Auditorium Theatre 2021-2022, Issue 5, Giordano

AUDITORIUM THEATRE :: GIORDANO DANCE CHICAGO | 13 He is an experienced marketing, operations, and project management professional with special skill in developing strategic long-term solutions for complex business issues. Michael is Executive Director of Jazz Dance World Congress, has twice served three-year terms on the Illinois Arts Council Dance Panel, is past President and Board Member for See Chicago Dance, Chicago’s dance marketing and advocacy organization, and has mentored young artists/administrators within Pentacle’s Help Desk program. Michael is an ex officio member of the Harris Theater Board of Trustees, representing that organization’s Resident Companies. JOSHUA BLAKE CARTER Operations Manager, Director Giordano II Choreographer Joshua Blake Carter has created works for dance companies, theater companies and events across the nation. Originally from Atlanta, GA, he was selected as the 2009 winner of Wonderbound’s (formerly Ballet Nouveau Colorado) national choreography competition, dancemakers2.0 . In 2013, he was one of six winners commissioned to create a new work for DanceWorks Chicago’s DanceMoves choreography competition and was awarded the Producers’ Panel Prize by the Ruth Page Foundation for his work, “Ripen.” Joshua has created two original works for Giordano Dance Chicago, where he danced for seven seasons and currently serves as Operations Manager, and eight original works for Giordano II, where he currently serves as Director. Joshua’s choreography for Disney’s NEWSIES at the Paramount Theatre was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award and Regional Broadway World Award. Other commissions include Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Nomi Dance Company, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Artifact Dance Project as well as an original work for Embarq with Joffrey Ballet. In 2016, he created the finale for the event Sing! featuring Elton John . Joshua has been an Artist in Residence with Brenau University, Glendale Community College, Illinois State University, Salve Regina University and Southeast Missouri State University. CESAR G. SALINAS Artistic Programs Manager Cesar G. Salinas, originally from Portland, Oregon, is Artistic Programs Manager for Giordano Dance Chicago. 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. He received a scholarship to Giordano Dance School in Chicago, IL, in 2004 and 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 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