Video by Matt Harsh
video by matt harsh
PHILOSOPHY
OF EDUCATION
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The Urbana Dance Company teaches dance and performance that enriches people’s lives and builds confidence and connection to others.
"It’s always a good time" as we learn to move our bodies one step at a time. Our teachers are delightful and talented, understanding that students are eager for new information, new insights, new experiences, and new skills.
Come take classes and enjoy great artistry and imagination.
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DANCE. CONNECT.
INSTRUCTORS
KATE INSOLIA // Artistic Director // Instructor
Kate Insolia, is the Owner and Artistic Director of the Urbana Dance Company in Urbana, IL, USA. Insolia has been performing, creating, directing, and teaching dance for over three decades. She has extensive experience in working with both adults and children. For the last 15 years, Insolia has taught dance classes, designed curriculums, directed, choreographed for schools and local dance communities, and created her own work in Champaign-Urbana. Insolia is passionate, pragmatic, and systematic in her teaching approach. Centered in her teaching philosophy are students building and strengthening relationships, community, self-awareness, and confidence. Insolia founded the Urbana Dance Company performance group in 2012. Believing that artists can transcend conventional wisdom and create eloquent solutions, the Urbana Dance Company offers new productive and vibrant modes of being and seeks to understand the power of performance as a vital means for political action and social transformation. UDC’s choreography illuminates issues of oppression such as genocide, racism, classism, and sexism with the intent to end these oppressions. In search of humanity, the company uses both drama and humor to create a space where transformation can occur.
Insolia received her B.A. in Dance from Sarah Lawrence College and her M.F.A in Dance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
DOMONIQUE ARNOLD // Instructor
DoMonique Arnold has been belly dancing since 2004 and began her teaching practice in 2013. She has been trained in American Cabaret style belly dance, and currently maintains her practice by studying Urban Fusion style. Urban Fusion Belly Dance is where traditional Belly Dance styles (Egyptian/Arabic and more) meets Urban Dance styles and combines elements of (Hip/hop, African, and Dancehall/Reggae and more) style dances. She believes that the art of belly dancing is nourishing to practice for all genders and attempts to culturally situate her teachings as much as possible. DoMonique recieved her BA in Latin and her MSLIS from the Graduate School for Library and Information Science. She works full-time as the Librarian at University Laboratory High School where she manages the collection and creates programming, including an annual belly dance class as part of Agora Days.
Spencer Kube// Instructor and Latin Dance Event Liason
Spencer began as a beginner at Urbana Dance Company in 2021. During this time, he also trained with and performed with UIUC’s dance team Island Touch. From 2022-2023, he was the president of Illinois State University’s Latin Dance Club Redbirds en Ritmo. There, he taught for three semesters for free and organized events for the university to give Latin dance opportunities in an area that did not offer any others. He has also trained extensively in the Chicago area with several of the best professionals since 2021. The connections Spencer made in Chicago is what enabled Urbana Dance Company to begin weekend workshops with the visiting Latin dance instructors we have today. In 2023, Spencer began teaching at Urbana Dance Company to train the techniques that he has been learning from his instructors in the Chicago area. It is Spencer’s goal to continue elevating the Latin dance scene in terms of style, techniques, community, and experiences through his classes and organized events.
JOE and CARLOTTA // Instructor
Joe Grohens & Carlota Bullard have put hundreds of tango dancers on the dance floor. They studied in Buenos Aires under Eduardo Arquimbau, Mingo Pugliese, Susana Miller and Chicho Frumboli. Their teaching immerses dancers in tango’s vocabulary and music while encouraging each student to find their own unique style.
JACKIE AND DARRIAN// Instructor
Jackie has been dancing since 2 years old and teaching since 2009. Her love of dance is contagious and her command of the form makes learning enjoyable and fun. Jackie has studied: Ballet, lyrical, jazz, Irish, hip hop, poms, contra, waltz, fox trot, rumba, salsa, mambo, bachata, cumbia, merengue, polka, belly dance and pole dance. Jackie contributes part of her success to her first teacher Eliana who took Jackie under her wing as the youngest dancer in the class. Jackie loves the connection to music and the allowances it gives to move your body and create your own style out of the movements. Jackie and Darian have been partners for 14 years.
Christian Muñoz// Instructor
TBA
Amanda Ramey and En-Chi Lin// Instructors for dance and music
Amanda Ramey is a classically trained violinist, tango musician, fiddler, and music educator who has performed across the United States. A versatile performer, she is deeply rooted in both classical and folk traditions, with a special passion for Argentine tango.
