Identity

Identity CONNECTS with the community, CREATES dances and AFFIRMS the values of their identities.

Identity Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 organization, founded in 2016. Our mission statement is to Connect, Create and Affirm through the power of dance. Identity creates original choreographed performances, connects us all through works that explore universal societal issues, and affirms the values of our individual and community diversity. Identity transitioned from a portfolio of dance projects t

o a full-season company in November, 2020. Furthermore, the organization received the Evanston Mayor Awards for the Arts of 2021, which recognizes its longstanding contribution to the arts community.

06/01/2026

Meet the Artists of Elpis Dance Festival✨

We would like to welcome, Olivia Lemmenes, to Elpis Dance Festival!

Olivia Lemmenes is a professional choreographer, dancer, and educator located in Chicago, IL. She trained at Dance Center Evanston for 15 years, then continued her dance training at Western Michigan University – where she graduated with a BFA in Dance. After graduating, Olivia taught pre-professional and professional dance classes, and choreographed dances throughout the state of Michigan. Olivia currently teaches at The Grainger Academy of the Joffrey Ballet, Dance Center Evanston, and is the Assistant Director of Evanston Dance Ensemble 2 (ede2).

Photographer: Carly Vanderheyden

05/29/2026

Meet the Artists of Elpis Dance Festival✨

Up next is Mark Gonzalez! Mark is one of our Company Artists and we are excited for him to present work this year in addition to performing with Identity and Still Inspired!

Mark Gonzalez is a dance artist from Edinburg, Texas. He received a BFA in Dance with emphasis in Performance and Choreography from Texas State University. During his time in Texas he had the privilege to work with artists such as Christa Oliver, Andy and Dionne Noble (Noble Motion Dance), and Mike Esperanza. After leaving Texas, Mark trained and performed with The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2 under the direction of Shonna Matlock. He was a scholarship recipient for Giordano Dance Chicago and Flockworks and has trained at Orsolina28 in Moncalvo, Italy. After moving to Chicago, Mark Apprenticed with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre where he performed the works of Monique Haley and Katlin Bourgeois. He is now a Company Artist with Identity Performing Arts and Still Inspired.

Outside of performing, Mark is a commissioned choreographer and has had the privilege to present his own choreography regionally, nationally and internationally at festivals including but not limited to COCO Dance Festival (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago), Dance City Festival (Detroit, MI), Koresh Artist Showcase (Philadelphia, PA), BarnStorm Dance Festival (Houston, TX) and New Dances 2024, a partnership with DanceWorks Chicago and Thodos Dance Chicago. Recently, Mark was selected as a 2025 Standout Choreographer International Exchange Recipient at Dance City Festival: Detroit, and was selected to present his work in Seoul, South Korea at the 2026 ARTSinTANK Dance Festival in Korea. He will also be leading a performance workshop where he will be collaborating on a new work with his artists and Choi Bo-gyeol Dance Company while in Seoul. Mark is also a dance competition adjudicator with KAR Productions and ID Dance Competition.

Photo Credit: Dance City Festival

05/28/2026

Meet the Artists of Elpis Dance Festival✨

We would like to welcome back Chicago Movement Collective!

Ethan Kirschbaum graduated summa cm laude with Departmental Honors in Dance from The Ailey School/Fordham University. He danced professionally with Hubbard Street 2, Saarländisches Staatstheater, River North Dance Chicago, Lucky Plush Productions, Santa Fe Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. He was on faculty at Lou Conte Dance Studio in 2012 and was named the Mentor for its Scholarship program in 2019. A former Artistic Associate with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Ethan currently is a Company Class Teacher with South Chicago Dance Theatre. He is certified to teach all levels of Horton by the Ailey School, the Basic level of Giordano technique by the Nan Giordano Certification Program, and is the Founder of the Chicago Movement Collective.

Photo Credit: Ren Freeman

05/27/2026

Meet the Artists of Elpis Dance Festival✨

We would like to welcome Bodies of Water to Elpis Dance Festival! They will be presenting work by their Artistic Director, Esther Pauline Farley.

Bodies of Water is a Chicago-based dance company dedicated to fostering artistic innovation and engagement through dance, performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Established in
2023, Bodies of Water emerged from a desire to flood the city with opportunities for dancers and artists in all stages of their careers, and to showcase their talent and build a thriving community.

Bodies of Water has produced three evening length dance theatre shows as well as performing in various local and national dance festivals. Other programming includes workshops and
classes, community events, and our annual dance and movement festival, Fluid Expressions. Bodies of Water recently started its fourth season under the direction of artistic director Esther
Pauline Farley.

