2025 Statewide Conference Schedule

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Shawn Lent is a social practice dance artist, program manager, writer, consultant, and educator with over 30 years of experience in settings ranging from competitive studios to hospitals, public housing, and international programs. Her work investigates embodied peace, arts diplomacy, and critical social intervention. A U.S. Fulbright Scholar (Cairo, 2012–2013), Shawn integrates dance education with fostering interfaith and cross-cultural understanding. Certified in Integrative Dance and Mental Health First Aid, Shawn emphasizes inclusive, adaptive, and trauma-informed pedagogy. A former board member and professional development lead for the Illinois Dance Education Organization (ILDEO), Shawn has championed growth and connection among dance educators statewide. She serves as Programs and Communications Director for Chicago Dancemakers Forum and leads Dance Peace, a program for refugee youth. Shawn also teaches at Music House, LBP School of Dance, and the Ralla Klepak Performing Arts Program, while guest choreographing for The Edge Performing Arts.

2025 Distinguished Dance Educator Award

Vershawn Sanders-Ward, Founding Artistic Director, CEO of Red Clay Dance Company

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Friday, March 28, 2025

6:00 PM Registration

6:30-7:30 PM Welcome Reception/Conference Kick-off

7:30-9:00 PM State of Illinois Dance Education Panel - moderated by Dyanna Daniels

Panelists:

Julianna Slager, Artistic Director & Co-Founder of Ballet 5:8

Brandon Avery (Paraharm), Performing Artist, Choreographer, Director, Educator

Ginny Ching-Yin Lo, Artistic Director, Identity Performing Arts

Saturday, March 29, 2025

8:30-9:30 AM Registration and Light Breakfast

9:30-10:00 AM ILDEO President & Board welcome

10:00-11:00 AM

Gina D'Antonio-Spears: Celebrating Student Identity

When educators connect to students' identity, they create a learning environment where students feel seen and valued. This fosters a strong rapport between the teacher and students, creating a safe dance space in which students are willing to take risks and try new things. In this session, participants will learn a variety of strategies to celebrate student identity across multiple grade levels.

Holly Rose Moss: Artist Toolkit: Integrating Theatrical Techniques Into Choreographic Works

A movement workshop to enhance the choreographic process, centered on a checklist derived from theatrical elements. Implementing these qualities can enhance the emotional connection in our pieces and ultimately the audience connection to our works!

11:15-12:15 PM

Diane Rawlinson:  InterPlay CONNECT: A community building practice through improvisational movement, story telling, and music

Facilitating connections within communities through InterPlay; and embodied and playful practice in movement, story, and vocalization. Join in on this engaging workshop rooted in creative problem solving and embodied awareness while honoring one another’s stories. Few modalities exist which are energizing and fun for the educator while also being applicable to the student. InterPlay is a codified practice that meets both. InterPlay is something that ANY BODY can do - regardless of shape, ability, or background; all you need is a little willingness. InterPlay is a global organization (based in Oakland,CA) celebrating its 35th year anniversary. www.interplay.org

Jeffery Hancock and Molly Shanahan:  Restart/Mark: Composing Inclusive Collaboration Through Radical Forgiveness

In this session, small groups of participants will engage in a spontaneous, collaborative compositional process called Restart/Mark, which challenges traditional hierarchies in dance practice and education, reimagining dance education as equitable, resilient, and deeply collaborative. A cornerstone of Molly Shanahan’s Spiral Body Techniques® (SBT), the process dismantles rigid frameworks of identity tied to gender and ability, emphasizes radical trust, adaptability, connection, and curiosity, and creates an inclusive and responsive environment. This collaboration values experimentation, failure, and navigating vulnerability within a supportive container, and affirms the inherent value of all bodies. The session will conclude with reflection and discussion.

