ST. OLAF DANCE ALUMNI, PAGE 2


CLASS OF...

'81 | '84 |'85 | '93 | '95 |'96 | '98 | '99 | '00 | '01 | '02 | '03 | '04 | '05| '06


1999

Catherine Earp
E-Mail: CDEarp@aol.com
Catherine is certified as a Pilates Instructor and Health Fitness Instructor through Pilates Inc. and the American College of Sports Medicine, respectively. Her clients include dancers, other professional athletes, business executives and stay-at-home moms. She has given classes for Virginia Ballet Theater, Norfolk Academy dance teams and the United States Navy. In addition to teaching Pilates, she also performs regularly with a local choreographer, former Alvin Ailey soloist, Elbert Watson. (Update: September, 2003)

Megan Henningsen
E-Mail: megankendra@gmail.com
I just landed my "dream teaching jog" at Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA) where I teach humanities. I am also a member of The Tacoma Dance Collective and I teach yoga here and there! (Update: September, 2007)

Gabriel John Holloway
E-Mail: gholloway@pohladfamilycharities.org
I am currently a dancer and board member of Arena Dances by Mathew Janczewski in Minneapolis. I also have a wonderful job with a private foundation that lets me take time off to go to rehearsals, performances, and tours.

Kayleen Langner Jensen
E-Mail: kayleenjensen@hotmail.com
I am currently teaching 1st grade at Birchview Elementary in Wayzata, MN. I just finished my MA in Education in June 2007. I am continuing to dance with adult performers at the DanceXchange in Eden Prairie and enjoying dance events around the cities! (Update: October, 2007)


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2000

Christina Ley Andersen
Email: christina_ley_andersen@yahoo.com
Shortly after graduating in the spring of 2000, Christina moved to New York City with her husband where she received her teaching certificates in both STOTT Pilates and Yoga. After teaching in New York for a short while, Christina moved back to her home town of Grand Rapids, MN to take a position at a local dance studio teaching Modern, Ballet, Pilates and Yoga. (Update: October, 2003)

Anna Bachman Itman
Email: annaitman@hotmail.com
I am currently living with my husband in Bloomington and teaching throughout the metro area. Since graduation, I have found several outlets for dance instruction. As a high school dance teacher, coach and freelance choreographer, I have kept myself as busy as always. I am proud to have four graduates of my high school team dancing at St. Olaf! (Update: June, 2004)

Tia Fink
Email: tiafink@comcast.net
After graduation, I moved to Seattle to pursue my Pilates Certification. Upon completion (certified through Authentic Pilates/Romana's Pilates/PMA Certified), I moved back to Minneapolis and freelanced as a pilates instructor. Currently, I am one of the owners of a pilates studio in St. Louis Park called Alotapilates. I teach pilates full time and am hoping to start dancing again very soon! (Update: January, 2007)

Dustin Haug
E-mail: duhaug@seattleschools.org
Currently, Dustin is touring with Lingo dancetheater, performing an evening length work, Relatively Real. On the side, he collaborates with friends Paige Barnes (choreographer), Stefan Gruber (animator), and Jeff Hustion (musician/noise architect). The quartet will show the first installment of their work at Velocity Dance Center in early December. He is also involved in the creation of Lingo's newest work, Inhabit, that will premiere in April '07. When he's not dancing, which is rare, Dustin enjoys substitute teaching, working events for a lighting and sound company, and hanging out in his beautiful loft space. (Update: November, 2006)

Elizabeth Hein
I just recently finished law school and passed the IL bar exam. I am now living in Alexandria, VA and am working in DC as an associate attorney at the Law Offices of Stewart & Stewart. I practice international trade law. After a three year break, I hope to be able to start dancing again! (Update: October, 2003)

Toni Melaas
E-mail: tonimelaas@yahoo.com
Toni Melaas is currently working on projects with Alexandra Beller/Dances, Melissa Briggs Dance and Faye Driscoll and is in production for the new movie by director Julie Taymor. This summer she had the pleasure of performing at the State Theater for the Lincoln Center Festival with Shen Wei Dance Arts and in the past has been honored to work with the Aquila Theater Company with Olympia Dukakis, Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig and Gerald Casel, among others. She has taught workshops in Poland, Russia, South Korea and Thailand, and participated in residencies at various colleges in the U.S twining dance with her experience in Anusara yoga, pilates, BMC, and developmental movement. (Update: November, 2005)

Emily Stein
E-mail: emily_stein@hotmail.com
After a phenomenal senior year in Companydance, I spent the summer at the American Dance Festival. Dancing, learning, and living down in North Carolina was a great experience — which was shared with two other Companydance alums and two current St. Olaf dancers. I now live and work in New York City — and I love it! I do PR and Promotions, and in my free time I take yoga like its going out of style.


