|
The Artists
Karen Getz Guest Choreographer
Recent choreography and acting credits includes: Full Figured/Loves To Dance (Theater Exile, World Premiere),
Hair, (Prince Music Theater, Barrymore Award, Best Choreography) and Baby at Villanova Theatre. Upcoming work
includes: Suburban Love Songs, Karen's comic-actors' ballet, with 1812 productions at Plays and Players,
Hedwig and the Angry Inch with Azuka Theater Collective and the premiere of Disco Descending, her spandex clad,
Orpheus-inspired, sequel to Suburban Love Songs, at this years Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. Other work with
1812 productions includes: Double Down, Always a Lady, Bat Boy, Box Office of the Damned (Barrymore Nomination,
Best Choreography) and the upcoming Cherry Bomb. Karen has also received Barrymore nominations for her work on
Romeo and Juliet at The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival and The Big Bang with Act II Playhouse. She is a
proud member of the thriving Philadelphia Improv scene and works with, Comedysportz (14 years), Lunchlady Doris
(11 years), Choosical (the all-improvised musical) and the two-person, improvised shows; Killer Pussy and
Cecily and Gwendolyns' Fantastical Balloon Ride. She teaches improv, dance and acting around town and sometimes
directs the insanely funny men of Bad Hair. You can catch her voice on itunes as Dottie and Yetta on the
underground radio hit, The Many Men of Martha Manning Radio. You can also check on Karens' various endeavors
(and lend support to her new work), at Karengetz.com.
|
Sarah Cooper Ballet Mistress
Sarah Cooper began her training in Philadelphia with Marion Tonner and Philip Carmen. She has also trained
with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She is a graduate of the State University of New York and has
completed Master level course work in the departments of dance at Temple University and American University.
Before relocating back to Philadelphia, Sarah performed, taught and worked in Dance Administration in the
Washington D.C area. Sarah is the founder of Philadelphia Dance Access. She is a faculty member of the Rock
School for Dance Education and manages its RockReach Program. She is also the Ballet Coordinator of Dance
Arts Collaborative.
|
Maggie Anderson
Maggie received her MFA (Musical Theatre) from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music,
her BFA from Elon University (Musical Theatre Major, Dance Minor), and high school diploma from
the North Carolina School of the Arts. Teachers and Master Classes include Dianne Markham,
Richard Gaines, Chet Walker, Nicole Fosse, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Liz Lerman Dance
Exchange, and Bill T. Jones. Maggie is a proud Actor's Equity member and has performed in NYC
and regional theatres across the country, as well as television and film. Favorites include:
Walnut Street Theatre (PA), Fulton Opera House (PA), Galveston Grand Opera (TX), North Shore
Music Theatre (MA), Trump Plaza Atlantic City (NJ), Gateway Playhouse (NY), The North Carolina
Theatre (NC), and The Blue Heron Theatre (NYC). Television: As the World Turns, Soapnet, Film:
In Retrospect. She has taught for schools and companies across the country. She was artistic
director of the Broadway Dance Studio in Queens, NY and also on staff teaching for the
professional program at Manhattan Motion in NYC, where she participated in the emerging
choreographer's workshops as well. She currently resides in New Hope, PA, performing regularly
with her wonderful husband, guitarist/singer/songwriter Gregg Cagno. Special thanks to Reina
for helping me take flight in so many gracious and inspired ways.
|
Andrea Davis
Andrea Lynn Davis started dancing at the age of three under the direction of Susan Spadero
and Fern Helfond with Le Ecole de la Dance, and has since trained under Susan Jaffe with
Princeton Dance and Theatre and Heather Bach with Bach Ballet. She has also been an
instructor herself for the past six years, currently reaching students in the Bucks County
area. Some of her past performance credits include The Nutcracker with the Donetske
Ballet Company, Twelve Dancing Princesses with Bach Ballet Company, and she has
graced the stage in Regional Musical Theatre productions throughout the New Jersey and
Greater Philadelphia areas, including A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar,
Footloose, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Spectacular, Sugar
Babies, Fiddler on the Roof, It's a Wonderful Life, and The Rocky
Horror Show. Her creative efforts include choreography, having worked on shows such as
Smokey Joe's Café, Little Shop of Horrors, Nunsense ...
