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Jun 6

Today we are reflecting on the remarkable work the dancers of Extensions Dance Company Presented last Friday at our Student Choreography Project performance! BRAVO to each and every one of our dancers and dance makers and special congratulations to Libi Horn & Nicole Noe for their piece entitled “Listen” and Shayna Sharpe for her piece entitled “The Formation” both being selected by our panel to perform in the Studio showcase this Sunday full out with lights & costumes! Big thank you to @chippercentral for these amazing photos captured during the show WE ❤️ YOU!

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Jun 1

Our fifth and final senior spotlight is the absolutely gorgeous Gabriella Wright. This has been a hard couple of years for Gabriella with continual foot and ankle issues that have prevented her from dancing with Extensions Dance Company. She has had multiple surgeries to correct the issue and while she is (thankfully) able to take classes with us, she still has discomfort and cannot dance the rigorous hours it takes to be part of the company BUT… she has remained a strong member of our family and community at Extensions and Extensions Dance Company. She has been a staple at the studio for 7 years and we are grateful she has continued to dance with us and show up for her friends and colleagues the way she has. Anyone who has seen Gabriella dance remembers her (cannot forget her) because she dances with a fullness and strength that is way beyond her years and it’s even more captivating with the subtleties that are so unique to this gorgeous artist. Gabriella you are stunningly beautiful on the outside with a heart to match on the inside and although we know it’s been a hard couple of years, we will continue to stand with you and hope that dance can somehow find its way into your future. You are too talented and too special to not share it with the world somehow. Thank you for being you, Gabo… and thank you for making the trek from Elmhurst all these years to be part of our family, we absolutely adore you and can’t wait to see what you do in your future!!

✨-My favorite memory was the exd lock-in we had before we stopped doing it.

✨-My favorite dance I was in was Snookered because it was so fun to dance with the big girls when I was little

✨-I want to thank my amazing mom for always supporting and loving me. And of course Lizzie and Jackie for always being there for me and pushing me

✨-A piece of advice i’d give to an incoming exd member would be to know how lucky they are to be a part of such an incredible and safe space and to enjoy it because time goes very fast

Gabriella will attend the University of Tampa in the fall.

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May 31

Senior Spotlight #4 is a tough one to wrap our heads around. The last of the Noe family legacy is the youngest of 3 incredibly talented girls who have come up through our program. A family who has made the trek from Naperville to Chicago multiple times/week for 14 YEARS so all three of their girls could be part of our family here at Extensions. Geesh, crying just writing this… it’s Nicole Noe, friends. She is graduating and we can’t believe the third little cherub will leave us in just over a week. Can’t see through the tears right now…. Everyone knows her, everyone loves her, she is the most kind hearted, sensitive in all the right ways, curious and smart friend/colleague you could ever ask for. She’s always there to lend a hand, often being the last in the dressing room with her directors at the end of a long competition weekend to help clean up the mess and she is the one who will spend those extra hours before/after to support the younger dancers of the company. This girl is a true Gem of a human being, a dedicated and consistent artist and my gosh, we don’t know how we will go on without her, or a single Noe family member with us next year…anyone have suggestions how we can cope?! Nicole, the way you love your people, your community and your family both by birth and those you have chosen is truly something that can change the world. Always lead with your heart the way you have here at Extensions and we thank you with the deepest of gratitude for everything you have shared with us form your heart, your soul and your spirit. To find out some fun info from Nicole, swipe above and read her memories, favourites and thank yous on slides. We love you, Nicole. Good luck in your next chapter, we know it will amaze us what you do next with your life.

✨Fun Facts:

* She will attend Point Loma Nazarene University in the fall with a major in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Pre-allied health
* She plans to continue on to Graduate school to get an M.S. degree in occupational therapy, to become an occupational therapist in the future
* She hopes to join the new PLNU dance team launching in the fall to continue her dance journey!

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May 30

Senior spotlight #3 is the super stunner, can’t take your eyes off of her, Sasha Zitser. She has all the unique style and sense of her own voice that any artist could want for and her Sasha-isms will live on at Extensions like a legacy of their own. She is truly a gift, a great community member, friend, colleague and dancer and she will leave a large hole in the fabric that is Extensions Dance Company as she embarks on her next chapter as a professional dancer. Sasha, don’t ever change… keep that light shining bright and continue to cultivate and curate that tremendous and unique voice that is your artistry, that is YOU. You are destined for incredible things in this industry and we are so very proud to have had you as part of our family for the past 6 years. You will be deeply missed 🥺

✨What’s your favorite memory or a stand out memory from your time at Extensions?
“I have two standout memories. One in Jackie’s class where after improvising we would go and hug everybody in the class as tight as we could, and all of Lizzie’s improvisation classes where we were able to explore our individual voices.”

