Arlington Dance Ensemble to perform February 20 at Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts

It may be cold outside, but a group of young dancers will be heating up the stage. The Arlington Dance Ensemble, made up of dancers age 10 to 18 from Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Palatine and Rolling Meadows, will present their annual Winter Gala at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts on Sunday, February 20 at 5 p.m. The performance will showcase several different dance styles, from the classic ballet variations of Coppelia to the modern and jazz compositions favored by Chicago's top dance troupes. The Ensemble takes full advantage of its proximity to Chicago's pool of talented dancers by inviting guest choreographers from professional dance companies to create pieces for its dancers. This year, Josh Manculich of Thodos Dance Chicago and Carrie Nicastro of Giordano II have choreographed dynamic modern pieces while Sarah Losh created a piece that pays homage to the innovative jazz style of Bob Fosse.

The Ensemble is the performing company of McDonald Dance Academy in Arlington Heights. Under the direction of Linda McDonald, the dancers dedicate four – six hours every weekend to rehearsing the pieces while maintaining a rigorous dance schedule at McDonald Dance Academy that includes classes in ballet, jazz, and modern. McDonald runs her school with the same philosophy as the Ensemble, hiring teachers who are experts in their discipline. One of the lead ballet teachers at the school, and a choreographer of a piece in the show, is Laura Gates, Rehearsal Director and Ballet Mistress for Thodos Dance Chicago. The tap curriculum is driven by Mark Yonally, the Artistic Director of Chicago Tap Theatre, one of the most critically acclaimed tap companies in Chicago. Many of the Ensemble's dancers go on to study dance in college and pursue careers in the field.

“Being an Ensemble member gives me an amazing opportunity to study with some of the greatest dancers in the country,” remarked Danielle Ludkey of Arlington Heights who has been dancing with the Ensemble for nine years. “I love my dance classes but the Ensemble lets me take it to the next level. I get to perform really challenging pieces on stages all over the area. If I were just taking classes, I would only get to dance on stage once a year at the annual recital,” added Ludkey. This year the Ensemble has been honored with the opportunity to be part of the opening show for Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago at the Harris Theater on March 26. They will also be using their passion for dance to support local charities by performing in several upcoming benefits.

For information regarding the Ensemble or to see these up-and-coming dancers perform, contact McDonald Dance Academy, (847) 342-1060 or www.McDonaldDance.com.