​Where I'm From

I grew up in Ketchum, Idaho, a small ski town in the Rocky Mountains.



My Dance Training

I trained at Footlight Dance Centre in Idaho, then attended Idyllwild Arts Academy for the last 2 years of high school.  I got my BFA in Dance from Florida State University, and did my final semester as an FSU in NYC student (immersive program for dance majors).



My Dance Experience

Leanne Schmidt & Co., Megan Sipe / Dancing Fish Productions, Joshua Reaver/ Zenography Movement Company, Natalia Duong, Angelo Dance Project, Shelley Bourgeos, Jackie O’Toole & Dancers, and I’ve performed works by Jose Limon, Roger Belman, Stephen Koester, Lynda Davis, Gerri Houlihan, Tim Glenn, and Anne Krampen. 



Other Work Experience

I am on faculty at Steffi Nossen School of Dance, and I also work in Arts Administration.  I’ve also worked as a waitress, theater usher, and in retail. I am on the Dance/NYC Junior Committee.



Music I Warm Up To

Most frequently I find myself going back to the same playlist with Iron & Wine, Tegan and Sara, Trevor Hall, Joshua Radin, and Laura Cortese.



My Favorite Rehearsal Snack

Almonds, PB & J, smoothies, snow peas and peanut butter, dried apricots



A Dance-Related Injury

I dislocated my rib head from my spine at T6.  It was very painful as I danced for weeks doing lifting and various partnering without knowing what was causing the pain.  I finally tried seeing a chiropractor and the Xrays showed my rib out of place.  The whole time I thought it was muscular, but really it was a skeletal injury.



Method For Treating Sore Muscles

I take a hot bath with Epsom salt, and even though it can be rough, I get back to moving even just for an extra long walk.  It helps work out the kinks.



What do you love about dancing?

I love that dancing makes me feel healthy and whole.  It helps me to express the complexity of feelings, grand and miniscule, that I have and see others experiencing.  I think that dancing is a way to let go of time and place and just feel completely in the moment.  I experience this type of letting go dancing in class, on stage, and socially, and I love that it can do that.



Why do you dance?

I dance because something in me won’t let me sit still.  Something tells me to move when I hear awesome music.  There is something about using my muscles and creating art through movement in real time fascinates me to no end.



What's the hardest part of being a dancer?

That is a tough question. There are the real financial difficulties that go with choosing this career path, and I think being honest, that is the hardest part once you are out of school and are really out in NYC attempting to “make it”.  I don’t know a single professional dancer who completely supports themselves year-round from dance performance alone.  That is a tough scale to be on, and it requires multi-skilled, well rounded, hard working time managers in order to stick with the profession and make enough to live in the city.



Other Passions

Outside of dance and choreography I am an avid hiker and backpacker.  I love to travel and explore nature.  I also love to play tennis, watch movies, make and edit my own films, as well as dabble in graphic design and visual art.



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