Maria Luisa Torres
EDUCATION
2016 MA Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
2009 BS Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
ARTIST RESIDENCIES, GRANTS, AND AWARDS
2019 Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Artist Residency, Chicago, IL
2018 Englewood Business Plan Pitch Competition, 1st place, Teamwork Englewood, Chicago, IL
2018 Chicago Salsa Bachata Festival World Salsa Summit Qualifier, 1st place Bachata team, Chicago, IL
2017 GFranco dance video competition finalist
DANCE COMPANIES
2017-Present Modos Dance Company, Chicago, IL
2015-2019 Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2017-2018 Kachimbo Dance Company, Chicago, IL
2014-2017 Gifted Souls Dance Company, Chicago, IL
PERFORMANCES
2019 Evidencias, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2019 The Villains Project by Rocky Quinones, Chicago, IL
2018 Superhéroe, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2018 Kachimbo Semi-Pro, Chicago, IL
2018 Lion King, Chicago International Salsa Congress, Gifted Souls, Chicago, IL
2018 Amethyst Performance Group, Fiesta Boricua, Chicago, IL
2017 Gifted Souls Semi-pro, Chicago International Salsa Congress, Chicago, IL
2017 Eterno, Google Arts and Culture Event, Chicago, IL
2017 Eterno, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2016 Wizard of Oz, Gifted Souls, Chicago, IL
2016 DMarte, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2016 Vete, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2010-2013 Dance 2XS Caliente, Urbanite and Pre-Urbanite, Urbana-Champaign, IL
CHOREOGRAPHY
2019 Diasporadical, Modos Dance Company, Chicago, IL
2019 Me Gusta Reggeaton, Semi-Pro, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2019 Evidencias, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2019 Warriors Beyond War, Therapeutic Dance Performance, Chicago, IL
2018 Superhéroe, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
2018 After School Matters-All Male Dance Ensemble, MODOS Dance Company, Chicago, IL
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2019-Present Co-Artistic Director, Bachata Rising Stars, Chicago, IL
2018-Present Salsa Instructor, Salsa Tuesdays, Alhambra Palace, IL
2017-Present Artistic Director, MODOS Dance Company, Chicago, IL
2018-2019 Dance Therapist, Warriors Beyond War, Chicago, IL
2017-2019 Co-Artistic Director, Dance Instructor, Legacy Dance Association, Chicago, IL
WORKSHOPS/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS/PARTNERSHIPS
2019 Community Dance Class, Lolita’s Bodega, Chicago, IL
2019 Night Out in the Parks, Chicago Park District, Chicago, IL
2018 Bachata Styling Workshop, Chicago International Salsa Congress, Chicago, IL
2018 Black Lives Matter Conference, Chicago, IL
2018 After School Matters Summer Intensive, Chicago, IL
2018 Hopes Summer Therapeutic Dance Workshop Series, Chicago, IL
2018-2019 Community Dance Workshop, Fiesta Boricua, Chicago, IL