12:15-1:00 PM Lunch

1:00-2:00 PM

Michelle Modrzejewski of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago:  Dance for Students on the Autism Spectrum

Developed in collaboration with the Resource Center for Autism and Developmental Delays (RCADD) at the University of Illinois Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Autism Project has been serving students across the autism spectrum since 2012. What began as a studio program has branched out into schools across Chicago. In this session, participants will be introduced to the diverse needs of students on the autism spectrum, explore the Hubbard Street lesson framework for teaching an adaptive dance class, engage in specific activities with differentiated scaffolding, and participate in peer and group reflection around how a universal approach to teaching and learning supports all students.

Myka Okot: Musicality in Freestyling: Exploring rhythms, tempos, and cadences

This movement-based workshop explores the different rhythms, tempos, and cadences within different street dance music genres such as Hip Hop, House, and Funk. Participants will gain skills in identifying different musical patterns and cues to then embody through their movement. This class focuses on understanding bounce and grooves as a foundation for movement and how to manipulate this foundation to become a vessel for the music. 

2:15-3:15 PM KEYNOTE: Shawn Lent

3:15 PM IL Distinguished Educator Award Presentation: Vershawn Sanders-Ward

3:30-5:30 PM NHSDA Student Performances and Discussion

National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA)

PERFORMANCE PROGRAM

The Grinder
Malika "Myka" Okot – Columbia College Chicago

California
Dance4OurLives – Gigi Tonye’ Arts & Fitness

That's Just Human
Vi McMahon, Ash Williams, Kaya Gross – Columbia College Chicago

Whatever It Takes
The Kids From Beasley Performing Ensemble – Beasley Academic Center

Be the Voice
Hip Hop Institute – Paramount School of the Arts Hip Hop

Famalay
Dance4OurLives – Gigi Tonye’ Arts & Fitness

Special Thanks

A heartfelt thank you to all the performers, directors, and families for your dedication and support in making this showcase a success!

About the National Honor Society for Dance Arts:  

The National Honor Society for Dance Arts™ (NHSDA) is a program of the National Dance Education Organization. It is one of the most exciting benefits that NDEO offers its Institutional Members. The Secondary Program (grades 9-12) was implemented in 2005. The Collegiate Program was implemented in 2012, and a Junior Program (grades 6-8) was separated from the Secondary Program and officially launched in 2016. To date, there are over 1,000 chapters in the US and over 15,000 students have been inducted in the past few years.

By recognizing outstanding dance students nationwide for their artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement and providing institutions with a way to promote their dance programs, NHSDA helps to advance the field of dance education centered in the arts.  

Establishing an NHSDA chapter in your school is one very important way that you can help advance the field of dance education. Celebrating the artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievements of exceptional dance students helps to create honor and prestige within our field and improve our image to those outside the field, and offers benefits for students, institutions, and the field at large.

6:00-9:00 PM Pizza and Dance Party

Sunday, March 30, 2025

9:30-10:00 AM Registration and Light Breakfast

10:00-11:00 AM

Ruben Pachas: The Connection of Peruvian Indigenous Dance with the Cosmos, Nature and Values

Indigenous dances usually come from an ancestral ritual, and they preserve for many years the socio-cultural context that has been transmitted from generations to generations for many years to preserve an integral formation of human beings. This proposal aims to communicate how through learning an indigenous dance the participant will be able to connect with the relationship of the cosmos, nature and values, making a reflection of the power of ancestral arts and considering having a coexistence, in diversity and harmony with nature , to achieve "The good life" for people and the planet as they conserve until these days.

Justin Kimball: HAPPY DANCE! Finding the joy and laughter in dance

A workshop developing skills to bring joy and funny to the classroom and beyond. Humor can be such a great tool in keeping our developingdancers (and even teachers) engaged and creative.

