Orchesis Performs Tonight with Artist-in-Residence

District 214 will present its annual Artist-in-Residence Orchesis performance/presentation at 7 p.m. Sept. 21 in Prospect High School's fieldhouse. Professional dancer Julie Cartier, this year's Artist-in-Residence, has been working with all District 214 Orchesis dancers on a featured contemporary piece. More than 100 dancers from all six District 214 schools will participate in the performance, which is open to the public.

Dance instructors/Orchesis directors from District 214 are Michelle Carrison (), Lisette Rodriguez (Elk Grove High School), Jennifer Foss (John Hersey High School), Kristin Burton (Prospect High School), Reggie Good (Rolling Meadows High School) and Diane Rawlinson (Wheeling High School).

 Julie Cartier is a 30-year veteran in the world of dance as artistic director, performer, choreographer, and teacher. She first came to Chicago via the concert dance scene, performing with some of Chicago’s finest dance companies including Chi-town Jazz Dance, The Lynda Martha Dance Company, and River North Dance Company.

Cartier became a founding member of Especially Tap Chicago, one of Chicago’s oldest & most successful tap ensembles. In 2000, Julie took over leadership of the group as artistic director, which now goes by The Cartier Collective.   

Cartier has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, has choreographed for Celebrity Cruise Lines newest ships and continues to create new work for companies throughout the US.  She is a recipient of Chicago National Association of Dance Masters’ 2009 Artistic Achievement Award and a JUBA award from the Chicago Human Rhythm Project in 2011 for her contributions to dance in Chicago. Cartier started Soul-2-Soles Youth Tap Company at Dancenter North in Libertyville and also works every year with Evanston Dance Ensemble. She continues to teach for some of the finest studios in the Chicagoland area, including a 10-year stint at Barat College, Dance Center Evanston, Danceworks of Milwaukee, Gus Giordano's Dance Center, and the Lou Conte Dance Studio.  

Admission is a $3 donation at the door to the District 214 Dance Fund. For more information, contact Michelle Carrison at (847) 718-4353 or michelle.carris@d214.org.