Rena Butler, a Chicago native, trained at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, Taipei National University of the Arts, and earned her BFA from SUNY Purchase. She has performed with acclaimed companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, AIM by Kyle Abraham, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, and Gibney Company. A 2019 Princess Grace Award winner, recipient of the 2024 Isadora Duncan Dance Award and the 2025 Ferradini Grander Award in Italy, Butler has created works for Het Nationale Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, San Francisco Opera, Hubbard Street, Cincinnati Ballet, and more. Her choreography spans opera, ballet, film, and museums across the U.S. and Europe. A passionate educator and mentor, she has taught at Juilliard, Jacob’s Pillow, and SUNY Purchase, and co-founded DanceLab, a free program for Chicago youth. Featured in Dance Magazine, Butler continues to lead in contemporary dance through her creations and commissions. For more, visit renabutler.com.