Gus Giordano - Founder
Nan Giordano - Artistic Director
THE ENSEMBLE
George Brous
Amanda Hickey-Newcom
Adam Houston
Sasha Lazarus
Talia Luzzo
Fernando Rodriguez
Simon Schuh
Erina Ueda
Analysse Vance
Eduardo Zambrana
STAFF
Founder..........Gus Giordano
Artistic Director..........Nan Giordano
Associate Artistic Director.........Cesar G. Salinas
Operations Director.........Caitlyn Ottenheimer
Development & Operations Coordinator.........Olivia Pennell
Grants Manager.........Maggy Fouche
Financial Manager.........Vince Navarro
Giordano II Director.........Zach Heller
Development Coordinator, Rehearsal Captain.........Adam Houston
Media Coordinator.........Erina Ueda
Production Stage Manager.........Elyjah Kleinsmith
Administrative Associate.........Cayla Skuran
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Photography..........Anderson Photography & Todd Rosenberg
Videography..........HMS Media
Booking Agent..........Cathy Pruzan, Pruzan Dance Arts
Official Provider of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy..........Athletico
Official Rehearsal Space.........Ruth Page Center for the Arts
Public Relations and Marketing Agency.........Carol Fox & Associates
IT Service.........Lightway Solutions
GIORDANO DANCE CHICAGO
1754 North Clark Street | Chicago, IL 60614
P: 312-922-1332 | F: 312-922-1335
info@giordanodance.org | giordanodance.org
FOR BOOKING INFORMATION
Cathy Pruzan, Booking Agent
FOR INTEREST IN OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Caitlyn Ottenheimer, Operations Manager caitlynottenheimer@giordanodance.org
Gershwin in B (2024)
Story and Choreography: Al Blackstone
Dramaturg: Anastasia Mary Ellis
Music: George Gershwin
Additional Music: Marc Cardarelli
Projection/Lighting Design: Julie E. Ballard, USA
Costume Design: Branimira Ivanova
Soloist: Erina Ueda
Pas de Deux: Erina Ueda & Eduardo Zambrana
Ensemble: George Brous, Amanda Hickey-Newcom, Adam Houston, Sasha Lazarus, Talia Luzzo, Fernando Rodriguez, Simon Schuh, Analysse Vance
A Hat, a Door
Music Arranged by: Marc Cardarelli
Room 837
Music Arranged and Performed by: The Benny Goodman Quartet
S’Wonderful
Music Arranged and Performed by: The BBC Big Band
Nice Work
Music Arranged and Performed by: Oscar Peterson
Embraceable You
Music Arranged and Performed by: Peter Breiner, Juray Bartos
Rhapsody in Blue
Music Arranged and Performed by: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
But Not For Me
Music Arranged and Performed by: Zubin Mehta/New York Philharmonic
She Wins
Music Arranged and Performed by: Peter Breiner, Juray Bartos
Bow
Music Arranged and Performed by: Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
“Gershwin in B is a celebration of the glorious music of George Gershwin, the incredible legacy of Giordano Dance Chicago, and one young woman’s curious spirit. I like to say that life happens in chapters. There are core memories locked inside us that inform who we are and inspire the decisions we make. Making this piece was its own chapter of my life and I’m grateful to Nan, Cesar, and the incredible dancers of Giordano Dance Chicago for making it such a beautiful one. I hope you enjoy.” -Al Blackstone
This work was funded in part by an Anonymous Donor and Dr. Marty Gorbien.
VIDEO
Sabroso (2011)
Choreography: Del Dominguez and Laura Flores
Music: Monguito Santamaria, Tito Rodríguez, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Machito
Lighting Design: Kevin Dreyer
Costume Design: Branimira Ivanova
Dancers: The Ensemble
INTERMISSION
namuH – Special Preview Performance
Choreography: Jon Rua
Music: Bjork, Stateless
Lighting Design: Elyjah Kleinsmith
Costume Design: Nina G.
