Performances March 20 & 21 RPL Nordlof Center
The Inaugural Rockford DanceMakers Festival Team
Entertain. Challenge. Move. Inspire.
The inaugural RDMF team is comprised of local dance artists and professionals who believe in the vision of a thriving dance community - one that includes opportunities for choreographers to present work and opportunities for dancers to perform.
Founder / Artistic Director
Festival Planning Committee
Christy Munch
Festival Planning Committee
Publicity/Marketing
Embellish Creative Company
Makenzie Clayburg
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Festival Planning Committee
Choreographer
Michelle R. Stolberg
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Festival Planning Committee
Anna Friel
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Festival Planning Committee
Marrisha Hyatte-Devereueawax
Lighting Designer
Gabrielle Tifft
Technical Stage Manager
Bill Houtkamp
Technical Stage Assistant
Dalia Gonzalez
Video Production
Vixen Productions
Artist
Executive Director 317 Art Collaborative
Laura Gomel
M. Henning Photography
Michael Henning
Christy Munch (she/her) has been involved in the dance theatre profession for over four decades, as a performer, dance educator, director, administrator, costumer, and choreographer. Her choreography has been produced at numerous dance venues in Chicago and was featured for five years in Chicago’s NEXT Dance Festival. It has also been reviewed in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Dance Magazine, and the Chicago Reader. In Chicago, Christy danced with Jan Bartoszek/Hedwig Dances, Bob Eisen, and Timothy Buckley, touring with them to Jacob’s Pillow International Dance Festival and Dance Theatre Workshop in New York. Influential teachers in her dance career are Gus Giordano, Susan Quinn Williams, Joel Hall, Lou Conte, Laurie Merriman, Sherry Zunker, Stella Applebaum, Greg Begley, and Birute Barodicaite. She holds a Master's in Interdisciplinary Arts and a Master’s in the Art of Teaching from Columbia College Chicago. In addition to serving as the Artistic Director of the Rockford DanceMakers Festival, Christy is passionate about teaching Adult Ballet, BeMoved, and Active Program classes at the Rockford Dance Company, as well as Giordano Jazz Dance Technique (NGCP Level 1 Certification). When not in the studio, Christy delivers BeMoved Dance classes on Carnival Cruise Lines as a Certified Artistry BeMoved®️ Dance Instructor.
Makenzie Clayburg (she/her), founder of Embellish Creative Company, is an ambitious publicity, marketing, and events professional. Celebrating a decade of experience in the entertainment industry, Clayburg established Embellish in 2025. She has managed campaigns for an illustrious roster of artists, actors, authors, films, festivals, and arts organizations. Clayburg has spearheaded publicity plans for three consecutive Grammy-nominated albums, Marie Osmond's first record to debut No. 1 on Billboard, and The Judds' Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibit opening. She also served as Dennis Quaid's publicist for more than five years. Her portfolio includes a People Magazine cover, interviews with Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, USA Today, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Playbill, among others. Clayburg also orchestrated partnerships between her clients and nonprofits such as NAMI and Ronald McDonald House Charities. While attending Belmont University, Clayburg interned for Nashville-based agencies, assisting with publicity efforts for clients ranging from icons like Dolly Parton to up-and-coming acts. Additionally, Clayburg worked for the historic Ryman Auditorium, where she handled hundreds of public and private events. The arts enthusiast has also spearheaded local press for her hometown Rockford Symphony Orchestra, helping to exceed sales goals for events including The Nutcracker.
Michelle R. Stolberg (she/her) started dancing in a studio-based setting while in college, and graduated with a B.A. in Dance from The University of Iowa in 2013. Prior to her studio work, Michelle found passion for the visual arts in high school with the Dubuque Senior High School Color Guard. She continued exploring the world of color guard, jazz dance, and the marching arts through performing with The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps Color Guard based out of Dubuque, IA in the summers of 2006-2009. While at the University of Iowa, she had the pleasure of dancing for a number of artists including Christopher Masters, Jennifer Harge, Jessica Anthony, and Deanna Carter. As her studio experience grew, Michelle auditioned for and acted as a jazz dance captain for the University of Iowa Dance Club, as well as conducting her own independent choreographic research through the department of dance at Iowa. After graduating, Michelle performed with several companies in the northern Illinois region including Rockford Dance Company, Without Shoes Modern Dance Company and Bad Wolf Dance Theatre. In addition to performing, Michelle continued to teach on the faculty of Rockford Dance Company, and as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Rockford University. While working with both of these organizations, she set a number of pieces of choreography and had the opportunity to guest teach and set work on the students of RPS 205’s Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Program. Michelle has returned to her roots by teaching a number of color guard and winter guard groups throughout Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Kentucky. As she continues her work, Michelle continues to find means to express intersections of mixed performing arts and advocacy for marginalized communities in her choreography and teaching philosophies.
