EDUCATION
M.F.A Experimental Choreography, University of California, Riverside, CA (2015)
B.F.A Dance, Performance/choreography track, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, (2008)
Course work included: Technique, Dance History, Dance Composition, Improvisation, Anatomy and Kinesiology, Laban Movement Analysis, Yoga, Alexander Technique, and experience in dance pedagogy.
School for International Training, Senegal, West Africa, (2006)
Semester academic training in French and Wolof, Senegalese history, and dance practice/research.
CONTINUED EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Yoga Teaching Certification, 200-hour (2010-2012)
Yoga Kula (Berkeley, CA) with Katchie Ananda
Yoga Tree (San Francisco, CA) with Sianna Sherman
American Dance Festival, Durham, NC (2006, 2008)
American College Dance Festival (Laramie, Wyoming, 2006; Wichita, Kansas, 2007; Irvine, California, 2008)
Impulstanz International Dance Festival, Vienna, Austria, (2007)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
INSTRUCTOR: Dance 005 INTRO TO DANCE, UC Riverside, Riverside CA (2013-2015)
Teacher in Residence with the Maui Dance Council, Maui, HI, (Spring 2012)
Team Lead, Swim and Gym Program, Berkeley, CA, (February 2010 – December 2012) Designed creative movement/social engagement curriculum for children with special needs age 2-12. Supervised five assistants.
Guest Artist/Teacher, Scripps College, CA, (October 2011, February 2012)
Guest Artist and Choreographer, Seabury Hall, Maui, HI (2009)
CURATION AND ADMINISTRATION
SALTA Dance Collective, Oakland, CA, (2011-)
Founding member of collective and associated performance series - Photos
(http://www.saltadance.info/) (https://povertyartsjournal.com/salta/)
WORDS AND DEEDS, Kunstoff Arts, San Francisco, CA, (2011)
Curation and promotion of the multi-artist led workshop in collaboration with Abby Crain and Margit Galanter's ArtWorkouts. Artists included David Buuck, Jessica Tully, Petra Kuppers, Neil Marcus, Sarah Shelton Mann, Edris Cooper-Anifowashe, Nita Little, Violet Juno.
Administrative Assistant, HOW TO TUNE A BANANA, Berkeley, CA, (2011)
Organization and promotion of a dance improvisation workshop with Karen Nelson.
CHOREOGRAPHY AND COLLABORATION HIGHLIGHTS
‘Dormant Orchid’
Ongoing solo work
Private and one-on-one performances, via zoom and in person, 2022-2025
‘The Garden of Music and Dance’
A collaboration of The Musical Tracing Ensemble, jmy james and Dance Pack Ojai, and Megan Whitmarsh
Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles, CA (March 8, 2024)
‘Prima Materia’
Vera Marie Rodriguez (in Collaboration with Bri Skellie and jmy james)
Ojai Institute, Ojai, CA (December 3, 2024)
‘Erotic Mary Oliver’
in Collaboration with l8 bloomer/hot mess (Bri Skellie and Mara Poliak)
-Queer Burlesque, Oakland CA (December 2, 2017)
‘Container’
-UC Riverside, Riverside, CA (May, 2015)
‘A.D.A.B-All Dads Are Bastards-Witch Dance’
in collaboration with Olive Blackburn and Elizabeth McSurdy
-Pieter PASD, Los Angeles, CA, (October 7th, 2013)
‘Formal Rigor Dance’
in collaboration with Big Fat Circle (Mara Poliak and Ethan Cowan)
-The Garage, San Francisco, CA, (September 19th and 20th, 2012)
-PPP October, Oakland, CA, (October 22nd, 2012)
‘Tidal Empire’
in collaboration with poet Jess Heaney
-Mills College, Oakland, CA (May 1st, 2012)
-Small Press Traffic, San Francisco, CA, (June 5th, 2012)
-Houston Space, Oakland, CA, (June 18th, 2012)
‘Here, Now’
-Miles Playhouse, Santa Monica, CA, (January 28th, 2012)
‘Now’ performed in the Non-Major Show, curated by Abby Crain
-Subterranean Art house, Berkeley, CA (November 3rd, 2011)
‘The Party Feeling Comes and Goes’
in collaboration with Big Fat Circle (Mara Poliak and Ethan Cowan)
-Subterranean Art house, Berkeley, CA, (June 6th, 7th, 8th, 2011)
-Pieter PASD, Los Angeles, CA, (April 16th and 17th, 2011)
‘Full of It’
-Lobot Gallery, Oakland CA, (October 30th, 2010)
‘Freedom of Information 2008’
As the Hawaii representative of Miguel Gutierrez’s 24-hour dance event
-Maui, HI, (December 31st, 2008)
Containers: An Exploration Into Speaking With and Through Dance
-Scripps College, 2008
PERFORMANCE AS A DANCER
‘MASS (at home)’ - Milka Djordjevich
-HomeLA, Los Angeles, CA (March 9th, 2024)
‘The Mouse Auditions Performance’ - Conceived by Melinda Ring
-The Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA, (November 4th, 2012)
'Breaking and Entering' - Olive McKeon
-Pieter Performance Art Space Dance, Los Angeles, (October 1, 2011)
‘Some Zany Dance in the American College Dance Festival, UC Irvine” and ‘Some Zany Dance in the 2008 National College Dance Festival’ - Conceived by Mikey Szanyi in Collaboration with Bri Skellie and Tom Tsai
Selection for the Gala concert at the American College Dance Festival at UC Irvine, and then for the National College Dance Festival at Barnard College
-National College Dance Festival in New York City, June 2-4, 2008
Selected by audition to perform in pieces by artists and/or faculty members:
David Dorfman, (2008)
Hassan Christopher, (2007)
Joel Smith (2006, 2007, 2008)
Stephanie Gilliland (2006)
Sharon Price (2006)
Suchi Branfman (2005)
AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND RESIDENCIES
Dos Rios, Salta Residency, Mendocino, CA (2018, 2019)
Gluck Fellow (2013-2014)
University of California, Riverside, Deans Distinguished Fellowship (2013-2014)
Residency- Subterranean Art house, Berkeley, CA, (January-June 2011)
Residency- Pieter PASD, Los Angeles, CA, (April 2011)
Graduated Cum Laude, Scripps College, (2008)
Lucile Morrison Dance Scholarship (2006 and 2007)
Esterly Award (2007)
Scholarship recipient, American College Dance Festival (2006 and 2008)
