Stephanie Paul

Co-Founder, Artistic Director

Stephanie Paul, a native New Yorker, has proudly called Chicago her home since 2002. While working towards a B.S. in Communication Studies at Northwestern University, she discovered her passion for rhythm as a member of Boomshaka, NU’s dance/drum ensemble and as a student of Billy Siegenfeld, Jump Rhythm Jazz Project’s Artistic Director. After co-directing Boomshaka for two years, Stephanie graduated from Northwestern in 2006 with an undeniable need to continue creating, performing and educating. Be the Groove is the realization of that desire. When not performing with Be the Groove, Stephanie teaches a unique combination of hip hop dance and body percussion at Dance Center Evanston and Lake Forest Dance Academy, where she also is the Artistic Director of LFDA’s Hip Hop Evolution performance companies.  Stephanie is also a proud Urban Gateways teaching artist and an Artist in Residence with Albany Park Theater Project. She will be teaching for the Chicago National Association of DanceMasters in the summer of 2010. Stephanie’s approach to dance instruction is founded in the usage of rhythm as a means of motivating development of ensemble and individual self-confidence.  She loves rhythm and hopes that you do too.