Photo Credits: Katie Miller

05/26/2026

Meet the Artists of Elpis Dance Festival✨

Up next is Ariana Sugay and Nick Kearns!

Ariana Sugay trained at The Chicago Academy for the Arts and obtained her BA in contemporary dance from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. She now freelances in Chicago, having performed as a company dancer in New Dances with Thodos Dance Chicago and Danceworks Chicago, in the 2024 Dance for Life Fundraiser, and in festivals such as Delve Dance Chicago and Still Inspired Artists. She is currently in residency with Dance Colony Artists.

Nick Kearns, originally from Williamsburg, Virginia, began dancing under the direction of Shelly Isler at SI Dance. He then graduated from James Madison University in May of 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in dance, and moved to Chicago where he now freelances in the city. Nick currently dances with Symbiosis Arts and Scription Dance Theatre.

Photo taken by Mcgregor Salmon

05/25/2026

Meet the Artists of Elpis Dance Festival✨

We would like to welcome back Ardent Dance Company!

Founded in 2016 under the visionary direction of Justine Kelly, Ardent Dance Company reimagines the art of dance, breathing new life into classical and historical narratives. Justine thrives on storytelling, bringing together dancers from diverse backgrounds and styles while pushing the boundaries of casting, music choices, and movement. Her rigorous classical ballet training forms the foundation of the company’s beautiful movements and technique, while her theater background and passion for literature engage audiences in compelling narratives.

Justine’s full-length productions challenge conventional perspectives on historical and classical stories, inviting audiences to fall in love with dance in fresh and exciting ways. With music that is both surprising and enjoyable, Ardent creates performances that resonate emotionally.

The company has captivated audiences throughout the Chicago area with dramatic, heart-wrenching, and entertaining shows, including "Salem," which explores the Salem witch trials; "Six of VIII," which tells the stories of the wives of Henry VIII; "Poe," depicting the life of Edgar Allan Poe; and a contemporary ballet adaptation of "Les Misérables." At Ardent, we seek vulnerability, connection, and strength with one another and our audience.

Photo credit: Greg Inda

05/20/2026

Meet the Artists of Elpis Dance Festival✨

Up next is Alluvion Dance Chicago! They will be presenting work by their Artistic Director, Tessa Ritchey.

Tessa Ritchey was born and raised in Walworth, Wisconsin, where she trained at The Dance Factory. She graduated from The University of Iowa in 2018 with a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography. Tessa has had her work presented at the 2018 ACDA North Central Conference, College of DuPage’s Choreographic Showcase, MADCO 2’s Dare To Dance, Trifecta’s A New Light, the Iowa Dance Festival, Emergence, SMUSH Moves Vol. 7, JELLO, & MKE Fringe. Tessa was a Company Dancer for Danceworks Performance MKE for three seasons. This is Tessa’s second season as Artistic Director for Alluvion Dance.

05/19/2026

Meet the Artists of Elpis Dance Festival✨

We would like to welcome 3rd Coast Contemporary Dance Program to Elpis Dance Festival! They will be presenting work by their Director, Julia Schaeffer.

Julia Schaeffer (she/her) is originally from California, and she began dancing at age 13. She received her BFA in Dance Performance from Chapman University where she studied Jazz, Modern, Ballet, and Contemporary. After graduation, Julia danced with the Lineage dance company for four years where she had the privilege of performing and teaching community outreach classes. She relocated to Chicago in the summer of 2019 to perform and teach throughout the city. Julia joined Winifred Haun & Dancers in 2020 and was promoted to Assistant Artistic Director in 2024. Additionally, Julia currently Directs the 3rd Coast Contemporary Dance Program and teaches for Dance on Broadway, Joel Hall Dancers & Center, Kenwood Dance Academy, and Design Dance. She has also presented choreography at Simantiko’s Choreo Kick Off, Detroit Dance City Festival, Trifecta Dance Collective’s A New Light, and Winifred Haun & Dancer’s Absent Moon.

Photo by Michelle Reid

05/18/2026

✨ELPIS DANCE FESTIVAL✨

We are excited to announce the amazing companies and choreographers presenting work at Elpis Dance Festival!

🗓️Saturday, June 13
📍Visceral Dance Center- Studio 4
⏰1-3pm
🎟️FREE

05/14/2026

ELPIS DANCE FESTIVAL✨

We are excited to be presenting excerpts from “Instinctual”.

Stay tuned for the lineup of amazing artists performing at Elpis Dance Festival!

🗓️Saturday, June 13
📍Visceral Dance Center- Studio 4
⏰1-3pm
🎟️FREE

📸

Address

Chicago, IL
60618

Telephone

+13126003076

Website

http://www.identityperformingarts.org/

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