There are few companies in the world as renowned as Giordano Dance Chicago. For the past 55 years, the staff and artists at GDC have continued the legacy of dance icon Gus Giordano, but it’s essential to note that the legacy extends beyond the Giordano Technique. If you have the pleasure of meeting any of the company dancers or staff, you quickly realize each has an elegance to the way they stand, the way they speak, and carries with them the passionate energy that flowed through Gus himself. In just a few days, Giordano Dance Chicago will be holding its annual audition in Chicago, and we thought this was the perfect opportunity to sit down with Linnea Stureson-Tolbert, who recently was promoted into the main company. Linnea worked her way through the ranks in GDC’s second company, Giordano II, and this historic 55th season at GDC will be her first as a Company Dancer. DancerMusic’s Kristi Licera asked Linnea all about her journey, from audition all the way through her experience thus far. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be a Giordano dancer, here’s your chance to find out:
____________________________________________________
Kristi: Tell us about your audition for Giordano Dance Chicago. What was the audition process like, and what was most memorable about the experience?
Linnea: When I auditioned for Giordano Dance Chicago, I was in my senior year of college and it was my first audition for a professional dance company. The audition began with a ballet portion – I was so nervous since this was my first audition that I actually forgot to go with my group the first time. They realized after my group had danced the short ballet combination that number 36 (me!) wasn’t with the group and called me out to do it with them a second time. I was totally embarrassed, but after I finished the combination, I remember Nan saying, “don’t worry we saw you #36”. Ha! What a way to make a first impression!
We were taught three sections of repertoire by members of the company. I fell in love with each piece! Each was so different: there was contemporary, jazz, and even salsa.
Afterwards, there was a cut of dancers. Thankfully, they gave me another chance to prove myself after my little brain fart. Then we were taught three sections of repertoire by members of the company. I fell in love with each piece! Each was so different: there was contemporary, jazz, and even salsa. There were cuts following each section of choreography. We finished the audition with partnering and improvisation.
Once the dancing portion of the audition was completed, Nan asked the remaining dancers to sit in a circle and share with her and the rest of the team a little about ourselves (how old we were, if and where we went to school, and what made us audition for Giordano) – this is the interview portion of the audition. The reason I ended up at the Giordano audition was because I found them on YouTube. I was doing research for contemporary companies (I went to a college that was more geared towards ballet) and because I didn’t know a lot of non-ballet companies I researched on YouTube. I found a section of a piece called Prey and I just knew I had to audition for Giordano.
After the audition was over I remember thinking that this company felt like the perfect fit for me and the energy in the room during the audition was so uplifting, inspiring and it was something I would not experience at any of my auditions to follow.
After the audition was over I remember thinking that this company felt like the perfect fit for me and the energy in the room during the audition was so uplifting, inspiring and it was something I would not experience at any of my auditions to follow. Giordano was the company I had been searching for. I knew I didn’t want to dance in a ballet company and that I wanted to dance repertoire that was exciting, expressive and dynamic and that’s exactly what I found at the Giordano audition.
Kristi: What happened after the audition leading into your first season with GDC? What was your very first season like?
It’s just like the audition continues because the energy is exactly same. Throughout my time with Giordano, I have come to realize that this “energy” is a true staple of the company.
Linnea: After the audition, I anxiously waited to hear back from Nan. I finally heard from her in April and she offered me a position in the second company as a Junior Performing Associate. I was thrilled! After reviewing and signing the contract, I was officially a professional dancer – something I had dreamed about since I was 13 years old. At the Giordano Workshop held in June I met the rest of the second company and was introduced to the members in the company that weren’t at the audition. It was at this workshop that I first learned about the Giordano Technique. I felt so alive at this workshop! All the classes are taught my members of the company and some are taught by Nan. It’s just like the audition continues because the energy is exactly same. Throughout my time with Giordano, I have come to realize that this “energy” is a true staple of the company. Shortly after the workshop, I went home for the month of July and officially became a Chicago resident in August.
My first season with Giordano was very overwhelming for me. Aside from living on my own for the first time, learning how to dance from 9:30-4pm Monday through Friday and then teaching in the suburbs twice a week was a real challenge. Additionally, my dance background is more strongly focused on ballet than jazz – I had spent the last four years in pointe shoes rather than barefoot and I had never taken a Giordano jazz class before – it felt like I was re-learning how to dance.
