MashUp's IWDDF 2023 Full Program

Welcome to MashUp’s 7th Annual International Women’s Day Dance Festival!

Every year there is an almost tangible energy and robustness to this festival that brings the dance community together to celebrate and support the female-identifying voices within it Our biggest event yet, this year ’ s IWD dance festival is filled with diverse and dynamic programming showcasing the stories, ideas, and creativity of a multitude of awe-inspiring artists from various backgrounds. For MashUp, this festival is one embodiment of our vision for a world where diversity is celebrated and opportunity is accessible for all. We wholeheartedly believe in the power of community, and through our collective commitment to creating fair and equal spaces, we join this year ’ s International Women’s Day campaign to #EmbraceEquity, and invite you to join us!

Whether you take part in all 4 days of events, or just one or two, we hope you leave inspired, energized, and challenged to continue working towards a more just and equitable world. In gratitude,

MashUp’s Creative Council - Sarah Rodenhouse, Victoria Brown, Stephanie Heckert, and Madi Hicks

About MashUp's IWDDF

In 2017, MashUp Contemporary Dance Company moved in as company-in-residence at the newly opened Frogtown Creative Studios near the LA River, giving space for the company to host the very first International Women's Day Dance Festival event. Aiming to showcase work by some of the strongest and most talented women in the LA dance industry and to celebrate the many female-identifying artists in the LA dance community, the one-day event featured master classes and a showcase with choreography from Denna Thomsen, Mackenzie Martin, Kate Hutter Mason, and more! The MashUp team knew something special had been started, but had no idea how much the festival would grow in the years-to-come.

Built on the belief that all voices should have the opportunity to be heard as we work together to envision a better future, the International Women’s Day Dance Festival cultivates moments of connection while building empathy and understanding, particularly surrounding gender equity, through the artistic medium of dance. Today, the Festival has grown to host 4 days of performances, workshops, discussions, dance film screenings, and more, featuring work from 20+ women choreographers performed by over 100 female-identifying dance artists, with over 300 community members in attendance. Looking forward, MashUp’s goal is to establish the Festival as a premiere national event for witnessing and celebrating work by up-and-coming womxn choreographers and convening Dance Industry professionals for key dialogue and action on issues of equity, particularly related to gender, in both the nonprofit and commercial sectors.

About IWD

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality

Marked annually on March 8th, International Women's Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to:

celebrate women's achievements educate and awareness raise for women's equality call for positive change advancing women lobby for accelerated gender parity fundraise for female-focused charities

IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere IWD is not country, group or organization specific. Feminism's eclectic and inclusive nature means that all efforts advancing women's equality are welcome and should be respected

Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights " So make International Women's Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.

#EMBRACEEQUITY

For International Women's Day and beyond, let's all fully #EmbraceEquity. Equity isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a musthave.

A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society's DNA

We can all truly embrace equity. It's not just something we say. It's not just something we write about It's something we need to think about, know, and embrace.

It's what we believe in, unconditionally. Equity means creating an inclusive world

And we can all play a part.

Each one of us can actively support and embrace equity within our own sphere of influence.

We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion.

Collective activism is what drives change. From grassroots action to wide-scale momentum, we can all embrace equity.

Forging gender equity isn't limited to women solely fighting the good fight Allies are incredibly important for the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women. Everyone everywhere can play a part. Collectively, we can all forge positive change Being included, and belonging, feels good.

When we embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion. We embrace equity to forge harmony and unity, and to help drive success for all

Equality is the goal, and equity is the means to get there. Through the process of equity, we can reach equality

Don't just say it. Think it. Be it. Do it. Value it. Truly embrace it.

Embrace equity in all its forms

Share the passion and excitement that comes from valuing and supporting difference. Reflect on how we can all be part of the solution, not the problem

Encourage and rally your friends, family, colleagues, and community to embrace equity. Together we can work collectively to impact positive change

Together we can all help forge an equal world. Let's all embrace equity today, and always.

Are you in? Will you embrace equity?

Show the world your huge embrace. Strike the IWD #EmbraceEquity pose to show solidarity. Share your #EmbraceEquity image, video, resources, presentation, and articles across social media using #IWD2023

#EmbraceEquity to encourage others to help forge an inclusive world embrace - verb - ɪ

- to willingly and enthusiastically accept, adopt, and espouse

FRIDAY MARCH 3

LA WOMEN IN DANCE SUMMIT

10:30am-5pm | Fiesta Hall at Plummer Park, West Hollywood | 1166 N Vista St West Hollywood, CA 90046

Meet, network, and find inspiration from others in the Los Angeles dance community! Get to know more about companies, service, and advocacy organizations doing work in LA and hear from, take class, and see work from women-identifying and nonbinary dance leaders while making new connections in an atmosphere of empowerment. Open to all. Supported in part by a grant from the City of West Hollywood.

9:30 am - Participating Artists, Choreographers, and Full Festival Registrant Breakfast

10:30 am - Summit Welcome + Networking/Coffee/Tea + Industry Expo Opens

Throughout the Summit, select companies and organizations will host tables in the lobby for dancers to learn more about programs, opportunities, and services available in the Los Angeles dance community. Expo area will close at 4pm.

11 am -11:50 Opening Panel: #EmbraceEquity

The #EmbraceEquity panel is curated by K. Bradford - queer/trans artist, leader and a Director of Invertigo Dance Theatre. Bradford and three other trans and nonbinary dancers/performers will tackle head on the power and challenges of embracing gender expansion and trans inclusivity in the field of dance and in society at large. Bold questions, voices, and perspectives will crack open pathways for authentic allyship, innovative inclusivity and brave best practices While arts and justice movements are far ahead of the curve, this vital conversation will deepen possibilities for awareness and actions to #EmbraceEquity Panelists include Sydney Rogers aka Miss Barbie-Q (They/She), Cody Brunelle-Potter (They/Them), and Lennon Torres

12 pm - 1:15 - Master Class with Stephanie Heckert of MashUp Contemporary Dance Company

1:30 -2:45 pm - Master Class with BODYTRAFFIC

3 pm-3:50 - Panel and Q&A: Women Artistic Directors Share Their Career Journeys, Featuring Jackie Lopez, Pat Taylor, Gracie Whyte, Laura Berg, and Victoria Brown, moderated by Emily Wanserski

What does it mean to be Powerful?

