“I see dance being used as a communication between body and soul, to express what is too deep for words.”
- Ruth St. Denis
ISAIAH CAVALLERO, from San Antonio, TX, began his training at a young age and acquired a passion for dancing. He attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts, under Wes Chapman, Martha Faesi, and Teri Weksler. A graduate of George Mason University with a BFA in Dance, Isaiah performed works by Nacho Duato, Andonis Foniadakis, Larry Keigwin, and other artists. He has also attended summer intensives at DanceWorks Chicago (ChoreoLab), BodyTraffic, Nashville Ballet, and The Washington Ballet. Isaiah joined DanceWorks Chicago in September 2023 and is thrilled to embark on his first season with his new family.
“It is only when you put free animals under false restrictions that they lose the power of moving in harmony with nature, and adopt a movement expressive of the restrictions place about them.”
- Isadora Duncan
ANGEL KHAYTYAN, from Boston, MA, began his training at Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre in Cambridge, MA, while pursuing opportunities in various styles including hip hop, contemporary, ballroom, and Latin dance. They attended NYU Tisch School of the Arts on a full-tuition scholarship, where they received a BFA in Dance. While at NYU, they performed works by Camille A. Brown and Stephen Petronio and worked with various choreographers including Rena Butler, David Dorfman, and Dwight Rhoden as well as many student choreographers and student filmmakers. During summers he trained with DanceWorks Chicago (ChoreoLab), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Gibney, Kizuna Dance, and Yin Yue Dance Company. Angel joined DanceWorks Chicago in August 2022.
"The goal of life is rapture. Art is the way we experience it. Art is the transforming experience."
- Joseph Campbell
HANNAH MU, from Nashville, TN, began her dance training at the age of 3 studying numerous styles of dance, acrobatics, and tumbling. She graduated cum laude with her BFA in Dance from The Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, she collaborated with artists from Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. After graduating in May 2022, Hannah relocated to Denver, CO, to join Cleo Parker Robinson Dance as a Cleo II. During her time there, she had the opportunity to perform notable works choreographed by Millicent Johnnie, Donald McKayle, and Cleo Parker Robinson. Hannah joined DanceWorks Chicago in September 2023.
“Believe what you can. Believe what you want to become. Believe in yourself. That is is the root for everything.”
- Myra Woodruff
MIA PHILIPPON, from Vail, CO, began her dance training at Vail Valley Academy of Dance. She studied at Southland Ballet Academy, under the direction of Salwa Rizkalla and mentor Christina Lyon. Mia continued her studies at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, under the direction of Michael Owen and Denise Lewis. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Meadows School for the Arts and a BBA in Business from Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. At SMU she performed works by Carter Alexander, Joy Bolinger, Silas Farley, Matthew Neenan, and Pascal Rioult. Summer studies included DanceWorks Chicago's Dance360 programming. Mia joined DanceWorks Chicago in September 2023.
“And David danced before the LORD with all his might.”
- 2 Samuel 6:14 KJV
DAVID ANTHONY SCHEUERMAN, from Joplin, MO, began his training under the direction of Kaye Lewis at Midwest Regional Ballet in 2010. He has spent summers dancing with Tulsa Ballet and Texas Ballet, and in 2019, he participated in Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's Professional Program (HSPro). At HSPro, David worked with established artists Rena Butler, Robin Mineko Williams, Adam Barruch, Jonathan Alsberry, David Norworthy, and Ryan Mason. He danced for a season with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre directed by Wilfredo Rivera, where he worked with Monique Haley, Shannon Alvis, Katlin Bourgeois and Stephanie Martinez. David Anthony joined DanceWorks Chicago in January 2022.
“To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for the taking.”
- Agnes de Mille
AMELIA SHULTZ, from Chicago, IL, began her dance training at various studios in the city and spent her high school years training with Extensions Dance Company under the direction of Lizzie Mackenzie. Summer studies included DanceWorks Chicago's
Dance360 programming. Amelia is a graduate of the Arts Umbrella Post-Graduate Program, where she performed works by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Marco Goecke, Crystal Pite, Medhi Walerski, and others, as well as participated in the Ballet BC / Arts Umbrella “Pilot Project” directed by Medhi Walerski. Amelia made her professional debut dancing in Season 5 of SFDanceworks, where she performed repertoire by Edward Clug and Yin Yue along with a new creation by Laura O’Malley. Amelia joined DanceWorks Chicago in August 2022.
