EDE Center Faculty Bios
Christine Naughton Shawl received her M.F.A. degree in dance from The University of Michigan, her B.F.A in dance, summa cum laude, from Ohio University and is a Certified Movement Analyst through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York City. Ms. Shawl performed professionally in New York City with Mary Seidman & Dancers, Ellen Shadle DanceWorks, nicholasleichterdance, and at Lincoln Center with Perspectives In Motion. In Michigan her performance credits include MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company, EDE's Center Dance Ensemble, Ann Arbor Dance Works, People Dancing and in 2008 she will perform as a guest dancer with The Peter Sparling Dance Company. Her solo choreography was showcased at ACDFA in 1995 and 2003. She has set group choreography on Oakland University's Oakland Dance Theater, the University of Michigan's Freshman Touring Company and the Creative and Performing Arts program at Churchill High School. Most recently Ms. Shawl's choreography was selected as a finalist for the Michigan Dance Council Maggie Allesse Choreography Award and in 2007 Ms. Shawl will set a new work for the Repertory Dance Company at Michigan State University. As an instructor, Ms. Shawl has taught as a guest artist at Wayne State University, The University of Toledo and Hillsdale College. Ms. Shawl is currently adjunct faculty at Oakland University and The University of Michigan and serves as the Director of Education and Community Outreach for the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble.
Mary Bischoff is excited to begin her fifth season on staff at the EDE Center for Dance. For the past four years, in addition to teaching technique classes, Miss Bischoff has directed the Student Company Kid's Creating and in 2004/2005 was the assistant director of education and outreach for the EDE Center for Dance. Miss Bischoff has also directed the Center's Summer Ballet Intensive as well as taught workshops and summer dance camps. Miss Bischoff has set Eisenhower Dance Ensemble's choreography as well as choreographed on student companies such as Oakland University's Oakland Dance Theatre. As a dance scholarship student at Oakland University Miss Bischoff graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Arts degree specializing in Dance. It was there she received the Jacob S. Decker Award for outstanding achievement in dance and the Maggie Allesee Summer Study Scholarship to train at the Limon Institute in New York. Miss Bischoff is trained in Creative Dance for Children and dance kinesology. In addition to choreographing and teaching Miss Bischoff is beginning her third year as a company member with the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble.
Bethany Blanchard is a native of White Lake, MI. She began dancing at age 4. Pursuing her BA in Dance Bethany attended Marymount Manhattan College, NY and Western Michigan University, MI through scholarships. College is where Bethany found her love and passion for Modern dance and the stage. Performing in works by modern dance legends; Martha Graham, Helen Tamaris, Denise Vale, among others. Bethany has performed with the Lakes Area Ballet, guest performed in Kalamazoo area ballets, and industrials throughout the U.S. After College she moved to Las Vegas and has been performing as a dancer in the show .Legends in Concert. along with other Las Vegas area performances. Bethany is very excited to be back in Michigan and a new member of EDE.
Paul Christiano trained pre-professionally for eight years before joining Hubbard Street II in 1998, Thodos Dance Chicago in 1999, and Eisenhower Dance Ensemble in 2007. In addition to choreographing award-winning works for the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, River North Chicago Dance Company, and Thodos Dance Chicago, Paul taught extensively for ten years at some of Chicago's most prestigious dance workshops and studios, including Lou Conte Dance Studio (home of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago), Gus Giordano Dance Center (home of Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago), the Academy of Dance Arts (home of Illinois Ballet Theatre), the Ruth Page School of Dance (home of Civic Ballet of Chicago), and River North Chicago Dance Company's Summer Intensives. Paul recently completed his first year of MFA course work in Dance at the University of Iowa.
