THE COMPANY
Devon Lloyd
Operations Executive/Co-Director & Dancer
hotcrowddance@gmail.com
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Devon Lloyd is a dancer, teacher, and content creator from Naperville, IL and received her BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University. Originally a Jazz and Tap dancer, undergrad showed her a new love of modern dance. Her strong attack to movement and overall strength fuel her drive to break movement norms. During her time at WMU she worked with artists Peter Chu, Eddie Ocampo, Rennie Harris, and international choreographer Ohad Naharin. She also performed multiple works by professor and mentor, Carolyn Pavlik, that showcased at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Post undergrad Devon continued to dive into the world of education. Solidifying techniques and movement patterns have made her a versatile and sought after choreographer and technique consultant.
Devon is happy to be back for another season dancing and serving as Operations Executive, Co-Director, and Media Manager for Hot Crowd.
Brittany Latta
Programs Coordinator/Co-Director & Dancer
hotcrowdbusiness@gmail.com
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Brittany Latta, originally from Wheaton, IL received her BA in Dance at Western Michigan University. She has trained intensively in ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop, fusing the techniques together to create a unique style. Her Holistic Health Care minor has complimented her dance portfolio by providing a distinctive understanding of movement mechanics in the human body, creating methods in approaching performance through a mind-body connection to herself and those around her. While in undergrad she worked with renowned choreographer Gabrielle Lamb and Rennie Harris as well as under WMU faculty members David Curwen, Whitney Moncrief and Monique Haley. At WMU she received the Luscombe Grant where she was then able to collaborate with composers, musicians and poets, which further supported her dance endeavors. Post grad, Brittany trained as a scholarship student at Visceral Dance Center under the direction of Nick Pupillo. In 2017 Latta joined Hot Crowd under the direction of Artistic Director, Emily Rayburn. With Hot Crowd, she has had opportunity to work with dancers and choreographers of various styles including Joseph Hernandez, Jessica Miller Tomlinson and Katie Carey. In 2021, Brittany joined Banks Performance Project under the direction of Elysia C. Banks where she has had the pleasure of performing pieces by Grant Hill and Elysia C. Banks, adding to her experience of performing various styles. As of August 2021, Brittany has taken over as Programs Coordinator & Co-Director of Hot Crowd where she will continue to focus on the success of the organization. When Brittany is not in rehearsal, you can find her teaching at local dance studios, striving to use dance as a platform for inspiration and change in the community.
Kyra Laster
Dancer
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Kyra Laster is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in Chicago, IL. She is a recent graduate of Western Michigan University where she received a BFA in Dance and a BBA in Marketing. During her time at WMU, Kyra participated in numerous Department of Dance concerts where she has performed works choreographed by faculty, peers and by guest artists, BAIRA and Mike Esperanza. Kyra was a 2021 Company Member with Dance in The Parks Chicago where she performed works by Joe Musiel, Lauren Blane Bogren, Ashley Deran and Emily Loar and was chosen to present her choreography at the 2021 Alluvion Dance Chicago’s choreography showcase and Detroit Dance City Festival. She served as Artistic Director of Hip Hop ConnXion Michigan, a branch of the professional hip hop company based in Chicago, for two years where she set choreography on the company multiple times, directed two videos and performed throughout the midwest. Kyra is currently a Program Officer for ArtLab J and Detroit Dance City Festival where she assists in planning the festival and handles marketing. Additional training includes Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Summer Intensive, University of Illinois Summer Intensive and Ruth Page Choreography Intensive. Kyra is excited for her first season with Hot Crowd!
Lindsey Scouten
Assistant Rehearsal Director & Dancer
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Lindsey Scouten is a Virginia native. She is a 2019 graduate from George Mason University where she had the opportunity to learn from artists such as Susan Shields, Roger Jeffrey, Ethan Brown, Christopher d’ Amboise, Caroline Rocher, Jean Emile and more. During her four years she also had the opportunity to study Nacho Duato’s, Na Floresta, and perform an excerpt of Mass, by Doug Varone in their annual Gala Fete. During her freshman year she was awarded the “Emerging Freshman Artist Award,” with scholarship. Upon graduation she has had the pleasure of working with Company Danzante, Merce Cunningham Trust, Visceral Dance Chicago, RawArts Dance Company, Meadows Dance Collective, Alluvion Dance Chicago and Joel Hall and Dancers. Lindsey is excited to be joining Hot Crowd for her first season with the company.
