LEADERSHIP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Get to know us. Reach out. Be heard.

Robert Neubert, President
Board member AIDS Foundation Chicago, former professional Musical Theatre Director, dance advocate

Julie Burman Kaplan, Vice President
Former dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Co-Founder River North Dance Chicago, Owner/Director River North Dance Studio, teacher Ruth Page Center for the Arts

Andrew Kanfer, Treasurer
25-year finance and consulting career, former Co-Chair Dance for Life, dance enthusiast / patron / advocate

Paula Friedman, Secretary
Former dancer, Attorney (retired), AIDS Foundation of Chicago Board Member

Sarita Connelly
Non-profit executive at start-up accelerator Bunker Labs, Adjunct Instructor of Dance of Loyola University; Advisory Board Member of Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts, Board Member Oak Park Arts Council, guest teaching artist Joffrey Ballet Chicago Community engagement, Former dancer with Melissa Thodos and Dancers and Joseph Holmes Dance Theatre, performed in 11 consecutive DFL finales

Sandi Cooksey
Former dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Twyla Tharp Dance and Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago; Respiratory Therapist at Rush University Medical Center; Clinical Educator with ZOLL Medical

Randy Duncan
Choreographer, dance teacher, Chair of Dance Department at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, Yale Repertory Theatre choreographer, former Artistic Director Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, DFL choreographer for 29 years

Patti Eylar
Former dancer with Chicago City Ballet and Ballet Chicago, Chicago Ballet Arts Co-Director, See Chicago Dance, Joffrey Ballet and Auditorium Theatre Board Member

Mark Ferguson Gomez
Former dancer with Gus Giordano Dance Chicago, Joseph Holmes Dance Theatre and River North Dance Chicago; teacher; dance advocate

Elizabeth Halajian
Interlochen Arts Academy and Butler University alumna, former dancer with San Diego Ballet and Charleston Ballet Theatre, Director of Development for the Harris Theater in Millennium Park, lifelong arts supporter

Len Mayersky
Former board member for the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Northalsted Business Alliance. Currently is the Board Chair for Hope For The Day. Vice President of Business Banking at Fifth Third Bank

Harriet Ross
Former Associate Director Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, former GM of Joffrey Ballet, founding Managing Director Arpino/Joffrey Foundation, Co-Founder Chicago Dancers United, dance coach and creator of The Dancers’ Fund

Sara Stewart Schumann
Former dancer and ballet master with the Chicago Lyric Opera, former soloist Ruth Page’s Arie Crown Nutcracker, Funds’ Counsel for the Chicago & Vicinity Laborers’ Funds, Artistic Director Madison Ballet, freelance choreographer and dance instructor

Brian W Smuts
Designer, Senior Project Director at Gensler, former Board of Directors DIFFA Chicago, dance advocate

Aaron Weiss
Supervising Attorney at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office. Served on the Ambassador’s Committee of DFL for over 15 years. Co-Chaired DFL for its 25th and 26th years.