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Meet Our Team

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Kate Corby is a contemporary choreographer, educator and performer. She has been on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) since 2008 and continues to create work with her Chicago-based company, Kate Corby & Dancers. Her choreography has been called “ingenious” by the Chicago Reader, “jarringly beautiful” by the Isthmus and is consistently a Critics’ Pick in Time Out Chicago. Kate was also featured in Dance Magazine’s as one of six choreographers “on the cusp of making waves in the larger dance world.” She completed her MFA in Dance at the University of Illinois at Urbana, where she was also an instructor, and received her BA in Dance and Women’s Studies from Beloit College. Kate has served on the faculties of Beloit College, Columbia College Chicago and the Pedagogy Department of the Hungarian Dance Academy. Her work with Performing Ourselves was recently recognized by the UW’s Arts Institute with the Joyce J. & Gerald A. Bartell Award in the Arts. Kate has been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County since 2009 and is thrilled to combine her work in dance with her passion for youth development and activism through Performing Ourselves.

Mariah Meyer LeFeber  is a board certified dance/movement therapist, licensed professional counselor and dance educator. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in dance and psychology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and then went on to Columbia College Chicago, where she earned her master of arts of dance/movement therapy and counseling. Mariah has worked extensively in the field of dance/movement therapy, serving people of all ages in both group and individual settings. She has written several chapters on her work with children, specifically on using dance/movement therapy with autism spectrum disorder. Mariah taught as an Associate Lecturer in the University of Wisconsin - Madison dance department from 2010-2015 and now serves as faculty in the Master of Arts in Counseling program at Multnomah University. While at UW, she combined her passions for dance education and dance/movement therapy in the co-creation of Performing Ourselves. She is honored to continue her work with Performing Ourselves from her new home base of Portland, Oregon.

Mary Lynn Patterson, MA  is returning to Madison, WI as a recent graduate of Drexel University’s Creative Arts Therapy Department in Philadelphia, PA. While at Drexel University, she received a master of arts degree in dance/movement therapy & counseling. Mary is a University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna where she completed a B.F.A. degree in dance. Throughout her graduate education Mary worked in the field of dance/movement therapy serving populations from children to adult in behavioral health, mental health, school, and community-based settings. While in Philadelphia Mary worked closely with the Drexel Dornsife Center for Community Partnerships as a lead teacher in the community dance and movement program. Mary is also pursuing creative ventures as a freelance dancer and collaborative choreographer. Mary is thrilled to join the Performing Ourselves team!

Stephanie Richards  is the Operations Manager for the UW Arts Collaboratory where Performing Ourselves is based. She is excited to support processes and structure for this new entity as well as help expand arts outreach programming. Professionally, Stephanie is also an Outreach Specialist with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute where she Leads the Healthy Wisconsin Leadership Institute's Community Teams Program. Additionally, she is a member of the Madison Circus Space where she regularly trains and performs as an aerialist, often producing shows. Stephanie completed her Masters of Public Health at UW-Madison and earned her Bachelors of Social Work at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her research and program interests include asset-based community engagement, quality improvement, and evaluation. She is very excited to support Performing Ourselves.

Sarah Schwab is a 2015 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a dual bachelor’s degree in Dance and Nonprofit Management and certificate in Dance/Movement Therapy as well as a Violence Prevention certification from Hancock Center for Dance/Movement Therapy. As a dancer, Sarah has performed in Chicago, Honolulu, Madison, Milwaukee, Nashville, New York City, Seattle, Washington DC, and internationally in Malaysia, Mexico, Korea, and Japan. Sarah has been very involved in the dance and outreach community since moving to Madison seven years ago, serving as President of the Dance Department Student Organization and Community Outreach Director of Movement Exchange while at the UW. Recently, she has worked with nonprofit organizations such as Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners, the YMCA, the YWCA, the Boys and Girls Club, East Madison Community Center, Kennedy Heights Community Center, the Goodman Center, and Allied Learning Center. Sarah is currently working full time as the Assistant Youth Program Manager and Arts Coordinator at East Madison Community Center as well as serving as Performing Ourselves' Marketing Manager and dancing locally for independent artists.

Caroline Criste is a third year dance major pursuing her BFA in dance with a double major in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the recipient of the Noel Hefty Scholarship (2015-2019) and Perry Mansfield Award (2015), both of which she received through the dance department. She also was awarded the Martha Peterson Research Fund in order to attend Strictly Seattle’s Summer Intensive 2017. She has had the privilege to work with faculty members such as Li Chiao-Ping, Jin-Wen Yu, Kate Corby, Marlene Skog, and Chris Walker in her time so far in the UW Dance Department, and guest artists Rosalind Newman and Jamie McHugh. Her collaborative choreographic work, Roots, was featured in UW Madison’s 2016 Kloepper Student Concert. Caroline is excited to continue to learn, grow, and progress as a dance artist during her time at UW Madison, and she is looking forward to taking her skills and education into the professional dance world.