Dancers: The Ensemble
VIDEO
Excerpts from Crossing/Lines (2015)
Choreography: Ronen Koresh
Choreography Assistant: Joe Cotler
Music: Pentaphobe, Hugues Le Bars, Leo Abrahams
Lighting Design: Jacob Snodgrass
Costume Design: Ronen Koresh
Dancers: The Ensemble
VIDEO
Dumb Luck! – Special Preview Performance
Choreography: Al Blackstone
Music: Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Nat “King” Cole Trio, The Manhattan Transfer, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Scenic Designer: Devin Meseke
Lighting Design: Elyjah Kleinsmith
Costume Design: Nina G.
Dancers: The Ensemble
This work was funded in part by an Anonymous Donor.
Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) America's original jazz dance company electrifies into their 63rd season with radiance and infinite horizons. Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) is an iconic cultural institution with deep roots in Chicago and around the globe (28 countries, 47 states, and more than 1,300 cities). From founder Gus Giordano's vision, the company continues to honor the past while pushing the art form forward. Nan Giordano celebrates 41 years as an artistic leader responsible for commissioning innovative choreographic works and mentoring thousands of dancers. Alongside Nan, Associate Artistic Director, Cesar G. Salinas and the magnificent dancers are an integral part of the GDC legacy. Al Blackstone serves as Resident Choreographer, truly a testament that the art form of jazz dance is thriving. The company is one of the few in the world that has a foundational technique, Nan Giordano Certification Program® with certified teachers in 9 countries and 36 states. GDC is committed to Youth Arts Education at home and on tour through mentorships, scholarships, and our free Chicago Public Schools and park programs. GDC is proud to be one of the longest running dance companies in the world, continuing to enrich lives through dance.
LEADERSHIP
Gus Giordano
Founder
(1923 – 2008)
Gus Giordano’s dedication to jazz dance exhibited itself in all facets of his extraordinary life: dancer, master teacher, choreographer, author, and founder of the Giordano Dance School (GDS) in Evanston, Illinois, founder of the dance company Giordano Dance Chicago and founder of Jazz Dance World Congress. Mr. Giordano created and taught the Giordano Technique at venues across the United States and around the world. He choreographed in all areas of performance including television, film, stage, commercials, industrials, and concert dance. In 1976 Giordano wrote the highly acclaimed Anthology of American Jazz Dance. In August 1990, Giordano organized the first Jazz Dance World Congress, which gathered renowned jazz dance master teachers and companies. The Congress has been held at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Northwestern University, the University at Buffalo, Point Park University, as well as in Phoenix, Chicago, Japan, Germany, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Gus Giordano received many awards including the 1984 Dance Educators of America Award for his outstanding contribution to the world of jazz dance, the 1988 Mayor’s Award for the Arts, the 1989 Governor’s Award for the Arts for exemplary individual artistic achievement, the 1991 Dance Teacher Now Circle Award, the 1993 Ruth Page Lifetime Service to the Field Award, and the 1996 University of Missouri Distinguished Alumni Award and William Francis English Scholar-in-Residence Award. In 1985, Governor James Thompson declared April 25 Gus Giordano Day. In 1995 he received the Honorable Artist Award from Chukyo University in Nagoya, Japan. In 1997 Gus served as National Spokesperson for National Dance Week. In 1999, he received the Third Annual Katherine Dunham Award for excellence and great contributions to the Arts, and in 2003, Chicago’s Mayor Daley presented Gus with the Chicago Senior of the Year Award. In 2005 the National Dance Association presented Mr. Giordano with its Heritage Award, and the same year he received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from Shenandoah University.
Nan Giordano
Artistic Director
At the helm for 41 years, Nan was trained by her father and mentor, Gus Giordano. Nan teaches master classes throughout the United States and has toured internationally as guest teacher in many countries including Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Latvia, Mexico, and Israel. Nan was honored by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who declared June 9, 2018, Nan Giordano Day for her leadership and contributions to the Chicago community. In August 2018, Chicago Dancers United honored Nan (along with Lou Conte) with the Dance for Life Impact Award, recognizing her contributions to the Chicago dance community and Dance for Life. In celebration of Nan’s landmark year, the Chicago Tribune released their “2018 Chicagoans of the Year”, of which she was spotlighted as the city’s “Dance” honoree. In summer of 2019, Nan was honored with the Grace Wakefield Lifetime Achievement Award by Star Dance Alliance at the Circle of Excellence Gala. Nan has served as a guest judge at The Dance Awards (Dance One). Nan was graced as the cover of Fra Noi, Chicago’s Italian magazine. Most recently, Nan received the prestigious “Take Your Seat” honor at the Harris Theater—an enduring tribute that honors her profound impact on the arts and secures her place in the heart of Chicago’s creative legacy. In August 2025, Nan was honored to be a judge at the highly acclaimed A.C.E Awards by DanceOne.
