"As an educator I believe art allows us to use our imagination, voice, and body to tell the stories that in our normal everyday life we might be more scared or timid to share with others. As an educator I believe in listening not only to our mind and those around us but also to listen to our body, while inspiring and inviting others to join us. I believe that art allows us to have a place to express ourselves, transform ourselves and others, to embody, and to ask questions. Art allows us to dig deep into not only our mind but those around us and into whatever we create. It allows us to be brave, to hear more than one voice and especially hear the voices that are marginalized by our society and history."

SONYA MADRIGAL (She/Her/Ella) is a proud Chicago actor, director, dancer, and teaching artist who loves being a voice for stories that are currently being marginalized by our society. She is a 2019 graduate of the University of Illinois where she received her BFA in acting. As an artist Sonya is a strong believer in storytelling through movement and always brings that into the room when performing around the City of Chicago. Sonya has been a dance teacher and choreographer from a very young age and has trained in multiple forms of movement and dance such as: ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, Alexander technique, Laban, and 11 years of traditional Mexican folk dancing. Sonya is a teaching artist with Steppenwolf, Lifeline Theatre, Raven Theatre, UIC, and The August Wilson monologue competition outreach program. Her recent stages have been Victory Gardens, Court Theatre, Congo Square Theatre, and Teatro Vista.