Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (DRDT), Chicago’s Premier Contemporary Dance Theater steeped in the African-American aesthetic. The Company performs the works of renowned choreographers, tours nationally and internationally, and produces two seasons annually in Chicago.
2010-2011 DRDT DANCERS
KARAH ABIOG
Karah Abiog originally from Saratoga, California, received her BFA in dance from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. For three years she danced and toured with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. She has worked with Tally Beatty, Ronald K. Brown, Katherine Dunham, Dianne McIntyre, Donald McKayle and David Rousseve and performed with recording artists Roberta Flack, Ray Charles and Dionne Warwick. She performs and teaches in Brazil annually at the International Dance Seminar of Brasilia. Since 1997, she has been blessed with the pleasure of dancing with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater.
ELANA D. ANDERSON
Elana D. Anderson is a performer, instructor, and choreographer. She is an adjunct member of the Deeply Rooted Dance Theater Ensemble, the Corps de Ballet for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and an instructor for the Studio One Dance Conservatory, and the Pathways to Development Program. Ms. Anderson became a member of the artistic team of Deeply Rooted Productions in 1998, and currently serves as the modern dance instructor for its Professional Training Program. She has worked extensively in television, film, opera and the concert dance stage for over twenty-five years. A devoted mother, crafts person, and consummate artist, she has gained the insight, stamina, and determination to succeed at what has come to be her life’s work: the enlightenment of other lives through art.
BRIAN HARLAN BROOKS
Brian Harlan Brooks was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey. He began his dance training at the Dance Theater of Harlem, and later moved on to Alvin Ailey American Dance Centre. Since then, Brian has performed with such companies as, Forces of Nature, Philadelphia Dance Company (Philidanco), Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre; the tour of Vinette Carole’s “Your Arms Too Short Box with God,” Donald Byrd/The Group, Williams/Henry Danse Theatre, Earl Moseley’s Diversity of Dance, and The Color Purple first National Tour. Brian has recently added TV and Film to his career performing in, Across the Universe, Lifted a Fox Searchlight Film, and the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. Brian’s teaching, choreography, and artistic leadership are an important part of his career. He has had the pleasure of working as a leader in varying capacities such as, rehearsal director for Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Donald Byrd/The Group, Ailey Camp Missouri Site Director, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet; and Dance Captain for the Color Purple First National Tour, to name a few. Brian sees performing art as a privilege and a service, and is grateful to continue to serve in his art.
PIERRE CLARK (APPRENTICE)
Pierre Clark, a native of Chicago, started training at the age of 18 at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Shortly after college, he began his Deeply Rooted process. Inside of being a part of Deeply Rooted, he ventured out to Milwaukee Dance Connection, Quick Reaction Forces of Nature and “Beauty and the Beast” of Disney World. This is his first season with the Deeply Rooted Dance Theater first company.
DEEANNA HIETT
DeeAnna Hiett, a native of Texas, began her training with Pamela Erwin at the Dance Factory. Given a scholarship, she continued her training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and soon joined Ailey II. She was a charter member of the Jamison Project, under the direction of Judith Jamison and later returned to dance with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has participated in various commercial works ranging from the American Express Industrial to an Issey Miyake Fashion show, as well as appearing as guest artist with several companies – including the Kansas City Ballet. Hiett has assisted and choreographed for the Lyric Opera and the Coterie Theater. She has taught at numerous schools and universities and worked with a wide range of choreographers. DeeAnna currently dances with The Wylliams/Henry Danse Theater in Kansas City and Deeply Rooted Productions.
LINDSAY DELOOZE
Lindsay DeLooze holds a BFA in Modern Dance Performance from The University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA). Lindsay has worked with choreographers and companies including Brian Sanders/JUNK, Reggie Wilson, Myra Bazell, SHARP Dance Company, Anne-Marie Mulgrew & Dancers Company, Harrison McEldowney, and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. She has also performed repertory of Moses Pendelton (MOMIX), Martha Graham, and Doug Varone. Lindsay has had her own choreography presented at various venues in Philadelphia, PA and in Chicago, IL as part of Chicago Freelance Dance. She is a teaching artist with CAPE (Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education) and various dance studios in the Chicago area. This marks Lindsay’s first season with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater after two wonderful seasons with DRDT2.
