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