Masterclasses

Keesha Beckford began her dance studies in Queens, New York, before graduating cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B. in American history and a minor in dance. She has performed the choreography of Milton Myers, Teri Lee and Oliver Steele, Danny Herman, Paige Cunningham-Caldarella, Amy Marshall, Michael Foley, and Lorn MacDougal, among others in the U.S. and abroad. Her teaching credits include Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, Dance Center Evanston, Charlotte Ballet, the UNC Charlotte dance department, and as a guest teacher for Thodos Dance Chicago. Beckford most recently served as the Youth Programs Manager at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and is honored to be the Youth Division Liason at the Joffrey Academy since 2016.

Tori Cartee is the founder and director of Solarium Dance Company, a nonprofit company dedicated to inspiring individual change, destigmatizing mental health, and contributing to the betterment of humanity within and beyond its communities. She received a B.A. in Dance with a focus on Dance Performance, Choreography, and Theory from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. From 2019-2023, she danced with Trifecta Dance Collective, ultimately landing as a Principal Dancer and Choreographer for the company and artistic director of the second and youth companies.

As a choreographer, her works have been performed across stages in the greater Chicagoland area as well as at festivals and showcases across the nation including Charlotte Dance Festival, American College Dance Association, Wake Forest Dance Festival, Loose Leaves Showcase, Trifecta Dance Festival, Peridance Spring Choreographers’ Showcase, Alluvion Dance Chicago’s Emergence, Detroit Dance City Festival, Noumenon Dance Ensemble’s “In this Neck of the Woods,” the Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival of Orlando, FL, and CU Dance Festival. Tori utilizes contemporary techniques and improvisational practices for movement generation, resulting in thoughtful, athletic, expansive, and experimental choreographic works.

Alyssa is originally from East Dundee, IL, and trained with the Visceral Studio Company under the direction of Nick Pupillo and Laura Wade. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in Movement Science on a merit scholarship in December 2018. At Michigan, she performed works by Ohad Naharin, Shannon Gillen, the University of Michigan dance faculty, among others. During her summers, Alyssa studied with River North Dance Chicago, Backhausdance, Dance Works Chicago, and abroad in Paris.

After graduating, Alyssa moved back to Chicago to pursue a career in dance and teaching. In 2019, she received a contract with Inaside Chicago Dance and performed with them for 2 years. In 2021, Alyssa co-founded The LAUNCH Chicago, a professional dance company aiming to build a positive space where artists feel valued and empowered to embrace their full potential. In addition to performing, Alyssa currently teaches around Chicagoland and her choreography has won numerous awards including IDA Nominations, Excellence in Artistry & Choreography, and more. Alyssa loves sharing her passion and love for dance with her students.

Andi Fitzgerald was born and raised in Woodstock, Illinois. She went on to earn a degree in Dance Business at Anderson University. While there, she worked with artists such as Earl Mosley, Eddy Ocampo and Gregory Hancock. Following her time at Anderson, Andi went off to train with Hubbard Street's Professional Program under the direction of Alexandra Wells. Andi has had the opportunity to perform at the American College Dance Festival's National Gala, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's winter series and New Dance's 2020 Virtual Performance. She has performed in various projects around the Chicagoland area, such as guesting in multiple films with Purus Motus. She has recently been diving into her choreographic career. Her work has been shown at many festivals over the past few years, such as Trifecta Dance Festival, Elpis Dance Festival and Iowa Dance Festival. Andi has also been teaching for over seven years, sharing her love for dance to students of all ages. She is currently working with Trifecta Dance Collective and Solarium Dance Company. Andi believes deeply in the transformative impact of movement and the countless values that dance offers. She is grateful to continue on in her career, blending together her passion for teaching, choreographing and performing!

Born and raised in Papillion, Nebraska, Annalee Larsen grew up dancing with American Midwest Ballet’s second company and competing with Bellevue Dance Academy. She spent breaks training with Dance West, American Dance Festival, Next Generation Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Ballet Chicago, as well as Ballet Nebraska and Oklahoma City Ballet on scholarship. She performed with the Live Entertainment Company at Kansas City theme park, Worlds of Fun. In 2022, Annalee graduated with honors from The University of Kansas with a BFA in dance performance and pre-physical therapy. She received the dance and theatre program’s jump start award, Loren Kennedy scholarship, and Lee Family scholarship. Aside from her own dancing, she has also developed a love for teaching from her work at numerous studios in Kansas, Nebraska, and now Chicagoland, as well as a passion for choreography from work in studios, competition teams, and live theatre. Since moving to the Chicago area, she has been grateful to dance for Trifecta Dance Collective as a principal dancer, a guest artist for Ballet Legere, numerous independent projects, and recently as a company dancer for Solarium Dance Company.

Carrie Muntz, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, began her training with the Atlanta Ballet, and continued training in the summers with Houston Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Luna Negra Dance Theater. In 2011, Carrie graduated cum laude from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Psychology. After graduation. Carrie choreographed/danced professionally with Louisville Ballet, Thodos Dance Chicago, Project606 Dance, and Nomi Dance Company. In 2016, Carrie cofounded Trifecta Dance Collective /Metamorphosis Fearless Evolution with Krissie Odegard Geye. Carrie is also the Owner/Creator of the national dancewear brand Illuminate Dancewear.

