Based in the Washington, DC metro area, UpRooted Dance creates intersections between dance and other art forms. Artistic Director Keira Hart-Mendoza collaborates with dancers, visual artists, musicians, technology, theater, and design. UpRooted’s colorful fantasy world creates expressive visually striking work. Movement, images, sounds, and words allow UpRooted Dance to connect to audiences through storytelling and immerse audiences deeper into the work.
Current Cast of Circling the Line
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AMANDA BLYTHE (2013 - present)
Amanda Blythe serves the Washington, DC dance community as a dance artist, choreographer and administrator. Classically trained in ballet, she first experienced modern dance and contact improvisation in college where she studied under Chris Aiken, Peter DiMuro, Colleen Thomas, Ishmael Houston-Jones, Tania Isaacs and many others. She currently dances with Erica Rebollar/Rebollar Dance and UpRooted Dance as a company member, as well as collaborating on independent projects. Prior credits include Nancy Havlik’s Dance Performance Group, ClancyWorks Dance Company and Kitchen Sink Fest. She has performed at Atlas Performing Arts Center, Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival, Baltimore Theatre Project, Black Rock Center for the Arts, Cultural Arts Center at Montgomery College, Dance Exchange, Dance Loft on 14, Dance Place, Green Space (NYC), Harman Center for the Arts, Jack Guidone Theater, Joe’s Movement Emporium, Josephine Butler Parks Center, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Reston CenterStage and Takoma Park Community Center. Amanda also has experience as a freelance marketer, social media manager, digital media specialist, theatrical costume designer, photographer, videographer, Q&A facilitator, talkback moderator, stage manager, sound technician, flash mob coordinator and is willing to try anything once. |
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LILIA BROWING COHEN (2017-present)
Lilia Browning Cohen is a native Washingtonian, who spent her childhood dancing with the Maryland Youth Ballet under the direction of Tensia Fonseca and Michelle Lees. Lilia went on to earn her BFA in modern dance from Marymount Manhattan College and was the recipient of a scholarship with the Martha Graham Professional Trainee Program before dancing professionally. For fifteen years, Lilia has owned and directed Lilia’s Pilates Studio after certifying with Romana Kryzanowska and Power Pilates. Most recently, Lilia has danced classical and contemporary ballet with The Classical Repertoire Dance Ensemble while under the direction of Mia Hisaka. Now, Lilia spends most of her free time being a mother to three crazy little individuals and a wife to her best friend. |
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KATHRYN HARRIS BANKS (2015 - present)
Kathryn Harris Banks is a professional dance artist based in Washington, DC. Originally a bunhead, Katie fell in love with modern while studying at the Governor's School for the Arts during high school. She then received a B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University (magna cum laude) in Richmond, VA. Since then, Katie has had the pleasure of dancing with Starr Foster Dance Project (Richmond, VA), Laura Peterson Choreography (NYC), Kate Weare Company (NYC), Christopher Hutchings (NYC), Daniel Burkholder/The Playground (DC), Sharon Mansur/mansurdance (DC), Christine Stone Martin (DC), Katie Sopoci Drake (DC), as well as many other collaborations. After years of friendship and sharing the stage with the multi-talented Keira Hart-Mendoza, Katie is excited to be making her UpRooted Dance debut this season. Katie has taught dance at James Madison University, Rowan University, Virginia Commonwealth University, The Governor's School for the Arts, The Steward School, Saint Catherine's School, Saint Christopher's School, Collegiate School, Washington Area Independent Schools Dance Education Association, Joy of Motion Dance Center, and others. She is currently on faculty at the National Cathedral School, and Children's House Montessori. In addition to dance, Katie is an Experienced Registered Yoga teacher (E-RYT 200) in the YogaWorks method, and teaches group classes and private instruction daily throughout DC. Katie enjoys all the "random gigs" a life in dance has presented to her - from teaching yoga in a hallway at Georgetown University Hospital, to interacting with unsuspecting guests through dance at a fancy-schmancy fundraising gala, to getting talked into completing a Zumba certification. When she's not dancing, you can find Katie tricking her 3 year old daughter into eating vegetables, making endless to-do lists that she'll never complete, and laughing/crying at how insane life is. |
