About

A lifelong classically trained dancer originally from Washington, D.C., I began studying American and transnational social dances in 2005. As a History of Science Major at Princeton University, I wrote a senior thesis on the History of Dance Medicine and Science and earned a Certificate in Dance, which allowed me to explore questions about Judaism, sexuality, and the dancing body through choreography and production of a senior thesis concert. While a New York City-based freelance contemporary dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director of the Sydney Schiff Dance Project, I pursued my questions about Judaism and dance through cultural immersion, full-time text study at Drisha Institute for Jewish Education, and research-based creative practice.

As a Master of Fine Arts in Dance at the University of Michigan, I created a thesis concert that framed social dancing as performance improvisation. As a Fellow in the Center for World Performance Studies and graduate student researcher, I conducted exploratory ethnographic fieldwork on Brazilian Zouk in Canada, Europe, and Brazil. Since earning my MFA in 2018, I have traveled the world to study, perform, teach, choreograph, and compete in the Afro-Latin social dance industry.

From March 2020 to June 2021, I worked hard to keep social dancers around the world moving, motivated, and connected by providing a flexible and affordable program of daily drop-in classes. These classes are designed for dancers seeking solo training to support partnered social dancing with a focus on skills specific to Brazilian Zouk. Missed all the fun or want to go back to the Gnomery? Packages of recorded classes are still available for purchase here!

Today, I teach transnational and American social dances at Dance Center Chicago, choreograph performance and competition routines, host students for 2-3 day private training intensives in Chicago, coach passionate community leaders as they build their local scenes through teaching and organizing, and travel to teach, perform, DJ, and social dance at Brazilian Zouk and Afro-Latin dance Workshops, Weekenders, Festivals, and Congresses around the world. Contact me here to chat about your goals and how I can help you get there.

I hope you will join me in Chicago, on the road, and online. I still have some availability for event bookings in 2024, so if you'd like to host me in your city, send me a message and we'll make it happen!

Keep an eye on social media to stay up to date on my adventures and upcoming events.

Vamos dançar!!