11:15 AM-12:15 PM

Brandon Avery:  CathARTic Edutainment: Discovering, Owning, and Employing Your Voice

CathARTic Edutainment is an interactive dance composition workshop where participants spawn choreographic works that come from personal accounts and put the works in a presentable format for various audiences. The workshop encourages dancers and nondancers to use means of communication (i.e. writing, speech) other than movement to promote mind-body connectivity. CathARTic Edutainment consists of two parts:

• Cathartic Artmaking: Prompts and Practices for Safely and Finely Generating Choreography Fueled by Visceral Experiences

• Performance "S.E.T.": How to Successfully Stage Your Stress

  Amy Lyn McDonald:  Dance Classroom Inclusivity: Celebratng Differences and Embracing All Learners

  In this workshop, I will share my own experience in teaching dance to deaf, wheelchair-bound, and neurodiverse dancers. I will discuss strategies that I have applied in my various teaching experiences, ranging from high schools, park districts, and higher education classrooms. I will share insights into successfully bridging the gaps between different types of learners and lead discussion among workshop attendees.

12:15 PM-2:00 PM Lunch and Member meeting; Conference conclusio

PRESENTER BIOS

BRANDON AVERY (PARAHARM), a native of South Holland, IL, spent 12 years of self-instruction in urban dance styles until he joined ClearVision Dance Team in 2006. After graduating from Knox College, he began training under artists such as Yanis Marshall, Kiira Harper, Blair Christian, and Homer Hans Bryant. Avery has performed with/for Mielle Organics, Ballethnic Dance Company, Joel Hall Dancers, and MTV2. He has choreographed for Drew Sidora, Praize Productions, Inc, and Hiplet Next. Avery has taught for Chicago Multicultural Dance Center and Emory University. Recently, Avery made history as the first male heels dancer to perform at the 94th annual Bud Billiken Day Parade, as well as being the first dance artist as a guest lecturer for Knox College (2024 William L. Honnold Lectureship). Currently, he is a company member with the Hiplet Ballerinas, choreographer for Aya Ito, and the founder/instructor of Hips & Heels by Brandon Avery™.

GINNY CHING-YIN LO is the founder and artistic director of Identity Performing Arts, established in 2016. She was born in Hong Kong and trained with the Hong Kong Ballet; then she continued training with Elizabeth Boitsov in Chicago. Ginny had danced with the Boitsov Classical Ballet and the Illinois Ballet Theater. She holds a B.A. in dance from Columbia College, Chicago and an M.A. in Communication and Culture from Trinity International University, IL. Ginny has taught dance over 20 years in dance studios, public schools and conferences from beginner to professional level. She has served on dance faculty at Tongji University in Shanghai, China. She led the Shanghai Migrant Performing Troupe that produced 40 touring performances annually, which was integral to Ginny's life mission to share their spiritual faith. Her choreographed works have been performed in the U.S., China, France and Germany; a variety have been nominated for the Chicago Dance Achievement Awards. Through each piece, dance is her vehicle to express societal issues, with the intent to heal and restore the community. 

GINA D’ANTONIO-SPEARS is a dance educator at Portage Park Elementary School in Chicago.  She has been teaching dance for 36 years, with 27 years in the K-12 public school setting.  She designs and facilitates professional development on topics such as arts integration, dance curriculum development, and standards-based instruction.  She loves incorporating dance history, social emotional learning, and mindfulness into her teaching.  She has been mentoring early years dance educators for over 10 years.  She has a BFA in Dance Education from Shenandoah University and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from American College of Education.  Her motto is “Teaching students is my joy, teaching teachers is my passion.”

JEFF HANCOCK is an Associate Professor of Instruction in Northwestern University’s Dance Program, a member of Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak ensemble, and the founder of -ish design. He explores teaching, performance, movement, and what we wear at the intersection of function and expression. He came to higher education after many years of performance, choreography, and design with companies including Hubbard Street, River North Chicago and others.

JUSTIN KIMBALL is a Teaching Artist, Dance instructor, Comedian and Choreographer in the Chicagoland area. He is co-owner of Comedy Dance Chicago, an Adaptive Dance instructor at Momentum Dance Company and a Teaching Artist at Paramount School of the Arts. He is also a company member of Theater Unspeakable and Movement Revolution. Justin is also a proud representative of Rhythm Works Integrated Dance. He has been a dance instructor for the past 14 years and loves bringing comedy and joy to the dance floor. 