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SARA HERRERA (2017-present)
Sara Herrera hails from Fort Worth, Texas, where she received extensive dance training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. Sara received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA., where she had the privilege to work with established choreographers such as Gabriel Mason, Donald Lunsford, Molly Misgalla, Wayne St. David, Brian Sanders and Ronen Koresh. After completing her degree, Sara moved to New York City where she taught and performed with the Kennedy Dancers and Peyari Dance Project. Along with other Peyari emerging choreographers, Sara choreographed and performed her own work and was awarded Best Choreography from the Spotlight On Awards in 2002. Sara has been teaching dance since 2001, in styles of jazz, modern, musical theatre, hip-hop, and contemporary dance, working with more than a handful of studios in the DC metro area and beyond. She has choreographed musicals for summer performing art camps at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD, and Acting Manitou in Oakland, ME. Sara has performed professionally in the DC metro area with Dimensions of Funk and Groove Elements under the direction of Esperonto Bean, with performances at Dance Place, Mason-Rhynes Hip-Hop Festival, Earth Day at the National Mall and the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, to name a few; Rasa Arts Collective in Love Times Seven a Bollywood Musical; as a flamenco dancer in the Spanish operas, La Vida Breve, Goyesca’s y Goyesquitas at the Gala Hispanic Theater with the In Series, and also had the honor of performing with the In Series at the Embassies of Indonesia, Austria and Hungary. She recently performed in Imagination Stage's new early childhood dance theatre show, Paper Dreams, in collaboration with Mons Dansa, a dance theatre company based in Barcelona, Spain and looks forward to reprising this role in the summer of 2018. Sara was one of 5 DC local dance artists who worked with Minneapolis based dance company, BodyCartography, for their show at Dance Place and is currently a cast member of Dance Place’s production, What's Going On: The Marvin Gaye Project. Sara currently teaches youth classes at Joy of Motion and the Dance Theatre Ensemble at Imagination Stage and excitedly preparing for their trip to the Delhi International Children's Festival in December 2017. Sara is the artistic director of ArasDance, a project based dance company, Petworth Dance, a free outdoor dance series in NW DC, and the Petworth Arts Collaborative, an umbrella organization focused on community engagement through the arts. She is also a mom and wife to her beautiful little family and a proud triathlete who has completed six triathlons including an Ironman. This is Sara’s first season with Uprooted Dance and she could not be more excited to be working alongside some of DC’s finest women dance artists and creators. |
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KATIE SOPOCI DRAKE (2015 - present)
Katie Sopoci Drake is a Washington D.C. based professional dancer, choreographer and teacher specializing in Laban-based contemporary dance. As a teacher versed in somatic-based technique and theory, Katie has held positions at the University of Maryland, College Park, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Nova Southeastern University, Miami Dade College-Wolfson, Miami Dade College-Kendall, Carthage College, and Lawrence University. As a performer, Sopoci Drake is described as a "sinuous, animal presence of great power; watching her dance is a visceral experience." (Third Coast Digest, 6/12). Company credits include Mountain Empire Performance Collective (since 2013), Rebollar Dance (since 2014), Mordine and Company Dance Theater of Chicago (2012-2013), Momentum Dance Company of Miami (2009-2012), Wild Space Dance Company of Milwaukee (2005-2009), and Rosy Simas Danse of Minneapolis (2001-2005). Katie has also made appearances as an independent artist with many companies including Brazz Dance, Your Mother Dances, The Florentine Opera, and The Minnesota Opera. Katie's choreography, described as "a beautiful marriage between choreography, music and poetry" (On Milwaukee, 12/06) and "sinuous, sensual beauty" (Journal Sentinel, 11/07) arises from her explorations in Laban Movement Analysis, her fascination with the idiosyncrasies of daily life, and the flights of fancy that arise from ordinary inspirations. Her work has been performed by Momentum Dance