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Artistic Director and Co-founder

Lizzie Mackenzie

Bio

Awards & Recognitions


  • Chicago Dance Crash (Board President)
  • Planet Earth Agency
  • C5 Entertainment & Aerial arts
  • The Cambrians

Lizzie Mackenzie has been dancing, teaching, coaching and choreographing in Chicago and the Chicagoland area for 21 years.  She is the co-founder of Extensions Dance Company, now in its 18th year and also of Extensions Dance Center, currently in its 10th year.  Lizzie is originally from Toronto, Ontario and she is a graduate of the performing arts boarding school, Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen Michigan.

After graduating from Interlochen, Lizzie, recruited by Nan Giordano, became a scholarship student at the Giordano Dance Center in Evanston IL, just outside of Chicago.  Spending one year as a scholarship student and 2 years as an apprentice to the company, she was hired by Giordano Dance Chicago in the Spring of 2000.  She enjoyed 5 years of learning and growth under the direction of Nan Giordano and rehearsal director, Jon Lehrer.  By age 21 she was living her dream of dancing and touring the world performing repertory works by some of the most relevant contemporary and jazz choreographers of the time including Mia Michaels, Liz Imperio, Ron De Jesus, Randy Duncan, Davis Robertson, Tony Powell, Mark Swanhart, Alberto Arias, Jon Lehrer, Nan Giordano, Gus Giordano and so many more. Lizzie was honored to also tour with Gus Giordano as his teaching assistant for some time and she was part of the professional faculty at the Giordano Dance Center for 5 years, where she was able to learn and continue to refine her teaching abilities.  Searching to expand her network and seek out new opportunities for growth, Lizzie left Giordano Dance Chicago in 2005. 

In the summer of 2006, Lizzie was hired by River North Dance Chicago, under the direction of Frank Chaves, an opportunity that allowed her to continue to learn and grow as an artist on many levels.  With River North she was also able to travel internationally and nationally, performing works by Frank Chaves, Sherry Zunker, Lauri Stallings, Sidra Bell, Robert Battle, Harrison McEldowny, Kevin Iega Jeff, Julia Rhoads and many others.  She became a staple faculty member at the famous and highly sought after River North Workshops and Intensives and she was a regular teacher for the company, giving the company warm up class on tour and also at residencies and master classes all over the world.  The training, guidance and opportunities provided with River North Dance Company propelled Lizzie forward as a dancer and also as a teacher, choreographer and director.  She retired from River North Dance Company and full time dancing after River North’s spring concert at the Auditorium theater in 2011.

Between the years of 1999-2014 Lizzie was a principle dancer in the Chicago Symphony Orchestras yearly holiday production “Welcome Year” where she also became and maintained a membership with AGMA, American Guild for Musical Artists.  She has danced with C5 Entertainment under the direction of Jeremy Plummer, Lehrer Dance under the direction of Jon Lehrer, LEVELdance under the direction of Eddy Ocampo, Chicago Repertory Ballet under the direction of Wade Schaff,  The Cambrians under the direction of Ben Wardell and she has danced for many independent choreographers particularly Harrison Mceldowney from 1999-2017.   Lizzie was accepted and attended Springboard Danse Montreal under the direction of Alexandra Wells, where she had the opportunity to work with Ms. Wells, Amy Shulman, Andrea Miller, Margi Gillis and Laurence Lemieux and in 2016, 2017 and 2018 she attended the GAGA intensive in Tel Aviv under the direction and guidance of O’had Naharin and artists of Batsheva Dance Company.  In 2014 Lizzie appeared as Victoria, (the white cat), in Paramount Theater’s production of CATS choreographed by Harrison McEldowny and directed by Shawn Stengel and Jim Corti.  She has also served as assistant to the choreographer, (Rhett Guter), for Drury Lane Oakbrook’s Jeff nominated production of West Side Story, and to Alex Sanchez for The Marriott Theater’s 2022 production of West Side Story.  