AMY LYN MCDONALD is a dynamic and multifaced dance and musical theatre educator.  She was recently granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at Elmhurst University. After receiving her MFA in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, Amy Lyn enjoyed a robust professional performing career throughout the Midwest and west coast as a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association with: Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Theatre at the Center, American Theatre of San Jose, Foothill Music Theatre, California Conservatory Theatre, and Little Theatre on the Square. Amy Lyn was the proud recipient of Elmhurst’s 2020 President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.  She maintains an active career outside the Elmhurst as well, choreographing multiple video projects for Senor Wooly, a Spanish education resource used by over eighty countries worldwide.  She has collaborated with world-renowned Chicago dance company, Hubbard Street Dance, on various projects.  She was selected to serve on a panel for the Illinois State Board of Education’s dance standards.  She has been sought out to teach various workshops with the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and Illinois Theatre Association.  

MICHELLE MODRZEJEWSKI is a Chicago-based choreographer, performer, and dance educator. As an educator, Michelle’s work spans ages, abilities, and disciplines, including dance integration, dance for adults with Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimers, and dance for children on the Autism Spectrum. She has taught in public, private, and community settings, most notably with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago where she trains teaching artists, develops curriculum, and integrates dance into Chicago Public School classrooms across the city. Her interest in connection and collaboration inspired collaborative partnerships across the city with the Art Institute of Chicago, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. In addition to her work as a dance educator, Michelle has worked with the wellness organization Mindful Practices, using movement and reflective practice to engage and educate students and teachers in healthy classroom management and social-emotional learning practices. Michelle holds a B.A. in Dance Performance from Ball State University, a Post-Baccalaureate degree in Dance Education with K-12 Licensure from the University of North Carolina (UNGC) and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Dance Education through UNCG. 

HOLLY ROSE MOSS believes creativity and expression should be enjoyed by all! She is an Alumni of Northeastern IL University and Harper College. Holly Rose directed a park district dance program for several years as well as taught dance in multiple locations. Performing has always been her love, and she has performed in several dance and theater productions throughout the Chicagoland area. Most recently, as a Dancer/Actor in UWW Fest (DavJasFran Entertainment). For the past few years, Holly’s goal has been to produce performance opportunities, with a 4th project scheduled to take place in August 2025. In these projects, she has choreographed for a variety of dance levels and met many outstanding artists, which has been a joy. In 2023, she presented at the ILDEO Conference on connecting poetic works to dance and is delighted to present this year!

MALIKA "MYKA" OKOT is a creative mover, teacher, freestyler and choreographer who has recently finished her studies at Columbia College Chicago earning her BA with a major in Dance and minor in Hip Hop studies. Originally from Portland, Maine, Myka focuses her dance training in Hip Hop and Popping as well as other street styles including, Breaking, House, Locking, Krump, Chicago Footwork, Vogue and any other forms that she has the opportunity to learn. Her current work is focused on studying Hip Hop dance and how it was, how it is, and how it will be performed, practiced, and represented. Her main goals are to create artistic and meaningful dance work, spread the joys of dance and share how others can communicate and express through movement. 

RUBÉN PACHAS is a Peruvian Indigenous Dancer who receives the indigenous knowledge from his parents since he was a child until now. Later he received a BA in Folk Dance Education from University of Folklore “Jose Maria Arguedas” in Peru and recently he obtained his Master of Arts in Arts Education from School of the Arts Institute of Chicago. He taught in Chicago Public School for 13 years and he was a Dance Professor in Symposiums and Continuous Training Courses at Waukegan Public School, University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign and Ethnic Dance Chicago. He was guest professor at University of Chicago, Elmhurst University and he was a dance advisor and Instructor at Chicago Summer Dance.  He has been promoting indigenous Peruvian culture in Illinois and other states and Pachas has been an active member of the Chicago dance community as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for over 20 years.

