Les Miserable

Kimberly Baker

Kimberly Baker is a dancer, choreographer, and arts educator celebrating almost two decades living and working as an artist in Chicago. Kimberly has performed with dozens of Chicago contemporary and modern dance companies and independent artists over the course of her expansive career including Core Project Chicago, dropshift dance, Lawson Dance Theater, Innervation Dance Cooperative, Alliance Dance Company, Theory of Relativity, Renegade Dance Architects (of Chicago), The Monocle Collective, Schmib dance, think/dance collective, Stefany Cotton Choreography, Kristina Fluty, J Lindsay Brown, Kait Dessofy, April Tornby, Christine Hands, Dustyn Martincich, Bonnie Christine Willis, CJ Inzirillo and more. Kimberly has Co-Produced/Directed/Choreographed three full-length dance works featured in Chicago and beyond including CAPTURED. (2018,2019) with Charlique C Rolle and Sonder (2017) with Amanda Ramirez. Outside of raising her little dancer, Aurora, you can find her teaching with Urban Gateways in Chicago Public Schools, or drop-in adult classes at Glenwood Dance Studio and The Rooted Space.

Keturah Cook

Keturah Cook spent her early years in Seattle, WA and received training at the Evergreen City Ballet under Wade Walthall and Kentucky Ballet Theatre [KBT] Academy under Rafaela Risco. She has attended prestigious summer programs including Pacific Northwest Ballet, Evergreen City Ballet, Next Generation Ballet at Patel Conservatory, and KBT. Having been trained in the Cuban Ballet Method, Keturah also had the honor of training under “Cuban Jewel” Aurora Bosch. Upon graduating early from the Kentucky Governor’s School of the Arts in 2016, she joined KBT’s Professional Company under Norbe Risco as the youngest hire in the Trainee program and was promoted to Company Apprentice in 2019. While at KBT, Keturah enjoyed dancing in The Nutcracker, Carmen, Dracula, La Esmeralda, La Bayadere, Peter Pan, The Night Before Christmas, Carnival of Venice, Wizard of Oz, Le Corsaire and Giselle. Keturah has prepared several students for the Youth American Grand Prix and Dance Open America, where her choreography has received awards. She has choreographed for KBT’s professional company, and most recently she set a brand-new full-length production of the Nutcracker at Konquer Dance Company, where she is Ballet Mistress. This is Keturah’s second pe

Katie Fairman

Katie Fairmanstarted her dance training at Lincolnshire Academy of Dance in Lincolnshire, IL under the artistic direction of Brenda Didier. Katie earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and minors in Marketing and Communications from Western Michigan University (‘21). Her training also included intensives with the Joffrey Ballet, Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She currently works as a ballroom instructor at Arthur Murray and teaches pre-dance at North Shore School of Dance. This is Katie’s first season with Ardent, and she is so excited for her third performance with the company!

Bryan Hurd

Bryan Hurd began dancing in his hometown of Genoa, IL at Beth Fowler School of Dance. He earned his BFA in Theatre from Northern Illinois University in 2010 and performed in Down So Long It Looks Like Up, Le Corsaire, L’Histoire du Soldat, Raymonda, and The Nutcracker. He also has had the opportunity to work with many choreographers including Randall Newsom, Paula Frasz, Autumn Eckman, Kristina Lewis, Chris Johnson, Krista Paulson, Sherri Gilpin, and Dmitri Peskov. Prior to joining Ardent, Bryan formerly danced with The Monocle Eclectic, Innervation Dance Coop

Keenan Kangas

Keenan Kangas starting his formal dance training at age 19 through Lansing Community College in Michigan. Keenan eventually transferred to Grand Valley State University where he graduated in Spring 2020 with a B.S. in Women Gender and Sexuality Studies with a minor in dance. While dancing with the GVSU dance program, Keenan trained vigorously in many styles, performing and attending intensives with several professional and pre-professional companies such as the Grand Rapids Ballet, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, West Michigan Youth Ballet and Happendance. Keenan joined Ardent in Summer 2020 and also is a Guest Artist for Le Ballet Petit School of Dance. Outside of dance, Keenan is a full-time preschool teacher for Children’s Learning Place.

Jay Keller

Jay Keller is excited to dance for Ardent for the second time since joining in 2022. He is a recent graduate of Northern Illinois University where he received a BFA in Acting with a minor in dance. Notable credits include The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty ballets, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Richard III, A Bright New Boise, Grease, and Footloose.

Leah Kelly

Leah Kelly began her dance training in the Cecchetti method at a young age under the direction of Cynthia Kiehnau of Virginia Civic Ballet. During this time, she had the opportunity to perform as Swanhilda, Sugar Plum, Snow Queen, and the Lilac Fairy as well as complete the Grade 6 examinations. She has completed intensives and trainings with Louisville Ballet and Thomas Garret and Maggie Small of Richmond Ballet. Leah also had the opportunity to study as an apprentice with Tuscan Ballet and explore dance opportunities in Germany. When she first moved to Chicago, she joined Ardent Dance Company as an understudy. This is now her sixth season with Ardent.

Ben F. Locke

Ben F. Locke is excited to be back with Ardent Dance Company for another show! Ben has been in several shows with Ardent such as The Fall, Poe and Tryst. Other credits include Court Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Broken Nose Theatre, and more. He received a double degree in Theatre and Human Services at Millikin University as well as attending the School at Steppenwolf. Outside of performance, Ben is a Casting Director and Playwright. His plays can be found at The New Play Exchange website. Much love to all his family, friends and supporters.

