eXit SPACE - School of Dance

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		ABOUT THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Marlo Martin has over 15 years of experience as an instructor of multiple disciplines including jazz, modern, tap, hip-hop, musical theatre and creative movement. Originally from Michigan, Marlo earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from Western Michigan University (WMU). Marlo has been on faculty at numerous studios in Michigan and Washington as well as at WMU, where she served as the instructor for all university jazz classes. Marlo’s experiences as a choreographer and performer include musicals, studio works and concert dance. Marlo is an eclectic and daring choreographer. Her choreography has been selected three consecutive years for The Jazz Dance World Congress, an international showcase of jazz choreographers. Marlo (along side Jill Leversee) was selected as a choreographer for Velocity Dance Center’s The Bridge Project. Marlo presented her company oaklanDrive at takePAUSE, seasonal rep shows at Erickson Theatre and Velocity Main Space, High Wire Series at Seattle University and On the Boards for 12Minutes, among many others. Since moving to Seattle, Marlo has performed at Velocity’s Under Construction, danced as part of The Three Yells in Northwest New Works and Bumbershoot, and spent three years as a company member with Redd Legg Dance. Currently Marlo is a free lance choreographer, a board member of Redd Legg Dance, and producer of the BOOST dance festival.

		OUR FACULTY Jennifer Carroll’s ballet students fill her with amazement, which she reflects back to them with warmth, humor, patience and passion. She has taught ballet to adults and children at many schools including Pacific Northwest Ballet, Cornish, Seattle University, and Interlochen. Her professional training was in New York at the American Ballet Theater School, Joffrey, Louis-Nikolais Dance Lab and Pilobolus. She performed in NY as a dancer and actress, and has performed with Pacific Northwest Dance, Mark Morris, Seattle Early Dance (Baroque) and many others. She continues to perform internationally as a solo artist for Thistle Theatre, a Bunraku puppet company, most recently in Bangladesh, and is available to perform puppet shows for birthday parties and special events. She has choreographed extensively for dance and theater, and has produced concerts of her own work in collaboration with other choreographers, musicians, artists and writers. See more of Jennifer's interests and work at her website.

		Annie deVuono comes to teaching ballet with a wealth of practical and professional experience. Trained in Cecchetti method for her first seven years, she then studied at Ruth Page, home of the Chicago Ballet, Gus Giordano and then attended Cornish College of the Arts. Ms. deVuono has been teaching since 1979 integrating beautiful choreography with the proper execution and terminology of each step. She unravels the mysteries of different rhythms and encourages sharing the energy of fellow dancers. An emphasis on personal enrichment and a contagious joy for movement are integral to every class. In addition to dance, deVuono began working with costume design in 1985. Still performing and teaching she introduced her own millinery line; this was followed by numerous private commissions and eventually international recognition for her headwear.

		Cheryl Johnson (dancer, vocalist, drummer, choreographer) has performed Off-Broadway, for TV, music videos, at international arts festivals and with touring dance companies. In NYC she performed in original music/dance theatre works at The New City Theatre, The Jerry Ames Tap Dance Company, Gail Conrad’s Tap Dance Theatre and in a street performing unicycle act. Based in Seattle since 1986, she has collaborated with Anthony Peters on creations that feature the art of tap dance and live music. She has been awarded choreography grants from the Seattle Arts Commission, WA State Arts Commission, King County Arts Commission and Artist Trust Foundation, choreographed and performed Morton Gould’s Tap Dance Concerto, mentors up and coming talent, co-founded the Johnson & Peters Tap Dance Studio and the non-profit arts organization Anacrusis Modern Tap Dance. Cheryl has served as a guest lecturer to the University of Washington Dance program and a dance consultant to Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project. She is a guest instructor and choreographer for Seattle Children’s Theatre Drama School, teaches tap dance for musical theatre at the 5th AVE Theatre and is choreographing a new work for the 2010 “Men In Dance” program.

		Shinji Kasahara has been trained in Hip-Hop by Marlo Martin, Kolanie Marks, Cameron Lee and other top choreographers in Seattle. Currently Shinji has been performing with one of Seattle’s premier Hip-Hop dance groups, Phyzikal Graffi-T (PG), directed by Kolanie Marks. The PG family has won a number of competitions including 1st for USA and 6th for world championship (2009), and has performed with other top Seattle dance groups including Cruz Control, Potion, Breaking Point Dance Company and Kontagious Movement. Originally from Japan, Shinji has also trained in music since his childhood, which has quite an influence on how he interprets melodies and rhythm into his dance moves. Other than dance, he is working on his Ph.D in immunology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, focusing on innate immune responses and vaccine development. Shinji teaches beginning/intermediate Hip-Hop.