Krissie Odegard Geye is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Expand Community Arts Alliance, a nationally recognized group of arts organizations dedicated to sparking community dialogue through art. She oversees the four organizational branches within the alliance: The Dance and Music Academy, The Trifecta Dance Collective, the Metamorphosis; Fearless Evolution experience, and Phosphorescent Theatrical Productions.

The Expand Community Arts Alliance's four companies share a mission: to ignite community dialogue through art. Working together, they inspire connection and catalyze social change. This is achieved through deepened partnerships with diverse community organizations, raising awareness, fostering artistic leadership, and expanding the reach of compassion, empathy, and artistic integrity throughout the alliance.

Aa a presenter and master clinician and adjudicator, Krissie has shared her expertise at the International Dance Pedagogy Conference and Performance Festival (Peridance, NYC), the Big River Dance Festival (West Virginia), CRU Dance Regionals and Nationals, and the United States Tournament of Dance National Finals (Atlantic City).

Her choreography has been featured at the Spring Choreography Showcase at Peridance (NYC), Jennifer Mueller's "Hatch" series (NYC), the Detroit Dance Festival, the Minnesota Fringe Festival, the Big River Dance Festival, and the Exchange Choreography Festival (Tulsa, OK). She has also conceptualized and produced four full-length works at Anita's Way in Times Square and was the awarded first place in in the Ovation TV-sponsored National Choreography Competition.

A native of Elgin, Illinois & first generation Mexican-American, Christian Sosa, started dance at the age of 15 in High School in the style of Hip Hop. He later expanded his training in various Latin styles after becoming a student/faculty member of Ivangel Dance Studio (Elgin, IL) and broadening his training in classical styles such as Jazz, Ballet & Contemporary after becoming a part of Urban Dance Concept (Elgin, IL). Christian has been a part of various dance companies as a member and in a directive role with Ascension Performing Arts (Chicago, IL), DLD Professional Dance Company (Downers Grove, IL), and CODA (Chicago Onyx Dance Alliance)(Chicago, IL).

Christian is currently one of the Executive Directors for CODA (Chicago Onyx Dance Alliance) and will be dancing for one of the Chicago Bulls’ official entertainment teams, 312 Crew, for the 2025-2026 season.

Christian has performed and choreographed for various events around the Chicagoland area such as World of Dance Chicago, Prelude Midwest Dance Competition, Elgin Short Film Festival, Elgin Fringe Festival, Nightmare on Chicago Street, Freespace Dance Festival, and has performed with world renowned artist OnSean Zion as a backup principal dancer in a Latin Cabaret. Christian is also a faculty member for Activate Your Artistry Dance Convention and has been brought on to teach for other conventions such as Metamorphosis Fearless Evolution.

Abigail Stachnik is a dance artist, choreographer, and educator based in Chicago where she performs with Symbiosis Arts and Still Inspired. She earned her BFA in Dance with Honors from the University of the Arts in 2015 and joined the Lou Conte Scholarship Program under the direction of Claire Bataille after moving to Chicago in 2016. Since then, Abigail has danced with various companies and projects including Moonwater Dance Project, MitchellMovement, Jessica Miller Tomlinson Choreography, Cocodaco Dance Project, Marlene Skog Dance, Chicago Repertory Ballet, and others.

Abigail has created new works for Movementum Dance Project, The LAUNCH Chicago, Trifecta Dance Collective, and Simantikos Dance Chicago. Her choreography has also been presented at Moonwater Dance Project’s Phases, Alluvion’s Emergence, Take Up Space dance festival, the College of DuPage’s Choreography Showcase, and Simantikos’ Choreo Kick-Of. Abigail loves to share her passion for dance through teaching classes and intensives around Chicagoland. She has been a faculty member of Duet Dance Academy since 2017, and she directed the Moonwater Youth Company in 2021.

Originally from Stillwater, Minnesota, Ava began her dance training at St.Croix Ballet at the age of 3. She furthered her dance training at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Classical Ballet Academy, and Indiana University. In 2020 Ava graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Conservatory at the University of Missouri Kansas City where she received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with an emphasis in Ballet and a minor in Communications. While at UMKC she performed works by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Gregory Dawson, Cleo Parker Robinson, and Paula Weber. She has danced professionally with Kansas City Ballet, Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company, and performed the role of Louise in Musical Theatre Heritage production of Carousel. Ava has danced internationally in Athens, Greece at the 51st World Congress on Dance Research. Ava is currently a company member with Trifecta Dance Collective, Joel Hall Dancers, and Still Inspired.

Katie started her dance training at Duet Dance Academy in South Elgin, IL. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a BFA in dance. During her time at Illinois, she performed in works by Tere O’Connor, Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, Jessica Pretty, and more. She was on the Illinettes Dance Team for four years and served as a captain. While on the team she had an opportunity to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Upon graduation, Katie moved back to Chicago where she danced with Inaside Chicago Dance for four seasons and held the title of Youth Company Director. She has spent the past 8 years as a coach at Barrington High School; 6 of which she’s been the Head coach of the program. She currently teaches on faculty at Duet Dance Academy. Katie has spent the last 12 years traveling, teaching, and choreographing for Universal Dance Association. In 2022, Katie started her newest dance endeavor by co-founding The LAUNCH Chicago, a professional dance company in the Chicagoland Area. The LAUNCH Chicago prioritizes artists’ well-being by cultivating a positive environment both in and outside of the rehearsal process.