The Artists
Robin Aren, 17 years old
Long Grove, Illinois
Robin Aren is 17 years old and is currently a junior at Stevenson High school. She began dancing when she was 11 years old and absolutely loves it! She started at Denise Sabala Dance Studio and then studied at Faubourg School of Ballet, and has taken numerous workshops and master classes throughout Chicago. Robin currently attends Visceral Dance Studio in Chicago and the Academy of the Dance Arts in Downers Grove. She feels so fortunate and deeply appreciative to be dancing under the direction and inspiration of Lizzie MacKenzie and dancing with Extensions Dance Company. Robin loves the teamwork, commitment, and endless support from Lizzie and the other company members. This will mark Robin's third year with Extensions Dance Company.
“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.” - Hopi Indian Saying
Jaime Borkan, 17 years old
Skokie, Illinois
Jaime Borkan is a junior at Chicagoland Jewish High School. She has been dancing for twelve years. This will mark her fifth year as a member of Extensions Dance Company. Jaime feels that Extensions is an incredible dance company which helps her to find herself and the artist within her. One of her favorite things about Extensions is the teamwork and effort that go into the product of the company. Her summers have been spent attending the Houston Ballet Summer program, the Joffrey Ballet Summer program in New York, Interlochen Arts Academy, and The Faubourg Ballet Summer program. Along with Extensions Jaime trains during the year at Visceral Dance Studio. Jaime hopes to become a professional dancer in the future and continue with her love of dance. She would like to thank her family for their incredible love and support.
Miranda Borkan, 18 years old
Skokie, Illinois
Miranda is now in her senior year at Chicagoland Jewish High School and is proud to be a founding member of Extensions Dance Company. Miranda began her dance training at North Shore School of Dance when she was three years old. For the last seven years Miranda has been studying dance with Lizzie Mackenzie and also trains at Visceral Dance Studio. Miranda has spent summers training at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York, Interlochen Arts Camp, and Faubourg School of Ballet. Most recently, Miranda participated in the Lou Conte Dance Studio Summer Scholarship Program, and attended the Rivernorth Chicago Dance Company Summer Intensive. Miranda feels privileged to dance alongside her sister, Jaime, and all the members of Extensions. With the continued love and support of her family and her mentor, Lizzie Mackenzie, Miranda hopes to some day express her love for dance by joining a professional company.
Emily Brudner, 16 years old
Chicago, Illinois
Emily Brudner is currently enrolled as a junior at Lincoln Park High School. She fell in love with dance at age three and has continued to explore her passion ever since. She recently moved to Chicago from Windsor, Ontario CAN where she studied at Academy St. Cecile, Nancy Pattison's Dance World, and The Dance Barre. She also travelled and competed for one year independently throughout North America with a dance partner, competing in regional, national, and international level competitions. She has taken many master classes from various choreographers at dance conventions, at The Edge in Los Angeles and Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Emily feels honored and blessed to be welcomed into the Extensions family for her first year and would especially like to thank Lizzie for recognizing her love for dance. Emily is excited to continue to learn and grow more as a dancer with the support of Lizzie and her fellow company members.
Madison Burkart, 11 years old
Plainfield, Illinois
Madison began dancing at the age of 3 at Vaughan Dance Academy in Plainfield, IL under the direction of Angela Gariboldi-Keating. She continued her training at the School of Performing Arts in Naperville, joining the SPA Dance Ensemble in 2006. Madi has studied throughout Chicagoland with amazing teachers such as Jessie Young-Novak, Nick Pupillo, Nicholas Hendricks, Lizzie MacKenzie, Casey Watmora and Fabrice Calmels as well as studying under numerous reputable names on the convention circuit. She has spent recent summers attending the Chicago Dance Connection Jazz Camp and the Joffrey Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet Summer Intensives.
In 2008 and 2009, Madison was named the winner of Dance Chicago’s New Talent Showcase and has performed in the Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker and in Industrials for McDonalds Corporation. This is Madison’s first season with Extensions Dance Company. She would like to thank Virginia Paul and her parents for all their support. She is honored to dance with the remarkable artists of Extensions Dance Company and thrilled to work with Lizzie Mackenzie.
Amy Chihara, 15 years old
Munster, Indiana
Amy began dancing when she was six years old and still has the love and appreciation for dance. In addition to her training with Extensions she trains at Visceral Dance Chicago where she is inspired to become a better artist, dancer and person. Amy has attended many Rivernorth Chicago workshops and was fortunate enough to have been the inaugural recipient of the Producers Society Scholarship in 2009. She has spent her summers at Alonzo Kings Line Ballets, Faubourg School of Ballet and Blue Lake Fine Arts camp. Amy is now in her third season with Extensions Dance Company and she is excited to take part in the growth of the company. One day she hopes to pursue a career in dance.