Cesar G. Salinas
Associate Artistic Director
Cesar G. Salinas, originally from Portland, Oregon, is Giordano Dance Chicago’s Associate Artistic Director. This year marks Cesar’s 11th season in an artistic administrative role previously serving as artistic assistant and artistic programs manager. He began his formal studies in dance with Zohar School of Dance, under the direction of Ehud Krauss in Palo Alto, CA. There he was introduced to the classic jazz styles of Gus Giordano, Luigi, and Matt Mattox. He moved to Oregon where he studied at Willamette Ballet Academy under Deborah Higginbotham. Cesar went on to further his training at the University at Buffalo, where he graduated with a BFA in Dance. Twenty-one years ago, he received a scholarship to the original Giordano Dance School in Evanston, IL, in 2004 and in the summer of 2005. From 2006 until 2011, Cesar joined Giordano Dance Chicago as a full company member performing throughout the United States and Europe. During his tenure, he was proud to be a part of GDC’s educational outreach pilot program, teaching science and health dance classes to 4th and 5th grade students in under-resourced public schools in Chicago. Cesar was honored to be on the cover of Dance Magazine (August 2007) and to teach at the Jazz Dance World Congress in 2007, 2009, and 2012. In 2013, he was chosen as a soloist for BalaSole Dance Company performing “Hunted” in New York City’s Alvin Ailey Citigroup where he received rave reviews: “richly physical performance that drew the audience’s unfettered enthusiasm” – Philip Gordon. Cesar toured the world with Royal Caribbean cruise lines as a performer in the Broadway production of Saturday Night Fever as well as an aerialist. In the January 2018 issue of Dance Teacher Magazine, Cesar demonstrates the Giordano Technique alongside Nan Giordano in honor of the company’s 55th Anniversary Season. Cesar is a certified teacher in the Giordano Technique at the Basic, Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, and Professional Levels of the Nan Giordano Certification Program® (NGCP®). Cesar returned to the stage at the Auditorium Theatre to perform Gus Giordano’s 1978 iconic solo Wings in honor of Nan Giordano’s 33 years at the helm and 25th Anniversary as Artistic Director for GDC. Lauren Warnecke of See Chicago Dance wrote, “...you could almost imagine Gus himself up there performing the piece he made 40 years ago.” He currently teaches master classes and workshops, as well as choreographs for universities and studios across the country. In October 2024, the University at Buffalo’s Department of Theater and Dance honored Cesar with the Distinguished Alumni Award for his contributions to the art of jazz dance.
THE COMPANY
George Brous, from Ocean City, Maryland, completed two seasons with Giordano II and is beyond excited to start his third season as a main company member with Giordano Dance Chicago.
Amanda Hickey-Newcom, originally from Hanover Park, Illinois, is thrilled to be in her eighth year with Giordano Dance Chicago.
Adam Houston, of Boone, Iowa is honored to be in his thirteenth season with Giordano Dance Chicago, continuously fulfilling his dream.
Sasha Lazarus, from Delray Beach, Florida, in her fifth year with GDC is grateful to share her everlasting passion for dance on and off the stage.
Talia Luzzo, a Paxton, Massachusetts native, is excited to be in her third season with the legacy company.
Fernando Rodriguez, of Fort Gratiot, Michigan, is a main company member excited to be entering his sixth season with Giordano Dance Chicago.
Simon Schuh, of Greenbay, Wisconsin, is excited to be performing for his third season with Giordano Dance Chicago.
Erina Ueda, from Nagoya, Japan, is in her fifth season with Giordano Dance Chicago, where she proudly holds the distinction of being the company’s first Asian female dancer.
Analysse Vance, originally from Springfield, IL, and is beyond excited to start her third season as a main company member with Giordano Dance Chicago.
Eduardo Zambrana, from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, is honored to be part of Giordano Dance Chicago for his fourth year.
Learn more about our dancers at www.giordanodance.org/dancers.
Gina Kirk