TRACEY FRANKLIN
Tracey Franklin, a native of Chicago, began her training at the age of 16 at Joseph Holmes Dance Theater. She moved on to study at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and is a graduate of their Certificate Program. Franklin has worked with noted choreographers such as Donald Byrd, Kevin Iega Jeff, Alonzo King, Donald McKayle, and Milton Myers. She was a four-year member of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. This is her fourth season with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater.
JOSHUA L. ISHMON
Joshua L. Ishmon was born and raised in Gary, IN. Mr.Ishmon discovered his attraction to dance at a young age and studied African dance and musical theater under the instruction of Toni Washington Simpson and Mark Spencer. He is a 2007 graduate of Emerson School for the Visual and Performing Arts where he studied under Larry Brewer, Michal Davis, and Porsha Woodson-Reese. Mr. Ishmon also studied under the teachers of Ballet Chicago and M.A.D.D. Rhythms. In 2005, Mr. Ishmon came to know himself as a choreographic visionary. Since then, he has choreographed for Emerson VPA, South Shore Dance Alliance, Ballet Chicago’s Summer Intensive, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater’s second company and summer intensive students. Mr. Ishmon joined Deeply Rooted Dance Theater 2 .In 2009, he matriculated into the 1st company. Mr. Ishmon is always in a constant pursuit of deepening his artistry, continuing to grow, and must pay homage to the amazing people whose shoulders’ he stands on. This is Mr. Ishmon’s second year in the first company and is ecstatic to continue his process with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater.
SHANTELLE C. JACKSON
Shantelle C. Jackson began her training at the Cleveland School of the Arts under the direction of Terence Greene. She also studied and performed with the Y.A.R.D., and Dayton Contemporary Dance Second Company. After graduating with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from Ohio University in 2008, Shantelle joined Deeply Rooted Dance Theater’s second company. She has performed works by Earl Mosley, Camille A. Brown, Princess Mhoon Cooper, Juan Antonio Rodriguez, Kim Bears, Shonna Matlock, Gary Abott and Kevin Iega Jeff. This is her first year with the August Wilson Dance Ensemble and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater.
CARMEL LOUIS
Carmel Louis began her training at the age of four in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In Chicago she continued studying at Mayfair Academy and Chicago Dance Medium: Dancespace until going to college. After taking some time off to finish her degree in Computer Science, she returned to dance training at Columbia College and Joel Hall Dance Center. She originally began working with Deeply Rooted Productions through the training program in 1998. She progressed through the apprenticeship program and is now a company member. Carmel has worked with a number of independent choreographers throughout Chicago and has been a guest artist with Instruments of Movement. Her performing credits also include the musical theater production of Black Nativity produced by the Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.