Company, Wild Space Dance Company, The Florentine Opera, Lawrence University Opera, Miami Dade College and many more companies and schools. Independent productions have been presented at the National Portrait Gallery, The Southern Theater, Patrick’s Cabaret, Danceworks Performance Studio and The Milwaukee Art Museum. Holding an MFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Graduate Laban Certification in Movement Analysis from Columbia College - Chicago, and a BA in Theater/Dance with a minor in Vocal Performance from Luther College, Sopoci Drake continues to take classes and various somatic practices to inform her work and life as a curious mover. Katie spends her free time exploring the local flora and fauna with her husband. They both adore bird-watching and are aspiring naturalists. Nothing in life is so simple that it cannot invoke myriad dreams. |
Current Cast of The Legacy Project
RACHAEL APPOLD (2017 - present)
Rachael is trained in multiple genres of dance and has been performing professionally since she graduated from James Madison University in 2016. She has a B.A. in dance and has performed with Light Switch Dance Theatre and Erica Rebollar. Rachael teaches at a preschool and likes to sneak in dance lessons for her students whenever she can. She also enjoys astrology and guessing people's zodiac signs.
Rachael is trained in multiple genres of dance and has been performing professionally since she graduated from James Madison University in 2016. She has a B.A. in dance and has performed with Light Switch Dance Theatre and Erica Rebollar. Rachael teaches at a preschool and likes to sneak in dance lessons for her students whenever she can. She also enjoys astrology and guessing people's zodiac signs.
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LILIA BROWING COHEN (2017 - present)
Lilia Browning Cohen is a native Washingtonian, who spent her childhood dancing with the Maryland Youth Ballet under the direction of Tensia Fonseca and Michelle Lees. Lilia went on to earn her BFA in modern dance from Marymount Manhattan College and was the recipient of a scholarship with the Martha Graham Professional Trainee Program before dancing professionally. For fifteen years, Lilia has owned and directed Lilia’s Pilates Studio after certifying with Romana Kryzanowska and Power Pilates. Most recently, Lilia has danced classical and contemporary ballet with The Classical Repertoire Dance Ensemble while under the direction of Mia Hisaka. Now, Lilia spends most of her free time being a mother to three crazy little individuals and a wife to her best friend. |
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JAMIE DOUGHTY (2012 - 2015, 2017 - present)
Originally from Frederick, MD, Jamie graduated magna cum laude from James Madison University with a B.A. in Dance and Communication Studies. At JMU, she was a part of the pre-professional Virginia Repertory Dance Company and the Contemporary Dance Ensemble, as well as the Student Co-Director of JMU’s Associate Dance Ensemble. There she performed works by students, faculty, and guest artists such as Kelly Bartnik, Sonia Rafferty, Ric Rose, and Vincent Thomas. Currently, Jamie works as a dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator in the Washington, DC area. She has had the privilege of performing with companies such as UpRooted Dance and MoCo Dance Alliance and has performed throughout the DC area at venues such Atlas Performing Arts Center, Dance Place, Dance Exchange, Joe’s Movement Emporium, Dance Loft, the Cultural Arts Center at Montgomery College, the Jack Guidone Theater, and the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Along with performing and choreographing, Jamie has also interned with arts organizations such as the American Dance Festival and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Currently, she is working as the Assistant Manager of Membership in the Development Office at the Kennedy Center. |
JORDAN GEHLEY (2017 - present)
A dancer and choreographer in Washington, DC, Jordan Gehley graduated from the College of William and Mary with a BA in Philosophy and a Minor in Dance. She has been fortunate to perform in works by Ashley Anderson, Keira Hart-Mendoza, Ruth Andrian, and Jose Limon, as well as work with members of Paul Taylor Dance Company and Shen Wei Dance Arts through the American Dance Festival. Jordan has danced and choreographed with Carnival Cruise Lines, UpRooted Dance, DC Dance Is The Answer, The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, 1stStage, Mayzsoul, Kelley Donovan & Dancers, Racoco Productions, TEDx Gramercy, Maya Kite and Dancers, 277Dance Project, and Word Dance Theater.