Haley Tarling
Dancer
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Haley is a dancer, choreographer and teacher located in Chicago, IL. She is a graduate of Point Park University with a BFA in dance and a BA in psychology. While there, she worked with artists such as Kiki Lucas, Maree ReMalia, Jason McDole, Pearlann Porter and Kiesha Lalama. In addition, in 2019 she had the opportunity to perform a work by Caili Quan through DanceWorks Chicago’s ChoreoLab. Her earlier training consisted of dancing as a member of Extensions Dance Company, under the direction of Lizzie MacKenzie, where she performed works by Eddy Ocampo, Christian Denice, Garth Johnson and Jared Baker. Most recently, she had the opportunity to dance in two music videos for the band Course, choreographed by Lizzie MacKenzie and Jackie Nowicki, as well as numerous projects with Sydney Jones. She was the Emerging Choreographer for Young Dancers Initiative's 2021 partnership with Brighton Dance Festival, has presented work at Dance Chicago, Trifecta Dance Festival and was commissioned by Simantikos Dance Chicago. As an artist, she strives to embody expansion, authenticity and grit, while telling stories that reflect human experience through the metaphor of intellectual ideas. Haley is elated to dance as a guest artist with Hot Crowd as part of their fifth season!
Lauren Janney
Dancer
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Originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan, Lauren received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a music minor, from Western Michigan University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in May of 2021. Lauren trained in many styles of dance including ballet, modern, and jazz with the faculty from WMU. During her time there she worked with renowned guest artists such as Mike Esperanza, Jackie Nowiki, Brian and Shana Baira, and Brendan Duggan. She also spent two weeks training and dancing in residency with Yin Yue and Peridance Contemporary Dance Company from New York. After graduating, Lauren moved out to the Chicago suburbs to continue her dance journey. She joined Alluvion Dance Chicago as a Performing Apprentice back in November of 2021. During her time in the company she has performed in pieces choreographed by Johnny Huntoon, Morgan Cutler, and Jessica Miller Tomlinson, as well as opportunities to be a part of the company dancers choreography. Lauren has researched anatomy and kinesiology to understand how the body moves as a dancer and to find new approaches to teaching and choreography. She also has the background of theatre and music to thank, for it has played a huge part in her life and heavily influenced her knowledge in the arts.
Megan Wolter
Dancer
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Megan grew up in Libertyville, IL and began her dance training at Dance Academy of Libertyville. Megan is a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University where she received a BA in Dance. During her time at Grand Valley she was given the opportunity to work with various faculty and guest artists such as Melissa Barak, Yoshito Sakuraba, Wallie Wolfgruber, Paul Singh and Brian Enos. Megan was selected as a recipient for the Upper Division Dance Scholarship, Alexander Calder Honors Scholarship and the Excellence in a Discipline Award. Megan presented her solo work, “CENTERofATTENTION” at the American College Dance Association and was selected for the Gala Concert. Megan just finished her fifth summer as an instructor for Universal Dance Association and is an Assistant Dance Coach at Libertyville High School. She was a guest artist with Hot Crowd last season and is so excited for her first season as a company member!
GUEST ARTISTS
Zipporah Wilson
Guest Dancer
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Zipporah Wilson, originally from Chicago, Illinois spent most of her time training with Homer Hans Bryant of Chicago Multicultural Dance Center in conjunction with Chicago High School for the Arts under the direction of Sarah Ford Thompson. There, she was given the opportunity to work with Thodos Dance Chicago, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. She is a recent Graduate of New York University receiving her BFA in Dance. There, she was given the opportunity to work with Choreographers such as David Dorfman, Shamel Pitts, Pamela Pietro, and Chuck Wilt. Upon studying abroad, she has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Roy Assaf, Sade Alleyne, Vangeline Theater, and Ananya Dance Theater. Zipporah is very excited to be a guest artist this season with Hot Crowd.
Ariana Fonzo
Guest Dancer
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Ariana Fonzo is a dancer originally from just outside Atlanta, GA, where she began her dance training in ballet, tap, and jazz. Ariana graduated from the University of Utah in 2021, with both a BFA in Ballet and a BS in Strategic Communication. While at the "U," Ariana further cultivated her artistry and worked with faculty and guest artists including Katlyn Addison, Jennifer Archibald, and Melissa Bobick. Post graduation, she accepted a traineeship with Ballet Idaho for their 2021-22 season, where she performed alongside the company in Peter Anastos’ Nutcracker, Bruce Wells' Beauty and the Beast, and George Balanchine’s Serenade. Most recently, Ariana danced with Visceral Dance Chicago as a trainee for their 2022-23 season and worked with many choreographers, including: Nick Pupillo, Jackie Nowicki, Rodrick George, and Danielle Agami. Ariana has additionally danced for the University of Utah Ballet Choreographic Institute and Project 773 Dance, as well as performing works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Marguerite Donlon, Quinn B. Wharton, and both Alice Klock and Florian Lochner of FLOCK. Ariana is currently a freelance artist in Chicago, IL, and is excited to continue pursuing authenticity, depth, and whimsicality in her work!