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Chiara Cook
Biography
Chiara’s maiden name is Ludemann and she was born in Triest, Italy, as the daughter of a German - Italian family of professional musicians.
From a very young age she trained in gymnastics for many years, this also included her early hours in a dance studio where she began to learn ballet.
As the creative roots within her family grew ever stronger, Chiara’s passion for dancing grew too. This passion brought her to the „Tanzhaus NRW“ and under the leadership of Sven Post she became a member of the youth club in the Child & Youth Theatre of the drama house in Düsseldorf.
She had her first experiences on stage at the „Neusser Musicalwochen“, the „KJT Düsseldorf“ and as a member of the „junges Tanzhaus“.
Finally she completed her Musical theatre studies at the „Fontys Hogescholen van de Kunsten“ dance academy in Tilburg, Netherlands.
In 2010 Chiara celebrated her long awaited wish for a professional onstage debut in the „Beatrix Theater“ Utrecht as an ensemble member in the Queen - Musical „We Will Rock You“. Directly after that, one of Chiara’s dreams came true. She received an offer to perform as a dancer cross swing in the award winning musical „Wicked“ in the „Circustheatre“ Scheveningen. She’ll never forget the first time she got to emerge into the Emerald City and will always feel extremely grateful to have gotten the chance to work with the Tony Award winning choreographer Wayne Cilento and multiple award winning composer Stephen Schwartz.
Even though Chiara’s time in Holland was enriching, she wanted to return to her home country, Germany, and was very happy to do so in 2013 when she premiered on a German stage for the first time. For two and a half years she was part of the ensemble in „Mamma Mia!“ as Swing and Cover Lisa in the „Stage Palladium Theater“ in Stuttgart, „Theater des Westens“ in Berlin, and as a Cover Ali in the „Stage Metronom Theater“ in Oberhausen.
Moving on from the ABBA musical experience she moved to the Hanseatic city of Hamburg, that she now calls home, but only after she enjoyed performing as a swing in her first summer production for the „Thunerseespiele“ Switzerland in the musical „Romeo & Julia“ on the spectacular stage on lake Thun.
In 2015 Chiara had the opportunity to work with Andrew Lloyd Webber and his creative team. Starting off as one of the ensemble showgirls in the internationally acclaimed production of "Love Never Dies - Phantom II“ and then later as a swing and Cover Fleck passionately performing night after night at the „Stage Operettenhaus“ Hamburg.
After that, her career brought her to Berlin and into the „Tipi am Kanzleramt“. A fascinating world full of soloists, cabaret artists, and various creative personalities. Her field of expertise expanded to become assistant choreographer where she got to work along side the German choreographer Christopher Tölle.
In addition to that Chiara was able to share the stage with famous artists from Berlin such as the Geschwister Pfister, Katharina Thalbach, Ades Zabel and many more as Dance Captain and swing in Bernd Mottl’s new production of the German operette „Frau Luna’". Due to the success of the production two revivals followed annually, in which Chiara was equally involved as assistant choreographer and swing.
In 2017, Chiara’s next long running production took her to Berlin with „Disneys Hunchback of Notre Dame“ it was here where she got to sing the beautiful songs composed and written by the highly acclaimed Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken as part of the ensemble in the touching new adaptation, directed by Stephen Schwartz’s son, Scott Schwartz. After a run of one year in Berlin’s „Theater des Westens“ and the „Deutsches Theater“ in Munich, Chiara moved to a swing position and also became Assistant Dance Captain for the year long run in Stuttgart’s „Stage Apollo Theater“. This production holds a special place in Chiara's heart to this day. It is also during this show when her name finally changed to Chiara Cook, after she married her husband James.
Only shortly after that Chiara spent a second summer performing on lake Thun. In the summer of 2019 she performed as cartoon versions of The Wasp, a cupcake, and a blonde bombshell in Udo Jürgens „feel good“ musical „Ich War Noch Niemals in New York“. This was the kick off to a year filled with Schlager music as it was followed by the „Saturday night show“ based on the Schlager stars from the 70’s Cindy & Bert, who up until this day are still in everyones memories, especially with their hit „Immer wieder sonntags“. In Ursli and Toni Pfisters evening „So als ob du schwebtest“ Chiara starred as Astrid, the oldest member of the Jo - Roloff Singers. As Dance Captain for the production she worked alongside choreographer Danny Costello.
„A love declaration to the worst times in the world of Schlager music“ commented the „Rbb“, one of the bigger newspapers in Berlin when reviewing the production that premiered in the „Tipi am Kanzleramt“ in Berlin.
Last but not least the Schlager series continued, when Chiara returned back to the Greek Island one more time as a swing to sing ABBA’s world hits in ‚Mamma Mia!‘ in Berlins „Theater des Westens“ during 2020.
Next to her career on stage, Chiara has a deep connection to her Pilates and Yoga practice. For her, these two forms of training are ideal next to her hectic profession as a performer. She incorporates them into her daily life and therefore also enjoys sharing her experience when teaching.
You can find more on her classes and educations !