As a Junior Performing Associate, it was my job to learn and memorize one or two female company member’s specific track in each piece with the ultimate goal of learning every female’s track.
Something I was very grateful to have learned in college was the importance of understudying, because as a Junior Performing Associate (and later when I was promoted to Senior Performing Associate) it was my job to learn and memorize one or two female company member’s specific track in each piece with the ultimate goal of learning every female’s track. It is the job of the Performing Associates to step in for any dancer that gets injured. In my first season with the company, I did have to step in for one of the dancers who got injured the week prior to our annual fall show at the Harris Theater! I had only been a part of Giordano for less than three months and it was a really big challenge to step in and perform with the company. But everyone in the company was so helpful and endlessly cheered me on. Giordano truly is a family. We all support and encourage each other through challenging times.
Giordano truly is a family. We all support and encourage each other through challenging times.
Kristi: Can you tell us about your transition from Junior Performing Associate to Senior Performing Associate? What are the differences between the positions, and what was your biggest takeaway from the next two years that you held the Senior position?
Linnea: It was a relatively easy transition from Junior Performing Associate to Senior Performing Associate. The major difference between Senior Performing Associate to Junior Performing Associate was the importance of being ready to step in for any female track in the company because you are “next in line” to be promoted into the company.
My biggest take away from the next two years as Senior Performing Associate was perspective and gratitude… It was humbling to watch the company dancers in the studio everyday and it inspired me to keep pushing myself to be my absolute best.
My biggest take away from the next two years as Senior Performing Associate was perspective and gratitude. I spent my first year overwhelmed and trying to find my groove from ballerina to jazzerina. I discovered it my second and third year, so I had more time to really take in the wonder of what I was a part of. It was humbling to watch the company dancers in the studio everyday and it inspired me to keep pushing myself to be my absolute best. I felt like my two years as Senior Performing Associate I grew the most as a dancer.
Kristi: Tell us about the moment you found out that you were going to be a company dancer for GDC. In the years leading up to this honor, what do you think prepared you the most?
For three years I imagined this moment, and I think what prepared me the most for this was the three years I spent in the second company. I grew so much as a dancer, artist, and person during those years.
Linnea: The moment I found out I was going to be a company dancer I was in the Giordano Office with Nan, Michael and Cesar (in order: Artistic Director, Executive Director, and Artistic Programs Manager). We have yearly meetings to discuss whether or not we will be asked back for another season, talk about our progress, etc. It was in this meeting at the end of my third year in the second company that I was told I was moving up to the main company. It is all kind of a blur to reflect upon now because the moment they said I was going to be in the Company a flood of emotions came over me. For any aspiring dancer, this is the moment that they dream about. For three years I imagined this moment, and I think what prepared me the most for this was the three years I spent in the second company. I grew so much as a dancer, artist, and person during those years. Without that experience I wouldn’t be the dancer, I am today.
Kristi: What has your first season as a company dancer been like so far? Have there been any highlights or hurdles that you have faced, and what advice would you give to those looking to join the Giordano Dance Chicago family?
This first season in the company has been incredible! Truly a dream come true. Honestly, there have been so many highlights. Every moment feels like a highlight so I can’t really choose! But, if I absolutely had to I would say the biggest highlight this season as a Company Member was performing at the Harris Theater as one of the five company women. Even though I’ve had the esteemed honor of dancing on the Harris stage before, it was a completely different feeling and honor to be there dancing with the most incredible dancers I’ve had the pleasure of watching and learning from for the past three years. It was just magical.
The biggest highlight this season as a Company Member was performing at the Harris Theater as one of the five company women. Even though I’ve had the esteemed honor of dancing on the Harris stage before, it was a completely different feeling and honor to be there dancing with the most incredible dancers I’ve had the pleasure of watching and learning from for the past three years.
A hurdle for me this year was feeling the pressure of being one of the company dancers and striving for perfection. There was a lot of pressure while I was a Performing Associate to know all of the tracks and be ready at a moments notice. But now being on the other side as a Company Member the pressure is different. I felt the pressure (by myself) to make sure I’m living up to my fullest potential and always pushing the limits of my boundaries to keep up with the other dancers in the company and to those that are in second company watching. I want to live up to the Giordano name.
I would say to any aspiring dancers looking to join the Giordano family to come to the audition and be yourself. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Be yourself and dance from your soul!
To any aspiring dancers looking to join the Giordano family, come to the audition and be yourself. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Be yourself and dance from your soul!
____________________________________________________
