Next Dance Company Audition
Monday, January 11, 2010 3:30- 6:30 p.m.
Dance Studio PE124
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Dance at KSU was profiled in the November 2008 of Dance Magazine. |
Naturally the faculty pieces (not for adjudication) were more finished and well crafted than the student pieces. Two standouts were INCUBUS by Kennesaw State University's Ivan Pulinkala. His cast of seven men hung from and climbed on a giant trellis that was moveable in three parts (by Ming Chen). The piece was not only ingenious but somehow heroic. – Wendy Perron (Dance Magazine, September 2008)
Dancers: Brittany Hawes, Errin Cusack, Kelly Hamm, Ian Baxter, Myles Johnson, A.J. Paug (KSU Dance Company) Photo: Robert Pack |
The KSU Dance Company is a pre-professional dance company that performs on campus, regionally and nationally. Students who major in dance have the opportunity to audition at the beginning of each semester (fall/spring) to be a part of the company. Once selected, students sign contracts with the company for one academic semester. Non-majors may audition for the company only with prior permission of the program director. The mission of the KSU Dance Company is to bring concert dance to the community, as well as serve the mission of education in dance through its outreach programs. Every year, the company tours regional high schools, performing and educating students about dance as a performing art. Through this outreach program, students in the company gain valuable touring experience while serving an important community mission. Members of the KSU Dance Company receive academic credit for performing in season concerts, informal concerts, as well as in departmental productions including the annual musical. Through a variety of performance opportunities, it is our goal to provide students with practical performance experiences that extend to the areas of production, design and stage management.
For more information about the KSU Dance Company, or to schedule an outreach visit, please contact Ivan Pulinkala at ipulinka@kennesaw.edu or at 770-423-6789.
KSU Dance Company Audition Information
Company Members
 Andy Allen started his dance training at KSU in 2007. He looks forward to gaining more experience while performing with the KSU Dance Company this season. Andy’s aspirations include performing and becoming a well-known choreographer. |
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 Katie Ruth Bennett is a sophomore and is double majoring in dance and exercise and health science. She is in her first season with the KSU Dance Company. Having begun her dance training 14 years ago, Katie Ruth has performed with companies such as the Cartersville City Ballet and the KSU Dance Team. |
 Sarah Bottino graduated from Brookwood High School and is a freshman at KSU. Sarah began dancing at the Lilburn School of Ballet under Jennifer Byokawski Gordon. She was also a member of Northeast Atlanta Ballet for nine years. Sarah is an early childhood education major, and this is her first season with the KSU Dance Company. |
 Courtney Bromwich is a senior and has returned to KSU to pursue a second degree in dance. She hopes attend the graduate program at Oklahoma City University. Having stage managed last season, this is Courtney’s first year performing with the KSU Dance Company. Courtney teaches and choreographs at Bravo Dance Center and is the director of their ensemble performing groups. |
 Haleigh Brooks is a senior dance major at KSU in her third season with the KSU Dance Company. She received her training from Steps Dance Center in Woodstock, Ga. She has studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop. She has performed with the KSU Dance Company in their annual dance concerts, at the Cobb Energy Center and with Atlanta Ballet. Haleigh is looking forward to a fabulous senior year. |
 Dale Browne graduated from North Atlanta School of the Arts and is a dance major at KSU. She has worked with Lisa Viola, Patrick Corbin and Matt Kent. Dale co-choreographed “Shallow Lullaby” with Errin Cusack for the KSU Dance Company in 2006-07. This will be her third season with the company. |
 Stacey Caren is a junior dance major at KSU and has been dancing since age three. She took off her first year from high school to dance, and has appeared in music videos with the Black Eyed Peas and Bubba Sparxxx. This is Stacey’s first year in the KSU Dance Company, and she is very excited to be continuing her dance education as well as performing with such a talented group of dancers. |
 Morgan Carlisle is a transfer dance student from Point Park University. She started dancing 12 years ago at Martin Dance Studios. Since then, she has danced for the Murray State University Dance Company, the Jackson Purchase Dance Company and has done summer intensives with Alvin Ailey and Joffrey Ballet. Morgan is extremely excited about choreographing for the KSU Dance Company next spring. Her work will be performed at the American College Dance festival in 2010. |
