Artistic Statement
My goal as a choreographer is to make work that empowers participants and engages audiences, providing an opportunity for both groups to see themselves, their communities, and the world in a new and more thoughtful, positive way. My work focuses on abstract story-telling, using movement, words, and design as the tools to convey a message. My approach to choreography is collaborative, and I value the dancers’ creative contributions to each project. When creating dances for students, I actively involve them in the creative process, teaching them about dance making as we choreograph together. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege and joy of working with many musicians, actors, writers, and other creative people. I am committed to making accessible, engaging work for a variety of audiences, most especially those who would not normally seek out concert dance.
With 15 years of experience choreographing concert dance and musical theatre, I am at home working with with student dancers, actors, adult beginners, and professional performers. My choreography has been presented at Dance Place and The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia FringeArts Festival, Baltimore Theatre Project and The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in Maryland, and The Phoenix Art Museum, DanceWest Festival, Tucson Museum of Art, and Tempe Center for the Arts in Arizona. I was the founder and co-director of New Street Dance Group, a collaborative modern dance company in Philadelphia, and went on to co-found erNACHMO/D.C., a hub of the National Choreography Month initiative, with Glade Dance Collective. In 2021, I choreographed my first full-length musical, West SIde Story, for Arts Express Theatre Company in Tucson, which played to sold-out crowds and rave reviews. In 2022, I am looking forward to serving as choreographer for Oliver! and Titanic, both for Arts Express.