Nick Pupillo
Nick Pupillo, Founder and Artistic Director of Visceral Dance Chicago, graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Ballet. In 2001, Pupillo joined the acclaimed Giordano Dance Chicago where he toured nationally and internationally for three years. Pupillo decided in 2006 to train and mentor young talent by developing the prestigious Visceral Studio Company.
In 2007, he founded Visceral Dance Center to provide the Chicago community with a new venue for artistic and technical growth. This facility continues to be a Chicago dance landmark. TimeOut Chicago lists Visceral Dance Center as "A bustling, well-appointed facility...with instructors from top companies and in-demand guest teachers." Utilized by a number of Chicago-based companies, Visceral Dance Center is home to its resident company, Visceral Dance Chicago.
ARTISTIC STAFF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Barbara Ellis-Racic Tom Ferguson Pam Walsh Kim Kerodle Vicki Sparks Nick Pupillo
Pam Crutchfield Patrick McCoy
ADVISORY BOARD
Founder/Artistic Director
Cheryl Mann
Cheryl Mann fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a Hubbard Street dancer in 1997. She has been fortunate in her career to travel to and perform in 17 countries, as well as countless domestic cities in the U.S. Ms. Mann retired after 10 1/2 years with the company in October 2007. She received a Ruth Page Award for her performance in Nacho Duato's Cor Perdut, and was on the cover of Dance Magazine for the August edition in 2004 featuring Lucas Crandall's Gimme.
Mann began her professional career at Disney World in Orlando, FL, received a B.A. in dance at Point Park College, performed in South Pacific as "Liat" under the direction of Robby Marshall in Pittsburgh, and danced with River North Chicago Dance Company before joining Hubbard Street.
She is the owner of Cheryl Mann Productions, where she has traveled the world setting dance works for world renown choreographers such as Ohad Naharin, Toru Shimazaki, Alejandro Cerrudo, & Danny Ezralow, as well as photographing companies such as Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, River North Dance Chicago, Ballet Hispanico, the former Luna Negra Dance Theater, Thodos Dance Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago, amongst many more. Cheryl is beyond inspired by the dancers of VDC & is happy to call Visceral her home away from home.
Artistic Associate
Laura Wade
Laura Wade was the Artistic Director of AKASHA Dance Company, commissioning original contemporary works from choreographers such as Claire Bataille & Ginger Farley (both of Hubbard Street), Austin Hartel (Pilobolus), Martin Kravitz (Batsheva), and Nora Reynolds (Lar Lubovitch).
AKASHA toured the Midwest, England, danced at the Edinburgh Festival and performed their popular outreach programs for over 100,000 children through Urban Gateways. Ms. Wade was a soloist in Ruth Page's The Nutcracker for fifteen years, and performed both ballet and modern works with David Dorfman, Scott Putman, Robin Lakes/ Rough Dance, Ballet Chicago, and Ballet Theatre of Chicago.
Ms. Wade is on faculty at Northwestern University, the Lou Conte Dance Studio, and Visceral Dance Center; and teaches company class for River North Dance Company. For many years, she taught at the Ruth Page School of Dance and has been a frequent guest teacher of co. class for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, as well as a sought after teacher for workshops at Stephens College, University of Wisconsin-Madison and others throughout the country. As Assistant Artistic director for Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago for 4 years, Ms. Wade rehearsed the co., taught co. class, and led the co. on tours of the US, Germany, & Austria. Velta Cernonok and Marie Vogt were her early teachers in Toledo, Ohio. She received a Bachelor's degree from Indiana University, studying under Marina Svetlova and Nicolas Beriosov, before coming to Chicago to train with Larry Long.
Rehearsal Associate
Pupillo founded Visceral Dance Chicago in the fall of 2013. This repertory company presents his daring vision to explore the infinite possibilities of contemporary movement. The dancers of Visceral demonstrate this choreographic invention and are recognized for their technique, passion, and athleticism. In less than a year, Pupillo has led the company in a forthright direction, establishing a repertoire described as "expertly devised and stylish as they come." (Laura Molzahn, Chicago Tribune) He created two signature works for the company, Senza di te and Impetere. He has also commissioned world premieres by Sidra Bell, Monica Cervantes, and Robyn Mineko Williams. Pupillo continues the company's bold vision next season, commissioning works by Banning Bouldin, Brian Enos, and Ohad Naharin, heightening the"distinct flavor to this fledgling company that differentiates it from the other high kick, high flair, contemporary dance companies." (Lauren Warnecke, Art Intercepts)
Pupillo has received various awards for his choreography, including "The Dance Chicago Outstanding Choreography Award" in 2005 and 2012 and "The Cliff Dwellers 2013 Choreographer of the Year. His work has been described as "impressively dancey," (Lauren Warnecke, Art Intercepts) and "a stroke of choreographic genius...complex, tumbling changes...in this portrait of perpetual motion." (Laura Molzahn, Chicago Tribune) Pupillo is frequently invited to conduct master classes in the U.S. and around the world and has taught for the Jazz Dance World Congress, Chicago Dance Connection and Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. Pupillo is currently an artist in residence at Culver Academies.
ADDITIONAL STAFF
Shirley Kyle
Business Manager
Pam Walsh
Development and Events Coordinator
Tess Renaud
Grants
Jackie Finch
Corporate Sponsorship
Liz Conway
Administrative Assistant
Jenni Hlebasko
Social Media