 Emily Christopher is in her fourth year with the KSU Dance Company. She trained in all areas of dance for 14 years and has attended summer intensives at Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Magnificat. Upon graduation from KSU in May 2010, Emily plans on pursuing a professional career in dance. |
 Tai Courtney began his training as a Latin and ballroom dance instructor in 2005. He has danced with the KSU Dance Company since 2006 and plans to pursue dance professionally after receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Dance next year. |
 Priscilla Curtis received most of her dance training at the Praise Him with Dance Studio in Kennesaw. Last year, Priscilla had the honor of performing in Ivan Pulinkala’s piece, “Metastasis,” at the American College Dance Festival. In her second season with the KSU Dance Company, Priscilla is also performing with the Atlanta Lyric Theatre. She is very excited about the start of her sophomore year at KSU. |
 Errin Cusack is 21 years old and in her fourth season with the KSU Dance Company. She co-choreographed “Shallow Lullaby” in 2007, and has participated in the American College Dance Festival gala performances of “Metastasis” and “A Dream Discarded.” She has also had the opportunity of working with Lauri Stallings this past summer on “Rapt.” Errin is looking forward to another great year. |
 Emily Dalton is starting her third year at Kennesaw State University and her second season with the KSU Dance Company. Emily began her training at Sawnee School of Ballet, concentrating in ballet, jazz and hip hop. "The KSU Dance Company is full of imagination and exploding with creativity. I am very excited to be a part of something so great." |
 Britani Edwards is 20 years old and originally from Miami, Fla. She has been dancing for 5 years with a background in African, modern and ballet. This is Britani’s first year as a dance major at KSU and her first season with the KSU Dance Company. |
 Shawn Evangelista is in his senior year at KSU. He transferred into the university this past spring from UGA. He is the recepient of the 2009-10 Outstanding Senior Dance Scholarship, and is tremendously excited to dance and choreograph for the company this year. His work will be performed at the 2010 American College Dance Festival. |
 Michael Floyd is a triple major in dance, chemistry and biology and is interested in balancing science with the aesthetics of dance. Michael loves movement and modern dance and hopes to grow tremendously during this time here at KSU. This is his first season with the KSU Dance Company. |
 Camia Green is a 21-year-old native of Sarasota, Fla. She has trained in all aspects of dance with Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Alvin Ailey summer intensive and Bates Dance Festival. This is her second year at KSU and her second season with the KSU Dance Company. |
 Brittany Hawes has been dancing for 12 years. Last year she performed "rEVOLUTION," winning an award at the Panoply Choreography Competition in Huntsville, Ala. Brittany also performed in Atlanta Ballet’s production of "Don Quixote" last spring. She is in her third year with the KSU Dance Company and is excited about being involved with the dance major. |
 Jessica Iarocci is a sophomore at KSU studying exercise and health science. This is her second season with the KSU Dance Company. She is originally from Augusta, Ga. |
 Kiyanna Kelly is in her senior year and is double majoring in dance and psychology. She has danced for 16 years beginning at age four in N.Y. Kiyanna has performed leading roles in dance. She is extremely excited to be a part of the KSU Dance Company and pleased to have the chance to work with such talented choreographers and dancers. |
 Leah Kemp grew up in the Woodstock area and has been dancing for eight years. This is her junior year at KSU, and she is majoring in dance with a jazz concentration. Leah is very excited to be a part of the KSU Dance Company this semester. |
 Beverly Lovins is 18 years old and a freshman at KSU. She has been dancing for 14 years and is very excited to be a part of the KSU Dance Company this year. Beverly aspires to travel to other countries to perform and eventually wants to open her own dance studio. |
 Katherine Maxwell has been dancing since the age of three. She trained at Dan & Company Studios and was a member of the dance company at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School. Katherine is a dance major who transferred from Winthrop University. She is currently a sophomore and loves the dance program here at KSU. |
 Sara McKenna has been dancing since a very young age and began training professionally over the last few years. This is Sara’s first year at Kennesaw State University, and she plans to major in dance. |
 Jessica Oglesby is a junior dance major here at Kennesaw, and this will be her second year with the KSU Dance Company. Jessica began her dance training at the age of three and has been dancing ever since. |