An excerpt from MashUp's P O W E R

Examining what it means to feel Powerful while learning to accept the ebb and flow within it How do we allow space for potential to build, and ultimately recognize our capacity to shift the energy within or around us

Company: MashUp Contemporary Dance Company

Choreographed by Sarah Rodenhouse

Danced by Sandy Strangis

Original music by Margot MacDonald

RECALL

Work in progress

Choreographed and danced by Jessie Lee Thorne

Company: Poets in Motion

Snow White & Eve

excerpt from Invertigo's Formulae & Fairy Tales

bverting the "sleeping princess who needs rescuing" trope. ow White and Eve wake each other up, rescue themselves, d fall in love. A queer reclamation of mythology, of femme aracters who were punished simply for one bite of apple.

mpany: Invertigo

eated by Laura Karlin, choreographed in collaboration with ncers

formed by Hyosun Choi & Jessica Dunn

sic by Julia Kent

Love. Lost. Fly

Company: BODYTRAFFIC

Choreographed by Micaela Taylor

Danced by Jordyn Santiago

Original music and sound editing by Shockey and additional music by Ezio Bosso

Costume design by Lori Lee and costume construction by Shawna Hanto

SATURDAY MARCH 4

EMPOWERED BY MOVEMENT PUBLIC WORKSHOP

11am-12pm | FREE | Frogtown Creative Studios - 2934 Gilroy St. Los Angeles, CA 90039

An all-abilities FREE public workshop co-hosted by Moved LA, led by MashUp Co-Founder, Sarah Rodenhouse, and focused on empowering everyone to find JOY and Individual POWER through moving our bodies and connecting with one another with imaginative and playful creative movement.

WOMEN OWNED POP-UP MARKETPLACE

12pm-4pm | Frogtown Brewery - 2931 Gilroy St. Los Angeles, CA 90039

MashUp is partnering with our friends at Frogtown Brewery to host a women-owned pop-up marketplace! Vendors include Dapper House Menagerie, Nova Luna, MashUp, Moved LA, and more. Stop by and support some local women-owned small businesses and enjoy connecting with community!

SATURDAY MARCH 4

2PM (INVITE ONLY), 5PM, 8PM | $30 | LA DANCE PROJECT

2245 E WASHINGTON BLVD LOS ANGELES, CA 90021

WOMEN CHOREOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE

An anchor event of the Festival, the 2023 Women Choreographers Showcase performances feature 10 short contemporary-based dance works from 12 women choreographers, curated by MashUp's Creative Council through a formal submission process.

Production Manager: Victoria Brown, Lighting Designer: Joey Guthman

Stage Manager: Jessica Moneà Evans

Show order

downcast

Three beings dwell in undefined spaces at the edge of light and darkness as a metaphor for the duality that inhabits the human being experience

Concept by Stephanie García in collaboration with Joshua Yago Mora and Kellie St. Pierre

Company: Punto de Inflexión

Production/Producción: Punto de Inflexión

Music: Autechre, Krill.minima, Loscil, and Alessandro

Cortini

Danced by Angeline Bourgeault, Leslie Jara, and Josephine Kolbeck

loveDANCEmore artist-in-residence 2022-2024

Rogue Planets

A rogue planet, also known as an interstellar planet, nomad planet, free-floating planet, wandering planet, or starless planet, is a planetary-mass object that orbits the galaxy directly with no gravitational relationship to a star. The four planets, also symbolizing the four horsemen of the apocalypse, move in and out of gravitational relationships with one another through glances, near-misses, and collisions.

Choreographed by Meredith Cabaniss

Music: Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Minor

Danced by Bianca Salazar, Ashley Kohler Reynolds, Rachyl Pines, Amanda Keller

the nightingale, the crow

This is dedicated to my muse of womanhood, my best friend: my mom. I was much older when I realized one of the greatest things I’ve ever undone was ask my mother about her life. How she spoke, how she was, and what she believed before all she became was someone to me

Allow me to introduce you.

Choreographed by Madison Moser

Music: QKThr by Aphex Twin, The Whole Universe Wants to be Touched by Nils Frahm, The Man That Got Away -

Live by Judy Garland

Danced by Maddie Lucas, Josie Anders, and Brianna

Sanchez

Original lighting design by Jack Cannon. And cheers to my muse, I love you mama.

GRAND PAS DE DEUX

This work aims to challenge both the use and perception of classical ballet music paired with a more unconventional, contemporary movement vocabulary Classical ballet is often black and white: full of hierarchies, stereotypes, clichés. This work allows for artists to discover their own journey, as well as to provoke audience members to hear this iconic music differently. For both artists and audience members, the goal is to challenge what we just accept as normal and inspire the choice of creating our own narrative and discovering the freedom that follows

Choreographed by Ashley Tomaszewski

Music: Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71, Act II: No: 14a, Pas de deux

Danced by Jo Brockway, Greta Linder, Brynne Monteagudo, Jade Ortiz

can you exaggerate more?

This excerpt of work explores the "show" of how we present ourselves to the world as a women and performers, derived from the lens of emotional states and the need to be perceived. We explore what it’s like to perform for ourselves and not for an audience allowing exploration and curiosity to consume our physicality.

Choreographed and Danced by Chelsea Roquero & Krystal Masteller

Music: Track 1: Oogum Boogum Song by Brenton Wood, Track 2: Godmother by Holly Herndon & Jlin (feat Swan), Track 3:Hot Air by Yogev Freilichman

We are so grateful to Stomping Ground L A for providing a home for our creative endeavors. As well as thank Kate Hutter-Mason, Gracie Whyte & Colleen Hendricks for their support in this new journey.

"ɿɘvɘƨ bnɒɔnγƨ" (sync and sever)

"ɿɘvɘƨ bnɒɔnγƨ " is a piece expanded from the improvisational prompt of trying to break away from oneself in the mirror

Choreographed by Aisha Reddick

Music: "Slower Than Your Life" by Pie Are Squared

Danced by Emily Brandt, Chloe McClure, Odessa Newman, Melissa ValenzuelaHernandez

Pressure Point #4

A dynamic quartet that activates spatial relationship and gender ideology as microcosms of and metaphors for the politics of government

Choreographed by Rosalynde LeBlanc

Music: Michael Wall

Danced by Tippy Dringman, Rosalynde LeBlanc, Haley Smith, Monica Williams

Perception of Time

This piece grapples with our inability to simultaneously keep track of and fully experience what is defined for us as time. In this piece, the dancers will use the metered music as a representation of the practical/linear sense of time in an attempt to find a state of balance By viewing time as linear, we always feel like we are losing time, not making the best of it. But, when it is cyclical, it is constantly renewing itself.

Choreographed by Nicole Hagen

Music: Spiegel im Spiegel // Composed by Arvo

Pärt // Performed by Martin Roscoe & Tasmin Little

Danced by Lily Chumas, Shelby Davis, Hannah Hawkins, Colleen Hendricks, Vickie Roan, and Hunter Foster Wayne

This piece was created at AMDA College in collaboration with Aleari Reed, Alex Sdrolias, Brittany Pardee, Jaylen Quezada, Mary Kate Chapman, and Morgan Smith.

how i became kinder and kinder?

