THE FACULTY
MEET MS. JULIE
Julie Matolo (she/her) is an accomplished dancer, acrobat, aerialist, stunt performer, actor, choreographer and teaching artist. She is based out of California and Chicago. Her artistic goals have led her to travel, tour and perform in the majority of our fifty states, in addition to Canada, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and throughout Europe.
She is a Senior Company Member with The Joel Hall Dancers. Additional concert dance companies Julie has performed with are; Andrea Kelly Dance Theater, Aerial Dance Chicago, Dance Avondale Collective, Thwack Dance, The Willingham Project, Corpo Dance, The Kirby Reed Project, Duwane Pendarvis and Company, Dereque Withurs, and Innervation Dance Cooperative. In recent years Julie
graduated from The Actor's Gymnasium Professional Circus Program and later completed the Aloft Aerial Arts JOLT Program.
A teaching artist with Chicago Public Schools, several private schools, multiple studios in the city and a choreographer to high schools and youth companies/ensembles. Julie has taught a diverse range of students and has worked with many children in Chicago and surrounding areas, California, Tennessee and Iowa. Inspiring artistic growth, imagination, self-confidence, community, and
discipline, are class staples. Julie enjoys being inspired by all of the youth she has instructed over the years!
A few notable companies she has performed with include Dhar Mann Studios, FELD Entertainment, On the Fly Productions, Royal Caribbean, Jockey, Sutter Health, 20th Century Fox, Lookingglass Theatre Company, The Black Dance Legacy Project, The Actor’s Gymnasium, BIPOC Circus Alliance and more. Julie can be seen performing in film, television, music videos, large arenas, theaters, stages, corporate venues, festivals and beyond!
MEET MS. GIANNA
Gianna Curless is a professional dancer, choreographer, and dance educator. She was adopted from Hunan, China and has moved over twenty times with her family across the U.S. and internationally. During her travels she has had the privilege of training in all styles with instructors from the Royal Danish Ballet, Idaho Ballet, Tap Dogs, Turkish National Ballet Company, Ballet West, Bloc Talent Agency, Hedwig Dances, and many more. She has been teaching for over ten years for ages two - adult. Gianna is certified in Mat Pilates and has completed ballet exams for the Cecchetti Council of America. She has choreographed for dance productions including an original ballet called Variations on Spring.
In 2016, Gianna co-founded Bravura Dansu, a dance production company offering performance opportunities and private lessons for dancers who need coaching for dance competitions, auditions, and personal training. She has performed as a freelance dancer for The Dance Project-Austin, Alamo City Dance Company, Bartlesville Civic Ballet, Dancing with the Stars-Bartlesville, ConocoPhillips, Bravura Dansu, Dance Company of St. Charles, OKM Music Festival, and The Muny.
Most recently, Gianna attended the Ruth Page Professional Dance Training Program where she had the opportunity to perform in Spain as part of the Contrapunto Festival de Danza. She is also working as a freelance photographer and model in the Chicago area.
MEET MS. MIKALA​
Mikala Curless is a global dancer who has performed in Spain, China, and Colombia. Her training spans across seven states and includes working under the direction of cruise ship choreographers, Muny performers, and international professionals from Cuba, Lithuania, Mexico, and Brazil. Notable instructors include Buddy & Susan Trevino, Debbie & Tracy Davenport, Chelsea Howell, Victor Alexander & Maray Gutierrez, and Bruce Stegmann. Mikala also trained on scholarship with Joffrey NYC and Nashville Ballet, and has completed seven exam levels through the Cecchetti Council of America.
Her most recent freelance work includes dancing with Chicago Festival Ballet, Delve Dance, We Call It Ballet, and Ruth Page Center for the Arts. She has performed works by Steve Rooks, Kenny Ingram, Francisco Aviña, Adrián Marcelo Sáenz, Gus Giordano, and Noelle Kayser. Mikala is currently a Main Company Member with Ardent Dance and a Second Company Member with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. In addition to her performance credits, Mikala is a certified Pilates Mat instructor and an accomplished choreographer and director.
MEET MS. KAYA
Kaya Gravely is a dedicated aerial artist specializing in Aerial Silks, Aerial Lyra and Aerial Pole. Kaya has been training in the aerial arts since 2019 and performing to much acclaim for 5 years. Kaya is proud to be the first aerial artist to introduce aerial pole curriculum in Chicago. A three-time title winner, Kaya continues to push boundaries in the aerial arts discipline. Passionate about building a strong and supportive community, Kaya is excited to share their knowledge and love for the aerial arts with students of all levels
MEET MS. MAYA
Maya Tupek (she/her) is a versatile artist, choreographer, and educator from Vero Beach, Florida. She holds a BFA in Dance from Valdosta State University, where she performed in faculty, student, and guest artist works, as well as musical theatre productions including 9 to 5 and The Addams Family. Maya also presented original choreography at the Southeast ACDA conferences, debuting her piece Frisson in 2023.
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A member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, Maya was recognized by the VSU College of the Arts with awards in Creative, Service, and Academic Excellence. She has recently performed with Break the Mould Dance Company and participated in Howl-O-Scream in Tampa.
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Maya is trained in jazz, modern, contemporary, ballet, tap, hip hop, musical theatre, aerial silks, West African, and social ballroom styles. She has taught dancers of all ages and is passionate about creating inclusive, joyful spaces where all students can express their authentic selves. Maya recently relocated to Chicago and is thrilled to join the Dance Avondale community.
MEET MS. EMMA
Ms. Emma began dancing at the age of 5, and has practiced teaching dance since the age of 14. Growing up in Tacoma, Washington, she learned how to dance tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, Horton, and theater style jazz. She recently graduated from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance, where she had the pleasure of dancing in major production ballets such as Swan Lake, Cinderella, and the Nutcracker. She also performed in original works by Susan Mcguire, David Ingram, and Ramon Flowers. Currently, she dances in the second company at Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. Emma is new to the Chicago area, and is excited to join the amazing faculty and students at Dance Avondale!
MEET MS. FANCY FONTINA
​Fancy Fontina has been cheesing around the United States with her unique and quirky burlesque performances since 2015. She’s studied ribbon dancing, feather fan, and boa techniques, as well as improv, classic, slapstick/comedic, rock ‘n roll, and neo-burlesque styles. Fancy has served on several burlesque production teams in Chicago, but her crowning achievement has been co-founding and co-producing Fat Cat Cabaret, the only all-plus-size burlesque and variety show in Chicago. This cheesy diva couldn’t brie more excited to join the Dance Avondale family!​