A dancer and choreographer in Washington, DC, Jordan Gehley graduated from the College of William and Mary with a BA in Philosophy and a Minor in Dance. She has been fortunate to perform in works by Ashley Anderson, Keira Hart-Mendoza, Ruth Andrian, and Jose Limon, as well as work with members of Paul Taylor Dance Company and Shen Wei Dance Arts through the American Dance Festival. Jordan has danced and choreographed with Carnival Cruise Lines, UpRooted Dance, DC Dance Is The Answer, The Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival, 1stStage, Mayzsoul, Kelley Donovan & Dancers, Racoco Productions, TEDx Gramercy, Maya Kite and Dancers, 277Dance Project, and Word Dance Theater.
SARAH HAMANG (2017 - present)
Sarah Hamang, an Indiana native, danced frequently from childhood through college. She re-discovered her love of the art once she moved to DC in 2013. Locally, Sarah has danced with Fierce Collabo and is currently a company dancer with Raediant Movement. She also teaches dance and dance fitness classes in the area. Sarah's second career and personal passion is in the environmental space, as a fundraiser and advocate for one of the world’s largest conservation organizations, so she's especially honored to be participating in The Legacy Project with UpRooted.
Sarah Hamang, an Indiana native, danced frequently from childhood through college. She re-discovered her love of the art once she moved to DC in 2013. Locally, Sarah has danced with Fierce Collabo and is currently a company dancer with Raediant Movement. She also teaches dance and dance fitness classes in the area. Sarah's second career and personal passion is in the environmental space, as a fundraiser and advocate for one of the world’s largest conservation organizations, so she's especially honored to be participating in The Legacy Project with UpRooted.
KRISTIN HATLEBERG (2017 - present)
Kristin Hatleberg's interest in thinking through motion has often led her to work in cross-genre collaborations. Based out of Washington DC, she performs, choreographs, directs, and teaches. Kristin's work has been shown in Canada, Greece, the Netherlands, and throughout the United States. Kristin maintains membership with the International Somatic Movement Education & Therapy Association, and is currently continuing her education through the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. www.kristinhatleberg.com.
Kristin Hatleberg's interest in thinking through motion has often led her to work in cross-genre collaborations. Based out of Washington DC, she performs, choreographs, directs, and teaches. Kristin's work has been shown in Canada, Greece, the Netherlands, and throughout the United States. Kristin maintains membership with the International Somatic Movement Education & Therapy Association, and is currently continuing her education through the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. www.kristinhatleberg.com.
MICHELLE HAYES (2017 - present)
Michelle Hayes is a teacher, dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator in the DMV area. She is the program manager for Dance Metro DC. Michelle started dancing at a young age and continued studying at Keene State College graduating with a BA in Theatre and Dance with a concentration in Performance and Choreography. Since graduation she has performed as a guest artist for Jody Oberfelder, darlingdance, ClancyWorks, company member for Next Reflex Dance Collective and choreographed for Fieldwork, En Route Dance Festival and Small Plates Festival. She has taught creative movement, Jazz and Ballet through the outreach program at Dance Place and CityDance, and choreographed for musical summer camps at Imagination Stage.
