a non-profit puppetry theater company called
Quest Theater Ensemble.
David has been teaching at the Joel Hall Dancers and Center for over 10 years
as a teen division hip hop and jazz teacher and an adult beginning jazz, hip hop,
and choreography teacher. David also teaches hip hop at The Robert R.
McCormick boys and Girls Club of America.
Merrick M. Mitchell
Monday – Modern II (Graham-based) class 8:00 p.m . – 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Beginning Modern I (Graham Syllabus) 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday
–
Intermediate Modern
(Graham-based) Performance
Workshop 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. ***BEGINS JANUARY 2014***
Friday - Modern I (Graham-based) class 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Merrick M. Mitchell began taking dance classes while majoring in biology at
Illinois State University. After earning his B. S. degree he returned to Chicago
and started taking classes with Julian Swain who also suggested that he take
ballet classes. Later on Mr. Swain invited Merrick to dance with his company
Inner City Dance Theatre. Yearning for more Merrick auditioned for Joseph
Holmes Dance Theatre where he danced featured roles under the artistic
directions of Joseph Holmes and Randy Duncan. While dancing in JHDT he
sought out the Boitsov Classical Ballet School to continue studying ballet. Mrs.
Boitsov offered him a role in her production of the full-length ballet Pinocchio.
Merrick has appeared in numerous productions in the Chicago area as a guest
artist with Bryant Ballet, Columbia College, Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts, Dance
for life, Duke Ellington´s musical revue, Jump for Joy, Luster Product “Man Hunt
of the Year Awards”, and the “Amoco 100th Anniversary Celebration”. He is
certified in Beginning and Intermediate Pilates mat and trains in Pilates with
Linda Spriggs. Currently Merrick is a veteran member of the Joel Hall Dancers
and teaches Graham based modern classes at the Joel Hall Dance Center and
Boitsov Classical Ballet School. He has studied under teachers who were taught
by Martha Graham as she developed her technique, as well as danced in her
company. He also teaches in the Chicago Public School system, and is a very
active member of his church. Merrick is blessed and thankful to be able to
continue to share his craft with you.
Duwane Pendarvis
Sunday – Modern I (Horton-based) class 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday – Modern I (Horton-based) Performance Workshop 3;00 p.m. – 5:00
p.m.
Duwane Pendarvis is an experienced vocalist, dancer, educator, teacher,
choreographer, model, poet, actor and commercial artist who majored in Voice
and minored in Commercial Art at Tougaloo College (Private United Negro
College), Tougaloo, Mississippi. Mr. Pendarvis is a Principal Senior Company
Member of the world acclaimed Chicago-based Joel Hall Dancers & Center,
where he teaches ballet, jazz, modern (Horton based) dance, performance
workshop classes and choreographs a professional end of the year dance
concert for children and adults; also Artistic Director of Joel Hall Dancers II
(second company) since its 2001 inception. His professional travels and
experiences have taken him across the United States, Europe and the former
Soviet Union.
Duwane, in 1991, toured with the National Touring Company of Sesame Street
Live; 1992 received three grants, one of which enabled his professional
choreographic debut with Mississippi Ballet, Jackson, MS; 1992-1999, Dance
and Drama Director for Department of Parks and Recreation, Jackson, MS;
1997, Headliner (actor, emcee, singer dancer) at Isle of Capri, Off-Broadway
production of “A Legendary Review, also taught dance and choreography for
Mississippi School for the Blind; Founder/Artistic Director of Duwane Pendarvis &
Company in 2001, debut at Harold Washington Library, sponsored in part by a
grant from Illinois Arts Council; 2002, two commissioned choreographic works for
Black Catholics National Convention, also taught ballet, jazz, modern (Horton
based) dance at Dr. King Jr. College Preparatory High School, Chicago, IL;
2003/2004/2005, nominated for Black Theater Alliance Award.
Mr. Pendarvis continues to encourage, teach, train and inspire young people to
strive for excellence and always challenge one’s self to reach his or her fullest
potential. Life Motto: “Feel the Spirit, Share the Experience (the Power of
Love).”
Tone Wolf
Monday – Hip Hop (All Levels) 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Hip-Hop (All Levels) 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday – Hip Hop Performance Workshop 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Anthony Wolf began his journey into the world of dance in 1993, when he began
his studying dance at the Joel Hall Dancers and Center. Tone has performed in
several of the JHDC Performance Workshop Showcases, showcasing his skills in
jazz, hip-hop, ballet, and modern.
Anthony has been dancing and choreographing with Culture Shock Chicago for
the past fourteen years. In 1999, Anthony performed with Culture Shock Chicago
on a segment for WGN channel 9.
Anthony has performed and choreographed with the likes of Elaine McAllen,
Syleena Johnson “Save the Last Dance,” in the movie Hoodlums, in music
videos such as “Best years of my life” by The Baha Man, “Happy People” by R.
Kelly, and has danced on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In the summer of
2000, Anthony choreographed and assisted in the production of The Voices of
Chicago on Channel 19.
In the summer of 2003, Anthony launched Nextlevel LLC. An agency that
elevates the standard creativity and cultivates sophistication and talent.
In the winter of 2007, Anthony choreographed and assisted in the directing of the
music video, “Pro Nails” by Kid Sista and Kanye West.
Anthony’s other choreography accomplishments include BMG Records Company
for D.U.I., Art Safari hip-hop for kids on WTTW/PBS Channel 11, and Kids Can
Dance sponsored by the Evanston Township.