Lizzie has taught and coached dance all over the world with various organizations including the Jazz Dance World Congress, Dance Masters of America, Chicago Dance Connection and RDA (Regional Dance America).  She has been an artist in residence at Northwestern University, East Carolina University, Illinois State University, University of Illinois, Webster University, Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State University, her class was listed by Dance Spirit Magazine as one of the top 3 dance classes to take in Chicago and she has been quoted and featured numerous times in Dance Teacher Magazine.  She has appeared on the cover of DANCE magazine and she has been featured on ads, posters, t-shirts and billboards for Dance For Life Chicago, River North Dance Company, Giordano Dance Chicago, Illinois Theatrical, Leos Dancewear and others.  She was also the featured model in Gatorade’s launch of its new branding, booked through her then agency “Planet Earth Agency”.

Lizzie’s choreography can be seen on various professional companies including Inaside Dance Chicago, Nomi Dance Company, Chicago Dance Crash,  Dance In The Parks, Still Inspired and Aerial Dance Chicago.  Her choreographic work can also be found on a variety of collegiate dance programs and youth dance companies across the country. She has received countless awards for her choreography including the “New Voice” honor from Dance Chicago in 2006, the “Choreographer of the year” from Dance Chicago and the Cliff Dwellers Foundation in 2007 and she was a finalist in the “AWARD Show” for the Chicago region.  She has been a teacher and adjudicator for Chicago Dance Connection, Dance Fest Canada and VIP productions and she continues to teach, choreograph and coach across the country for various organizations, studios and schools.  

At the core of Lizzie’s love for teaching is the joy it brings her to see her students gain confidence as people and artists through their work in, and knowledge gained, in the dance studio.  She is known for an intense teaching style with high expectations yet she continues to foster a loving and supportive learning environment through mentoring and the expression of respect she shows her students.  Through her extensive and continued education in the field, her ability to communicate and share her knowledge with all ages and levels of dancers is unmatched.   Her students have gone on to various collegiate dance programs such as The Juilliard School, USC (University of Southern California), Ailey Fordham BFA, New York University (Tisch School of the Arts), Boston Conservatory, University of Arizona, Chapman University, Relativity School, CalArts, Point Park University among others.  She has numerous students currently working in the dance world in numerous professional dance companies, Sleep No More in New York and Shanghai, on broadway and also in videos, commercials and with performing artists on the West Coast.   Lizzie is also the founding director of the Wolfpack Orchesis at Saint Ignatius High School and she works in recruitment and photoshoot direction and choreography for Revolution Dancewear and Tenth House costume companies.  

Instagram

extensionsdance

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Sep 24

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Sneak peek #1 of our INCREDIBLE Extensions Dance Company 2023-24 Kick Off Party!!! We laughed… we reflected…. We hugged and bonded… and we DANCED! What a way to start this season…Stronger Together! 😃💖👏🏻💪🏻✨
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#dance #dancecompany #dancing #dancers #dancersofinstagram #dancestudio #kickoffparty #newseason #company #chicago #chicagodancer #extensionsdancecompany

Sneak peek #1 of our INCREDIBLE Extensions Dance Company 2023-24 Kick Off Party!!! We laughed… we reflected…. We hugged and bonded… and we DANCED! What a way to start this season…Stronger Together! 😃💖👏🏻💪🏻✨
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#dance #dancecompany #dancing #dancers #dancersofinstagram #dancestudio #kickoffparty #newseason #company #chicago #chicagodancer #extensionsdancecompany
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extensionsdance

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Sep 22

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EXDC KICK OFF PARTY 2023-24!!

EXDC KICK OFF PARTY 2023-24!! ...

extensionsdance

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Sep 17

Open
The beginnings.  Humble documentation of how a piece begins in the creative process, and this one is a special one.  Some clips from day 1 of our @jackie_nowicki & @skizziemack collab for the 2023-24 season.  We can’t wait to see what the creative minds and hearts of these two come up with this year!

