Autumn

Artistic Associate, Dir. GII

Eckman

Ms. Eckman, originally from Atlanta, GA,, is an Artistic Associate of Giordano Dance Chicago and Director of Giordano II. She received her classical training from the Houston Ballet Academy under Clara Cravey and Steve Brulee, and from the late Tom Pazik of the Atlanta Ballet. In 2000, Autumn moved Chicago and began her performance career as a Giordano company member. She has also danced with other renowned companies including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ron De Jesus Dance, Luna Negra Dance Theater, Lucky Plush Productions, State Street Ballet (Santa Barbara) and the Cangelosi Dance Project. Autumn has created several works for the Giordano main and second companies and has been commissioned by  Williams and Henry Dance Company, DanceWorks Chicago, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, Northern Illinois University, KRESA, State Street Ballet, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, State Street Ballet, Contemporary Dance South, Inaside Chicago Dance, Momenta, NoMi LaMad and the Vittaca Dance Project.  She was awarded Dance Chicago’s “New Artistic Voice” in 2009, and named as a "Standout Choreographer” for 2010 in the Chicago Tribune. The same paper recently featured her in the Fall Dance Preview of 2012 in which Dance Critic, Sid Smith described her as “a bright choreographic stylist, mixing solid design with color and sparkle.”.  Autumn is also dedicated to training dancers in ballet, modern, jazz and contemporary dance. She has been a full time instructor of dance at Northern Illinois University, and is currently on faculty at several Chicagoland area studios. She has recently been a guest at the Florida Dance Festival, State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara and Summer Dance Lab in Walla, WA. She will be the guest jazz instructor in the summer of 2013 at the Bates Dance Festival in Maine.