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2001

Laura Fillingame
E-mail: lkfillingame@wisc.edu
am currently in my second year of a Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although extremely busy, I find time to take advantage of occasional East African dance classes and continue to have interest in researching dance-movement therapy. (Update: January, 2005)

Erica Riedesel
E-mail: erica-riedesel@uiowa.edu
After 4 long years, I am getting ready to graduate in May from the U of Iowa College of Medicine with my MD! I will start in the Pediatrics residency program at the University of Wisconsin in Madison in July!! My schedule has kept me pretty busy lately, but I'm still taking pilates, yoga, and occasional dance classes when I can manage. I also got to see CompanyDance at ACDFA at U. Iowa last month, and they were strong and beautiful as always! (Update: April, 2006)

Erin Scheiwe
E-mail: escheiwe@yahoo.com
Erin Scheiwe Rockwell is originally from Steamboat Springs, Colorado where she grew up dancing with Ballet Northwest. In 2001, Erin graduated with a B.A. in dance and computer science after four wonderful years at St. Olaf and headed towards the skyscrapers of New York City. In New York, Erin’s choreography was presented on several great stages including Dance Theatre Workshop, The Culture Project, University Settlement, One Arm Red, Saint Marks Church and Evolving Arts Theater. She also enjoyed working with a dance theatre company called Notes In Motion and performing with a variety of independent choreographers. In August 2005, Erin moved cross-country to the sunny west coast to pursue an M.F.A. in dance at California State University, Long Beach! During her time in Long Beach, she received a certification in Pilates through Body Arts and Science International and taught Pilates and modern dance as a Graduate Assistant at CSULB. In January 2008, Erin moved to join her husband, Owen Rockwell, in Jackson, MS where she is now on faculty with Belhaven College Dance Department. (Update: April, 2008)

Jen Westmoreland
E-mail: jtwestmore@yahoo.com
Jen Westmoreland Bouchard lives in Minneapolis and is the chair of the French program at Holy Family in Victoria, MN. She publishes regularly on African and Caribbean literature (look for her work in Global Woman Magazine!) and also enjoys working as a translator. She and her surfer husband recently moved from sunny CA back "home" to MN. (Update: September, 2007)

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2002

Marte Kristin Hovig
E-Mail: marte_kristin@hotmail.com
I am currently working as a dance teacher at Sunnm¯re Folkeh¯gskule in Ulsteinvik. I also tour with DKS at different schools, offering a performance and workshops. This year I have been offered a position with YMCA/YWCA's national education center and will be giving dancecourses for them in Bergen and Oslo. (Update: August, 2006)

Katherine Blackwell
E-Mail: blackwel@eresmas.com
I am now a 3rd year MD/PhD student, having just begun working on my thesis in bone biology. I have had some time for social dancing... country line dancing in CT could be a study in dance ethnography! (Update: November, 2005)

Stephanie Laager
E-Mail: laag0006@umn.edu
While in my third year of the Doctor of Pharmacy program, I have become extensively involved in the dance program at the University of Minnesota. I take the advanced modern class, which is Horton-based and taught by Toni Pierce-Sands. I have also been involved in several performance opportunities including student and faculty works. I am a founding member of Carl Flink's Black Label Movement, a new Twin Cities-based modern dance company. I look forward to balancing company rehearsals and performances with my clinical pharmacy rotations. I will be interning at various hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in the Twin Cities area beginning May 2005. (Update: April, 2005)

Nellie Rainwater
E-Mail: nellierainwater@hotmail.com
For the past two years, I've been living in the Washington D.C. area. I've been very fortunate to have many performance opportunities here, and I am currently dancing with Jane Franklin Dance (www.janefranklin.com), as well as independent choreographer, Jessica Marchant. Last year, I was thrilled to dance at the Kennedy Center for the Metro DC Dance Awards, and to choreograph a piece for Jeslyn Dance Gallery's New Works Show. I also teach dance and do a bit of freelance writing in my spare time. (Update: August, 2006)

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2003

Mary Davies
E-Mail: mpdance4u@hotmail.com
After receiving my MFA in Dance Performance from the University of Iowa this past May, I have moved back to Minneapolis to pursue my performance career. Watch for me on stage! (Update: August, 2006)

Nicole Habberstad
E-Mail: nikkeek@hotmail.com
I am still living in La Crescent, MN. I am currently in my fourth year with my dance studio. I have just over 100 kids. I still substitute teach on the side. Last summer I was married to Mike Wiczek and exactly 9 months later I became a mom to a beautiful little girl Riley. Life has become very very busy. (Update: November, 2007)

Miranda Jirik
E-Mail: mirandajirik@yahoo.com
I've been living and working in New York City since graduation. This fall I am looking forward to starting an MFA program in dance performance and choreography at Sarah Lawrence College. (Update: August, 2005)

Emily Judd
E-Mail: ejudd@darkwing.uoregon.edu
I am currently in my initial year of graduate school at the University of Oregon in Eugene. I will be getting my MFA degree in dance performance and choreography, looking towards my goal of teaching in higher education someday. I am also getting my fix of kids by teaching hip hop at a local middle school. (Update: March 2004)

Madelyn Pearson
E-Mail: pear0373@umn.edu
Hi everyone! I'm currently in my 2nd year of dental school at the University of Minnesota. In my spare time I teach an off-ice dance class for ice skaters in Stillwater, and I head to Zenon for a class whenever I can. (Nothing beats dancing at St. Olaf though!) (Update: October 2004)

