Quick Facts
Biography
Wade Schaaf (born 1979) is an American contemporary dancer, choreographer and dance company artistic director.
Biography
He was born in Elgin, Illinois on May 2, 1979. After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a BFA in Theater Arts (Dance Performance Emphasis) in 2001, he went on to dance for such companies as The Ohio Ballet, State Street Ballet, River North Chicago Dance Company and Thodos Dance Chicago.
He is the founder and Artistic Director of Chicago Repertory Ballet, the company that he founded on November 13, 2011. He has created works on such companies as The Omaha Theater Ballet (Now Ballet Nebraska), Groundwork Dance Company, and Thodos Dance Chicago.
Performing
Schaaf started his performing career in Elgin, IL performing in various community and children's theater productions. At Northern Illinois University he performed in various ballets and contemporary choreographies such as The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Paquita, and Giselle. After leaving the university setting, he performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. During his career, he performed works by such choreographers as Kennet Oberly, Lauri Stallings, Bill Soleau, Septime Webre, Stephen Mills, Frank Chavez, and Ann Reinking; Reinking created the role of Carter Harrison in the ballet, "The White City: Chicago's Colombian Exposition". Schaaf retired in 2012.
Choreography
His choreography is known for its emotional sensitivity, musicality, and variety. His choreography ranges from very classical ethics to very contemporary esthetics.
| Title | Company | Music |
|---|---|---|
| Scheonberg Piano Works | Omaha Theater Ballet | Arnold Schoenberg |
| Somewhere in the Middle | Omaha Theater Ballet | Philip Glass |
| The Gathering | Omaha Theater Ballet | Sheila Chandra |
| Consuming Fire | Groundwork Dance Company | Philip Glass |
| Awakening | Thodos Dance Chicago | Philip Glass |
| Dancer, Net | Thodos Dance Chicago | J.S.Bach, Björk, Camille Saint-Saëns |
| Shostakovich Piano Concerto | Thodos Dance Chicago | Dimitri Shostakovich |
| Tres Hip: A Love Story | Dance in the Parks | Of Montreal, MGMT, Neon Neon |
| La Vie en Rose | Chicago Repertory Ballet | Edith Piaf |
Chicago Repertory Ballet
Chicago based contemporary dance company founded by Wade Schaaf. The company, founded on November 13, 2011, is dedicated to the contemporary choreographic voice, and sitting at the forefront of what is presented in dance and storytelling. Chicago Repertory Ballet premiered at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in 2012.