YOUTH PERFORMANCE #1

Sunday, March 2nd | 2:30 PM | Cori Terry Theatre

  • Amanda Fabry is a dancer, teacher , and choreographer in metro Detroit. She began her dance training at Mt. Zion performing arts at the age of 3 and continued her education at a collegiate level. In 2020, Amanda graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. Throughout her collegiate journey at Oakland, she trained under the direction of Thayer Jonutz, Ali Woerner, Stephanie Pizzo, Christina Tasco, Jennifer Harge and Greg Patterson. After graduating, She began dancing with ConteXture Dance Detroit under the direction of Tracy Halloran in 2021 and was a company member for two seasons. As well as performing, She found her passion lies in teaching and choreographing. Heading into her 8th season of teaching, Amanda is inspired by her students and their talent and through that continues to develop her artistic voice.

  • Hello my name is Amelie Hanson and I am 17 years old. I was born and raised in Northern Michigan, and have been dancing there with the Crooked Tree School of Ballet since 2010. I am a returning artist to RAD Fest and this will be my second work premiered in advocacy of mental health. It is my pleasure to share with new friends my work “In One Breath.” This work entails the seclusion and struggles of mental health and the support systems that wrap arms around recovery.

  • Arya Grace began her dance journey at the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet at just four years old. She took her first steps into choreography at 15 with her very first solo. That experience opened her eyes to the choreographic process, and she quickly became fascinated by how it can inspire creativity and connect with an audience.

    For Arya, dance is what helps her express her love of becoming one with the music. Her recent solo performance, which moved some audience members to tears, debuted these feelings to the world.

    Now 17, Arya has created two screen dances and two solos. She remains devoted to sharing the beauty of movement and building lasting emotional connections through her performances.

  • I danced with Bonnie Baxter at Dancenter as a part of the Children's Dance Workshop and Michiana Dance Ensemble for a total of 13 years. After graduating high school this spring, I have decided to attend University of Indianapolis to further my education. I have decided to major in exercise science with a concentration in Pre-Physical Therapy. I have always found joy in Dance and am so grateful to have been able to be a part of such a wonderful dance community for so many years. I believe that Dance has truly shaped me into who I am today by creating such a positive way to express myself.

  • Originally from Niles Michigan, Corey Baker began dancing and choreographing at a young age. She started her choreographic journey staging full scale productions with friends and family, and eventually went on to create works for Southold Dance Theater, the Youth America Grand Prix competition (in both Chicago and New York City) Children’s Dance Workshop, and Michiana Dance Ensemble.

    Ms Baker attended Western Michigan University obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Biology, paving the way for future students to explore combining the arts and scientific endeavors. She was a Lee Honors College graduate and received an award for Outstanding Dance Major. As a student she performed works by Gerald Arpino, Antony Tudor, Loie Fuller, and more.

    Ms Baker has most recently choreographed full length creations for Children’s Dance Workshop and Michiana Dance Ensemble, as well as many smaller more intimate works. She has staged productions with classical ballet dancers, modern dancers, contemporary dancers, and has helped many young artists find their voice and expression within her creations.

  • Sierra Schlehuber (11) has been dancing and performing with the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet for seven years, under the direction of Heather Raue. Sierra has also studied dance at Ballet Hispanico, Miami City Ballet and Chautauqua Institution. This is Sierra’s second year submitting live and screendance pieces to RadFest. She enjoys incorporating her hispanic culture and contemporary movements into her ballet training, including this collaboration with fellow dancer Leif VanHorn (14).

  • Leif VanHorn (14) has been dancing and performing with the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet for the past ten years, under the direction of Heather Raue. Leif has also studied dance at Chautauqua Institute, Colorado Ballet, and The Croft Residency. Colibrí is Leif's fourth student screendance submitted to RADfest and his first collaborative work with fellow dancer Sierra Schlehuber (11). Together, they celebrate and explore their hispanic heritage and love of dance.