Michelle Hayes is a teacher, dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator in the DMV area. She is the program manager for Dance Metro DC. Michelle started dancing at a young age and continued studying at Keene State College graduating with a BA in Theatre and Dance with a concentration in Performance and Choreography. Since graduation she has performed as a guest artist for Jody Oberfelder, darlingdance, ClancyWorks, company member for Next Reflex Dance Collective and choreographed for Fieldwork, En Route Dance Festival and Small Plates Festival. She has taught creative movement, Jazz and Ballet through the outreach program at Dance Place and CityDance, and choreographed for musical summer camps at Imagination Stage.
ASHLEE MCKINNON (2017 - present)
Ashlee McKinnon is originally from North Carolina but has embedded herself into the DMV lifestyle since 2011 pursuing her career as a dancer, educator, and youth worker. Receiving a B.A. in Dance from the University of Maryland at College Park, she later pursued her interest in other degree fields including Theology and Dance Education. Ashlee has performed as a modern dancer in the DMV with VF Dance Theater, Deep Vision Dance Theater, and Glade Dance Collective. Her love for dance and teaching continue to push her to inspire and encourage youth to grow not only in dance technique, but also in character.
Ashlee McKinnon is originally from North Carolina but has embedded herself into the DMV lifestyle since 2011 pursuing her career as a dancer, educator, and youth worker. Receiving a B.A. in Dance from the University of Maryland at College Park, she later pursued her interest in other degree fields including Theology and Dance Education. Ashlee has performed as a modern dancer in the DMV with VF Dance Theater, Deep Vision Dance Theater, and Glade Dance Collective. Her love for dance and teaching continue to push her to inspire and encourage youth to grow not only in dance technique, but also in character.
ALTHEA SKINNER (2017 - present)
Althea Skinner returned to DC in June 2017 after two years in Brasilia, Brazil, where she founded a dance collective, a Gente, and served as the International Consortium for Advancement in Choreography’s (ICONs) Representative in Brazil.Before that, as a company member with Rebollar Dance, she was integral to the creation of the full-length work, Sacred Profane, between January 2014 and its premiere in October 2015. While in DC, she premiered in solos by Deborah Riley and Vladamir Angelov, and in Roxie Doniphan Thomas' Unhinged at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. She has also performed as a guest artist with DancEthos and the Eureka! Dance Festival. Althea began studying ballet at age three in Buffalo, NY and continued through high school in Columbia, MO. She transitioned toward modern dance in Houston, TX, where she performed with Rice Dance Theater, the Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble, the Sandra Organ Dance Company and Chrysalis Dance. Outside of the dance studio, Althea has worked since 2011 with the CARE-WWF Alliance, empowering vulnerable women and the poor in east Africa through sustainable natural resource management.
Althea Skinner returned to DC in June 2017 after two years in Brasilia, Brazil, where she founded a dance collective, a Gente, and served as the International Consortium for Advancement in Choreography’s (ICONs) Representative in Brazil.Before that, as a company member with Rebollar Dance, she was integral to the creation of the full-length work, Sacred Profane, between January 2014 and its premiere in October 2015. While in DC, she premiered in solos by Deborah Riley and Vladamir Angelov, and in Roxie Doniphan Thomas' Unhinged at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. She has also performed as a guest artist with DancEthos and the Eureka! Dance Festival. Althea began studying ballet at age three in Buffalo, NY and continued through high school in Columbia, MO. She transitioned toward modern dance in Houston, TX, where she performed with Rice Dance Theater, the Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble, the Sandra Organ Dance Company and Chrysalis Dance. Outside of the dance studio, Althea has worked since 2011 with the CARE-WWF Alliance, empowering vulnerable women and the poor in east Africa through sustainable natural resource management.
ALISON TALVACCHIO (2017 - present)
Alison Talvacchio is a non-equity actor, dancer, choreographer, teacher, and Box Office Manager in the DC area. She has recently worked with Venus Theatre, Brave Spirits Theatre, Pocket Change Theatre Company, Doorway Arts Ensemble, and Prince Georges Shakespeare in the Park. She is a Company Member with ReVision dance company, the resident modern company at Dance Place. Alison graduated with a BA in Drama from the Catholic University of America. Up next she will appear in The Ravens with Venus Theatre and Burst with Parlor Room Theater. Photo by Jonathan Hsu.
