Allison Kurtz Volkers and Wendy Park

Teaches at Dance Center Evanston

Allison Kurtz Volkers is a Northwestern grad, a die-hard Bears fan, Artistic Director of ede2, and Associate Program Director of Dance Center Evanston, where she trains young dancers in ballet and modern, and runs the popular Mini-Camp and Summer Dance Theater programs. A long-time choreographer and performer, Ms. Volkers has collaborated with such organizations as Adventure Stage, Albany Park Theater Project, Barrel of Monkeys, Beserra Dance Theater, Dog and Pony, Evanston Dance Ensemble, New Leaf, Piven, and, most notably, Striding Lion Performance Group, where she was a founding member and is currently an Artistic Associate. As an active participant in the growth of that company's educational outreach, Allison taught and administrated over twenty performing arts residencies throughout the greater Chicago area. The Cecchetti Council of America has certified Ms. Volkers as a Grade IV Teacher of Classical Ballet Dancing, she serves on the board of the CCA's Midwest committee, and she has led workshops for the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters. Prior to these endeavors, she worked for the Dancercise Kids program, bringing dance to children in day cares, pre-schools, and after-school programs.

Wendy Park began her training in ballet, tap, jazz and modern in Indianapolis at Curtain Call Academy of the Arts and the Jordan College Academy of Dance at Butler University. As an undergraduate at Barat College's Conservatory of Dance, Wendy performed works by Rory Foster and Eileen Cropley. Completing her degree at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, she had the opportunity to perform works set by David Gordon, Jan Eckert and Eduardo Vilaro. Ms Park has been teaching ballet, tap, and jazz professionally for over a decade in Indianapolis, Chicago and the North Shore. Currently, she is continuing her dance education through the Cecchetti Teacher Certification program