This is an excerpt of a larger work entitled, how i became kinder, and kinder This work researches on the wavelength and vibration of a sound bowl, as well as the chakras involved with certain frequencies to be unblocked.

Choreographed by Azuki Umeda

Music: The Miraculous Journey by Xumantra

Danced by Azuki Umeda and Jennifer Vieweg

Special thank you to CSU Long Beach for allowing me to research further into my work through their graduate program.

An Excerpt from Changing the Landscape

This excerpt of MashUp's upcoming full length performance, "Changing the Landscape", explores the inevitability and stages of change on a micro level We each experience and respond to change differently, but use the clarity of hindsight, and who we once were to inform who we will become

Choreographed by Stephanie Heckert and Sarah Rodenhouse in collaboration with the dancers

Company: MashUp Contemporary Dance Company

Music: John Cage, Murcof, Vanessa Wagner, Si Begg

Danced by Stephanie Heckert, Nicole Hagen, Catalina Jackson-Uruena, Nadia Maryam, Megan Kenson, Sandy Strangis, Shelby Davis

The full length performance of Changing the Landscape will explore questions like What are our individual and collective landscapes? What do we see when we look around our world? What do we want to see?, and more. With the use of projection, lights, and technology, audience members will get to explore the ripple effects of their actions by changing what they see in the physical landscape of the performance.

Catch the preview of Changing the Landscape along with a panel discussion with local change-makers in Culver City on August 19th, and then immerse yourself in the full length show in Frogtown on August 25th and 26th!

SUNDAY MARCH 5

DAY OF MASTER CLASSES

Pay-What-You-Choose Advanced Masterclasses starting at $8. Genesis Studios - 2861 W Ave 35 Los Angeles, CA 90065

9am-10:30am Master Class with Tess Hewlett

10:30-12pm Master Class with Rosanna Tavarez

12:30-2pm Master Class with Azuki Umeda

2pm-3:30pm Master Class with Toogie Barcelo

FESTIVAL GALA

Featuring special speaker, performances, time to honor two exemplary women in LA dance, DJ, dessert, open bar, and more! Doors open at 6pm for drinks, light appetizers, and silent auction bidding. Celebrate women artists while helping ensure the International Women’s Day Dance Festival can continue for years to come

Doors open 6pm | $80 | Frogtown Creative 2934 Gilroy St, Los Angeles, CA 90039

6 PM - Doors Open - Appetizers, Drinks, and Silent Auction

7 PM - Formal Program Featuring Performances from Crossroads School, Geometry Dance Company, and MashUp, Keynote Address from Robin L. Owens, Ph.D., and Awards Given to the 2023 Exemplary Women in LA Dance Honorees Rebecca Lemme and Nina Flagg

8 PM - Dessert from Little Dom's, music from DJ Felicity A, and Dancin’!

WEDNESDAY MARCH 8

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

GROUND GROOVES CLASS

10-11:30am | Studio A Dance - 2306

Hyperion Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027 | $10

Limited spaces are available for advanced dancers to join MashUp Company Members for morning class.

IWD CELEBRATION + FILM SCREENING

7pm | $15 ($10 for online streaming) | Frogtown Creative 2934 Gilroy St, Los Angeles, CA 90039

The festival’s culminating celebration is a relaxed evening of light refreshments, short reflection on this year ’ s IWD Theme, and screenings of 8 selected dance films from women choreographers Dance Films will also be made available for online viewing for 24 hours starting at 7PM Pacific.

FEATURED FILMS

MoNa

“Mona” (abbreviated ‘Mother Nature’) is a personification of the climate crisis and our abusive relationship with nature. The film acts as a cautionary tale, detailing how humanity prioritizes material delusions at the expense of our planet.

Choreographer: Margaret Canady

Music: MoNa by About You

Directed by Cyrus Stowe & Marie Marchant

Director of Photography: Riley Donavan

Written by Cyrus Stowe, Marie Marchant, Théo Michel & Max Poscente

Produced by Théo Michel & Max Poscente

Edited by Cyrus Stowe, Marie Marchant and Théo Michel

Iyana Monet as "MoNa"

Cacia Lacount as "Mortal"

Andrea Calvetti as "Driver with the cowboy boots"

First Assistant Director: Théo Michel

Art Direction: Marie Marchant

Makeup: Marie Marchant

Styling: Marie Marchant & Max Poscente

Coloring: Dylan Hageman

PA: Emma DePaulo Reid

Ducks Crossing

Ducks Crossing is a playful exploration of the way the Anthropocene has and continues to encroach upon countless natural habitats, and a testament to the resilience of nature even in the face of the destructive habits that have come to dominate the modern world. In the film, two "ducks" traverse a serene patch of woods, but eventually part ways as the environment transforms into a wasteland festering under a busy New Jersey highway.

Mignolo Dance

Director: Charly Santagado

Music: Flute Trio - Daniel Gall

Danced by Jess Michal, Eriel Santagado

NAEEM

NAEEM investigates the relationship between ourselves and news ingestion, especially in the last few years. The work seeks to point to the imbalance of the 24hr news circuit and society's ability of avoidance or overconsumption, and how we deal with the affects of our engagement threshold.

DIRECTED & CHOREOGRAPHED: Mackenzie Martin

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Frankie Guerrero Jr.

"B" CAMERA OPERATOR: Jaymes Camery

GAFFER: Jon Lile

1ST ASSISTANT CAMERA: @caseyoberhansli

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS : Emily Fabretti & Ashleigh Carr

REHEARSAL DIRECTORS: Michaela Moore & Madi Thomas

KID 1: Damien Hansen

KID 2: Mavric Hansen

SONG: "NAEEM" bon iver

G1 Dancers: Dani Burd, Madi Thomas, Michaela Moore, Gabby Domz

G2 Dancers: Abigail Newlon, Alexandra Faith, Amina Yufanyi, Brooke Harper, Casey Lambert, Cassie Cavanaugh, Emilee Iuvara, Hanna Peddicord, Lydia McDonald, Mia

Wilborne, Morgan Goodfellow, Olivia Emert, RyLee Altenburg

SPECIAL THANKS: Taylor Hansen and Thomas Hansen

Shoes Off in the Studio

Shoes Off in the Studio draws inspiration from the artwork of Henri Matisse, known for his use of strikingly vibrant colors carved into sweeping shapes in order to create, paradoxically, a sense of harmony and calm (much like, as he referred to it, a “good armchair”) This dance film invites viewers into Matisse’s colorful studio, referencing his shapes through tableaux vivants of sorts and addressing ideas of comfort through interactions with color.

