ARCC Ballet Academy Choreographer for 2010

Ron De Jesús (Chicago, IL)

Ron is an award winning dancer and choreographer. A Chicago native, Ron has danced with Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater, Joseph Holmes Dance Theatre, Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble, and was a leading dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for 17 seasons.  In 2001, he joined the original cast of the Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel Broadway Musical “MOVIN’ OUT”. Mr. De Jesús is the Founder / Artistic Director of Ron De Jesus Dance NYC, which will premiere at the Joyce SoHo Sring / Fall Dance Season 2010 NYC.

Ron is the Artistic Ambassador of Northeastern Illinois University and Artistic Associate for StagePlay’s Theater Company. Recipient of the 2006 & 2007 New York Musical Theater Festival Award for Excellence for Best Choreography; the 2006 award recipient of the Melinda Atwood/Jerry Mitchell “DanceBreak Choreographic Competition 2006”; and the Irvine, California‘s “National Choreographers Initiative 2006”. Ron was awarded the Ruth Page Award for “Outstanding Male Dancer”.  In 2007 and 2008 he was invited to be an adjudicator for DanceBreak. Ron is the winner of the 2008 Carbonell Award for Best Choreography for the Maltz Jupiter Theater’s production of “The Full Monty” in Jupiter, Florida Mr. De Jesús has created works for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, HS 2, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (for which he won the Chicago Music and Dance Alliance Award 2004), Luna Negra Dance Theatre, Sacramento Ballet, Momenta, Thodos Dance Chicago, Dance New Amsterdam′s annual "In the Company of Men 2006", Point Park University, Harvard University and Purchase University, Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, "7th on 6th Fashion NYC"; Aetna Life and Casualty, Philips Semiconductor and Verizon Wireless commercials; and was the Assistant Choreographer for the Madonna/Rosie O″Donnell film "A League of Their Own". As a dancer, he has appeared in the films "Road to Perdition", "Stay" and Julie Taymor′s "Across the Universe".

Mr. De Jesús has choreographed for the pre-workshop of the Richard Frankel Productions Broadway-bound new musical "CHEER", Stageplay′s Theater Company′s Off-Broadway productions of "La Llorona/The Crying Woman" and "Pied-a-Terre", New Jersey Repertory Dorothy Paker′s "The Little Hours" and "Cupid & Psyche". Choreographed multiple works for Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts "Stars of Ballet and Broadway 2007" and "National City Stars of Ballet and Broadway 2008". Ron has choreographed "42nd STREET" for COPA, Maltz Jupiter Conservatory. New works for 2009 BalletMet Columbus "Jazz Moves Take 2", A-T Childrens Project NYC, Ballet Hispanico, Vladimir Malakhov and the Western Michigan University Great Works Dance Project.

Mr. De Jesús is a Ballet Master for Twyla Tharp Productions, setting Ms. Tharp′s works on dance companies around the world. Ron is currently working on an All Female Rock Band Musical called "Chix 6." Ron is honored to create a new work for ARCC Ballet Academy.