Amen!, 101 Dalmatians, Alice in Wonderland, and Cinderella. Andrea
thanks Reina for this incredible opportunity, her fabulous family, and Bryan for believing
in her.
|
Molly Farrell
Molly Farrell began her dance training with Repertory Dance Theater under the direction of the late
Dolly Haltzman. With RDT, she performed many works, such as Balanchine's Stars and
Stripes at Regional Dance America Festivals. After graduating from RDT, Molly received her
Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, where she had the
honor of dancing the principal role in the romantic ballet Giselle during her senior year. Post
graduation, she went on to dance for the Dayton Ballet, Kentucky Ballet Theater, and Ballet
Theatre of Maryland. Currently, Molly is back performing with Repertory Dance Theater, and is
teaching at the adjacent school, Dolly Haltzman Dance Academy. Molly would like to
thank Reina for this wonderful opportunity, and her mom for all of her love and support.
|
Aaron Greenawalt
Aaron Greenawalt started his dance training in 1997 with RDT's Talent Identification Program, under the watchful eye of
the late Dolly Halzman. Since then he has danced many principal roles with RDT, including the Nutcracker Prince, the
Mouse King, and many others. In addition he has danced for Berks Ballet of Reading, Pennsylvania as The Steadfast
Tin Soldier. Aaron has been accepted to many summer intensive dance programs including The Joffery Ballet of San
Antonio and the North Carolina Dance Company located in Chautauqua, New York. Aaron is currently pursuing his BFA in
dance as well as returning this season to dance with RDT. He would like to thank his many mentors, including Reina,
for this wonderful opportunity.
|
Alicia Sehn
Alicia Sehn began dancing at the age of three in her home town of Rochester, New York. In 2004,
Alicia graduated from Muhlenberg College, where she earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Dance
and Psychology. During her years at Muhlenberg, Alicia had the opportunities to study with noted
dancers and choreographers such as Charles Anderson, Garth Fagan and Jacques d'Amboise as well as
perform and participate in the American College Dance Festival. Her regional performance credits
include productions of A Chorus Line and Annie Get Your Gun. In addition to Artists
in Rhythm, Alicia has also performed in the INFLUX Concert Series and the Philadelphia Fringe
Festival. In 2007, she was the director of dance for the Arts After Hours program, a state-funded
grant designed to bring theatre arts to underprivileged children and communities. Alicia is
currently the choreographer for Central Bucks East High School's annual spring musical productions,
staging The Music Man in 2007, 42nd Street in 2008 and Footloose in 2009. She
is also on staff and the Babylon School of Dance in Chalfont and Center Stage Dance Academy in
Hatboro, which allows her to enjoy her true passion, teaching the art of dance. Alicia would like
to thank Reina for this wonderful opportunity and her husband, Dan, for his unconditional love
and support.
|
Ryan Stauffer
Began his classical training at age seventeen at his mother's dance studio. After high school, she encouraged him to
continue his training as a ballet major at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. His first "gig" was
in 2006 as a backup dancer with child star Raven Simone. Ryan is signed with the Bloc Agency in NYC. Last August he
was cast as a dancer in the upcoming feature "Bolden." Ryan is inspired by his mother. His passion to
perform, and his drive to inspire others.
|
Theresa Strayer
A native of Lancaster, PA, Theresa Strayer studied with Lisa Kalinowski and Carolyn
Trythall (ballet). She furthered her training at Towson University in Maryland, where
she studied with Stephanie Powell (modern), Dennis Price (ballet) and Lester Holmes
(jazz). Ms. Strayer had the wonderful experience of performing with the Stephanie Powell
Danse Ensemble on a season opening weekend. She received her B.A. in Dance from DeSales
University, under the instruction of Vincent Brosseau (modern) and Trinette Singleton
(ballet). Ms. Strayer most recently choreographed for "The Outlet," a showcase
for emerging female choreographers from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, and also
for Pennsylvania Youth Theatre's Senior Cabaret showcase and Dance Concert.