Choreographed by Julia Lawton

We Are A Plot Device

We are a product of the digital world created by our world leaders. Constructed by technology, social media, and digital devices, are a plot device, a distraction, from the harsh reality of our current time

Choreographed by Leah Lagrange

Music: “We Are A Plot Device” by Regina de Miguel and Lucretia Dalt

Danced by Lily Boulet, Perrin Chavez, Avery Hirt, Janie Hollowell, Sophie Schwab

bound / less

Embodying the progress and collective power of the feminist movement, while simultaneously acknowledging its glaring setbacks and discriminatory tactics, 3 LA-based BIWOC choreographers lead the creative direction of a dance film exploring the racial tensions within the feminist movement. Part of MashUp Contemporary Dance Company's annual program commemorating National Women's Equality Day, the film promises to inspire moments of introspection while interrogating societal expectations

Directed + Choreographed by Victoria Brown, Marissa Osato, and Carissa Songhorian

Danced by Shiori Kamijo, Vickie Roan, Eugenia Rodriguez, Hyosun Choi, Cacia Lacount, Nadia Maryam, Carissa Songhorian, Emily Carr, Megan Prout, Shelby Davis

Music: Sara Sithi-Amnuai, Kathryn Shuman, Drumset Fundamentals, Alyesha Wise, Andy Stott

Director of Photography: Nathan Kim

Producer: Emily Wanserski

Editors: Nathan Kim, Danielle King

Dramaturg: Devon Yates

Rehearsal assistant to Marissa Osato: Derek Tabada

Gaffers: Leo Escobar, Marci Garcia

Key Grips: Aakash Raj, Dan Eckert

Sound: Will Shulz

S M h Ad lf "Al" K

Topia

Topia investigates the complexity of emotions, specifically exploring individuals’ different manifestations of darkness – numbness, dissociation, depression, mania. The work examines the necessity of vulnerability, community, holding each other in pain and joy, and the effects that can have on the individual as well as those we let in.

Choreographed by Jessie Lee Thorne

Music: Lost in light by Lauren Dessinger and Distant Cowboy

Danced by Laja Field, Matt Luck, Kaia Makihara, Annalise Gehling, Keilan Stafford, Jessie Lee

Thorne

Co-directed by: Jessie Lee Thorne and Justin Thorne

Edited by: Justin Thorne

Director of Photography: Ryan Maslyn

Artistic Collaborator: Laja Field

Choreographic Collaborator: Matt Luck

Produced by David Orr

Commissioned by Boston Moving Arts

UNCONSCIOUS

A pattern can be broken once we shine the light of consciousness on it If we are subject to routine without awareness, life can happen to us, and not for us. In this case, what pulls us out of these dangerous loop holes and away from the same stubborn walls? To expand the collective consciousness, it starts with the individual

Choreographed by Madison Olandt & Derion Loman

Music: Original Composition by : Andrew McDonnell

The Seaweed Sisters: Night at the Sea-a-ter Musical chairs. Ghostly scares. Seaduction times three. You wait and see!

Created by: The Seaweed Sisters (Dana Wilson, Jillian Meyers, Megan Lawson)

With Special Guest: Matt Cady as the Theater Ghost

Directed by: Machete Bang Bang

Produced by: Machete Bang Bang and The Seaweed Sisters

Edited by: Dana Wilson

Sound Designer, Illustrator, and Co-Editor: Danny

Madden

DP: Luisa Betancur Ossa

1st Asst Camera: Paulina Zamorano

Gaffer Swing: Lisa Tom

Production Assistant: Riley Higgins

Wardrobe by Stefani Wilson

Color by Jack Tashdjian

SPECIAL THANKS:

Joe Berry

Sean David Christensen

Alex Evans

Bob Baker Marionette Theater

Stephan Malik

Register for Individual Festival Events at mashupdance.com/iwddance fest or by scanning below!

Meet the Festival Artists

LA Women in Dance Summit - Featured Dance Companies

Invertigo Dance Theatre

Founded in 2007 by Artistic Director, Laura Karlin, Invertigo Dance Theatre creates powerful and visceral dance experiences that connect with audiences throughout the country We collaborate with a wide variety of choreographers, theatre companies, musical ensembles, social service agencies, education programs, and design artists to make thoughtful performances available to everyone. Our engagement programming is dedicated to promoting physical and artistic empowerment by making dance accessible for underserved communities, low-income students, and those living with Parkinson’s disease. At Invertigo, we are continually committed to creating a community where people of all backgrounds can enjoy dance and storytelling. We believe that this is only possible through the creation of enriching environments that are diverse, inclusive, and equitable. A true community is one in which all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, religion, or ability, feel welcomed and valued as equal human beings.

BODYTRAFFIC

BODYTRAFFIC uses the creative spirit of its Los Angeles home to fulfill its mission of delivering performances that inspire audiences simply to love dance Since its inception in 2007, the company has held its place at the forefront of the concert dance world Co-founder and Artistic Director Tina Finkelman Berkett has taken the company to new heights, performing at festivals in Holland, Diana Vishneva’s CONTEXT Festival in Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as touring as ambassadors with the U S State Department across Europe and the Middle East They have quickly become known for their versatility, presenting works by a range of prominent contemporary dancemakers This combination of superb dancers and accomplished choreographers led the Los Angeles Times to describe BODYTRAFFIC as “ one of the most talked about companies not just in LA, but nationwide.”

Poets in Motion / Jessie Lee Thorne

Jessie Lee Thorne is a free-lance dancer/teacher/choreographer based in Los Angeles. She started her training at LACHSA and continued at The Boston Conservatory. After receiving her B.F.A in Dance and Choreography, she spent two years in Italy touring with the Imperfect Dancers Company. Jessie has traveled the world performing works by Walter Matteini, Ohad Naharin, Jiri Kylian, Doug Varone, Robert Moses Kin’, Adam Barruch, Rebecca Lemme and Micaela Taylor. Jessie is currently a member of The TL Collective. She is the creator of "Poets In Motion," a company housing dance and film, and has created movement in music videos for artists such as: David Archuleta, Kevin Mchale, Emit Fenn, Sandwoman & Grant Carey, Tam Visher, as well as choreographed for a Universal feature film (releasing fall 2020) and for the short film titled, "Daisy Boy " Jessie makes art from the place of wanting to connect with others on a deeper level, as well as allow people space to connect back to themselves

Women Choreographers Showcase

Meredith Cabaniss is a multi-creative artist based in southern California. She holds a BFA in Dance from UC Santa Barbara and an MFA in Dance from Hollins University in coordination with the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm and The Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company (formerly the Forsythe Company). As the founder and artistic director of Selah Dance Collective, Cabaniss has produced and presented works throughout the United States as well as abroad in Europe and Asia, most recently in Estonia, Finland, Spain, and Italy As a current PhD student studying at UC Santa Barbara, Meredith continues to travel and advocate for the arts both nationally and internationally as a dance educator and choreographer

García holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance from the Ballet and Contemporary National Dance School (ENDCC)/National Fine Arts Institute of Mexico (INBA) and studies in Cultural Management (UDG) and Internacional Cultural Policies (OEI, UAM, CENART). Garcia is a performer, dancemaker, choreographer, performing arts director, cultural manager, producer, co-founder, and co-director of Punto de Inflexión Dance Company and PROArtes México. She has danced with several of the most important choreographers and venues in Mexico, and international choreographers, performed in 11 countries in America, Europe, and Africa, and choreographed more than 30 original multidisciplinary pieces. A beneficiary of programs like Next-Gen (US/2022), Banff Center (CAN/2021), NALAC (US/2021), Outstanding Profile Santander Legacy (MEX/2020), IBERESCENA (Iberoamerican countries/2019), Prince Claus Fund (NL/2019), and seven times awarded by Mexico's National Culture and Arts Fund grants from 20062019. The Mexican and US press have recognized Stephanie's work as a performer and creator on several occasions Since 2008, Stephanie has been working as an arts advocate She has facilitated local and international art exchanges between Mexican artists and countries like Uruguay, Cuba, Panama, Brazil, Israel, Spain, Austria, Peru, Colombia, Tunisia, and the US See more in PROArtes México Awarded by the Center of Latin American Studies and Tinker Research Foundation in 2021, a Sorenson Legacy Fellow 2021-2022, and Early Career Professional Development Award. Currently, García is a Graduate Research Fellow 2022-2023, a Graduate Teaching Assistant, an MFA candidate in the Modern Dance program at the University of Utah, and a member of Red U40 México, and The Latin American Interdisciplinary Gender Network (Yale).

Meredith Cabaniss

Stephanie Garcia

Rosalynde LeBlanc

Rosalynde LeBlanc has spent thirty years in dance as a performer, choreographer, and educator. She holds a BFA from SUNY Purchase and an MFA from Hollins University. She is a professor and current Chair of the Dance Program at Loyola Marymount University Prior to her academic career, Rosalynde was a member of the Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project, and the Liz Gerring Dance Company. As a guest artist, Rosalynde has danced with Colleen Thomas Dance, Keith Johnson and Dancers, Charles Moulton, Keigwin + Company, in productions with New York City’s Metropolitan Opera and with Joachim Schlömer for the 250th Mozart Celebration in Salzburg, Austria. She has had her writing published in the leading international dance periodicals, Dance Magazine and Ballettanz, and her choreography has been licensed and commissioned by professional and student companies around the country. She continues her work with Bill T. Jones in the preservation of his legacy and pedagogy, directing the Educational Partnership between the Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane Company and LMU’s Dance Program Rosalynde also produced and codirected the critically acclaimed documentary film, “Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters.” The film was a N.Y. Times Critic’s Choice for 2021 and was on the ‘Year’s Best Films’ lists of Vulture, Esquire, IndieWire and Ebert Voices The film also won “Best Documentary” in the San Francisco Dance Film Festival, two Special Jury prizes in the QFilm Festival, and a Chita Rivera Award nomination for Best Direction As the producer of “Can You Bring It,” Rosalynde raised over $600,000 including funding from the Graves Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. In 2020, Rosalynde’s work in dance and service to education earned her an honorary induction into the Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu

Madison Moser

Canadian born and raised artist, Madison Moser has 18 years of training and experience in a vast range of dance forms from ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz to house, breaking, and acrobatics Madison has competed across the world, holding many titles as well as bringing home the gold medal for Team Canada at the IDO World Dance Championships Growing up, she trained with YYC Dance Project where she performed works by Jason Parsons, Lauren Adams, Kirsten Russel, Danny Lawn, Stacey Tookey and more. Madison has trained and performed with several prestigious institutions including the Alberta Ballet School, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Moscow Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet School and Cirque du Soleil She began choreographing at 15 years old with self-choreographed solos and musical collaboration and since been a guest choreographer and teacher at several studios across Canada Since moving to Los Angeles, Madison works closely with and has performed many works by Chehon Wepsi-Tschopp and the IAF company, Alex Komulainen, and most recently, with Tyce Diorio at Jackie Sleight’s Full Circle Jazz Concert Madison can also be seen on the most recent season of So You Think You Can Dance She is currently continuing her studies at the California Institute of the Arts pursuing a BFA in Dance. Since beginning her studies there, she has performed as a soloist in works by Rosanna Tavarez and Merce Cunningham, as well as premiering original works of choreography As an emerging choreography, Madison hopes to continue to research and innovate as she builds her portfolio and expands her artistic voice.

Aisha Reddick

Aisha Reddick is an African American and Filipina movement artist and instructor based in San Diego, California. She attended California State University, Long Beach, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance in Fall 2021 At CSULB, Aisha was able to hone her creativity and choreographic voice with the guidance of Rebecca Lemme, Keith Johnson and further support from faculty, staff, and friends. Through her dance career, Aisha has worked with many independent artists and companies between San Diego and Los Angeles including somebodies dance theater (Gina Bolles-Sorensen and Kyle Sorensen), Culture Shock San Diego, Disco Riot, Acts of Matter, LA Contemporary Dance Company, Regula Mahler Bashir, Debi Toth-Ward, Kathy Meyer and many others. Currently, Aisha is a season VII company member (G2) with GEOMETRY Dance Company under the direction of Mackenzie Martin She is also a Teaching Artist at Culture Shock San Diego and works in collaboration with Helix High School in their Dance Department as a Master Class instructor and on-call substitute In her free time, Aisha continues to explore her artistry through choreography, improvisation exploration and focused process with other dancers through creation and class instruction.

Ashley Tomaszewski

Ashley is a graduate of Butler University with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Pedagogy, having graduated in May 2018 cum laude with departmental honors in dance She has trained at various companies during previous summers, including Missouri Contemporary Ballet and Complexions

Contemporary Ballet under Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson

Ashley’s performance experience ranges from classical to contemporary works. Ashley’s classical performance roles include those from The Nutcracker, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle, Paquita, and excerpts from The Little Humpbacked Horse and Les Sylphides Her contemporary performance experience includes original works by Marek Cholewa and Cynthia Pratt-including StreamLines, a project that was part of a grant from the National Science Foundation to address environmental issues with Indianapolis waterways Ashley also performed as the soloist in The Yellow Wallpaper, which was the recipient of a JCA collaborative grant and featured music by Jeremy Gruner and choreography by Sarah Morris. During her time at Butler, Ashley was also able to perform as a principal in Derek Reid’s Finding Wings and as a soloist in Susan McGuire’s Largo Additionally, Ashley had the opportunity to perform abroad in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic as a soloist in Eliza Woitinnek’s When That Happened It Was Now Ashley’s choreography was recently performed in Europe during the summer of 2018 Performed by dancers of ButlerBallet, her works Self-protocol and Duet of Five were performed in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Ashley is currently Associate Artistic Director and Company Artist with Water Street Dance Milwaukee, as well as a G2 artist with Geometry Dance Company in Los Angeles, CA Her most recent choreographic commissions include Water Street Dance Milwaukee’s Trainee Program (2021) and Tarantism Unfolds

Contemporary (2021) She is a selected choreographer for T2’s SPRINGbreak Choreo Fest 2022, as well as a selected choreographer for MashUp Contemporary Dance’s International Women’s Day Festivalwhere she presented her work, “Busy and Important,” in Los Angeles in March 2022 She will participate as a choreographer for L A Contemporary Dance Choreo Lab: 04 Ashley is also Artistic Director of Studio One Dance Company in Wales, WI.