  • My name is DeTashia Coleman and I am the co owner/choreographer for the Suicide Squad Dance Team. I started SSDT about 10 years ago to give some of the less fortunate youth a chance to express themselves through dance. Although I'm not a trained dancer I'm still very passionate about this art form. Dance has always been a great stress reliever in my life! And being able to pass this craft down to this team feels amazing! I'm definitely not alone in this journey I have a great support team. Patricia Gardenhire-Lamar( Co-owner/Coordinator) helps with everything from planning events, fundraising and offering therapy to the members of the team. Our team is set up to make sure the kids and mentally & physically okay. Jashaea Leflore-Ray helps with choreography and song selections. She caught the dancing bug at age of 7 and is now passing along what she knows.

  • Kayla Cummins is a dance educator in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has 29 years of dance experience and over 8 years of teaching both competitive and recreational classes. She has trained in multiple styles but is most passionate about ballet and lyrical. Kayla holds a BA in dance from Western Michigan University and a minor in Business Management. Now, as the founder of Little Movers Dance Classes, Kayla focuses on helping young children build confidence, independence, and listening skills through fun and engaging dance instruction.

    The Youth Performing Ensemble dancers explore and establish authentic voices through all aspects of dance performance while building community.

YOUTH PERFORMANCE #2

Sunday, March 2nd | 4:30 PM | Cori Terry Theatre

  • Ari L. Mokdad is a Detroit-born poet, choreographer, dancer, educator, and interdisciplinary artist. She received three Bachelor of Arts degrees from Grand Valley State University in Dance, English, and Writing. Ari received an MA from Wayne State University and an MFA from Warren Wilson College.

  • Originally from Clearwater, Florida, Jeff received the start of his ballet training through the Academy of Ballet Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, followed by the prestigious Houston Ballet Academy in Texas, where he joined their second company for a season. Jeff spent the following four seasons dancing with the union ballet company, BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio. After this time, he joined the Nationally touring jazz company, River North Dance Chicago, for two seasons. He then danced for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines on the Oasis of the Seas. Jeff spent the majority of the next decade freelancing within the United States and Canada. In 2013, Jeff began transitioning into master teaching with styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, and modern. He has been a master teacher over the past decade in convention settings. Jeff currently owns two separate dance studios in Chicago.

  • This piece was choreographed by Intro to Dance students involved in the performing arts magnet at the former Clay High School (program now at Riley High School). The creation of the piece was a collaboration between the students and utilizes primarily student choreography. The work was initially created after the announcement that their school would be closing the following year. The students who choreographed the original piece are now seniors, and they are a part of the new program at the new high school. The work you are seeing today is a revamped version of the original work and is a reflection upon hope for the future of the program in it's new home.

  • The Ballet Kalamazoo dance curriculum will enrich, empower and inspire our dancers and the Kalamazoo community by delivering the highest standards of dance training and foster diversity and inclusion by welcoming families from all backgrounds, races, religions, and economic statuses.

  • Karin Li is currently the artistic director of and dance teacher at Kalamazoo Chinese Academy Performing Arts. She has 30 plus years of dance experience and also has more than 20 years of experience in leading dance troupes in China and in the United States. As a dancer, she has performed at many major National College Dance Competitions in China. She has also performed in many Lunar New Years Galas hosted by Western Michigan University, San Francisco State University, California State University, Fullerton, and Brigham Young University. As a dance teacher, she is passionate about creating unique works that mix choreography with modern, contemporary ballet, and traditional Chinese dance. She hopes to inspire her students with her passion and find fulfillment in her students’ development.

  • Rootead Youth Drum and Dance Ensemble is a pre-professional drum and dance company for youth ages 13-18 years old. We focus on Black Diasporic drum and dance: Traditional West African, Afro Fusion, and Afro Beats. Our core values are respect, generative communication, teamwork, responsibility, self-accountability, personal growth and dedication.

  • Bonnie established herself in New York City in 2014, first as a marketing intern for Paul Taylor Dance Company, as well as a dancer for shawnbibledanceco while freelancing for various NYC-based choreographers. Presently, she's been investing in her choreographic career with her company BOM DIGGS. Her work has been presented in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, and Rhode Island. 2021, BOM DIGGS premiered two films, one having reached a worldwide audience at the Imajitari International Dance Film Festival in Indonesia. Bonnie has choreographed on Manhattanville College and Grand Valley State University. In conjunction with dance, Bonnie works as a pilates instructor and is evolving her dance career.