Michael O’Banion
graduated Cum Laude from Ohio University with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts majoring in modern dance and music. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Dance from The Ohio State University. Mr. O’Banion’s dance training includes Nikolais-Louis, Humphrey-Limon, Cunningham, Hawkins and Horton techniques along with post-modern release and contact improvisation techniques. His experience as a teacher spans elementary through college age and covers dance, theatre, music and costume design. Mr. O’Banion is a multi-disciplined artist. His creative activities include performance, choreography, musical composition, costuming, and visual art and design. He received an award from The Ohio Arts Council for his interdisciplinary work combining dance, theater and visual art. Mr. O’Banion has been affiliated with the Denver School of the Arts since 1993 and has directed the dance program for 15 years. Recently, Mr. O’Banion was a subject for the Annenburg Foundation’s education video series, The Art of Teaching the Arts. As an arts educator, Mr. O’Banion encourages his students to explore many art forms, develop their own creative process and expand their artistic expression into the realm of infinite possibilities.
Alicia Karczewski
holds a B.A. in dance from Regis University, Denver, Colorado, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She pursued musical theatre (42nd Street, Oklahoma!, Peter Pan) and toured West Side Story as dance captain. Additionally, she has danced with a numerous variety of modern, jazz, and tap dance companies as well as the entertainment and film venues. As a professional choreographer she was selected for the 1996, 1997 and 2000 Colorado Choreographers Showcase and has set many pieces on professional dance companies. Ms. Karczewski has guest taught for Teikyo/Loretto Heights University, Colorado Ballet Company and School, Glenwood Springs Dance Festival, for the cast of Phantom of the Opera, David Taylor Dance Theatre and many master classes locally and nationally working with all age groups. She has traveled all over the U.S. for seven years as a dance adjudicator and currently gives her time to Colorado dance community by serving as a board member of the Colorado Dance Alliance. She was selected in 2010 to be part of the Colorado Department of Education Dance Standards Review Committee. Ms. Karczewski has has been a dance instructor at the Denver School of the Arts, since 1996.
