F.A.M.E.'s 2015 Celebrity Judges
Homer Hans Bryant is a former principal dancer with the renowned Dance Theatre of Harlem
where he also served as Director of the Workshop Ensemble. His professional performing credits
include Timbuktu with Eartha Kitt and The Wiz with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. He has been a
guest teacher and trainer for United States ice dance medalists and Olympic contenders Melissa
Gregory and Denis Petukhov, Canada’s mesmerizing Cirque Du Soleil, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Mr. Bryant, recipient of the Chicago Cultural Alliance’s 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, has also shared his teaching gift in the role of ballet master for the Joel Hall Dancers. He is the founder and artistic director of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center. Known as a strict disciplinarian, his slogan "The Fun is in the Discipline, The Discipline is in the Fun" has established Mr. Bryant as one of
the most respected teachers in the country.
where he also served as Director of the Workshop Ensemble. His professional performing credits
include Timbuktu with Eartha Kitt and The Wiz with Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. He has been a
guest teacher and trainer for United States ice dance medalists and Olympic contenders Melissa
Gregory and Denis Petukhov, Canada’s mesmerizing Cirque Du Soleil, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Mr. Bryant, recipient of the Chicago Cultural Alliance’s 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, has also shared his teaching gift in the role of ballet master for the Joel Hall Dancers. He is the founder and artistic director of the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center. Known as a strict disciplinarian, his slogan "The Fun is in the Discipline, The Discipline is in the Fun" has established Mr. Bryant as one of
the most respected teachers in the country.
Gorman Cook Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at William Blair & Company, LLC. He is also President of the Board of the internationally renowned dance company Giordano Dance Chicago and he was the 2007 winner of Dancing with the Giordano Stars.
Gorman is also President of the Board of the Kendall College Trust which provides needed scholarships to culinary and hospitality students at Kendall College.
Gorman is an accomplished photographer, home chef and race car driver.
Gorman is also President of the Board of the Kendall College Trust which provides needed scholarships to culinary and hospitality students at Kendall College.
Gorman is an accomplished photographer, home chef and race car driver.
Nick Cosgrove recently ended his nearly three year run of playing Frankie Valli on Broadway and in the 1st and 2nd National Tours of the hit-musical Jersey Boys. Off-Broadway: Encores! Where¹s Charley? (dir. John Doyle). Regional: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), The Sound of Music (Rolf), Snapshots (Danny) at the Northlight Theatre in Skokie, IL, and numerous credits from four summer seasons spent at The Muny in St. Louis, MO, such as Titanic (Fleet), Les Miserables (Joly), and Fiddler on the Roof (Chaim). NY Readings / Workshops: A Bronx Tale (Calogero), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Neil Sedaka), Scandalous (Charlie Chaplin), It¹s a Wonderful Life (Harry Bailey), Wanda¹s World (Ty Belvedere), The Extraordinary Ordinary (Joey) and Tuck Everlasting (dir. Casey Nicholaw). BFA in Acting / Music Theatre from Carnegie Mellon University. Nick is originally from Park Ridge, IL, and is elated to be back in Chicago!
Whitney Kraus Jones is a graduate of both the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and Ball State University. Whitney has always pursued varied artistic endeavors an it shows in her resume. When she's not working as artistic director of Stone Soup Theatre Project, she's working on stage and film across the midwest. After spending two years with the cast of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET in Chicago, Whitney started pursuing more independent film roles working opposite actors like Michael Eklund (GOTHAM, ALMOST HUMAN) and Lew Temple (THE WALKING DEAD). Most recently, Whitney had her network TV debut with IN AN INSTANT episode 2 on ABC.
Valerie Robin, an internationally recognized dancer, has performed leading roles in works by Arpino, Joffrey, Balanchine, Ashton, and Kylian as well as a majority of the Classics including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Grand Pas Classique. Ms. Robin won a bronze medal in the 1990 New York International Ballet Competition, and at the 1992 Varna International Ballet Competition, she became one of the first Americans to reach the finals in ten years. She danced in Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, Leiziger Ballets, Kieler Ballets and Ballet Wisconsin before joining the Joffrey Ballet in 2000. She was a cast member in the film The Company directed by Robert Altman and played the leading role in Rebecca Aleman’s short film Basta!. Ms. Robin has taught all levels of ballet from creative movement to professional company classes with Leipziger Ballets, Ballet Wisconsin, Kieler Ballets and Joffrey Ballet. She has a great passion for the arts in all forms and is excited to be a part of F.A.M.E.!
