As a touring company, Thodos Dance Chicago has brought a wide range of artistic programming to the colleges, theaters and arts centers where we have performed. Master classes, residencies and other educational opportunities go hand-in-hand with our stage performances. We specialize in working with theater artistic directors, as well as college dance and theater departments, to build a program that perfectly suits the environment. We also offer educational shows, including our popular 45-minute “ImagineDance” which features audience participation. It is aimed at elementary and middle schools, as well as a general family audience, and is often performed as a matinee as part of a booking that includes a full-length performance. Company members are selected not only for their ability to create and perform, but also on their credentials as teachers. We pride ourselves on our ability to conduct interesting, challenging classes for dance students. Composition and work with props are company specialties. Company members can set a work on students or provide an optimal environment to enable students to create their own work. We have also brought creative program ideas to theater departments and have built master classes around curricular goals. Here are a few examples of recent Master Classes, Residencies and Workshops: Small college residency: One of our choreographers set a work on the college dance ensemble to be performed at their annual student dance show. Thodos Dance Chicago performed a full concert program the evening after the student show, with the student ensemble opening our performance. Master Class: “Movement for the Theater” at a small college with a thriving theater department, but no dance program. Master Class: “Touring,” conducted by our lighting designer/technical director for a liberal arts campus noted for it’s theater department, focused on the complexities of taking a production on tour. Independent Study: lighting designer mentored a theater arts student through a lighting project over several months. Workshop:  "Learning New Choreography" taught by Melissa Thodos.  A short piece was taught to a group of dance students of middle school and high school age.  After a three-hour workshop, the students performed the work at a Thodos Dance Chicago performance.