Azuki Umeda

Azuki Umeda is a Chapman University graduate, receiving her BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Integrated Educational Studies. She is currently attending CSU Long Beach to receive her MFA in dance in 2023. She has worked closely with choreographers, such as Will Johnston, Paul Kirkland, Jason Young, and Tawnya Kuzia, as well as assisting different projects and classes with Jojo Gomez, Tessandra Chavez, and Brian Friedman. Recently, she presented work at World of Dance as a headliner for their Championship event She was also a dancer for Twenty-One Pilots’ virtual concert, and for FINNEAS’s music video, “Shelter ” Azuki is a founder of her dance company, AU.THENTICITY. The company aims to create a collaborative environment for artistic exploration. She has showcased her work at prestigious choreography festivals, such as the IAF Creative Exhibit, The Palm Desert Choreographic Festival, American College Dance Association, as well as the Capezio ACE Awards. She was also named "Outstanding Choreographer for 4 years" at Chapman University's dance program She has assisted various dance conventions, such as NUVO, Hollywood Connection, and West Coast Dance Explosion Azuki will be showcasing her an evening length work for her thesis project at CSULB on March 16-18. She is currently researching the correlation between synesthesia and empathy and how that can be translated through performance and teaching

Chelsea Roquero and Kyrstal Masteller

We are a couple of friends who share a love for collaborating and celebrating the joys that dance brings us. In life and art, we do not take ourselves too seriously while taking our artistic creations seriously. Together we formulate an entity that collaborates over new ideas exploring all aspects together

Chelsea Roquero (she/her), born in Escondido, CA, is a first generation Filipino-American dancer and choreographer based in LA She later started her formal dance training at San Diego Mesa College under the direction of Donna Flournoy. She then transferred to California State University, Long Beach in 2017, and later received her BA in Dance in 2019 She has trained with Melissa Adao, Rebecca Lemme, Gracie Whyte, and Keith Johnson–along with the opportunities to perform works by Invertigo Dance Theatre, and Carlon Dance. As well as been a Guest Artist with Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company. As well as Local LA Artists Camila Arana, Kate Hutter-Mason,& Kevin Williamson

Krystal Masteller(she/her) is a creative, choreographer, and freelance dancer from Southern California She then went on to receive an A A in Kinesiology and Performing Arts from Mt San Antonio Community College, as well as a B A in Dance Science with a Minor in Entrepreneurship from California State University Long Beach. She has performed in works for Liana Blackburn, Rebecca Lemme, Lee Martino, Kate Hutter Mason, Shay Keubler, Leann Alduenda, and Lenin Fernandez. Masteller is represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. She is currently dancing for Summation Dance and works at a competition studio in Orange County as a head coach and choreographer

As humans, we thrive to find our most authentic voice and identity through our work. As a duo, we value exploration, challenge, and fun. We aim to explore physicality and intricacy through energetic and momentum based movement Consistently working through ease and efficiency in the body to create space through movement. As artists, it is our goal to acknowledge, incorporate, and honor the importance of the whole human self: identity, emotions, and anatomy, to generate autonomy in our process as well as the spaces we create

Nicole Hagen

Originally from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, Nicole Hagen (she/her) is a passionate performer, educator, and choreographer. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance magna cum laude and a minor in Business Administration from Chapman University Nicole is a current member of L A Contemporary Dance Company, MashUp Contemporary Dance Company, a faculty member at AMDA College, and is certified in classical and contemporary Mat Pilates. Choreographically, Nicole’s work has been seen on a multitude of stages throughout southern California She has been featured as a two-time finalist at the McCallum Choreography festival in Palm Desert and has been commissioned by Mt. San Antonio College and AMDA College. Alongside her concert dance career, Nicole has had the privilege of dancing alongside Paramore at the Teen Choice Awards, in episodes of NBC’s This Is Us, a Banks Music Video, in Netflix's Dear White People, with Anaheim Ballet, and the LA Follies. She has furthered her training with companies such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, BodyTraffic, Rockettes, Gaga Los Angeles, Entity Contemporary Dance, and attended the One Body, One Career Countertechnique Intensive with Anouk Van Dijk. Most recently, Nicole participated in the Ann and Weston Hicks Choreographic Fellowship at Jacob’s Pillow with choreographers Madison Hicks and Gianna Burright

Sarah Rodenhouse and Stephanie Heckert

Sarah and Stephanie are members of MashUp's creative council, and share artistic lead responsibilities for the company this season They have been working together as part of MashUp for almost a decade now

Dedicated to movement of the body, and the mind, Sarah Rodenhouse (she/her) considers herself an ambassador of self-expression and holistic wellness. Sarah is the Co-Founder and current creative council member of MashUp Contemporary Dance Company, where she has been conceiving, choreographing, and producing performances and events for 13 years Her work has been seen at Ford Theater, A+D Museum, Brand Library, LA Design Festival, El Portal Theater, the Fonda, and the BEGINNERS music video "Can't Get Enough", to name a few. She is also Founder of Moved LA, a creative movement experience for people of all abilities, where she has worked with clients such as Pinterest, Netflix, and Alt Summit. A lifelong learner, Sarah has studied various forms of dance and movement in cities around the world, and recently went back to school to pursue a B S in Psychology, to better inform the connection between movement and mental health Sarah utilizes movement as a tool to help us all question our physical and mental perspectives, foster creativity, and cultivate bona fide internal and external connections.

Stephanie Gevone Heckert, an Iowa native, is a mover, educator, and choreographer whose work aims to empower and connect artists through dance and motion. She has studied and performed for more than 22 years and has taught dance across the country, as well as Germany, Holland, Poland, Sweden, and China Stephanie is entering her ninth season dancing with MashUp and is proud to be a member of its inaugural Creative Council. She has choreographed works for Esteé Lauder and La Mer Cosmetics, TARFEST, Rock It 2 The Core Festival, Nera, BULLDOZER LA, MashUp’s International Women’s Day, and Club Jeté. A passionate educator, she has been a guest teacher for Mount San Antonio College, The Young Americans College of the Performing Arts, Encore Performing Arts High School, and LA Dance Festival Stephanie’s performance credits include: BEGINNERS, The CW Network’s “I Ship It”, ZEDD, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and LA Fashion Week. She is currently on faculty at GENESIS STUDIOS, Liv’art Dance Studio, and Academy of Dance Westlake Village Stephanie takes pride in her vision, uniqueness, and tenacity which she believes all people have and has made it a goal to encourage others to discover their own.