Brittany Harrington, 14 years old
Naperville, Illinois
Brittany Harrington is a freshman at Naperville Central High School and is currently in her second year with Extensions Dance Company. Prior to Extensions, Brittany had danced the past seven years at the School of Performing Arts in Naperville and had been a member of their dance ensemble for five years. She would like to thank Lizzie for taking a chance and giving her the opportunity of her lifetime, and as well as her supportive parents and of course her two sisters, Kim and Shanna, for inspiring her to believe in herself and helping her to work towards her dream. In addition to Extensions, she currently trains at Visceral Dance Studio, Faubourg School of Ballet, The School of Performing Arts and Xtreme Dance Center. Without Extensions Dance Company, Brittany would not be half the person she is today.
Natalie Pearson, 18 years old
Carol Stream, Illinois
Natalie Pearson is a senior at Community High School in West Chicago, IL where she has been a part of the school Dance Production Team all four years. Natalie has been dancing since she was two years old and could not imagine dance not being a part of her life. She currently studies at Visceral Dance Studio, Faubourg School of Ballet and Dance Motions. This past summer she attended Point Park University’s International Summer Dance Program and had the best summer of her life! She would like to thank her family, Lizzie, and everyone who has believed in her and helped her pursue her love of dance. Natalie feels lucky to be able to share her love of dance with her Extensions family. This year marks Natalie’s third and final year with Extensions Dance Company, and she is planning to go off to college to pursue a career in dance next fall.
Maxwell Perkins, 17 years old
Wilmette, Illinois
Max is passionate about all the arts, but especially about dance. This is his second year with Extensions Dance Company. He spent four years at The Giordano Dance School in Evanston studying with Elijah Gibson, Kim Cunningham, Eugene Peabody, Fury Gold, and many of the Giordano Dance Company members. While attending the 2006 summer program at Interlochen Arts Academy, Max developed his serious love for dance and decided to work towards becoming a professional dancer. This past year Max attended The Joffrey Ballet Academy; The San Francisco Ballet and The Juilliard School summer programs. He has also studied at the summer programs at The Milwaukee Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, and Rivernorth Chicago Dance Company. In addition to Extensions Dance Company, Max is currently studying with Homer Bryant and Reginald J. Harris. He is a junior at New Trier High School in Winnetka; and is happy to be a part of such a dedicated group of dancers and studying with Lizzie MacKenzie at Extensions.
Lorena Sanchez, 16 years old
Chicago, Illinois
Lorena Sanchez is a sophomore at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. She hopes to one day attend Northwestern University to major in medicine and minor in dance. She has been dancing since the age of two, and hasn't stopped since. In addition to Extensions, she currently dances at The Dance Workshop in Orland Park with Jay and Connie Fagan, and at Visceral Dance Chicago. She first met Lizzie while attending CDC summer workshop and loved her classes. This is Lorena’s second year in the company! She says that being in extensions has helped her become a better person and dancer by being more expressive through movement. She is thrilled to be a part of Extensions for the second year and thanks her family and Lizzie for continuing to believe in her and pushing her to become the best she can be!
Tyler Smith, 11 years old
Naperville, Illinois
Tyler Smith is proudly in his second year with Extensions and has been training with Lizzie for 6 years. He was destined to dance after attending his sister Ashley’s dance recital at just two weeks old. Tyler attends Visceral Dance Chicago and Inspire School of Dance where he also trains with Kelly Hill and Alvin Ramirez. Tyler’s past summer highlights include attending River North’s Chicago Dance summer workshop, the Academy of Dance Arts, Faubourg School of Ballet, Underground Arts Connection, and Inspire’s Intensive summer dance camps. 2008 was his first year of competition where he received ADA’s male Dancer of the Year and NYCDA’s Outstanding Dancer runner-up. In addition to dancing, Tyler enjoys swimming and playing with his cousins and dog. Tyler dreams of one day being a professional dancer and teacher. He wants to thank his sister for her role modeling, Lizzie for her support and patience, and his fellow company members for being the best ever.
Alanna Wahl, 13 years old
Plainfield, Illinois
This is Alanna’s first year with Extensions Dance Company! Alanna is an 8th grader at the Cathedral of St. Raymond School. She started dance at the age of 4 and has trained extensively in many forms of dance. Most recently, she trained with the Academy of Dance Arts studying ballet and competing with Steppin’ Out and the Academy of Dance Alliance teams under the direction of Sherry Moray. While at the Academy of Dance Arts, she performed in the ballets Once Upon a Dream and Ancient Airs and attended their Ballet Summer Intensives for four years. Currently, she is a tap student of Jay Fagan and is a former tap student of Connie Fagan and Donna Johnson. She currently studies classical ballet at Faubourg School of Ballet with Tatyana Mazur and Casey Watmora. She is also a private ballet student of Homer Bryant at the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center. Alanna is grateful to have been trained by some of the best dance professionals in the area. She is excited and honored to be training with Lizzie Mackenzie and the talented and dedicated members of the Extensions Dance Company!