Cheryl Mann

I was a huge fan of Cheryl before I met her. Every time Hubbard Street came to the Joyce Theater in New York, I would make sure to get tickets. I loved to watch the company — they had such great repertory and fantastic dancers. Cheryl was one of them. A great dancer, with a special quality. Not to mention that she is a beauty! She is unforgettable. My last year at Juilliard, I took class with Hubbard Street during their Joyce season. That is when I first met her. Right away, I felt the positive vibes all around. She is so friendly and sweet. A beauty inside and out. It was a treat to see her in class.

When I moved to Germany, Hubbard Street came on tour to Munich and I got see her perform again. I felt lucky to catch a performance even though I lived in Europe. Just like old times. It was Cheryl’s last season with the company. She was phenomenal.  When I moved to Stuttgart, you can imagine my surprise to see Cheryl walk in to the studio suddenly. She came to set Alejandro Cerrudo’s “Lickety Split” for Gauthier Dance. It was amazing to work with her. She is so patient and caring. She really invested in each dancer and made sure they understood the movement. Her experience shows. She had great corrections and tips for the movement. Her attitude was positive all the way through. I never saw her frown…ever. She is good at her job and the company loved her!

Cheryl made a transition from dancer to photographer and then to mother. Like her dancing, her photos are excellent. She is a natural. A great artist. A great mother too, I am sure! Not only am I a fan of her dancing, I am also a fan of her baby photos on Facebook. What beautiful kids! Just like their mom.

Cheryl Mann fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a Hubbard Street dancer in 1997. She has been fortunate in her career to travel to and perform in 17 countries, as well as countless domestic cities in the U.S. Cheryl retired after 10 1/2 years with Hubbard Street in October 2007. She received a Ruth Page Award for her performance in Nacho Duato’s Cor Perdut, and was on the cover of Dance Magazine for the August edition in 2004. Cheryl actually began her professional career at Disney World in Orlando Florida. She received a B.A. in dance at Point Park College. She has performed in South Pacific as Liat under the direction of Robby Marshall in Pittsburgh, and danced with River North Dance Chicago before joining Hubbard Street.

She is now the owner of Cheryl Mann Productions, where she travels the world setting dance works for world-renowned choreographers, as well as photographing companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, River North Dance Chicago, Ballet Hispanico, Chicago Dancing Festival, Thodos & Dancers, amongst many more. Photography keeps her close to her beloved dance community, and for that, she is grateful.

Cheryl you are an inspiration. Thank you for many years of great performances.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you always want to do what you’re doing now?

When I was little, I wanted to be a school teacher, because I REALLY loved to write on the chalkboard. Dance was not important to me until I was 11 years old & we had to move from Knoxville, Tennessee to Orlando, FL. Up until that point, I was taking ballet (against my will) once a week. The move was so traumatic for me that dance was the only thing I could find any comfort in. I found my best friends there & I felt at “home”. The rest is history!

Cheryl’s Favorite Things

Favorite Things to eat?

Soup! Pretty much any kind. Also, anything that requires sour cream strangely.

 Favorite Books?

Lotería, The Fountainhead, Devil in the White City

 Favorite Movies?

Amélie, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Into the Wild

 Favorite Dance Piece or Show/Musical or both?

Dance Piece: Bella Figura by Jirí Kylián

Musical: Fosse. I think I saw it 14 times.

I like dancers who…

…move like animals. Who are aware of their limbs & their physicality. Also, dancers who can relate to other dancers onstage & have a dialogue inside. Honest movers.

I am afraid of…

…people who text & drive. So basically, everyone driving a car.

A dance piece should…

…take you somewhere away from where you are. It should create an atmosphere, or a mood. It should honor all sides & not just the front.

Something you like to do other than dancing?

I am a dancer turned photographer, so there is a passion there. I love watching my kids discover the world most of all.

One of the happiest moments in your life?

When Tony Fabre cast me in Nacho Duato’s Rassemblement. It was unexpected, and an absolute honor to be chosen for such an important role. After 3 years as a dancer in Hubbard Street, Lou Conte tells me with tears in his eyes that I had exceeded every expectation he had of me…and that was my dream as a young dancer. To “arrive” as a Hubbard Street dancer was a milestone for me.

One of your most unusual or coolest experiences?

Performing in Spoleto, Italy. It was in the summer, & exteremely hot. We couldn’t be on stage until 5:30pm because it was outside & too hot to stand on. Even at 5:30 for ballet class, the stage was so hot that we could feel it through our ballet shoes! So until 5:30, we could explore. The only thing is that everything aside from the swimming pools were closed until 5pm! Much time was spent at the pool. It was amazing. Some pretty amazing synchronized swimming routines were spawned as well.

One of the most embarrassing moments in your professional career?

Oh man…so many! My fellow dancers knew me as the accident prone one. Ironically, in Rassemblement, my fabric from the women’s section got stuck on my head for A VERY LONG TIME, and I couldn’t see where I was or continue to dance. I fought that fabric as if I was being attacked! Once I gave up, it miraculously fell to the ground & I picked up where the dance had continued to go on without me. Our stage manager had time to call everyone from the dressing rooms to stage to witness this debacle. Unbelievable. Oh…and my family was in the audience. Naturally.

Who has been the most influential person/people in your life? or Career? and why?

Claire Bataille, founding member of Hubbard Street. She came to Florida with the company when I was a teenager, and taught a master class that changed my life. Ballet barre & jazz center? Who does that?? I was in awe of her. So that’s where my aspirations to dance with the company began. My last year in college, she came to set a work on us & cast me as the lead. Upon moving to Chicago & dancing with River North Dance, she was the ballet mistress. Then 3 years later, Lou hired me to dance with Hubbard Street & I was cast to dance Georgia…which is Claire’s piece that basically put the company on the map. Claire came in to rehearse me in her role, & my dreams came full circle. She has been there in every influential moment in my dance career.

One of the hardest things about your job?

Right now, juggling child care & work. Being freelance has its benefits & its challenges. It’s hard to nail down a sitter when I have to work, because my shoots are ever changing. Probably the most stressful part of my life right now! The other part is capturing naturally beautiful portraits when my clients dislike having their photos taken. I try to create a very calming atmosphere for them to be in during the shoot, and we always seem to get where we need to be!

Do you have any goals you still wish to achieve?

I have an ongoing going goal to keep reinventing myself & staying active in my artistry. It’s hard to stay in the game when life just seems to throw curve balls & time keeps ticking away relentlessly. I often see great ideas from other artists and think…”Why didn’t I think of that??”

A question you want to know the answer to:

Why does it seem that in this day & age, people seem to be entitled to things instead of earning them? Just wondering.

Dear aspiring artists,

Do what you do as long as it’s fun. When it becomes a chore, then do something else. There are endless possibilities in life. Don’t just focus on one of them.

–Cheryl Mann

Photo Journal

Photo by Duston Todd Photography

Photo by Michael Slobodian

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Photo by Cheryl Mann

Photo by Cheryl Mann

Photo by Cheryl Mann

More info on Cheryl at cherylmannphoto.com. Have you seen Cheryl perform? Or have you worked with her?  Share your stories in the comments below! Show Cheryl some love!