Day of Master Classes

Tess Hewlett

Tess Hewlett is a performer, choreographer, and educator based in Los Angeles, CA. She has spent 14 years cultivating a career based in intentional story-telling, passion and connection While she has had the incredible opportunity to work commercially as a performer for many artists, tv shows and commercials including; Sia, The Weekend, Katy Perry, Jay-Z, The OA, Apple, The Voice, and many more. She is excited to be branching out into choreography and movement direction commercially with credits including Pizza Hut, Perry Mason, Anna Wise, and Le Cat. While Tess has found fulfillment in this work, her true passion comes from sharing her knowledge and connection to dance with others through live performance and teaching the next generation of dancers She has had the pleasure of performing and teaching around the world with L.A. Contemporary Dance, Entity Contemporary Dance Company, Lobos Art Collective, Heidi Duckler Dance, and AXIOM Dance Theater She is currently the Artistic Director of the pre-professional training program DCC Elevate.

Rosanna Tavarez

Rosanna Tavarez received an MFA in Choreography from The Ohio State University and a BFA in Choreography from University of Michigan She has a diverse background as a performer/entertainer and has had the honor of working with Marina Ambramovic, Ryan Heffington, Travis Payne, Tony Michaels and Rosanna Gamson/Worldwide. She also toured with N’SYNC and Jessica Simpson as one-fifth of the girl group Eden’s Crush and covered the Emmys, Grammys and Oscars in addition to hosting her own shows as a television personality for FOX, E!, TVGuide Network, and Telemundo/NBC. As a dance educator, Tavarez is on faculty at CalArts Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance She has taught as faculty and guest artist at numerous institutions including USC Kaufman School of Dance, University of Michigan, Loyola Marymount University, Scripps College, CalState Long Beach, Studio School, University of Southern Mississippi, Texas State University and Cal State LA She is also a certified Countertechnique teacher and has had the pleasure of teaching the practice nationally and internationally. Her work has been presented at The Broad Museum, ODC Theater, REDCAT, Dance Camera West, The Odyssey, Breaking Ground Dance Festival, LA Department of Cultural Affair’s LA Dance Platform, Sarasota Contemporary Dance and Highways Performance Space, and has been supported by CalState LA’s Research, Scholarship and Creativity Awards, ARC grant from the Center for Cultural Innovation, UCLA Hothouse Residency and Show Box LA

Azuki Umeda

Azuki Umeda is a Chapman University graduate, receiving her BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Integrated Educational Studies She is currently attending CSU Long Beach to receive her MFA in dance in spring 2023. She has worked closely with choreographers, such as Will Johnston, Paul Kirkland, Jason Young, and Tawnya Kuzia, as well as assisting different projects and classes with Jojo Gomez, Tessandra Chavez, and Brian Friedman Recently, she presented work at World of Dance as a headliner for their Championship event. She was also a dancer for Twenty-One Pilots’ virtual concert, and for FINNEAS’s music video, “Shelter ” She has showcased her work at prestigious choreography festivals, such as the IAF Creative Exhibit, The Palm Desert Choreographic Festival, American College Dance Association, as well as the Capezio ACE Awards She was also named "Outstanding Choreographer for 4 years" at Chapman University's dance program She has assisted various dance conventions, such as NUVO, Hollywood Connection, and West Coast Dance Explosion. Azuki is a founder of her dance company, AU THENTICITY The company aims to create a collaborative and safe environment for artistic exploration With her company, she has created an in-studio company intensive, "AU.THENTIC EXPERIENCE."

Toogie Barcelo

Cuban/Spaniard Miami native Teresa “Toogie” Barcelo is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and movement artist She is on Billboard’s top 12 most iconic Choreographers of the Decade list for her work on Dua Lipa’s “New Rules”, and has received for Dua’s “Electricity” an MTV VMA nomination for ‘Best Dance Video’ Trained classically and culturally in a plethora of movement techniques and philosophies from ballet to popping to improvisation, she is a pioneer of the hybridization of classical and street techniques. Toogie’s experiences range extensively in the theatre and commercial world She is known among her peers as a chameleon, able to adapt to any creative context Based in LA, Toogie was the Associate Artistic Director at Heidi Duckler Dance, creating site specific work in unconventional spaces for 7 years. She works as a movement director/coach, choreographer for artists such as Alicia Keys, Xtina Aguilera, Miguel, Dua Lipa, Tove Lo, Lauv, Lila Drew, Katy Perry, Kings Of Leon, Calvin Harris, Kali Uchis, Diplo, Julia Michaels, Demi Lovato, Perfume Genius, Phantogram, Troye Sivan, St. Vincent, Sabrina Carpenter, Alina Baraz, M83, Daya, Walk The Moon, Niko Rubio, Role Model, Alice Glass, Lawrence Rothman, Alok Bala and The Naked & Famous. She has worked with many brands including: Savage X Fenty, Nike, Marriott, Kenzo, Shishedo, IKEA and The Sydney Opera House, to name a few As a master teacher, Toogie facilitates movement through a holistic approach, creating a space for experimentation and catharsis Her class – wiggle room creates an environment where people can embody and explore their individuality by expanding their awareness and exercising their imagination Toogie is a certified Breathe and Meditation teacher and infuses mindfulness into her performance and movement coaching style which makes her grounded presence a major asset to her clients. She is an enigma in the frequently chaotic entertainment industry

Festival Gala Artists

Crossroads School for Arts & Science

For over 50 years, Crossroads School has strived to prepare students to think critically, express themselves openly and commit themselves to lives that value community, justice and activism. At Crossroads, you’ll find strong bonds between students and teachers; a welcoming, inclusive environment; and a joyful and diverse student body that approaches education with curiosity, creativity and courage.The Upper School Dance Department, where MashUp served as a 2023 winter company-in-residence, guides students toward developing artistry by building a technical foundation in dance performance and choreography The curriculum broadens students’ knowledge of dance history, heritage and culture. Through performance opportunities, artist residencies, master classes and viewing professional dance performances, students develop into mature dance artists with deep connections to the power of dance as a means of self-expression. Additionally, students are given the opportunity to communicate their ideas, inspirations and perspectives through student composition and dance film projects. The sequential programming of the courses has an integrated focus on contemporary and jazz technique, composition and hip-hop choreography.

Geometry Contemporary Dance Company

Geometry Dance Company Is A Los Angeles Based Contemporary Movement Company Under The Direction Of Mackenzie Martin Specializing In Cinematic Media, Site Specific Content Installations And National And International Performances Learn more at www.geometrydancecompany.com.