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2004

Kate Bronson
E-Mail: kbronson24@yahoo.com
I am currently a Site Director for a YMCA before and after school program and summer day camp in Apple Valley. I see a little under 100 kids each and try to infuse a bit of dance into my program as much as possible. I'm loving perk of free yoga and pilates classes at the Y after work. If you are in the Minneapolis area, give me a call! (Update: January, 2007)

Elise Ericksen
E-Mail: elisemarie9@hotmail.com
I am currently working with three dance schools in Portland, OR. I have just completed choreographing and directing a children's ballet of The Little Mermaid. I am currently working on the Nutcracker as well as my own ballet version of Louis May Alcott's Little Women. This Spring I will be choreographing and directing a new version of Beauty and the Beast. And in my spare time I work for a yoga studio! I have St. Olaf to thank for a great preparation for my career in dance! (Update: October, 2007)

Denise Gagner
E-Mail: deniseirenegagner@yahoo.com
Hello Everyone! I've been living in Minneapolis since graduation, teaching dance and trying to do a little choreography as well.  I teach at a small school in Apple Valley, where I've been reviving my tap skills and putting my dance history and anatomy/body knowledge to good use.  Next year I'll be teaching modern at a dance school in Stillwater.  I've also been collaborating with Allison Lorenzen on some choreography and improving with sherry and Allison.  This summer I am going out to Bearnstow, a little dance center in the woods of Maine where I will be working, living, dancing, and communing with nature for July and August.  Stop by and visit if you are out that way!

Michelle Kinney
E-Mail: kinneym@msnotes.wustl.edu
Hello everyone! For the past three years, I've been studying at Washington University and will graduate with my Doctor in Physical Therapy degree this May. I've been traveling all over the country on clinical affiliations, and am currently on rotation in Seattle. I take dance, pilates, and yoga whenever I can and am actively involved in professional organizations for research and treatment of dance-related injury. (Update: November, 2006)

Ingrid Pharris
E-Mail: ingpharris@yahoo.com
I am currently living in Olympia with my family, paying off student loans, working as a "correspondence secretary" of sorts, avoiding PartyLite parties, teaching ballet and creative dance to little ones, and taking lots and lots of dance!!! I plan to cocoon here for a bit before emerging somewhere exotic (like Minneapolis or Seattle or Kyoto!), so come and visit. I miss Susan, Jennifer, Heather, Sherry, Janice, and Anthony very much, and I am so thankful for the amazing training you all have provided. I had no idea what gems you were giving to us until I started teaching. Keep up the lovely work!

2005

Berit Ahlgren
E-Mail: ahlgrenb@gmail.com
I am working with Uri Sands and Toni Pierce-Sands as a member of TUDance, based in Minneapolis. They have both been instrumental and guiding forces in my life since an early age, and it is incredible to be dancing with them now as a professional.

Eliza Larson
E-Mail: eliza.larson@gmail.com
What a whirlwind year it's been! Last summer (2005), I moved to Washington DC to work on my MFA in Dance at the University of Maryland. After some soul-searching, I decided to postpone my MFA degree, and instead drove across the country to Seattle, where I'm living right now. Life has been more than kind since I moved, and I'm now set up in my new apartment on Capitol Hill, performing with a modern dance "company" in November, and working as an Admissions Counselor at Cornish College of the Arts. I've gotten to take several classes with KT Neihoff, and hopefully Emily Wiedenhoeft and I will begin collaborating soon. Let me know if you're ever out this way...! (Update: September, 2006)

Maija Saulitis
E-Mail: maijasaulitis@yahoo.com
I'm currently in my second year with AmeriCorps, working with first and second-graders at a fine arts school in St. Paul. I'm applying to get my MFA in Creative Writing, and hope to be back in school next fall. I try and make it to as many dance performances as possible, here, in the Twin Cities, and hope to take some classes at Zenon over the winter. (Update: January, 2007)

2006

Julia Langenberg
E-Mail: JuliaLangenberg@gmail.com
I spent the summer after my graduation performing with Keigwin + Company and dancing at ADF. Since moving back to Austin, Texas in the fall of 2006, I have been hired to dance with Blue Lapis Light (http://bluelapislight.org/), a site-specific aerial dance company, Sharir + Bustamante Danceworks (Anthony danced with them years ago), Wonderlust Dance Theater, Metamorphosis Dance Ensemble, Ballet East Dance Theater, Komo Danceworks, and Ariel Dance Theater. I am also singing with the Grammy nominated singing group, Conspirare. Thank you to the dance department for inspiring me and revealing my love for modern dance! (Update: June, 2007)

Marit Sletten
E-Mail: Marit.Sletten@gmail.com
I am sad not to be moving back onto the hill in a week, but I am very excited to embark on some new adventures this fall! I will be attending Augsburg College for the next two years working towards my Master's of Arts in Leadership. I work for my dad at his business, EnergyFlo, doing all sorts of different tasks. I try to make it to Zenon whenever I can to take class. I am sure I will make several trips to the hill this year to visit friends and family! (Update: August, 2006)


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