CAROLINA MONNERAT
Carolina Monnerat is a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As a dancer she is a graduate in Vaganova technique and has worked for several years with Eugenia Feodorova, appearing as a soloist in ballets such as Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Paquita, Don Quixote, Pas Classique, Pas de Quatre, Sleeping Beauty among many others. Carolina has worked personally as a soloist with renowned choreographers and ballet maitres including Kevin Iega Jeff, Gary Abbott, Dwight Rhoden, Milton Myers, Jennifer Muller, Vera Timachova, Alexander Gorbatsevich and Galina Shlyapina among others. She has had the pleasure of performing works by Jose Limon, Leni Wylliams, Shapiro and Smith, Laura Dean, Donald Mckayle, Deeanna Hiett, Paula Weber and Mary Pat Henry. Carolina is a company member, rehearsal director and instructor for Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and she frequently performs with Wylliams Henry Contemporary Ballet among doing guest appearances with other companies. In addition to dancing, Carolina works in varied capacities in film and video. A co-producer of Collatos’s “The Chosen One”, she is currently producing two documentaries on dance: “On Point” and an upcoming documentary about Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, titled “Move”
ANGELA NICOLE PATMON
Angela Nicole Patmon, an Ohio native, began dancing at the age of three at Dublin Dance Centre and continued her training at Columbus Dance Arts Academy and Ballet Met Columbus. Ms. Patmon graduated Cum Laude from Ohio University as a Templeton Scholar receiving her BFA on full scholarship. In addition, Ms. Patmon received two grants to conduct research on dance attending the Conference on Research for Dance and the International Association of Blacks in Dance in addition to traveling the country training and performing with the Doug Varone and Dancer’s Intensive, Earl Mosely’s Institute of the Arts, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater’s Summer Intensive, and the Alvin Ailey Dance School. After graduation, Ms. Patmon was a company member of Joel Hall’s Dance is A Language and was a company member of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater’s second company for two years. Ms. Patmon thanks God and her wonderful family for their support that have allowed her to perform under greats such as Joel Hall, Telly Fowler, Terrence Poplar, Scott Rink, Ursula Payne, Christopher Huggins, Thaddeus Davis, Tanya Wideman, Earl Mosely, Stefanie Batten Bland, and many more! She is excited to begin her first season as a first company member of Deeply Rooted!
SUSANNE PAYNE (APPRENTICE)
Susanne Payne was born and raised in Dayton, OH where she danced for the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s pre-professional and professional repertory touring company for seven years, studying under and performing works by such noted choreographers as Eleo Pomare, Donald Byrd, Rennie Harris, Ron K. Brown, Donald McKayle, and Talley Beatty. In 2008 Ms. Payne earned the coveted JOSIE Award, an award voted on by her peers in the professional dance community. Susie received her B.F.A. in Dance with a minor in Psychology from Wright State University, as a Martin Sheen Artistic Scholar. She has studied intensely at accredited schools such as New York University/Tisch School of the Arts, Idyllwild Arts Academy, and Interlochen. Ms. Payne is a NASM-certified personal trainer and has been teaching and choreographing for over nine years. She would like to thank Gary and Iega for the opportunity to join Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre as an apprentice for her first season!
DREW SHULER
Drew J Shuler was born and raised in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He holds a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of South FL. Drew has trained at The Alvin Ailey School in NYC as well as at The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Massachusetts, under the direction of Milton Myers. He has worked with Buglisi Dance Theater and The Francesca Harper Project in New York. He has performed as a soloist with Wylliams-Henry Contemporary Dance Co. in Kansas City, MO and also with the National Dance Company of the Bahamas. He has appeared in productions of Disney’s “Aida” and in Oprah Winfrey’s “The Color Purple.” He is happy and blessed to perform his 6th season with DRDT!
KATHLEEN TURNER
Kathleen Turner was born in Columbus, Ohio where she trained at BalletMet with the distinguished April Berry and Yoko Ichino. She continued her dance education at such institutions as the American Dance Festival, Julliard, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Ohio University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors Tutorial College with a degree in Dance. Kathleen has recently relocated from Cleveland, Ohio where she was a member of Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theater. She has worked with artists such as Ronald K. Brown, Craig “Bopi” Patterson, Murray Louis, Shapiro and Smith and has performed at the Kennedy Center and various venues in New York City. She was honored to play the role of “Mary” in Karamu’s Black Nativity for its 90th Anniversary season. Ms. Turner is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is overjoyed to be a member of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater.
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Critical Acclaim
“[Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre] deserves to be spoken about in the same breath as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet. Like those troupes, it is a treasure of the local dance scene-the city’s answer to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, yet with a profile very much its own…spiritual fervor, physical prowess, and sheer, unalloyed joy in movement”.
Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times
“Greeted by the audience with an affectionate exuberance that swelled to roars of laughter and approval with the closing number, “Heaven”…“Ferrotype”… was performed with Deeply Rooted’s signature attention to detail, lithe technical skill and dramatic nuance.”
Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times