Ramey is the music director and lead violinist of Bandoneon Massacre, a dynamic orquesta típica based in Urbana, and the artistic director and violinist of CU Tango Music, an organization she co-founded with social dancer En-Chi Lin in 2021. CU Tango Music is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the performance, education, and appreciation of Argentine tango music, dance, and culture in the Champaign-Urbana area, the Midwest, and United States through tango music and dance education and performances including the CU Tango Music Festival, the CU Tango Music Workshop, and Urbana Tango Week. Her work in tango highlights her commitment to preserving and revitalizing the genre for new audiences. She has performed tango music across the United States and Canada with Julián Peralta, Guillermo Rubino, Pablo Aslan, Rodrigo Avalos, Heyni Solera, Teagan Faran, Maxfield Wollam-Fisher, Sumi Lee, Cuarteto Tanguero, Solidaridad Tango, Da Capo Tango, and Tango Llaneros.
In the classical sphere, Ramey has served as concertmaster of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, section violinist with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and currently performs with Sinfonia da Camera. In 2012, she was awarded first place in the Music Teachers National Association String Chamber Music Competition.
A founding member of Meadowhawk, a contra dance band active throughout the Midwest, Ramey also embraces traditional fiddle styles and improvisation. Since 2008, she has been a dedicated teacher of violin, viola, fiddle, and chamber music.
Ramey holds a bachelor's degree in violin performance from Baldwin Wallace University, a masters degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, and an Artist Diploma in Chamber Music Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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En-Chi began her journey in partner dancing with Argentine Tango in 2008 and has been dedicated to the art of social dance ever since. Her passion for fostering tango communities led her to co-found the CU Tango Music Festival in 2021—an annual weekend of workshops, concerts, and milongas that brings together dancers and musicians from across the country.
With a warm and encouraging teaching style, En-Chi loves helping dancers connect more deeply—with the music, with each other, and with the ever-evolving dance of tango itself.
rebeca medina// Instructor Co-Director of D.A.R.P
rebeca medina. Improviser. Dancer. Choreographer. Craniosacral Therapist. Mother. Admirer of plants and disciple of their secrets. Interested in the magic of time and the power of community. Addicted to interdisciplinary collaborations. Curious about slow rhythms. Devoted to practicing Contact Improvisation since 2002. Immigrant from Bogotá, Colombia.
DeAndre Bobo// Instructor
Hello, I'm DeAndre, and I've been captivated by dance for 14 wonderful years. My journey has led me across continents, sharing my love for movement at studios in Hawaii, Japan, Illinois, and even at the renowned Arthur Murray. My dance canvas is diverse, ranging from the rhythmic embrace of salsa on both counts, the intimate artistry of bachata, the enchanting melodies of zouk, to the alluring sway of Kizomba. My teaching ethos is rooted in the power of connection, musicality, and the pure expression of body movement. As an easygoing and friendly instructor, my passion lies in helping others embrace dance's transformative magic, and I'm eagerly anticipating the chance to dance with new partners, collectively taking our dance journeys to new heights.
KAT BUFORD // Instructor
Kat has been dacning since she was a child. She has been studying Latin Dances for over 6 years. Taking classes, workshops and attending socials. Her teaching style is direct, kind, and will always put a huge smile on your face. Thanks for that Kat!
IDEAL DJ WESJILE// Latin Dance DJ
Carlos is our beloved DJ from Chicago to Champaign IL since 2000. Founder of SomethingFUNKY; Co-founder of The IDEAL SPOT ; Co-founder of The IDEAL DJs. Since 2011 DJ Residencies: BarFly, Cowboy Monkey, Radio Maria, Derailed57, SOMA, Ultralounge, Nolas Rock Bar, High Dive, Wedge Bar, Canopy Club, Mike N Mollys, AXE BAR, SCHOOL YARD BRAWL, semi annual B-Boy/Girl Competition, IL BREAKS Annual B-Boy/Girl Competition, Local Rap Battles. Come check out his Latin Dance Nights at UDC- second and fourth Friday of the month. He's just the best!
KIERYN ALEXANDER// Artist in Residence
Kieryn Alexander is an Urbana-Champaign local born and raised! She loves her town and she loves art making. Her big heart, big mind, and vision for flexible thinking about the world is emblematic of the art she makes. Her work is both colorful and deep, ecstatic and calming. Hours could be spent gazing at its power as a form of meditation to remind oneself "you're okay." Come check her art out at UDC in both the Green Door Room and Blue Door Room.
JOSEPH KIRBY// Instructor
Rares Fota// Instructor
Teachers at UDC
wall of fame
Elisandra Rosario
Teddii Cooper
Andrea Aguiar
Nia Khan
Yuri Sohn
Angel Anderson
Luz Garcia
Elise Frost
She/her/hers/they/them/theirs
Julian Martinez
Brando Miranda
Kim Hubbard
Kristina Bell
YOEL CORTEZ-PENA
Jaylen De'Angelo Clay
Florian Zeiser
Cinnamon Trammell
CONTACT
Getting Here:
Metered parking is available on the street and is free after 5pm along with a large parking garage across the street. Bus stop near parking garage by Lincoln Square Mall.
Our Address:
122 West Main Street
2nd Floor
Urbana, Illinois 61801
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NEXT DOOR TO RICK'S BAKERY!
Phone:
773-216-8650 call or text!