Dance
25th Anniversary Tour of Shen Wei’s Internationally Acclaimed Signature works - 2024
I recently completed a seven week tour to Nanjing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Changsha and Shenzhen China with Shen Wei Dance Arts. We preformed Shen Wei’s Folding and Near the Terrace. It was a dream of a tour especially after the last two years where I thought I might never dance again post a health issue in 2022. This was such a special tour for me on so many levels. Most importantly it showed me that nothing is impossible and I only become better a performer as I age. The tour will continue and I am so grateful for this time on stage with amazing performers from the US, France and China.
Integrate 2021 - Shen Wei & China Shanghai International Arts Festival
In May and June of 2021 I was invited by Shen Wei and the China Shanghai International Arts Festival to assist Shen Wei on his latest multimedia project Integrate. Deemed an expert in the field I embarked on a two month journey where I was rehearsal and production assistant to Shen Wei. Along with Kate Jewett, we safely brought this Sold Out - 10 performance project to life in Shanghai June 10-19th, 2021. I could not be more proud of the work we did educating this generation of great Chinese dancers in Shen Wei’s technique and bringing an unprecedented art piece to Chinese audiences during a global pandemic.
Professional Experience
Right out of school I toured China with Jerry Pearson's Santa Barbara Dance Theater. After visiting New York City in 2008, I was asked to perform with David Dorfman Dance in Weather Underground at Lincoln Center Out of Doors. David was an adjudicator at ACDF Montana and an important mentor for me when I transitioned to the city. Performing with him gave me the confidence to make the move. I met so many people and was able to find my feet pretty quickly.
My first job in New York was a national tour with Hudson Vagabond Puppets, a children's theater company. Simultaneously, through a work study agreement, I was able to train daily with the unparalleled Christine Wright. I auditioned for countless dance projects and finally landed work with Bronwen MacArthur and Bryan Senti in From the Margins, This, Unmentioned (2009).
Shen Wei Dance Arts
I auditioned for Shen Wei Dance Arts and was asked to apprentice in the Fall of 2009 and then again in the Summer and Fall of 2010. After a tour to Berlin in December of 2010, I started officially dancing with the company. Since that time I have performed in over 17 countries, in 61 cities and at every major venue (Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Kennedy Center etc.) in the United States, China, Europe and South America. I have been lucky enough to perform Shen Wei's signature pieces Rite of Spring, Folding, Near the Terrace, Map, Connect Transfer and Re-Tryptic. I was part of the creation of Undivided/Divided, Collective Measures and Untitled 0-12. For Shen Wei's Neither, I was able to work directly with Shen Wei creating movement and assisting in company rehearsals throughout the development of the piece. In 2016 I was asked to be the Education Director and the Company Manager in addition to dancing with the company. I currently work with Shen Wei on projects (Nowness, Power Station of Art, Shanghai) and performances (Integrate) as his work transitions to include more of his paintings and gallery openings.
Other credits
Since 2013 I have performed with Christopher Williams Dance in Wolf-in-Skins starting Anthony Roth Costanzo in NYC and Philadelphia. I also worked with Anthony at the Guggenheim Works and Process. I’ve performed numerous times with Marcos Duran, Glitter Kitty Theater, and Tonia Shimin among others. I am currently in the process of making and directing a new work with visual artist Carlos Vazquezz.
Education
University of California, Santa Barbara
B.F.A in Dance
B.A. in Chemistry with Distinction
Awards: Daniel G. Aldrich Outstanding Student for the class of 2007
Trained with Nancy Colahan, Tonia Shimin, Stephanie Nugent, Christopher Pilafian, and Valerie Houston. Performed Jane Dudley's Harmonica Breakdown with the Senior Company 2007.
Interviews
Black, White and Gray - Art Basel Miami CCTV-America
Map - Judson Church SWDA 2014
Videos
Integrate - Waiting for an exclusive interview with Shen Wei
Private View: Everything is Connected Nowness 2019
Neither - In Process Rehearsal DTH 2016
Black White and Grey - Art Basel, Miami BBC 2014
Dance Strokes - Art Basel, Hong Kong Asia Society 2016
Neither - Purchase College Sinovision 2017
Site Specific Re-III - Berlin, Germany 2010
At the Met, Art Moves Wall Street Journal 2011
Reviews
Integrate - Interview with Shen Wei: What is the mission of an artist? Shanghai 2021
Neither at ADF Byron Wooks Indy Weekly 2018
Neither Review Anna Kisselgoff Ballet 2000
Neither at BAM New York Times 2016
Making Art Move Dance Magazine 2015
Rite of Spring - Lincoln Center with PTAMD New York Times 2015
MAP - Celebrate Brooklyn New York Times 2014
Undivided/Divided - Yerba Buena Center for the Arts SF Gate 2013
Undivided/Divided - Kennedy Center Washington Post 2013
Shen Wei Dance Arts : Park Avenue Armory New York Times 2011
Still Moving at the Metropolitan Museum NYC Vogue Italia 2011
Still Moving at the Metropolitan Museum NYC WSJ
Early Training
The Studio of Dance Arts under the direction of Jane Morgan.
California State Summer School of the Arts (CSSSA) - Governors Arts Scholar 1999
Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC 2000
Lines Ballet Summer Program 2001
Photo by Cheryle Easter
Side Note: One of my favorite moments on tour so far was when Christina Muti called me "Petrushka" after a performance of Near the Terrace and Rite of Spring at the Ravenna Festival,