DIANE RAWLINSON holds a degree in Dance Education from Ohio State, MFA from UW-Madison.  Diane retired in 2021 after 30 years as the Dance/yoga teacher at Wheeling HS (Illinois) and is currently on faculty at Loyola University. She was also on the dance faculties at Northwestern University, UW- Stevens Point, and University of Akron.  Ms. Rawlinson was one of the first certified leaders of InterPlay worldwide, and is the coordinator of the InterPlay in Education initiative.  A writer/editor for Dance Spirit/Dance Teacher magazines from 1997-2019 she was named NDA Midwest Dance Educator, UW-Madison Distinguished Alumni, Illinois Teacher of the Year Meritorious, and 2014 Chicago’s Ruth Page Award Recipient.   She has presented InterPlay at state, national, and international conferences and workshops including: International InterPlay Conference Illinois State Theatre Festival, National/Regional HS Dance Festival, DePaul,, University of Iowa, ISU, Loyola, Dance Teacher Magazine, Bill Evans, CNADM, NDEO, ILDEO, Hubbard Street Professional Development, and Gibney Dance Center.

MOLLY SHANAHAN is the founder of Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak. She developed Spiral Body Techniques® (SBT) over decades, combining her expertise in dance creation, performance and teaching; and her experiences of trauma recovery. 

JULIANNA SLAGER is the Ballet 5:8 Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer. Julianna Rubio Slager began her dance training at a local studio in Spring Arbor, Michigan. Rubio Slager went on to study under notable teachers from the New York City Ballet, the Vaganova Academy, and the Puerto Rican National Ballet. Rubio Slager enjoyed dancing under Barbara Smith at Greater Lansing Ballet, and also under Kathy Thibodeaux and Sol Maisonet at Ballet Magnificat. Upon moving to Chicago, Rubio Slager had the opportunity to work as a freelance artist, teacher, and choreographer in the Greater Chicago area. 

Friday, March 28, 2025

6:00 PM

Registration

6:30-7:30 PM

Welcome Reception/Conference Kick-off

7:30-9:00 PM

Panel: State of Illinois Dance Education

Saturday, March 29, 2025

8:30-9:30 AM

Registration and Light Breakfast

9:30-10:00 AM

ILDEO President & Board welcome

10:00-11:00 AM

• Gina D'Antonio-Spears: Celebrating Student Identity

• Holly Rose Moss: Artist Toolkit: Integrating Theatrical Techniques Into Choreographic Works

11:15-12:15 AM

• Diane Rawlinson: InterPlay CONNECT: A community building practice through improvisational movement, story telling, and music

• Jeffery Hancock and Molly Shanahan: Restart/Mark: Composing Inclusive Collaboration Through Radical Forgiveness

12:15-1:00 PM

Lunch

1:00-2:00 PM

• Michelle Modrzejewski of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago: Dance for Students on the Autism Spectrum

• Myka Okot: Musicality in Freestyling: Exploring rhythms, tempos, and cadences
  
  

2:15-3:15 PM

KEYNOTE: Shawn Lent

3:15 PM

ILDEO Distinguished Dance Educator Award Presentation: Vershawn Sanders Ward

3:30-5:30 PM

NHSDA Student Performances and Discussion

6:00-9:00 PM | Pizza and Dance Party

Sunday, March 30, 2025

9:30AM-10:00 AM

Registration and Light Breakfast

10:00-11:00 AM

• Ruben Pachas: The Connection of Peruvian Indigenous Dance with the Cosmos, Nature and Values

• Justin Kimball: HAPPY DANCE! Finding the joy and laughter in dance

11:15 AM-12:15 PM

• Brandon Avery: CathARTic Edutainment: Discovering, Owning, and Employing Your Voice

• Amy Lyn McDonald: Dance Classroom Inclusivity: Celebrating Differences and Embracing All Learners

12:15 PM-2:00 PM 

Lunch and Member meeting; Conference conclusion