Experience
January 2018-Present: Director of Choreography, Lakeridge Jr High, Lake Oswego, OR
Choreographer for musicals including: "The Little Mermaid," “Guys and Dolls,” “Frozen Jr”
September 2018- Present: Portland Public Schools, Portland OR
Dance and capoeira instructor at various middle schools
Member of Curriculum Development Committee for Dance
November 2014-June 2021: ‘Rejoice! Diaspora Dance Theater; Artistic Director, Oluyinka Akinjiola; Portland OR:
Choreographer/Costume Designer/Tour Director/Press Contact/Performer for a contemporary folklore dance company with strong Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban influence, moving from an Anti-Racist platform
May 2019-Present: Producer/Creator for Brazil Night at CruzRoom Annex, Portland OR
Curated monthly event featuring different local music and dance artists specializing in Brazilian vernaculars.
November 2019-Present: Pilates Instructor at ME Fitness, Portland OR
April 2014- June 2019: Cascadia Pilates and Core Align, Portland OR
Pilates Instructor/ Blog Manager
November 2016- May 2018: Independent Contractor, Dance Instructor in Portland, Gresham, and Reynolds school districts
Dance Instructor for local schools, K-12: focus includes: Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, Hip Hop, Rumba, Salsa, Samba, Timba
Worked in conjunction with Latino Network, Vibe Music, and IRCO
September 2016: University of Idaho, Moscow ID
Artist in Residence/ Guest Artist for Fall Faculty Production/ Instructor
June 2016-August 2016: Tucker-Maxon Summer Arts Camp, Portland OR
Artist in Residence/Dance Studio Artist
April 2014-March 2015: ‘March Fourth,’ Portland OR
Choreographer/Acrobat/Capoeirista/Dancer/Performer
March 2006-January 2015: Axe` Dide`, Artistic director Donna Oefinger, Portland OR
Performer/Dancer in Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban folklore dance and music company/ Editor for promotional material
March 2000-September 2004: ‘Capoeira Regional do Brasil’, Master Almiro Aquilino dos Santos, Portland OR
Student/Teacher/Artistic Director/Educational Director
Awards/Residencies
Ten Tiny Dances Community Healing: September 2021: one of ten selected choreographers to create a piece centered on community healing using a 4’x4’ stage. Video Here
Swing Out Residency, October 2020: Studied with mentors of the Caleb Teicher Dance Company learning the roots of Jazz movement, i.e. Frankie Mannings “Big Apple.”
RACC Professional Development Grant recipient, Winter 2018: Studied with Danza Contemporañea de Cuba in Havana, Cuba. Studied the traditional Afro-Mexican music and movement of Son Jarocho with master Laura Rebelloso in Xalapa MX. Taught Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Cuban master classes at the Universidad Vercruzana.
Volunteer/Intern
September 1998- May 1999: The Loft Teen Center; Madison WI
· Volunteer/Choreogrpaher/Instructor for after school Hip Hop arts program, “The Good Life,” ages 13-18
Education
January 2014: Silvestre Technique Intensive, Escola de Dança, Salvador Brasil
Completed second level Silvestre Technique training and advanced level folkloric/Orixa training
September 2012- October 2013: BASI Pilates, Portland OR
Comprehensive Teacher Training Course(Certification conferred October 2013)
January 1997-May 1999, University of Wisconsin- Madison
Anthropology/Folklore: BA conferred May 1999
June –August 1999: Study abroad program, The University of Arizona at the Universidade Federal de Ceara`, Fortaleza Brazil
Portuguese language and literature/Brazilian culture
September 1994-May 1996: University of Wisconsin- Lacrosse
Anthropology/ Photography
Independent Studies
December 2012, Havana Cuba
Studied Afro-Cuban dance and song with local instructors and Santeria practitioners including Luis Javier Martinez and Reynaldo Jesús Baró Ruiz with Raices Profundas, Yueneisys Ferro Martinez with Obba Ilú,
March 2012, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador Brazil,
Studied Afro-Brazilian dance with local instructors and Candomblé practitioners