		Laurel Lakey grew up dancing in New Hampshire, and continued her training at the University of Utah where she received her BFA in Modern Dance. She went on to dance and collaborate with POI dancetheatre, as well as teach for Ballet West’s youth outreach program and Utah DanceTheatre Coalition. Since moving to Seattle in 2008, Laurel has worked with a variety of choreographers and companies including Marlo Martin, O24Dance, Splinter Dance Company, and has choreographed and performed her own work. She has enjoyed the opportunity to perform in DanceFestival Northwest, Barefoot Dance Collective, eXit SPACE’s Take/Pause, Tacoma Glass Fesitval, ArstLaunch and 12MM. Currently, she is a guest dancer with Northwest Dance Syndrome under the choreography of Marlo Martin. She is a graduate of the Creative Dance Center Summer Institute where she studied with Anne Green Gilbert. Laurel is also a YogaAlliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and is certified in the Viniyoga method. She loves the eXit SPACE dance community and is thrilled to be a part of it as both a teacher and a student.

		Kristen Legg holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Western Michigan University and the Lee Honors College. Legg graduated cum laude and was named the Presidential Scholar for the department. She is classically trained in the Russian ballet syllabus, Hawkins technique, and Chicago-style jazz. She has taught and performed throughout the Midwest, New York, New Jersey, and the Czech Republic. Legg has served as part-time faculty at Western Michigan University, spends her summers teaching at Interlochen Arts Camp, and continues to instruct dance at local studios. Legg is Artistic Director of Redd Legg Dance, a modern dance company that performs for children and adults. Her work has been seen at Velocity MainSpace Theater for Lehua Dance Theatre's 2005 concert, Ballard Art'fisk, ‘Sammamish Live!’ and ‘Inspiration’ in Bellevue, and at 'Delve' and ‘take/PAUSE’, both presented by eXit SPACE School of Dance. Legg has performed with Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers, Lehua Dance Theatre, and oaklanDrive.

		Jill Leversee has enjoyed teaching dance for over a decade in Seattle, Chicago, Boulder and surrounding areas in the disciplines of jazz, modern, tap and hip hop. After growing up dancing in Colorado, she earned her BA in dance from the University of Colorado and went on to Chicago to continue her training, where she immersed herself in Horton and Graham modern, jazz and ballet. While in Chicago, she presented works at Links Hall as well as producing her own show. Since settling in Seattle, Jill has danced with choreographers such as Pablo Cornejo, and Aliana Jaqua. She has presented works at Seattle University with The Three Yells, Velocity Dance Center, The Firehouse in Bellingham and the Juan de Fuca Festival with Northwest Dance Syndrome. In 2006, Jill was chosen as a choreographer for Velocity’s The Bridge Project.

		Christin Lusk graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. While at Cornish, Christin trained with artists such as Michele Miller, Wade Madsen, Pat Hon, and Jason Ohlberg. She has presented her own works at Velocity Dance Center, the Erickson Theatre, and Broadway Performance Hall. Christin has choreographed for the Western Washington high school Elite Dance Camp, assisted and collaborated with artistic director Marlo Martin at the eXit SPACE School of Dance Concert, choreographed and taught for Liberty High School’s dance team, and just recently set a work for Seattle International Dance Festival, Art on the Fly. As a dancer with the Seattle-based company oaklanDrive for four years, she had the opportunity to perform at On the Boards, Seattle University, and the 2007 Velocity Dance Center Benefit; she has also performed with Redd Legg Dance. Christin teaches modern, hip hop, jazz, and creative movement, and is currently dancing with Northwest Dance Syndrome.

		Ann Motl started classical dance training when she was five years old at the Stroia Ballet Studio in Little Falls, Minnesota. She moved to Washington in 1997 to pursue a career in dance and graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in 2002. Anne has performed choreography by Trisha Brown, Wade Madsen, Paige Barnes, Aiko Kinoshita, Kristina Dillard, Scott Phillips, Jill Leversee and Ellie Sandstrom. Since 2003, Anne has not only performed with but also co-directs a Seattle modern dance company called NorthWest Dance Syndrome. Anne's choreography has been performed in many venues including Broadway Performance Hall, The Firehouse Performing Arts Center, Velocity Dance Center, Bagley Wright Theater, and the Museum of Glass. Anne was a member of the Dance Educator's Association of Washington for several years where she presented with NorthWest Dance Syndrome. Also in part with NorthWest Dance Syndrome, she was a resident artist at local schools including, Foster High School in Tukwila, WA, the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics in Vancouver, WA. and the Tacoma School of the Arts in Tacoma, WA. She currently teaches at Country Village Day School, Momentum Dance Academy, Studio1, and eXit SPACE School of Dance.

