Faculty Bios
Jenny Oyallon-Koloski studies the manifestations of figure movement in cinematic space and the ways that filmmakers incorporate dance and movement into their storytelling practices. She holds a PhD in communication arts (specializing in film) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is certified in Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies through the Laban/Bartenieff Institute for Movement Studies (LIMS), and completed her BA in English at Carleton College, where she performed with the Semaphore Repertory Dance Company from 2006 to 2008. Her research on dance in film, the musical genre, and the films of Jacques Demy is published in Studies in French Cinema, Post Script, [in]Transition: The Journal of Videographic Film and Moving Image Studies, Screenworks, and Digital Humanities Quarterly. Her first book project, Meaning in Motion: Choreography and Storytelling in the Film Musical, explores the historical contexts and storytelling power of figure movement and dance in French and American film musicals with a focus on West Side Story (1961), Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (1967), Trois places pour le 26 (1988), Jeanne et le garçon formidable (1998), and La La Land (2016). She also codirects the Movement Visualization Lab, serves as the movement analysis specialist for the Media Ecology Project, and is a faculty affiliate of the College of Media’s Eye Tracking/Physiology Lab. Her teaching interests include dance in film, digital media production, videographic criticism, genre studies, performative research, French cinema, movement in media, film stylistics, contemporary cinema, and industry studies.
Joshua Pridemore is a graphic designer with a visual identity focus and a keen interest in the interplay between design and societal constructs. His professional journey is characterized by a commitment to exploring how design shapes and is shaped by social narratives, particularly in the realms of gender and masculinity. Pridemore holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Emerging Media, specializing in Graphic Design, from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Fine Arts in Design for Responsible Innovation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research interests include gender design, the impact of design on social issues, and the concept of “Discontainment of Masculinity” through design practices. He advocates for a student-centered approach that values diversity, encourages questioning of societal norms through design, and emphasizes ethical practices. By integrating interdisciplinary learning and practical application, Pridemore cultivates a learning environment where students are not only technically adept but also socially conscious and ready to innovate responsibly in the real world. Central to his philosophy is fostering reflective practice, ensuring students become thoughtful, adaptable, and impactful designers committed to lifelong learning. pridemoredesign.com/work
With over a 25-year career, Laura Chiaramonte has had a respected tenure in the dance industry. Laura‘s expertise lies in the intersections of dance somatics and interdisciplinary art forms, where she synthesizes sound, moving images, design, and technology into performance. Her professional journey has taken her across the United States and abroad, where she has collaborated with celebrated companies and artists such as Jennifer Allen, Lynn Dally, DanszLoop Chicago, Jyl Fehrenkamp, Pat Graney, Julie Gunn, Nathan Gunn, Andrew Harwood, Carleen Healy, I Ketut Gede Asnawa, Gina Jacobs, Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, Kate Monson, Rebecca Nettl-Fiol, Cynthia Pratt, Kirstie Simson, Thread Meddle Outfit, Total Theater, Warner Brothers, Deke Weaver, and Zephyr Dance. As a co-founder and director of the non-profit performing arts company Creative Arts Melting Pot (CAMP), Laura has demonstrated her leadership and organizational skills. Under her guidance, the company was featured in the PBS Special “The Chicago Dance Project” and performed for Hans Breder, Collaboraction, Cirque Du Soleil, Dance Chicago, and Full Circle Festival. Laura‘s work has also been showcased in The Open Space Project, Harvest Contemporary Dance Festival, and Going Dutch Festival. In addition to her performance and choreographic work, Laura has developed a movement studies class focusing on movement improvisation and composition, drawing inspiration from inter-media at the Chicago Art Department. She has conducted workshops in dance and somatics at the Illinois Institute of Technology, the Dance Center at Columbia College, the Department of Dance at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Illinois Wesleyan and Frente de Danza Independiente at Sala de Artes Escénicas Marina de Jesus Quito in Ecuador. She has also led creative movement workshops with Project Danztheatre Company Kids Program at St. Peter’s School, Urban Gateways, and the LEAP Program. Laura is currently the Director and Curator of the Flatlands Dance Film Festival, where she showcases and celebrates the art of dance on film. Furthermore, Laura is the Dance Media Coordinator and Archivist for Dance at Illinois, utilizing her knowledge and skills to preserve and promote the rich history of dance. Additionally, she holds the position of Video Archive Director for the Bates Dance Festival. www.lchiaramonte.com