Eddy Ocampo
Before becoming a principal company member of Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Eddy Ocampo has worked with some of Chicago's premiere dance companies such as the Joel Hall Dancers and River North Chicago Dance Company. He has also made guest appearances with the Kalamazoo Ballet, Augusta Opera, Cerqua Rivera Art Experience, Terpsichore Dancers, LaJazz Dance as well as appeared in many television and film cameos. Eddy danced as principal company member with GJDC from 1994 – 2000, served as faculty member from 1996-2005, as well as served as school director of the Giordano Dance Center, the director of Giordano II and the director of the Giordano Merit Scholarship program from 2000 – 2003. Eddy made choreography and guest teaching his full time career and focus in 2006. As a master teacher, Eddy has taught in Europe, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, the Russian Republic and throughout the U.S. He is also the founding artistic director the American Jazz Dance Festival-New Generation in the Russian Republic and continues to travel to Russia yearly to spread his passion of jazz dance to many who may have never been exposed to the art form. As a choreographer, Mr. Ocampo's works can be seen on such companies as Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Odyssey Dance Theatre (Salt Lake City, UT), Kannon Dance (St. Petersburg, Russia), Lisa Clark Dancers (San Francisco, CA), Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Thodos Dance Chicago, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble and many regional ballet companies across the U.S. He has worked with recording artists Josie Aeillo, Suzanne Palmer and London-based recording artist, Affe Adel. Eddy received the Dance Chicago 2004 Outstanding Choreography Award as well as the Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation Choreography Award for Dance Chicago in 2005 and 2007. He is the first recipient in the history of the Cliff Dwellers Arts Foundation to have ever received this honor twice. Mr. Ocampo has been featured in the June 2005 issue of Dance Teacher Magazine as well as named one of the best jazz dance teachers in the country by Dance Spirit Magazine. In the December 2005 issue of Chicago Magazine, Eddy was featured as an up and coming choreographer and in November 2005. In 2005, Mr. Ocampo was honored as Filipino American of the Year by the Filipino Association of America. Eddy Ocampo directs a non-profit youth organization in Libertyville, IL, Forum Jazz Dance Theatre, and currently resides in Chicago, IL.