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. Julie toured with the largest touring stunt show, “MARVEL Universe Live”, where she played Agent Maria Hill and Black Cat, in addition to multiple other tracks in the show. This world traveler has also performed on Royal Caribbean as a
​
dancer and as a featured aerialist. She considers The Joel Hall Dancers her longtime home dance company. Favorite Joel pieces Julie has performed in include “El Gato Negro” and “Y2 Day”.
Additional concert dance companies Julie has performed with are, Andrea Kelly Dance Theater, Aerial Dance Chicago, Dance Avondale Collective, The Willingham Project, Corpo Dance, The Kirby Reed Project, Duwane Pendarvis and Company, Dereque Withurs, and Innervation Dance Cooperative.
​
As a Teaching Artist, 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 the youth she has instructed over the years!
​
A few notable companies she has worked with include Dhar Mann Studios, FELD Entertainment, On the Fly Productions, Royal Caribbean, Jockey, Sutter Health, 20th Century Fox, 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!
Julie looks to continue to grow everyday as an artist, a performer, a teaching artist, and a mentor!
Meet Ms. Annie
(She/Her) After some experience with liturgical dance in elementary school, Annie began her formal dance training with Bonnie Lindholm in 2001, moving into their performing company within two years. She spent high school years studying under Brenda Didier and Annie Hackett at Lincolnshire Academy of Dance, performing with their competitive team as well as choreographing and performing for both the Melange and Concert dance companies at Stevenson High School. Her credits here included works with Frank Chavez, Ken Gash, Randy Duncan, and Nick Pupillo. Annie received her BFA in modern dance from UIUC in 2012. During her undergraduate studies, she was selected to work with the Mark Morris Dance Group in their company’s shadow program, following the company during their tour slot in Urbana, and studying with them in Brooklyn during summer months. She became a certified bikram yoga teacher immediately following graduation. Her experience teaching this practice across the country opened her eyes to accessibility of movement across different age groups and demographics, as well as the importance and healing power of movement.
While a native of the Chicago area, Annie spent 2015 through 2023 living in the mountains in Colorado. Here she taught for several years for Alpine Dance Academy, seeing their competition team to great success and new records. In 2022 Annie founded the Leadville Dance Academy, bringing dance education and performance opportunities
to an underserved area of the Rocky Mountains. In their first year, Annie worked as the front runner for the program, teaching all classes, working with all age groups, and facilitating the first ever recital in Lake County, Colorado. The fiscally sponsored organization now functions as the Leadville Dance Collective, focused on providing accessibility and equity for all students.
Annie is incredibly excited to join Dance Avondale!