Elisa Hildner is a junior at UW-Madison, pursuing a degree in dance and a certificate in Pilates as well as fulfilling the prerequisites for Physical Therapy. Hildner trained in classical ballet and contemporary through the School of DanceWest Ballet and was a choreographer and member of their ballet company. This will be her second year teaching for Performing Ourselves and she is so excited to work to empower more young girls and boys through dance again this year!

Julianna Hom , a Wilmette, IL native, is currently pursuing her BFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While at UW, she has worked with faculty member Li Chiao-Ping and guest artist Carol Teitelbaum. Furthermore, she has received scholarships to study at Perry Mansfield (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Gibney Dance Center (New York, NY). In addition to her studies, she is a member of Kaitlin Webster’s HighFalutin Dance Theater in Chicago. Julianna is so excited to be joining the Performing Ourselves team this year!

Amanda Kolsch , originally from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is a sophomore at University of Wisconsin- Madison. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in dance with a certificate in pilates. She was trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, contemporary, and pom at Nancy Diane Dance Studio (ages 3-8), Dynamite Dance Studio (ages 8-16), and B. Inspired Dance Studio (ages 16-18) as well as on the Menomonee Falls High School Varsity Dance Team (member and captain). While in middle school and high school, she taught dance at the studios she trained at, other area studios, area recreation departments, and at various dance camps. She is very excited to continue her dance and teaching journeys as a teaching assistant this year with Performing Ourselves!

Jessica Robling , born in China, raised in Brooklyn, NY is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin- Madison (UW) pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Certificate in Pilates. She teaches for a local community outreach program, Performing Ourselves, that brings dance to underserved communities through weekly classes. Jessica is the Co-President of the student organization, Movement Exchange, that unites dance and service. While living in Brooklyn, she danced with Dancewave, a Brooklyn based dance company and had the opportunity to work with Kyle Abraham, Camille Brown, Gallim Dance, and Larry Keigwin. Additionally Jessica trained at the New York Chinese Cultural Center where she was taught Chinese traditional dance by Gu BeiBei and Hu Yuezhen. At UW, Jessica has worked with guest artist Scott Ewen and dance faculty Kate Corby, Chris Walker, Li Chiao-Ping and Jin-Wen Yu. This past summer Jessica participated in the re-staging of Anna Halprin’s Parades and Changes working closely with Brooke Smiley and Liz Sexe.

Dianne Kotsonis , originally from Brookfield, WI, is a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) pursuing a Bachelor of Science in dance with certificates in business and Pilates. In 2014 she was awarded the title Student Teacher of the Year at her dance studio, allowing her to teach and co-teach classes the following year. While at UW she has performed with faculty members Chris Walker, Jin-Wen Yu, Li Chiao-Ping, and Liz Sexe and has performed student works in multiple UW Dance student concerts. This past spring Dianne performed Lyndsay Lewis’ piece “this digging reminds you” in both Santa Barbara, CA for the HH11 Dance Festival as well as Duluth, MN for the American College Dance Association. Dianne is very excited her first year with Performing Ourselves.

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Brooke Schroeder was born and raised in Stevens Point WI, is currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin Madison. she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in dance and a certificate in Pilates. Dancing since the age of 3 she has trained in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and pointe. As a dancer, Brooke has performed in Stevens Point (WI), Milwaukee (WI), Madison (WI), Chicago (IL), Steamboat Springs (CO), and Winter Garden (FL). This is Brooke’s first year on the Performing Ourselves team, she looks forward to getting more involved in the community and empowering Madison area youth through movement!

Bailey Seymour Raised in Winnetka, IL is currently a Junior at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, pursuing a BFA in Dance as well as certificates in Dance Movement Therapy, and Education & Educational Services. While at UW she has worked with Professor Collette Stewart, as well as guest artists, Carol Teitelbaum, Rosalind Newman, and Jamie McHugh. Bailey has received scholarships to study at Perry Mansfield (Steamboat Springs, CO) as well as Bates Dance Festival (Lewiston, MA). Through the combination of her certificates and major Bailey is interested in the ways that Dance, Education, and Dance Movement Therapy can combine and support one another. Bailey is excited for her first year as a part of the Performing Ourselves team!

Native of Milwaukee, WI, Alice Svetic  is currently in her third year pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from UW-Madison. Alice’s current interests lie in contemporary dance performance, dance making, and dance education. This is Alice’s first year teaching for Performing Ourselves, and hopes to instill in youth a passion for movement, creativity and community through her work.

Kaitlin Verchimak is a third year student at the UW-Madison studying Dance and Gender & Women’s Studies.  While Kaitlin is a new addition to the Performing Ourselves team, she has spent her previous year working as a dance instructor for youth at Studio Dansu here in Madison.  Kaitlin is excited to join the team, work with new youth groups, and share her passion for movement with the Madison community!

performingourselves@gmail.com

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