Mollyanne Nunn

Mollyanne Nunnis excited to be dancing in her 4th season with Ardent Dance Company. She earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from Columbia College Chicago. She was recently seen in Mama Mia (Music Theater Works), A Chorus Line (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Can-Can, The Musical(Porchlight), and Lysistrata Jones (Refuge Theatre Project). Other recent credits include Hairspray (Paramount),Rent, Hair (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre), Swing, The Wizard of Oz (Little Theatre on the Square), Next to Normal(Towle Theatre), The Crystal Spider (Haven Theatre), and Within (Visceral Dance Chicago). She teaches Ballet, Tap, and Musical Theatre at Dovetail Studios

Rachel Premo

Rachel Premo graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance Performance from Northern Illinois University, under the direction of Randy Newsom. Her extensive training includes the Joy Xu Conservatory of Classical Dance, Rockford Dance Company, a summer at the Milwaukee Ballet School where she performed under Denis Malinkine. Rachel's previous performances include numerous Art for Life Benefits, Giselle, featured roles in Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, Pas de Quatre Ballet, Raymonda, and as an aerial silk dancer in L'Histoire du Soldat. Rachel has been a guest artist with several local Chicago companies and performed with Madison Ballet, Ballet Entre Nous, Elements Contemporary Ballet, and currently with Ardent Dance Company. As a choreographer, Premo has set competition works for dancers and gymnasts, presented choreography at Freespace, Dance Chance, Project Bound, Dance in the Parks and Ardent Dance Company. Outside of dance she has utilized her performing ability in feature films, television and commercial work. Premo is currently in her 6th season with Ardent Dance Company and holds the titles of First Company Member and Rehearsal Director.

Derrick "Panda" Shenault

Derrick “Panda” Shenault began his dance training at the age of 5 and made his performance debut in 6th grade as the Tin Man in THE WIZ. He graduated from Kelly High School and performed in 12 Angry Jurors, To Kill a Mockingbird, Fame the Musical, Our Town, Grease the Musical, Ragtime, and Urinetown. During this time, he also worked with the Goodman Theatre and produced his own show, (R)evolution. Panda then attended Millikin University, where he graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre/Dance Performance. His credits include Peter Pan the Musical, Equinox a Concert of Dance, and Solstice a Concert of Dance. In his professional career, he has performed with Quest Theatre Ensemble in People’s Passion Play, premiered in an original work, and joined the cast of The Flying Housewife. Panda joined Ardent Dance Company in 2018 and is thrilled to make his fifth appearance with Ardent in Les Miserables!

Von Smith

VonSmithis a local Chicago native and began his dance training in West African dance and drums through After School Matters. He joined the After School Matters Dance Ensemble and expanded his education into modern dance and ballet technique. During this time,he metPierre Lockett and was invited to join the Exelon Strobel Step-Up Program on scholarship, where he had the opportunity to train at the Joffrey Ballet to study ballet and jazz. Von has worked with Timothy Tsang (DanceChance) and has received scholarships forDanceLab, directed by Julie Nakagawa of Dance Works Chicago. Von is excited to be back on stage, and this will be his tenth show with Ardent.

Jacqueline Tse

Jacqueline Tse received her formative ballet training in her hometown of Fort Lauderdale, FL. She earned her BS in Applied Math & Statistics from Johns Hopkins University ('12) and MS in Supply Chain Management from University of Maryland, College Park ('15), while concurrently dancing with the JHU Modern Dance Company under the artistic direction of Marilyn Byers. She has completed intensives with the Rock School and Paul Taylor and has worked with choreographers Murray Louis, Alberto del Saz, Samantha Speis, Alvin Mayes, Jillian Harris, Connie Dinapoli, and Gregory Amato. Jacky joined Ardent in November 2018. She currently works at Vital Proteins as a Digital Strategy and Analytics Manager.

Natasha Willhoff

Natasha Willhoff began her training in her hometown of Sycamore, Illinois. She continued her training with The Academy of Dance Arts in Downers Grove, where she got to experience masterclasses with Instructors Nick Pupillo and Homer Bryant. She has completed Summer Intensives with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, as well as worked with Alvin Ailey. Natasha joined Ardent in February '20. She currently works for Allegro Dance Boutique as a pointe fitter.

Justine Kelly

Justine Kelly, originally from the DMV area, grew up with the Cecchetti method under the training of her mother, Cynthia Kiehnau. She has worked professionally with many DMV-based companies including Lindsay Taylor Dance, Maryland Youth Ballet, Virginia Civic Ballet and Bowie Contemporary Dance Company and has received training from Pam Moore, Rosemary Floydand, and Sonia Cromiller. Justine moved to Chicago in 2012 and founded Ardent Dance Company in 2016 to reimagine classical and historical literature as full-length contemporary works. Pandora’s Box will be Ardent’s 11th show since 2016 with past shows including Poe, Salem, Delirium, and Dracula. Working with over 100 professional dancers nationwide and in Chicago to help create Ardent’s shows, Justine is very grateful for all the dancers who have worked so hard these past few months. It is the countless hours of time, sweat, and dedication that allows Ardent to be vulnerable, be dramatic, and laugh together to create this story.