:: CHICAGO DANCE ::


THE OWNERS

Chicago Dance is proud to be the home of US and World Champions Tommye Giacchino and Gregory Day.



		Tommye Giacchino Tommye began her career raised in her mother's Chicago dance studio. Taking class in the studio every day was just a way of life. Whether it was Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modeling, Gymnastics or Baton Twirling (at which she really excelled), it was just what the family did every day.Baton Twirling and modeling were Tommye's passion in her younger years, becoming a National Twirling Champion at 12, then coaching 2 teams and 1 individual to State Championships by the age of 15. Being featured in over 100 television and radio commercials, national print and media work, performing in professional theatre and winning numerous beauty pageant titles has also given her unique experiences.Tommye's Ballroom career began after studying ballet and other forms of dance for over 26 years.
Seeing a ballroom dance competition live was the hook. Competing Amateur Standard was the start, then many Rising Star successes in American Smooth after turning professional. When a partnership with Gregory Day started in 1996, winning was immediate. In just three short years together the two became U.S. Rising Star champions, U.S. Open Cabaret Champions and the most prestigious title, winners of the British Open Invitational Exhibition Championship. Gregory and Tommye have since traveled the world to perform and coach. Their travels have taken them through Asia, Europe and almost every state in the USA. They have performed extensively with major symphonies, world renowned jazz and ballet companies, as well as being featured artists on television around the world.High popularity and visibility has led them to their most successful business adventures of making ballroom and Latin dance accessible to the many people in Chicago. Together they are proud to own Chicago's most popular Latin and Ballroom school, Chicago Dance, as well as founding the National Dancesport competition: Chicago's Crystal Ball.



		Gregory Day Born in Oakland, California, Gregory grew up swimming and playing soccer and volleyball. He also learned to figure skate with his father and grandfather. Originally trained in ballet and many forms of modern dance, particularly Graham and Cunningham, he danced with the San Francisco Ballet, the Milwaukee Ballet the American Folk Ballet, and many other smaller ballet and modern dance companies. Being also a French and British citizen, he had the opportunity to live and dance in Paris and in Lyon. While living in the San Francisco Bay Area he also studied Flamenco and African Dance. In ballet he was trained in both the Ceccheti style and the Vaganova style.Gregory is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, which he attended on scholarship. In college he also studied acting and singing in addition to dance and technical stage craft.Gregory Day and Tommye Giacchino started their partnership in 1996 and were almost immediately succesful as two time United States Champions (defeating the then US & World Champions) and capturing the 'World Invitational Exhibition title at the British Open (Blackpool).
Tommye and Gregory have been featured on PBS' "Champinship Ballroom Dancing" for several years as well as being part of shows for major networks in the US and abroad, including BBC, ESPN and Eurosport, and are featured in a popular children's video. They are proud to own Chicago's most popular latin and ballroom school, Chicago Dance and to have founded the national Dancesport competition: Chicago's Crystal Ball. They are currently on the staff at the schools of Gus Giordano and of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, as well as having been part of the Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program.