Mary Contrucci studied Modern dance at the University of Michigan with Vera Embree, Gay Delanghe and Elizabeth Weil Bergman, and received a B.S. in Education/Dance. Soon after Ms. Contrucci performed with Dance Kaleidoscope, under the direction of Donna Ehrler Ryan, as a principal dancer and taught at Delta College and Mid-Michigan Community College. Locally, Mary has performed/choreographed for several performances of the Avon Players, taught aerobics at Right Moves, taught dance at RARA, and enjoys teaching Ballroom at the EDE Center.
Alicia Cutaia, originally from Rochester NY, graduated from Point Park University receiving a double BFA in Ballet and Jazz with honors. Her previous training includes Lou Conte Dance Studio's scholarship program, North Carolina Dance Theater, and River North Dance Company. Alicia has worked with and performed pieces by many renown choreographers such as Lou Conte, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Daniel Ezralow, Choo-San Goh, Alan Hineline, Harrison McEldowney, Kevin O'Day, Frances Patrelle, David Storey, Margo Sappington and Christian Holder. She has previously danced with Hubbard Street 2 Chicago and Giordano 2 Jazz Dance Chicago. Besides performing, Alicia is a teacher of many forms and has taught at the Lou Conte Dance Studio as well as master classes in Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Kathaleen Moylan will be graduating this winter with a B.A in dance from Oakland University where she attends on scholarship. She has taken classes in kinesiology as well as dance pedagogy and has danced with the Oakland Dance Theatre and the OU Repertory Dance Company. She has performed works by Alexandra Beller, Sean Curan and Stephen Koester, as well as appearing as a guest dancer with the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble with the OU Rep Co. Kathaleen has been teaching for three years and begins her first year teaching at the Ede Center for Dance.
Stepahnie Pizzo, Associate Artistic Director of the Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, is a native of Clinton Township, Michigan. Ms. Pizzo graduated with a B.A. with an emphasis in Dance from Oakland University where she danced with The Oakland Dance Theater and Harbinger Dance Company. Ms. Pizzo was awarded the Jacob S. Decker Award for outstanding dancer while at Oakland University and was further awarded a scholarship from the American College Dance Festival to study with Ririe Woodbury Dance Company in Utah.
Jessica Reimer received her BFA in Dance Education from the University of Central Oklahoma where she performed with the Kaleidoscope Dance Company and served as student rehearsal director. While attending she received the prestigious Hauptman Fellowship Award, Rothbaum Presidential Partners Scholarship and the F. Ann Shanks Dance Award. In 2002 Jessica's choreography was selected at the American College Dance Festival to be performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. She also was awarded .Outstanding Student Choreographer. for the south-central region by Dance Magazine. Her choreography was again selected in 2004 and presented at the ACDF Gala Concert. Jessica began her training with Yvonne Choteau, one of the five Native American ballerinas of the Ballet Russe. She also attended Ballet Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Arts Institute. Jessica attended several workshops including Tisch School of the Arts, Ririe-Woodbury, RiverNorth, and The Edge. And she has worked with choreographers such as Sean Curran, Loretta Livingston, and Bill Evans. Jessica has been teaching since 2000, has served as a guest artist in several schools and teaches pre-dance up through college levels. Her teaching experience includes the University of Central Oklahoma, Classen School of Advanced Studies, the Academy of Dance Arts, and Range of Motion. Jessica was also a guest artist at Norman North High School. Her degree includes studies in Laban/Bartenieff Fundamentals, Mechanics and Principles of Movement, and Creative Dance for Children. This is Jessica's second year with EDE.
Alia Simon graduated cum laude with distinction in dance from The Ohio State University with a B.F.A. in dance and a B.A. in Women's Studies. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Alia has worked with choreographers Bebe Miller, Ming Lung-Yang, and Neta Pulvermacher. She has choreographed for the OSU Dance Department, Columbus East High School, and Westerville South High School. Alia teaches primarily hip-hop and modern dance and has taught at Columbus School for Girls and the Woodward Park Recreation Center. Alia is extremely excited to begin her first year teaching at the EDE Center.