Alison Talvacchio is a non-equity actor, dancer, choreographer, teacher, and Box Office Manager in the DC area. She has recently worked with Venus Theatre, Brave Spirits Theatre, Pocket Change Theatre Company, Doorway Arts Ensemble, and Prince Georges Shakespeare in the Park. She is a Company Member with ReVision dance company, the resident modern company at Dance Place. Alison graduated with a BA in Drama from the Catholic University of America. Up next she will appear in The Ravens with Venus Theatre and Burst with Parlor Room Theater. Photo by Jonathan Hsu.
Previous UpRooted Project Performers
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CAROLINE BARNA (2013 - 2015, 2016 - 2017)
Caroline Barna has been a member of UpRooted Dance for four years. A graduate of James Madison University's School of Theatre and Dance, she has been living and performing in the DC area for 6 years. While at JMU she was a part of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company, Contemporary Dance Ensemble and Student Co-Director of the Associate Dance Ensemble. She's completed internships through Bates Dance Festival, Dance Place, Dance Exchange and Joe's Movement Emporium focusing on arts administration along with dance performance. In addition to dancing with UpRooted, she works for lululemon Old Town Alexandria and is an instructor at Barre3 Old Town. |
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SHELBY GRATZ (2012 - 2015)
Shelby is from Stafford, Virginia and has been dancing for 18 years. She danced at Dance and Gym Expressions for 12 years where she was also a competitive dancer. She graduated from James Madison University in May 2012 with her B.A. in Dance. She was the Vice President for the JMU Dance Theatre, part of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble and Virginia Repertory Dance Company. She was granted scholarships to study with River North Chicago Dance Company, CityDance Ensemble out of Washington D.C. and Eisenhower Dance Ensemble in their Great Lakes Dance Festival. She has had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Kelly Bartnik, Laurie Eisenhower and Vincent Thomas. She currently works for George Mason University and teaches in the DC area. She will be going in to her third season with Uprooted Dance where she has had the opportunity to work on a variety of site specific works as well as main stage performances including The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. This season she has the opportunity to expand her creativity and artistry through UpRooted by working with N.Y choreographer Aaron McGloin and Taiko drummer/performer Mark H. Rooney. |
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CAROLYN HOEHNER (2016 - 2017)
Carolyn Hoehner grew up all over the east coast but calls home the Shenandoah Valley where she went to James Madison University. In college she danced with the Virginia Repertory Dance Company and had the opportunity to perform and teach in the Sichuan province of China. In college she performed work by Ryan Corriston, Tara Mullins, Scott Putnam, Donna Costello, Alex Springer & Xan Burley, Shannon Hummel, Shane O'Hara, and Ting-Yu Chen. After graduating magna cum laude in dance and English Carolyn went on to work as an assistant for Pilobolus Dance Theater outside of New York City. She continued her work as a performer by studying with and performing works by Zoe Scofield and Doug Varone. Recently she moved to the D.C area as a recipient of a research fellowship at the Trinity Fellows Academy where she studied and wrote extensively about the intersection of faith and the performing arts. She currently works as the programming assistant at Dance Place and in audience services as Studio Theatre. In D.C. Carolyn hopes to expand the breadth of her work as a writer, choreographer, and performer while blending these mediums together. She is thrilled to dance with UpRooted where she gets to collaborate and form community with this group of intelligent and compassionate artists. |
PINLING LIN (2017)
Pinling Lin is a BASI trained Pilates instructor with nearly 20 years of professional dance experience. A native of Taiwan, and graduate from New World School of The Arts, University of Florida, Pinling moved to Virginia in 2001 and had been actively performing in the Metro DC area where she worked with various artists between 2001-2012. Pinling later on went on to a long recovery from various of injuries, and is honored to be back in a dance project with Uprooted Dance.