Theresa danced with PYT in their holiday productions of Snow Over Bethlehem (2005)
and Babes in Toyland (2006), where she danced the Butterfly Ballet,
choreographed by Reina Faith. She is thrilled to be working with Reina again!
|
Ryan Tuerk
Started dancing at age seventeen. Originally a gymnast, Ryan discovered his love of dance by searching new ways to move
and express himself. In 2005 Ryan graduated from the University of the Arts in Philidalephia with a BFA in jazz dance.
While in college he had the pleasure of working with such companies as Koresh, Philanco and Pennsylvania Ballet. Ryan
was a soloist in the 2005 Philadelphia "Live Arts" Fringe Festival dancing in a piece titled, "Patio
Plastico" directed by Brian Sanders (of Momix). He has also perfromed with Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise
Lines. While living in Florida, he co-founded (with hip-hop mogul Pablo Malco) a pre-professional hip- hop company
called "Imputz". Currently Ryan dances as a principal dancer for "Spiritoso Ballet". Teaching and
choreography are his passion; his free time is spent coming up with new and innovative movement combining fundamentals
of jazz with the "Vagonava" Ballet Syllabus, and exploring texture, rhythm, and multi-directional flow of energy.
|
Kathryn Washer
Kathryn Washer, BS Physics, started her ballet training at the age of 4 at the Joffrey Ballet School, NYC. She has
since studied at Bravo! Dance in Wilkes-Barre and Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT) in Emmaus. Katie studied jazz with
Lynne Mariani (former Fosse dancer) and ballet/pointe with Trinette Singleton (former Joffrey ballerina and her own
mother). In addition to intensive summer studies, she has taken numerous master classes from former Joffrey Ballet,
American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet and Fosse dancers. Katie's credits include Gerald Arpino's Viva
Vivaldi, Bob Fosse's Sing Sing Sing, Arabian Coffee, Snow demi-soloist, and Flowers demi-soloist in RDT's
production of The Nutcracker, the Lilac Fairy and Temperament Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and a
variety of repertory shows. Through her college years, Katie was President of the Moravian College Dancers where she
worked under Mary Anne Hoffman, Reina Faith, and Patti Bostick. By day, Katie is a physics teacher at Emmaus High
School where she also coaches their dance team. She is so excited to be working with Reina again!
|
Mike Weems
Mike Weems, born in Washington, D.C., began his dance training at the age of fourteen at Suitland High School's Visual
and Performing Arts Program. There, under the direction of Barbara Marks and Linda Hallman Darr, he studied four years
of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Ethnic, and Choreography. While at Suitland he had the opportunity to study abroad with the
Dance Theartre of Harlem in residency at the Kennedy Center and with DC's Showbiz Kidz hip hop company. He has had the
pleasure of working with Kim Bears-Bailey and Kevin Malone of Philadanco, Fabian Barnes and Dean Anderson of the Dance
Institute of Washington, Faye Snow, Brian Sanders, Christopher Huggins, Debbie Allen, Roni Koresh, Rennie Harris and
many more. Mike was also a member of Philadelphia based modern company Eleone Dance Theatre and recieved his Bachelors
Degree in Jazz Dance Perforance from the University of the Arts in 2007 .He would like to thank God, his family, and
friends for their love and support.
|
Diana Young
Diana Young began her dance training under Marilyn Budzynski with the Dance Theater of Pennslyvania in Doylestown.
She rose to principal before she moved to New York to study at STEPS, and then Seiskaya Ballet Academy on Long
Island, New York. After studying with New York City Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet, Diana was awarded a full
scholarship to the University of Utah Dance program in Salt Lake City, where she attended until being hired by
Nashville Ballet. Although ballet is Diana's primary love, she has also studied tap, belly dancing, latin, hip
hop and most recently (thanks to Reina Faith) contemporary dance. Diana also deeply loves to care for others and
has spent the last 12 years of her life pursuing/recieving a degree in social work and leading the life of a
counselor/educator of a domestic violence agency. She is excited to be back dancing, where she's meant to be,
and hopes dance will always be a part of her life.
|
|
|