Anna Friel (she/her) began dancing at the age of three at Metropolitan Dance Company in Rockford, IL. She later transferred to Rockford Dance Company to continue her ballet training. Anna danced for 15 years and completely fell in love with performing in front of an audience. Through the many injuries she acquired as a dancer, she became interested in physical therapy. She later attended Carroll University to obtain her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, in the hopes of helping other injured dancers and athletes. She has now been working as a physical therapist in Rockford for five years. She continues to take adult dance classes at Rockford Dance Company and has returned to the stage as an adult to play Mrs. Stahlbaum in the past four productions of The Nutcracker at The Coronado Performing Arts Center. Anna was also a member of the Rockford Dance Company Board of Directors for four years, acting as secretary for three of those years. Anna is thrilled to be a part of the inaugural Rockford Dance Makers Festival team and is excited to bring more professional dance to the Rockford community.
Marrisha Hyatte-Devereueawax is a Rockford-area native with a drive for arts advocacy and accessibility. With a passion for dance that began at the age of three, and blossoming into dance performance, choreography, stage/costume production, and later theater and music, she found a pull to be more involved in the sustainability of arts programming, funding, and facilitation for all ages and abilities. She currently holds a BA in Music Business and Marketing from Western Illinois University and a Dual-Master of Arts in Community Dance and Arts Administration from Ohio University. Marrisha is currently working as a Memory Wellness Coordinator and Community Arts Facilitator at Wesley Willows Communities, with a research emphasis in Neuroaesthetics/Arts in Health, examining the intersection of the Arts and their physical and cognitive benefits for older adults living with Mild Cognitive Impairments and other Dementias.
Gabrielle Tifft is a graduate of Carthage College with a degree in Theatre Technical Direction. She is currently employed at Upstaging as a touring lighting technician. Recent design credits include: Rockford Dance Company’s NUTCRACKER (lighting design), SPONGEBOB: THE MUSICAL at Starlight Theater (lighting design), and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Starlight Theater (lighting design). Other recent credits include: Follow-Me Tech for Paul McCartney’s GOT BACK 2025 tour as well as Lighting and Teleprompter Tech for Paul Simon’s A QUIET CELEBRATION 2025 tour. She is excited to be a part of this new project. Enjoy the show! ,
Bill Houtkamp (he/him) has been an audiovisual multimedia producer since 2009, with extensive experience in live performance audio production, systems integration, and interactive exhibits. Bill works at the Rockford Theater, Coronado Theater, BMO Harris Bank Center, and the Rockford Park District.
Dalia Gonzalez (she/they) is excited to be a part of the Rockford DanceMakers Festival! Although this is her first time being an Assistant Lighting Designer, that doesn't make it her first time working behind the scenes. At Starlight Theatre, Dalia was Assistant Stage Manager for Grease and Ragtime, and they are grateful for the opportunity to branch out to work with more wonderful creatives in Rockford.
Vixen Productions is a full-service video production company specializing in brand storytelling, commercial content, and documentary-style films for businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions. We partner with organizations to craft impactful visual content that informs, inspires, and drives results. From concept to final cut, our team handles every stage of production with precision, creativity, and a commitment to excellence. Whether it’s a high-end brand film or a series of social media spots, Vixen delivers strategic, story-driven content that connects with audiences and elevates brands.
Primarily a painter working in acrylic, watercolor ink, and alcohol ink, Laura Gomel (she/her) also does drawings in graphite, colored pencil, ink, and pastel. Laura is known for her engaging portraits and her use of color. Laura is inspired by cultures, both popular and ancient. Laura has been an Arts Educator teaching children and adults in Rockford since 2010. With 40 years of experience, Laura has honed her craft and adapts to a variety of styles and techniques; this allows her to be available for all different types of commission work. Laura Gomel has curated over 40 gallery shows, shown her work nationwide in galleries, fairs, and festivals in cities such as Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles.
Michael Henning has been in the performing and visual arts communities since joining the Normal Community West High School Color Guard in high school. Starting in 2019, Michael furthered his love of performing by joining the Allegiance Color Guard Organization in Dundee, IL, for several of their winter competitive seasons. After great success with Allegiance, Michael broadened and diversified his color guard background by performing with the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps Color Guard under the direction of Michael Shapiro and Onyx World Guard under the direction of Michael Lentz. As Michael’s love for the visual arts continues to thrive and grow, he now has his own photography business to capture the beauty of the vibrant world around him. When Michael is not photographing, he continues to teach as a staff member of the Allegiance Color Guard organization.