		GUEST FACULTY Karena Birk holds an MFA in Dance from The Ohio State University, and a BA in Classics from the University of Washington. She has taught at Cornish, Bainbridge Dance Center, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and The Ohio State University, among others. After training at the Cornish Preparatory Dance Program and the Richmond Ballet, she went on to dance professionally with the Colorado Ballet, Lehua Dance Theatre, ARC Dance, Redd Legg Dance, and is currently a member of Catherine Cabeen and Company. She has been privileged to dance works of Trisha Brown, Anna Sokolow, Antony Tudor, George Balanchine, Fanny Elsser, Wade Madsen, Deborah Wolf, Hannah Wiley, and many others. Her MFA studies focused on dance performance, notation, history, and pedagogy, and she holds a Teaching Certification in Labanotation. She is a member of the Congress on Research in Dance, the Society of Dance History Scholars, the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, and the National Dance Education Organization.

		Jennifer Elder is a former gymnast and began dancing at the age of 12. She has received the majority of her dance training at the Southwest Washington Dance Center studying Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hula, and African. She has performed for many seasons with the Southwest Washington Ballet Ensemble and Blacken Tan Dance Company. In 2007, Jennifer graduated Cum Laude from the University of Utah with her BFA in Modern Dance. While studying, Jennifer was in the department’s company, the Performing Dance Company, where she has been in original works by Abby Fiat, Eric Handman, and Brent Schneider. Since moving to Seattle, Jennifer has performed and made her own work as well as danced for DASSdance, Michele Miller, Marlo Martin, and Northwest Dance Syndrome. Besides dance, Jennifer has been training as an aerialist specializing in Fabric as well as studying Tai Chi Sword and Saber.

		David Lorence Schleiffers began his dance training at Momentum Music and Dance Academy in Burien, WA under the direction of Stephanie Moss. In 2006, he entered the University of Washington Dance Program and studied with faculty including Hannah C. Wiley, Hengda Li and Jurg Koch. He has been a guest artist with the Chamber Dance Company for three consecutive years, performing choreography by Bill T. Jones, Charles Weidman, Twyla Tharp, Zvi Gotheiner, Michio Ito and Doug Elkins. He has also been a company member of Seattle-based dance companies, Redd Legg Dance Company and Jerboa Dance. In 2009, he founded Quark Contemporary Dance Theatre and has presented work at the UW Dance Majors Concert, American College Dance Festival Gala Concert 2009 and 2010, Whidbey Island Dance Theatre, Chop Shop: Bodies of Work 2010 and Beyond the Threshold: Seattle International Dance Festival. He has received the Outstanding Achievement in Choreography Award for his work Hillside in 2009 and Once and Never Again in 2010. He is currently rehearsing new and repertory work with his company to perform in The Men in Dance Festival, Chop Shop: Northside, and The A.W.A.R.D. Show presented by the Joyce Theater Foundation. David works locally in Seattle as a professional musical theatre performer and was last seen in the Village Theatre’s mainstage production of 42nd Street. He received his BA with a major in dance from the University of Washington in June 2010.

		OUR FACILITIES Location eXit SPACE is located in the heart of Greenlake in an historic 1920's building. The lake is just a two-block walk from the studio, and there are plenty of coffeehouses and restaurants nearby. Click here for a location map and driving directions. Metered and free street parking are available within walking distance to the school. Facilities eXit SPACE is spacious and well-lit with two 1000 square-foot studios. Both dance floors are "sprung" to give them the extra flexibility that allows students to dance safely. Thousands of foam blocks support the dance floors, providing the resilience and spring that protects dancers’ joints and muscles from injury The studios both have one full wall of mirrors, one full wall of ballet barres, and several portable ballet barres available. Studio 1 has a marley floor covering, while Studio 2 has solid oak flooring. The sound system in each studio consists of an amplifier, CD changer, iPod dock, and auxiliary input jack. *Studio Rentals* eXit SPACE is available for rent when classes are not in session. Please call 206.949.8643 for available times or email info@exitspacedance.com			Floor diagram based on StageStep design. Used with permission

		RESIDENT DANCE COMPANIES Redd Legg Dance was formed in the Spring of 2005. Directed by choreographer Kristen Legg, Redd Legg Dance is a modern dance company dedicated to keeping technique and performance quality alive in concert dance. Legg's works are poignant; at times humorous, at times warped. She works to present pieces that speak to a wide audience. Redd Legg Dance also strives to present child appropriate works. It is Legg's goal to create work that draws young people in and makes dance more accessible to today's youth. Whether you are a child or an adult, you are sure to enjoy Redd Legg Dance. Click here for Redd Legg's website.

eXit SPACE \| 414 NE 72nd Street Seattle, Washington 98115 \| 206-949-8643 © 2008 eXit SPACE, LLC. All rights reserved.