judges


NAN GIORDANO
Artistic Director Giordano Dance Chicago
At the helm of Giordano Dance Chicago for 40 years, Nan was trained & mentored by her father Gus Giordano who created the world-renowned Giordano Technique. In 2018 Nan was celebrated with three prestigious awards: June 9th declared by Mayor Rahm Emanuel as Nan Giordano Day for her leadership and contributions to the Chicago community, Dance for Life Impact Award and the Chicagoan of the Year by the Tribune of which she was spotlighted as the city's "Dance" honoree.

GREG BEGLEY
Principal Dancer and Teacher
Greg Begley, renowned and beloved Chicago Ballet Master and Principal Dancer from Hubbard Street Dance Company and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. He also became a principal dancer with the Chicago Ballet under the direction of Ruth Page and Frederick Franklin. He is now a teacher and choreographer throughout the Chicago community.
ERICA EDWARDS
Executive Director Giordano Dance Chicago and Founder of Cultivating Better Tomorrows
Erica was a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet from 2000 to 2015. She is currently the Executive Director at Giordano Dance Chicago and is the founder of "Cultivating Better Tomorrows". In 2001, the Chicago Sun-Times spotlighted Erica as “Black History Maker,” and in 2002 she was Joffrey’s nominee for the Princess Grace Foundation Award.
VICTOR ALEXANDER
Principal Dancer and Director of the Ruth Page School of Dance and the Ruth Page Civic Ballet Training Company
Victor was a principal dancer for the prominent Danza Cotemporanea de Cuba for 10 years. In 2013, he became the Director of the Ruth Page School of Dance and the Ruth Page Civic Ballet Training Company. He was included in Dance Magazine's prestigious "25 to Watch in 2013" list. In December of 2013, his choreography, Line of Sighs, was highlighted in the Chicago Tribune's "Top 10 Best Dance Performances of 2013".
HOMER HANS BRYANT
Founder and Artistic Director of the inimitable dance company, Hiplet. The Hiplet Ballerinas are the professional company of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center.
Homer is a former principal dancer with the Dance Theater of Harlem and a former Prima Ballerina with Maria Tallchief's Chicago City Ballet. His professional credits include the Broadway production of Timbuktu with Eartha Kitt and the motion picture, The Wiz, with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. He opened his Bryant Ballet studio in 1990, which was renamed The Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center (CMDC) in 1997 by Mayor Richard M. Daley in honor of the studio's commitment to the community.