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 Ali Peecher has been dancing for 15 years as a member of the company at Steps Dance Center. She is currently a member of the Project 7 Professional Dance Company and is entering her first season with the KSU Dance Company. Ali is looking forward to growing as a dancer through Kennesaw’s dance program, which she also hopes will help launch her career as a dancer. |
 Nicole Perkins is a 19-year-old sophomore at KSU. She trained as a company member at Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre, performing such roles as Snow Queen and the Arabian Princess. She has attended various summer intensives throughout the country. Nicole is a dance major and in her first season with the KSU Dance Company. |
 Nicole Price is 25 years old and a sophomore, transferring from Waycross College. Having begun her dance training at the age of four, Nicole has continued her dance education by majoring in dance at KSU. This is her first season with the KSU Dance Company. Nicole enjoys teaching and plans to open her own dance studio some day. |
 Erin Rauch is a Kennesaw native and a freshman at KSU. She has trained with Janusz Mazon and Gina Hyatt-Mazon since 2005. She also attended GHP in 2008 as a dance major. Erin is very excited to be at KSU as a dance major. She is in her first season in the KSU Dance Company. |
 Mary Remy is currently a senior dance major with a concentration in modern dance. She recently transferred from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pa. Throughout her 18 years of dancing, Mary has had the privilege of studying various dance techniques throughout the country. This is her first year in the KSU Dance Company, and she is thrilled to be a part of such a diverse and rapidly growing program. |
 Devon Sims is a 19-year-old first-year company member. He has been dancing for five years. Devon aspires to be on Broadway and then eventually a dean of dance. He thanks God everyday for allowing him to bless others with dance. |
 Katie Veldhuis began ballet at the age of three. She has danced at the Dancer’s Studio Backstage for 15 years, 10 of which were spent as a member of the Atlanta Dance Theatre pre-professional company. Katie is a freshman at KSU, and she absolutely loves it. This is her first year in the KSU Dance Company. |
 Emily Ward is a freshman at KSU, and this is her first year in the KSU Dance Company. She has been dancing for 15 years, having started her training at the Coastal Dance Theatre in Australia. Emily spent two years dancing with Dance Contempra and an additional two years with Georgia Youth Ballet’s senior company. |
 Alexis Whitehead is 20 years old and has been dancing for 16 years. This is her second year in the KSU Dance Company. Alexis is very passionate about dance and is inspired by her work with the KSU Dance Company. |
 Greer Yarborough is thrilled to be in her third season with the KSU Dance Company. She has performed with the company at the American College Dance Festival, Cobb Energy Center and Atlanta Ballet, just to name a few. Greer is also the recepient of the 2009-10 Oustanding Dance Senior Scholarship. She has been dancing since the age of four and hopes to pursue a career as a performer and choreographer. |
| PRODUCTION STAFF |
 Mandy DeLamater has 18 years of dance training, specializing in ballet, tap, modern and musical theatre. She has spent the last 3 years teaching at two local studios and hopes to open her own in the future. Mandy feels so privileged to be a part of the KSU Dance Company and would like to thank her wonderful parents and husband for their continued love and support. |
 Jey Sadeckas has been dancing since she was 18 months old. She began teaching five years ago and is currently teaching and office managing at the British Academy of Performing Arts. Jey served as a performing member of the KSU Dance Company during the 2007-2008 season and was an assistant stage manager for last year’s concert. This season, Jey will serve as the stage manager for the KSU Dance Company. She is double majoring in dance and theater and performance studies. |
 Tianna Pourciau was born in New Orleans and began dancing at the age of 10. With a love for theater and acting, Tianna pursued opportunities in the film industry, landing featured extra roles in “Just My Luck,” “Last Holiday” and “Dracula 2000.” Tianna is a junior at KSU and is interested in choreography. She plans to create dance and theatrical works for her own company in the future. |
 Misha Morales is 20 years old and originally from Miami, Fla. She has been dancing for threee years, training in African and modern dance. She is a very determined individual who always strives to do her best. |
Ian Baxter is currently a dance major and a residential assistant with the housing department here at KSU. This is his second season performing with the KSU Dance Company. After graduation, Ian would love to continue his dance education in New York City. 
AJ Paug is in his third season with the KSU Dance Company. He went to the American College Dance Festival nationals in New York, performing Ivan Pulinkala’s work “Incubus.” He currently teaches hip hop at Great Gig Dance Company where he received his initial dance training.