Pinling is currently teaching Pilates as her full-time job and passion, where she focuses on movement, body awareness, and rehabilitation for people who are recovering from injuries or who just want to stay healthy and strong.
Pinling Lin is a BASI trained Pilates instructor with nearly 20 years of professional dance experience. A native of Taiwan, and graduate from New World School of The Arts, University of Florida, Pinling moved to Virginia in 2001 and had been actively performing in the Metro DC area where she worked with various artists between 2001-2012. Pinling later on went on to a long recovery from various of injuries, and is honored to be back in a dance project with Uprooted Dance.
Pinling is currently teaching Pilates as her full-time job and passion, where she focuses on movement, body awareness, and rehabilitation for people who are recovering from injuries or who just want to stay healthy and strong.
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MELISSA SWARINGEN (2012 - 2015)
Melissa is entering her third year as a company member with UpRooted Dance. She began her formal dance training in Malaysia at age 13 with Celestar Studio of Performing Arts under the direction of founder Celeste Theunissen. As a young dancer, Melissa trained with a heavy focus on Jazz, performing in various aspects of the entertainment industry. After moving to the U.S., she attended James Madison University where she developed a passion for Modern dance. During her time at JMU, Melissa was a two year member of the pre-professional Virginia Repertory Dance Company and a three year member of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble where she had the opportunity to work with various artists including; Daniel Burkholder, Maurice Fraga, Kelly Bartnik, Vincent Thomas and Alvin Mayes. During her final year, she also taught youth modern at Dance & Co. in Harrisonburg, VA. Melissa was fortunate to become a member of UpRooted Dance immediately upon graduation in 2012 and has been dancing with them since. Off the stage, she has spent time working with the national dance service organization, Dance/USA, and is currently pursuing a career within government public relations. Melissa loves the breadth of opportunity and the thirst for art that surrounds the D.C. Metropolitan area and is excited to jump forward into another collaborative year dancing with UpRooted. |
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LIZ SALUKE (2014 - 2015)
Liz began her dance training at Dayton Ballet School, where she performed many youth and corps de ballet roles in Dayton Ballet productions including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet among others. She was introduced to modern dance as an undergraduate at Emory University, performing in Emory Dance Company works and dancing with Atlanta-based contemporary dance company Staibdance after graduation. From Atlanta Liz moved to Tallahassee to pursue her MFA in Dance at the Florida State University School of Dance. Liz completed her MFA in December of 2012, and, after a few months in New York and New Orleans, settled in Washington, DC. In DC, Liz has performed alongside DancEthos, and is thrilled to be a company member with UpRooted Dance. In addition to her work with UpRooted, Liz teaches yoga and dance classes, and works as the Executive Assistant for the American College Dance Festival Association. |
PREVIOUS UPROOTED COMPANY MEMBERS
DC Metro Area: Caroline Barna, Mariel Procter, Amelia Cox, Heather Doyle, Kate Folsom, Jaedra DiGiammarino, Pirjo Garby, Sarah Gosselin, April Gruber, Stefanie Quinones Bass, Mary Lane, Carrie Monger, Jennifer Rivers, Lori Yuill
Charlottesville, VA: Lori Jablonski, Jessie Laurita-Spanglet, Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, Dayle Todeshini, Rachael Shaw, Kelly Silliman, Aaron Wine.
DC Metro Area: Caroline Barna, Mariel Procter, Amelia Cox, Heather Doyle, Kate Folsom, Jaedra DiGiammarino, Pirjo Garby, Sarah Gosselin, April Gruber, Stefanie Quinones Bass, Mary Lane, Carrie Monger, Jennifer Rivers, Lori Yuill
Charlottesville, VA: Lori Jablonski, Jessie Laurita-Spanglet, Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, Dayle Todeshini, Rachael Shaw, Kelly Silliman, Aaron Wine.
