Edna Radnik Madonia
Dancer, Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, Barre Instructor
What years did you work with The Dance COLEctive?
Founding Member from 1996 to 2003 (I think...)
Any favorite TDC Memories?
First Night in Springfield for the New Year. Was great to travel, perform and ring in the New Year with friends. Of course it was cold and snowy. I was driving an old Jeep Wrangler at that time and had heat blasting. It was still so cold that Ebony and I had to put blankets on the entire drive home.
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First Night Springfield with Laurel, Ebony, Margi, Lisa, Edna and Nancy
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On Stage or Site-Specific Performance?
Glessner House, outside on the grass! It was a beautiful night, string musicians and we closed the street off and danced on sod. The clean up was hilarious as we never realized how heavy sod was until we had to load it on a truck.
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Edna in the grass piece 9/9/99
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What are you doing now?
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| Edna! Looking Good! | |
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I am currently a fitness instructor and have been teaching for over 25 years! After leaving the Center for Community Arts Partnerships at Columbia College Chicago (CCAP-which Margi helped found in 1998) in 2013, I devoted my time to The Dailey Method (TDM) and became a master barre instructor before the studio closed. I was training clients and teaching group classes at a medically integrated facility before being recruited 8 years ago to Life Time Fitness in Burr Ridge.You can follow Edna on Instagram @fitedna
Do you use any Margi-ism’s?
We said rock star A LOT in the beginning days and even had stickers in the office that we shared at Columbia. Every time I see a snot guard on a salad bar I laugh out loud and think about attempting a back bend over it.
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Margi and Edna in 2018
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Memory from Margi
I met Edna in 1995 when I did a mentoring project in the summer at The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. She was short, like me and she was a brave and voracious mover! She had power and guts and I loved that about her. As I got to know her over many years she was a reliable friend and partner to me and the dancers. She was smart, with quick wit and a passion for teaching. She shared with us her love of animals, family and camping. Edna was always in a good mood and was armed with a gracious smile for everyone. I know those are all reasons why she currently has such an amazing following in the work that she does now. Her strength, beauty and energy really brought vibrancy to our creative process. I am proud that she is a founding member of the company and grateful for all her contributions and paving the way for many dancers who came after her!
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Photo by William Frederking
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