✨What is your favorite dance you were ever in at EXD?
“My favorite dance was either “Snookered” by Lizzie MacKenzie and Miranda Borkan or “Ahava” by Lizzie MacKenzie”

✨Do you have anyone you want to thank for helping/ supporting you?
“I’m eternally grateful both to my family and all the teachers and mentors I’ve had throughout the years. Both have equally shaped the human and artist I am today through their unconditional love, support, and feedback.”

✨If you could give one piece of advice to the dancers following in your footsteps at EXD what would it be?
“Make sure your dancing is coming from a place of love and passion at all times, and have fun (it’s not that serious).”

✨✨Sasha will be attending Chapman University in the fall to pursue a BFA in dance and she was awarded the prestigious Presidential Scholarship by the University.

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May 29

Senior Spotlight #2…… Julia Kozlowski has been such a staple at the studio for so long it’s honestly hard to imagine how we even exist without her. 🥺 How will we know every count and detail that was given?! That sharp mind and kind yet tenacious spirit will be deeply missed as she embarks on her next chapter that is sure to be filled with nothing short of profound success! With regards to counts and details, (peep her advice below) luckily we have more sharp minds ready to step into the very big shoes that will be left to fill in Julia’s absence. Julia you are such a special INDIVIDUAL who has always had a sense of her own voice, please don’t ever lose that, we can’t wait to see how you will use it in your sure to be very rich next chapter! 🫶🏼

✨What’s your favorite memory or a stand out memory from your time at Extensions?
“My favorite memories from my time at Extensions are the late night rehearsals and the long breaks I’ve spent at the studio with everyone.”

✨What is your favorite dance you were ever in at EXD?
“This is so hard… probably Safely Rest but this is so hard!!!! I loved all my dances from the past nine years, Something in the Water (@brianrabenda ), Breakout (@skizziemack ), Might Be Over Soon (@skizziemack), Send Me On My Way(@jbake13), The Bottom Of (@jbake13), and Standing (@jackie_nowicki)… I love them!!!”

✨Do you have anyone you want to thank for helping/ supporting you?
“My mom!!! She’s been a dance mom for 15 years and she’s done everything for me I love her so much. I also want to thank Lizzie for teaching me and supporting me for the past 9 years you are the best I love you! Taty thank you for being the sweetest I have enjoyed every two and a half hour ballet class with you.” 🩰

✨If you could give one piece of advice to the dancers following in your footsteps at EXD what would it be?
“Learn the counts to all your dances and take corrections the first time you get them.”

✨Julia will be attending Cornell University in the fall with a major in economics.✨

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May 28

It’s Senior celebration week and we are NOT OKAY 😭. First up is the gorgeous inside and out, silly yet focused and driven, a girl who knows how to have fun while bringing light and laughter to everyone around her. It’s Bianca Noonan, the super stunner with a ❤️ of gold.

✨It’s very difficult for me to pick just one favorite memory of being apart of the EXD company and community. Every moment spent in the studio with my best friends and the greatest teachers in the Chicagoland area have made me forever grateful to be apart of Extensions and Chicago City Classical Ballet. Through all that life has thrown at me the past 6 years, I can proudly say that everyone has supported me and made a positive impact on my life. I have so many favorite dances ranging from solos, variations, trios, and group dances but one that will forever stand outis a trio called “Only Time” choreographed by Brian Rabenda. This trio didn’t just give me my first concussion, but it helped me dance a texture of elegance with the beautiful artistry it portrayed.

✨My Extensions family is abundant in support no matter what. A special thank you goes to all of the dance moms and dads in the EXD community along with my fellow company members. And an endless amount of gratitude goes to Lizzie and Lauren for providing such a beautiful space filled with beautiful people. My last expression of thanks goes to my mentors Tatyana, Lizzie, Jackie, and Taylor. My dance training you all have given me will help me achieve all of my dreams beyond the dance studio doors. I want all of my company members to remember there has to be a balance between fun and work so one way to do it is to make you work fun! Be goofy, but still strive for excellence. There’s always room for growth and each class can bring new challenges and accomplishments. No matter what life throws my way, I will always carry with me everything I have been given from EXD and it’s been an incredible 6 years with the best people! So much love, Bianca (B) (Bonka)

✨This fall I will be attending the University of Tampa majoring in Health Science on track for a masters degree in Athletic Training.

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May 25

Happy International Tap Dance day to all of our dance fans out there! Enjoy a little excerpt from our 2023-24 repertoire, a tap quartet choreographed by the truly amazing @mattpospeshil and danced by 4 of our incredible dancers Kaja, Presley, Rose and Noelle!

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May 23

You’re invited to a FREE performance at Extensions Dance! On Friday May 31 at 6pm you have ONE CHANCE to see what the amazing artists of Extensions Dance Company have created together in our 2nd annual Student Choreography Project, conceived, managed and mentored by Lizzie Mackenzie & Jackie Nowicki. Use the link in our bio to RSVP for the performance ✨

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