Michael Estanich, Professor of Dance
Michael Estanich is a Professor of Dance and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at UW-Stevens Point. He teaches all levels modern dance, composition, movement analysis, and repertory. He earned his MFA from The Ohio State University and his BFA from Denison University. Michael’s creative work asserts value in a multidisciplinary approach, relying on movement, voice, sculpture, and dramaturgy to create intimate works of human folly. He formed RE|dance group (redancegroup.org) in 2009 with Chicago artist Lucy Vurusic Riner as a means to explore long distance collaboration. RE|dance group has presented work regionally, nationally, and internationally. Michael and Lucy have presented their research on the collaborative creative process at various conferences hosted by the National Dance Educator's Organization. He is the resident choreographer and dance chair at Trollwood Performing Arts School in Moorhead, MN and serves on the Executive Board of the American College Dance Association (ACDA) as Vice President for Policy and Procedure.
Kyra Johnson (Jazz/Hip hop/Creative Practice)
Kyra Johnson (she/her) has 18 years of dance experience. She began her training locally from studios and dance teams. Ms. Johnson continued her advancement in dance and earned a BA in Dance and a BS in Psychology from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point (UWSP). Her foundations are in styles of modern, jazz, hip hop, and ballet. Following her Dance degree, Ms. Johnson was a member and choreographed twice for Madison Contemporary Dance. She continued development at Barrio Dance Studio, for two years, where she performed in a music video for D Major Music and was an instructor. Ms. Johnson is the founder and CEO of KLJ Movement, a performance and Dance Company. She has produced 10 productions, partnered with over 25 organizations across the state of Wisconsin, and continues to train professionally on her own time. Outside of dance, Ms. Johnson is a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).
Lucy Vurusic Riner (Jazz/Hip hop/Creative Practice)
Lucy Vurusic Riner is a native Chicagoan who has been dancing, choreographing, and teaching in the Midwest for 28 years. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Dance Education and Performance from Illinois State University. Lucy completed her Master's Degree in Education from National Louis University in 2005 and received the Midwest Dance Teacher of the Year award. Lucy has presented her work internationally at the New Dance for Asia Festival in South Korea and RAW in Montreal. She founded RE|dance group in 2009 where she serves as executive director, co-choreographer, and dancer alongside partner Michael Estanich. Prior to founding RE|dance group, Lucy was a member of Molly Shanahan/Mad Shak, RTG Dance, and Matthew Hollis' “The Power of Cheer." She has worked with a number of dance artists nationally and has been part of the community casts of White Oak Dance Project and David Dorfman Dance. Lucy was the director of the Oak Park and River Forest Dance Department for 12 years before joining the faculty at New Trier High School in 2012. She is the recipient of the 2023 Make A Wave Award from the 3Arts Organization as well as numerous grants for herself and RE|dance group from the Illinois Arts Council and Driehaus Foundation.
Skip to main content
