The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago‘s blog “In the Studio” has chronicled the professional activities of our talented and accomplished alumni, faculty, and students over the past year. As we head off for our holiday break, here’s a sampling of some of the notable Columbia College Dance Center Success Stories of 2016.

Sara Maslanka

Alumna Sara Maslanka ’13 was named Artistic Director of Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, an interdisciplinary performance ensemble that combines dance, theatre, and visual art as it pursues a mission of “performance with a purpose.”

Alumna and faculty member Margi Cole ’90 celebrated the 20th anniversary of her company The Dance COLEctive with a series of concerts,”Revelry/20 Years,” at Links Hall in March.

“Double Dutch Training Ground”

A work choreographed by Dance Center alumna Keyierra Collins, Double Dutch Training Ground, was featured in the 2016 National College Dance Festival, presented in June by the American College Dance Association at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Alums Shanna Fragen ’15, Brenna Ginsberg ’15, and Dalton Rhodes ’15 were saluted by Newcity newspaper in its “Best of Chicago 2016” feature. The trio’s debut, a collaborative concert of new works titled “Triplicate,” was dubbed “Best Dance Performance by Recent Graduates.”

The Dance Center of Columbia College co-hosted the 2016 national symposium of the Network of Ensemble Theatres, “Intersection: Ensembles + Universities,” in partnership with the Theatre Department and the League of Chicago Theatres.

Tia Monet Greer and Peter Carpenter in “document shoot rehearsal run.”

Onye Ozuzu

Interim chair Peter Carpenter was cited in the Chicago Tribune’s year-end “Best Dance of 2016” year-end wrapup for his new piece document shoot rehearsal run, a duet Carpenter choreographed for himself and Dance Center alum Tia Monet Greer ’13 at Links Hall. Carpenter also took on a new position at Columbia College, becoming interim chair of the Theatre Department while continuing as interim chair of the Dance Center. And former Dance Center chair Onye Ozuzu was appointed Dean of Columbia College Chicago’s School of Fine and Performing Arts.