The beginnings. Humble documentation of how a piece begins in the creative process, and this one is a special one. Some clips from day 1 of our @jackie_nowicki & @skizziemack collab for the 2023-24 season. We can’t wait to see what the creative minds and hearts of these two come up with this year! ...

extensionsdance

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Sep 5

Open
First day of dance classes for the 2023-24 season is TODAY!  We have some fun festivities waiting for our dancers at the studio this week and of course the most fun year of growth with the best people and the BEST team of faculty EVER!  Let’s gooooooooo!!! ✨✨ 📸 @chloealexisham of @ashlinn.demonte

First day of dance classes for the 2023-24 season is TODAY! We have some fun festivities waiting for our dancers at the studio this week and of course the most fun year of growth with the best people and the BEST team of faculty EVER! Let’s gooooooooo!!! ✨✨ 📸 @chloealexisham of @ashlinn.demonte ...

extensionsdance

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Sep 4

Open
There is no better way to kick off our Extensions Dance Company 2023-24 Season then with a photoshoot with @fer_nahndo 🤩🥰📸💖 We had the best weekend capturing not only gorgeous photos of our company dancers (and directors 😉) but also memories that will last a lifetime! We are so excited to share the magic that was made, but for now here is a fun sneak peak behind the scenes 😃
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Make up by the wonderful @beecrinbeauty ✨
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#dancestudio #photoshoot #dancephotography #dance #dancing #dancers #behindthescenes #extensionsdancecompany #extensionsdancecenter #dancersofinstagram #chicagoartists #chicagodancer #photo

There is no better way to kick off our Extensions Dance Company 2023-24 Season then with a photoshoot with @fer_nahndo 🤩🥰📸💖 We had the best weekend capturing not only gorgeous photos of our company dancers (and directors 😉) but also memories that will last a lifetime! We are so excited to share the magic that was made, but for now here is a fun sneak peak behind the scenes 😃
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Make up by the wonderful @beecrinbeauty ✨
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#dancestudio #photoshoot #dancephotography #dance #dancing #dancers #behindthescenes #extensionsdancecompany #extensionsdancecenter #dancersofinstagram #chicagoartists #chicagodancer #photo
...

extensionsdance

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Aug 20

Open
Just a few quick clips and photos from the @revolutiondancewear fashion show last night as part of their ENERGIZE convention!  Our Extensions Dancers learned 3 dances in one week (choreo by @skizziemack) and then shined like stars on stage. ✨✨We are so proud of each of them and grateful for this opportunity for our dancers growth as confident young artists 🙌🏻

Just a few quick clips and photos from the @revolutiondancewear fashion show last night as part of their ENERGIZE convention! Our Extensions Dancers learned 3 dances in one week (choreo by @skizziemack) and then shined like stars on stage. ✨✨We are so proud of each of them and grateful for this opportunity for our dancers growth as confident young artists 🙌🏻 ...

extensionsdance

View

Aug 14

Open
Our third and final summer session, “Elevation” starts one week from tomorrow on August 21 and the faculty & class line up are absolute FIRE!  Mini track (ages 6-10), Intermediate track (ages 9-13), Advanced track (ages 12+) and our Hip Hop Tracks are all true 🔥with many of the best teachers and dancers our city has to offer at the helm!  Registration is ongoing, don’t miss this amazing opportunity to@learn from the best. Details and registration at extensionsdance.com 🙌🏻

Our third and final summer session, “Elevation” starts one week from tomorrow on August 21 and the faculty & class line up are absolute FIRE! Mini track (ages 6-10), Intermediate track (ages 9-13), Advanced track (ages 12+) and our Hip Hop Tracks are all true 🔥with many of the best teachers and dancers our city has to offer at the helm! Registration is ongoing, don’t miss this amazing opportunity to@learn from the best. Details and registration at extensionsdance.com 🙌🏻 ...

extensionsdance

View

Jun 30

Open
The 2023-2024 dance season is going to be 🔥! A warm welcome to our new faculty members @mattpospeshil for tap, @nikki.mammano for beginning ballroom @stephanie_raciak for advanced jazz and @jackie_nowicki taking over intermediate jazz and stretch/strength on Saturdays!! The Extensions experience and training are unmatched…we can’t wait to keep dancing and growing with our amazing young artists this coming season! Join our community! Registration opens July 15 💕

The 2023-2024 dance season is going to be 🔥! A warm welcome to our new faculty members @mattpospeshil for tap, @nikki.mammano for beginning ballroom @stephanie_raciak for advanced jazz and @jackie_nowicki taking over intermediate jazz and stretch/strength on Saturdays!! The Extensions experience and training are unmatched…we can’t wait to keep dancing and growing with our amazing young artists this coming season! Join our community! Registration opens July 15 💕 ...

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Extensions Dance Center
Lizzie@extensionsdance.com
3933 N. Elston Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
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