PHOTO BY Mike Esperanza
DI.ONNA PR.IDGEON
FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
|
| ||||
. . . is a versatile, independent artist who has resided in Chicago, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, & New York. She is a published poet, freelance consultant for Dance Media, Founder/Creative Director of moveDIPR (deeper), advocates for mental health with her BIPOC Interview Series on YouTube & has also participated in the Tedx Talks, as a dancer; Dionna is a Point Park University graduate and holds 17 years of experience in Dance Education/Choreography. She started her teaching journey on faculty at The Lou Conte Dance Studio| Hubbard Street Dance Center & has served on faculty at 11 other prestigious facilities including, The Ailey Extension, Steps on Broadway, The Joffrey Ballet School/Academy, Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, plus more. Dionna has also taught numerous Master Classes across the US, including Columbia College: Musical Theatre Program, Chicago Repertory Ballet, LA Contemporary Dance, Loyola Marymount University, to name a few, plus workshops in Montreal, Norway, and Germany; Her contemporary class was also once featured in Dance Magazine.
In her early years, Dionna worked as a print model & talent for Lily’s Talent Agency/Clear Talent Group, with a few movies under her belt. Later, Dionna completed a summer study with Rennie Harris: Illadelph Legends (Philadelphia), Deeply Rooted (Chicago) & American Dance Festival (NC), received scholarships and recognition from Monsters of Hip Hop ('09 alumni), The Pulse on Tour, & Dance Spirit Magazine; Dionna also worked/trained at Ballroom Dance Chicago & completed the Self Explore Program, led by LA Artist: Shaun Evaristo.
Dionna performed works in both concert and commercial dance, working with numerous choreographers, as well as companies such as The Pillow Project (PA), Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble, Xpressions Dance (PA), Dance 2XS (Chicago), & was a dancer/resident choreographer for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre (Chicago). Dionna has also performed in Black Nativity at the Goodman Theatre, Coachella Music Fest, Waterbomb LA, B96 Summer Bash and the 3 Sleuths, an Industrial Performance in Las Vegas. Fun Fact! Dionna was asked to style hair for the Britney Spears Circus Tour: Chicago.
Dionna has shared her choreography at multiple venues as well: Pritzker Pavilion/Millennium Park (Chicago), Orchestra Hall (Chicago), UIC, Choreographer's Carnival (CHI/LA/NY), Ailey Citigroup Theatre NY, and the US Open, to name a few . . . as well as many dance programs & studios across the US. To add, Dionna choreographed, self-produced, & directed her own show series entitled: LONE, which premiered in both Chicago & New York, along with her New York dance film: Control|Alt|Delete. Dionna hopes to continue expressing her joy in teaching dance & wants to start her healing initiative: DIPR for Disparities, to continue supporting BIPOC mental health, but also introduce "Black Women: You Matter," promoting self-advocacy.
In her early years, Dionna worked as a print model & talent for Lily’s Talent Agency/Clear Talent Group, with a few movies under her belt. Later, Dionna completed a summer study with Rennie Harris: Illadelph Legends (Philadelphia), Deeply Rooted (Chicago) & American Dance Festival (NC), received scholarships and recognition from Monsters of Hip Hop ('09 alumni), The Pulse on Tour, & Dance Spirit Magazine; Dionna also worked/trained at Ballroom Dance Chicago & completed the Self Explore Program, led by LA Artist: Shaun Evaristo.
Dionna performed works in both concert and commercial dance, working with numerous choreographers, as well as companies such as The Pillow Project (PA), Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble, Xpressions Dance (PA), Dance 2XS (Chicago), & was a dancer/resident choreographer for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre (Chicago). Dionna has also performed in Black Nativity at the Goodman Theatre, Coachella Music Fest, Waterbomb LA, B96 Summer Bash and the 3 Sleuths, an Industrial Performance in Las Vegas. Fun Fact! Dionna was asked to style hair for the Britney Spears Circus Tour: Chicago.
Dionna has shared her choreography at multiple venues as well: Pritzker Pavilion/Millennium Park (Chicago), Orchestra Hall (Chicago), UIC, Choreographer's Carnival (CHI/LA/NY), Ailey Citigroup Theatre NY, and the US Open, to name a few . . . as well as many dance programs & studios across the US. To add, Dionna choreographed, self-produced, & directed her own show series entitled: LONE, which premiered in both Chicago & New York, along with her New York dance film: Control|Alt|Delete. Dionna hopes to continue expressing her joy in teaching dance & wants to start her healing initiative: DIPR for Disparities, to continue supporting BIPOC mental health, but also introduce "Black Women: You Matter," promoting self-advocacy.