Lisa Andrea Thurrell, Artistic Director KDC, modern, choreography, improvisation, repertory faculty. Ms Thurrell is Co-Director of Kanopy School for Contemporary Dance and Choreography. She has served as Faculty at Academy of Russian Ballet, Denver, CO (‘01-04); Guest at Illinois State University, Normal, IL (‘05.); Guest Faculty Ballet Minnesota, (‘98 - to date); and Visiting Professor, UNL Lincoln, NE ('92,'94.) She danced with the Martha Graham Company in NYC; in the International Spoleto Festivals in Italy and South Carolina ('91-'94); and with several companies including Omega Liturgical Dance, and Ravenworks in NYC (‘90-94.) She has danced with Wendy Hambidge in Portland, OR (‘95); Connolly Dance and Smartdance in Madison. As Chair of Dance at the Idrætshøjskole, Oure, Denmark, she toured her choreography to Odense, Arhus, and Copenhagen (‘97.) Her choreography was presented in NYC (‘89-‘93) at The Field, Dance Space, Laban Center, and Goodson Theatre and throughout the Midwest. She holds a Certificate of Completion, Professional Trainee and Teaching Program, from Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance, NYC (’93) (3yr program); an MFA in Dance/minor in Asian Theatre, UW-Madison (‘87.) Thurrell's training includes study with: Yuriko, Diane Gray, Carol Fried, Ethel Winter, Maggie Black, Zena Rommett, Hanya Holm, Nancy Hauser, Phyllis Lamhut, Lon Gordon, Anna Nassif, Vivian Tomlinson, Tibor Zana Elizabeth Shipiatsky, Shankaran Namboodiri, Meenakshi Ganesen and Phillip Zarrilli. She has shared awards with Kanopy Dance (‘96-to date) from: the Wisconsin Arts Board; CitiARTS; Madison Civic Center Fdtn; Dane County Cultural Affairs; Pleasant T Rowland Fdtn; Overture Fdtn; Madison Arts Com-mission; and, Madison Community Fdtn. She received the Wisconsin Dance Council ’99 Choreography/Performance Award; was nominated for the Bonnie Bird International Choreography Award (Laban Centre For Dance, London ‘97); UW Outstanding Alumni Award (‘98); soloist for Nini Theilade's Ballet Schubert, Denmark (‘97); soloist, UW Alumni Concert; Hanya Holm's "Rat-a-Tat" (‘99.) She continues to choreograph new works on KDC, KDC2, Kanopy Student Ensemble, and other companies.

Robert E. Cleary, Artistic Director KDC, modern, choreography, improvisation, repertory faculty. Mr Cleary is Co-Director of Kanopy School and has been dancing since 1982 when he started with the Minnesota Ballet and Minnesota Dance Theatre. He trained under Frank Bourman, David Voss, Loyce Houlton, Bonnie Mathis and Tisha Von Burpee. In 1990, he earned a BA from the University of Minnesota in Dance and Choreography; and, a BA in History, 19th Century Europe. In NYC, he trained at the School of American Ballet and in Susan Klein-Releasing Technique. He has worked with, and performed for, modern and post-modern performers: Bebe Miller, Bill T. Jones, Danny Ezralow, Paula Mann, Carolyn Brown, Susan McGuire, and Maria Cheng. He has taught ballet and modern dance for Mankato Ballet, Ballet Minnesota, Delange Studio. Mr. Cleary was dance faculty at Oure Idrætshøjskole, Denmark. He toured his choreography and performed throughout Denmark; and was a soloist in Nini Theilade's Ballet Schubert, created originally for Massine's Ballet Russe. Mr. Cleary served as Guest Faculty at South West Texas State. He annually performs as guest soloist in the Nutcracker for Ballet Minnesota. Cleary has performed as a guest artist/soloist with Wendy Hambidge in Portland, OR. He has danced with Smartdance, Wisconsin Dance Ensemble, Connolly Dance, and KirOga Theater. He has shared awards with Kanopy (‘96-to date) from: Wisconsin Arts Board,CitiARTs, Civic Center Fdtn, Dane County Cultural Affairs; Pleasant T. Rowland Fdtn, Overture Fdtn, Madison Arts Commission and Madison Community Fdtn. Mr Cleary regularly creates choreography for Kanopy Dance Company as well as other regional companies and artists. His End Times…Ebullient Machine received critical acclaim by audiences and dance critics in Madison and Minneapolis. He received rave reviews for his performance as Beethoven in Ballet Minnesota’s production of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, (2008.) and as the High Brahmin in La Bayadere.