OUR DANCE TEACHERS

Our Educators

Dance Educators Biographies

(Breif bios, for full bios, please download the Parent Handbook.)

Evelyn Sanchez

Evelyn Sanchez, was born and raised in Chicago. She began her dance training atthe age of eight in 1999 at U Dance Corporation. At the age of twelve she began her formal Spanish dance training withDame Libby Komaiko as a member of the “All-City Jr. Ensemble Español”. In 2003, she danced with the “All-City Dance Ensemble” with Director Deidre M. Dawson. In 2006 she was selected to tour with the Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater to Poland on their artistic cultural exchange celebration in honor of Warsaw University 190th anniversary to the cities of Warsaw & Cracow. That same year she began her training at Gallery 37 Advanced Arts Education Program with Pierre Lockett. In 2007 she was invited to perform in the Joffrey Ballet Strobel Step-Up Performance. Evelyn was teacher assistant in 2009 for the Northeastern Illinois University Summer Transition Flamenco Dance Workshops...cont.

Monternez “Monty”

Rezell

Monternez Rezell, also known as Monty, is a Choreographer, Dancer, andTeacher of all styles of Hip Hop/Break Dance, as well as tumbling. Monty is Co-Artistic Director of the world famous Stick and Move dance crew (Seen on America's Got Talent season 7), Artistic Director/Founder of Movement Revolution and one of the choreographers of Hip Hop Chicago, an artist collective that performs all the elements of the Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop Chicago was selected to represent Chicago and the USA at the World Expo in Shanghai, China in 2010. Monty has been blessed to travel around the world performing and teaching master classes and workshops every where from Chicago to Shanghai, Paris to Germany and Uganda in East Africa...cont.

Sergio “Beast” Rodriguez

Sergio “Beast” Rodriguez was born in Mexico City and began dancing byparticipating in school presentations for the school community. As a new Chicagoan, at age 12, under the mentorship of youth advocates and breakdance pioneers from the University of Hip-Hop, he attended his first battle and breaking sessions and became inspired to become a competitive, fierce b-boy (breakdancer). His early mentors and teachers, included Hector Gonzalez, B-boys Epic, Evol, Bravemonk, Inlight, Danze 1, Spinister, and Isela Estrada, just to name a few...cont.

Marlín Estrada,

Director

Ms. Estrada found her passion for dance and movement at a young age, performing at block parties in Little Village and in at the Showcase at her local park district, Piotrowski Park. Through the encouragement and leadership of her older sister, she later joined the Jump Co. under the instruction of Jorge Quintero, formerly of Concert Dance Inc and Cirque Rivera., Sean Blay, and Stephanie Mayer; the flagship performance troupe representing the Gymnastics Department of the Chicago Park District. Inspired by her teachers, her sister, her culture, and community she made it her mission to continue their work to establish an institution that brings the power of dance and the arts to her beloved Southwest side of Chicago. During her undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago, she founded ‘Matli Dance Crew, a dynamic youth performance troupe dedicated to bringing an array of Latin-infused contemporary, classical, and urban dance styles to audiences and most importantly, to its performers, youth from the Little Village community. Determined to expand and create a sustainable, inspiring arts institution in the southwest side, she pursued Columbia College Chicago’s innovative Master of Arts Management with a concentration in Arts in Youth and Community Development program, where she interned with the legendary Mama Najwa at the Najwa Dance Corps and was mentored in community-based arts management by Paul Teruel, founder of Street Level Media Youth Media, at Columbia College’s Center for Community Arts Partnerships. During her graduate studies, Ms. Estrada co-founded and incorporated ‘Matli Arts Center, NFP, establishing the only dance and arts organization in the greater Southwest side of Chicago...cont.