Breaking

Join the founder of The Breaking Program, Ryley Mikos, for an energizing workshop covering breaking foundations including toprock and footwork, cardio training drills, battling, and freezes. All levels welcome.

Artist BIo

The Breaking Program was created in 2017 specializing in breakdance for movers, dancers, and fitness enthusiasts of every kind and age. As an organization we pride ourselves on creating a positive force that influences our students to create good habits, make healthy choices, and  invoke a strong work ethic.

Jazz Funk

Nico's style is rich in old-school grooves and 90s-style jazz funk lines, and also draws on contemporary hip hop and hip-hop technique fundamentals.  In class, you may get anything from gritty swag to a fierce pop performance routine. In jazz funk, he highlights his more technical side.  But in all of Nico's classes, dancers get the chance to tap into a feeling or emotion.  Class members appreciate Nico's physically challenging choreography and the diversity of his movement. He also encourages individuality and risk-taking in class, and students enjoy his warm, energetic personality.  Nico is a patient teacher who really wants students to learn. He breaks the moves down thoroughly and reviews when needed.  Classes offered are intermediate/advanced level. He strives to keep his moves intermediate, but complex musicality and dynamics raise the bar for more advanced students.

ARTIST BIO

A California "Bay Area" native, with over ten years of dancing, teaching, and choreography experience, Nico O’Connor's ability to dance and learn syncopated movement has always come natural to him.  Specializing in Jazz Funk and Hip Hop, his training also includes Ballet Folclorico (traditional Mexican culture dance), Salsa, Jazz, Contemporary, and Ballet.  Growing up in northern California, Nico immersed himself within the dance community around him, taking all the classes he could and eventually dancing for a handful of companies and several bay area artists.  He was a member of the well known non-profit dance troupe Culture Shock Oakland, and a backup dancer for artists like Disney's Kristy Frank, and filipino star Kim DelFierro.  He was a featured dancer in the Bollywood film “Duhaan in America” and at “Wild 94.9 Doghouse” Comedy Jam.  His theater credits include “The Nutcracker” with California Ballet Academy, Chino in “West Side Story”, Fleance in African American Shakespeare’s Company, “The Macbeth Project”, and in the ensemble casts of “The Wizard of Oz”, and “Cinderella”.  

Working professionally in Los Angeles, Nico has danced in ads for: Wal-Mart/Latin Grammys, Sean T's Rockin Body Fitness, and MC hammer's reality show.  He has appeared in music videos for Finger 11, Stephie Ray, NLT, and was a dancer for artists Kat Graham, Prima J, AB Soto, former Pussycat Doll Jessica Sutta, and for Pink at the AMA’s.  You can see him on the DanceNetwork’s,“Steady Mobbin”, on SiTv’s “The Drop” and he has also worked with Tabitha & Napolean Dumo on FOX ’s "Mobbed" and casted in their “No Ho Ho Hooligan” Holiday Show. 

As an assistant choreographer he has worked closely with Chonique Sneed & Lisette Bustamonte on MTV's Americas Best Dance Crew, Britney Spears Femme Fetale World Tour & korean pop girl group, Girls Generation. In addition to that he’s assisted Candace Brown on several international dance showcases including Poland’s “You Can Dance”.  On television, his choreography includes setting a duet between actors Kristen Bell and Don Cheadle on a promo for Showtime’s “House of Lies”, and China’s vocal competition show “Heroes of Remix”.  On stage, Nico has choreographed for Brian Justin Crum, Todrick Hall’s “Twerk the Halls” Christmas Show, Latin Artist Noelia on her “40 Degrees” international tour, and “Ms. Viet Nam Continents” beauty pageant. Other credits include:  Bloomingdales, Disney, Boeing, Chevrolet, Rupaul’s Drag Con, Gold’s Gym, DanceOn, DancePlug, Turning Stone Casino, and Choreographers Carnival Ball.

As an internationally known dance instructor, he has taught classes in regions like Japan, China, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Canada, Russia, Germany, Poland, and England.  Nationally he’s been able to instruct at some of the countries most reputable dance studios such as Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios, International Dance Academy (IDA), American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Broadway Dance Center (NY & TOKYO), and Peridance Capezio Center.

Nico is currently on faculty at Millennium Dance Complex, EDGE Performing Arts Center, and Movement Lifestyle, all located in the Los Angeles area. Signed to Go 2 Talent Agency and starting to creatively direct a production company, He continues to teach at various gyms, schools, workshops, community events and kids programs.  Passionate about educating youth on the principles of dance and promoting active lifestyles.   His inner groove and sharp ear for musicality sets him apart from the rest. Creatively he’s known for his dynamics, visual concepts, and staging.  As a professional dancer, choreographer, and instructor, Nico's passion for dance has allowed him to follow his dreams and achieve many goals, now able to share his experience and knowledge with others who share the same passion.

Giordarno Jazz

The Giordano technique involves a strong warm up, grounded movement, isolations, connection to the pelvis and beautiful musical rhythms. Giordano is dance from the soul.

ARTIST BIO

Jacob Frazier started his dance training in Ballet, Modern, and Jazz in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Butler Tech School of the Arts in 2012 and attended Point Park University where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance with a concentration in Modern Dance. While attending Point Park, Jacob has had the privilege of training and performing a variety of works by José Limóne, Lar Lubovitch, Dwight Rhoden, Mark Morris, Brian Enos, Jessica Lange, Douglas Bentz, and served as dance/fight captain for Oklahoma!under the direction of Patrick Cassidy. In 2014 Jacob attended the Indigenous Dance Residency at the Banff Centre. After attending the residency Jacob returned to Banff as a company member with Red Sky in which he performed as a dancer and choreographer in multiple showcases in Banff and Vancouver Canada. Jacob is currently in his fourth season dancing with Giordano Dance Chicago and his third season as a main company member. Since being in the company Jacob has had the opportunity teach for Giordano Dance Chicago’s Jazz Dance Science and Health program. Educating Chicago youth and sharing the art form of dance. Jacob has also had the privilege of choreographing for Giordano on Giordano. This most recent year collaborating with original spoken word by Chelsea Carter. Jacob has taught all over the country including the Big Island, Hawaii. While in Hawaii Jacob was honored to teach for University of Hilo Hawaii as well as perform in multiple shows with Giordano Dance Chicago. Since moving to Chicago in 2016 Jacob has performed in Randy Duncan’s Dance For Life Finale/Opening number. Jacob has performed multiple times on the Pritzker Stage in Milenium Park including Randy Duncan’s choreography for the 10th annual Chicago Dance Festival and Summer Dance with Giordano Dance Chicago. Jacob continues to lead his life with an open heart and open mind by sharing the passion of dance and art with the world. Love, light, and gratitude. 

Tutting

This 90-minute class focuses on tutting as a type of street style dance, beginning with a full body stretch and warm up with a focus on the arms while going over some history of the style. Then techniques are introduced and practiced through drills with different tempos, followed by teaching a short tutting combo. The class concludes with challenging students to coordinate the tutting combo with simple grooves.

Artist BIo

Shuhan Xie is a NYC dancer/choreographer and a student at NYU Gallatin studying multidisciplinary approaches to dance creation and perception. She started dancing at 14, training in a variety of styles such as popping, hip hop, waacking, and urban both in New York and Beijing, China. Now she continuously takes class at Broadway Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Center, and EXPG while taking part in the New York urban dance community. She is currently season 12 artistic director of NYC-based EPIC Motion Dance Company, choreographing and producing both digital dance videos and live shows.