Robin L. Owens, Ph.D. - Interim Director of the Center for Advancement of Women

Robin L. Owens, Ph.D. is a college professor and who spends her time outside of the classroom fulfilling her mission to support high-achieving women leaders. She describes high-achieving women leaders this way “They are women who are ambitious, goal-oriented, professional, in official leadership roles or unofficial leadership roles. They are often highly responsible at work and at home… and are doing all the things. They are the ones that are always supporting others. They rarely get support because others think they don’t need it.”

In service to her mission to support high-achieving women leaders-Robin is the host of the popular podcast “Leadership Purpose with Dr. Robin,” creator of the Purpose-Based, Decision-Making System, founder of MASTERFUL Course Creations, LLC, and author of the forthcoming book – Making Purpose-Based Decisions: An Inspirational Guide to More Meaning and Purpose in Your Business or Career”-- and the newly released book “My Faith in the Constitution is Whole: Barbara Jordan and the Politics of Scripture” which is about the unique way Barbara Jordan lived out her leadership purpose. Robin has over 20 years of experience in researching, teaching and studying meaning and purpose in the lives and work of women leaders She combines her experience in business, social work and higher education to bring a powerful and personable perspective to her mission of empowering high-achieving women leaders.

Dance Film Artists

Charly Santagado (Mignolo Dance)

Charly Santagado is a dancer, choreographer, director, writer, and curator dedicated to forging interdisciplinary connections across diverse artistic mediums and practices. Originally from Orlando, Florida, and currently based in the New Jersey / New York area, she graduated with highest honors from Rutgers University in 2017 with a major in philosophy and minors in dance, music, and creative writing. The following summer, she founded a 501-c3 nonprofit contemporary dance company with her sister Eriel called mignolo dance (mignolo dance) She has completed Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company's 5-month International Training Program, Sidra Bell's MODULE, RUBBERBANDance Group's Winter Intensive, Axis Connect Summer Intensive, the Hofesh Shechter Company Intensive, SHARE Intensive Paris, and HAVEN Choreography Mentorship, among other training programs Charly has danced with VALLETO Dance, ReFrame Dance Theatre, TK Dance Lab, Bailey Benoot, Monteleone Dance Collective, Katelyn Halpern and Dancers, Haven Movement Company, Olivia Dwyer Dance Projects, Maiya Redding, Daniel Rose Projects, and Arts By The People. She also regularly performs in her own work, which has been presented at numerous venues around the tristate area including Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, GK Arts Center, CityCenter Studios, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Paul Taylor Studios, Peridance, Triskelion Arts, Suzanne Roberts Theater, and Baruch Performing Arts Center. In 2019, she was selected for coLAB Arts’ new choreography commission, the Dance Canvas Choreographic Initiative, and an Urbanity Dance NEXT Residency Her work has been produced by HERE Arts Center, Inclined Dance Project, Jersey City Theater Center, Gardenship Art, The Berrie Center, Dixon Place, and the Metuchen Arts Council She has won screendance awards at several international film festivals as well as Ramapo College’s Leaning Into The Unknown Competition, Spoke The Hub’s Winter Follies (Director’s Choice), Palm Springs International Dance Festival’s film competition, and KoDaFe in NYC 2021 Most recently, she was commissioned for Norte Maar’s CounterPointe9 and was selected for Kulturfactory’s artist residency program in Domicella, Italy. Charly is also a dance critic and journalist writing for Dance Informa.

Julia Lawton

Julia Lawton (she/her) is a NY-based dance artist. A junior at Adelphi University, she is pursuing her BFA in dance, where she has performed works by choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Orion Duckstein, Frank Augustyn, Jennifer Kreichman, Fernando Carrillo, and Catherine Turocy. She has also completed training programs at The Taylor School, Doug Varone and Dancers, The Martha Graham School, American Ballet Theatre, Forza Dance Company, and GagaLab Julia has presented many of her own choreographic works at Adelphi University’s Dance Showcase. In August 2022, her film Shoes Off in the Studio was selected for the International ScreenDance Festival Julia is currently an intern at Arts on Site and The Taylor School She has also worked as Rehearsal Assistant for Orion Duckstein and Marlee Fleisher and Dramaturg for Meat Market Productions’ not to disappoint, but. In all aspects of her work, Julia places high value on collaboration and the support of individual artistic agency

Leah LaGrange

Louisiana Native, Leah LaGrange, is a professional dancer, educator, and choreographer represented by Go 2 Talent Agency. While living in Los Angeles, CA, from 2014-2020, she was a 5 year member of Mashup Contemporary Dance Company and a 3 year member of the LA Follies, dancing and performing both locally and nationally Leah has danced commercially for World of Dance, Apple Music, Grey Goose, and Love & Hip Hop Hollywood, as well as for musical artists such as Finneas, Radical Something, and Bright Lights Through her experience with company work, she was able to perform concert dance at many live events such as the APAP Conference in New York City, Los Angeles Dance Festival, International Women’s Day Festival, Los Angeles Design Festival, Danscape, and Raw Artists, as well as full-length company works with resident choreographers Leah’s passion for dance goes beyond performance. She enjoys being on the other side of dance, designing movement and concepts for competitive and professional dance. Olivia Rodrigo, Bebe Rexha, Nike Jordan, and DJ Bright Lights are a few of larger projects she was able to choreograph and movement direct for She has also had the honor of being nominated a Capezio A.C.E. Awards finalist in 2019 for her choreography and is a reoccurring creative for L.A based live showcases such as Choreographer’s Carnival, Club Jete, and Loose Cannons Leah continues to teach and educate dance artists nationally, focusing on artist expression and technical foundation. She has taught at professional studios such as Debbie Reynolds Legacy Studios, Millennium Dance Complex, and ImmaSpace, as well as for professional and pre professional companies such as Mashup Contemporary Dance Company, LUME Dance Collective, ImmaBreathe, The House Dance Complex, and Pave School of the Arts She currently trains and choreographs for competitive studios, teams, schools, and universities across the nation She is available for private lessons, masterclasses, choreography, re-staging, cleaning, and residency programs.

Mackenzie Martin

Mackenzie is a Los Angeles based choreographer and entrepreneur and recognized both nationally and internationally for her distinctive and artistically grounded choreography, her ability to create a sense of space, and her visionary leadership. Her professional credits include Missy Elliot, Lululemon, Donovan Woods, Duomo, Sephora, Caesar's Palace, DanceOn, Polica and Simon Birch's "14th Factory" and is a two time Capezio A C E Awards nominee Most recently she was awarded the "Exemplary Women in Los Angeles Dance Award" voted on by the LA dance community and has been featured in Dance Magazine, DanceSpirit, and LA Dance Chronicle and has been featured on several podcasts Mackenzie is the Director of LA contemporary dance company GEOMETRY and the CEO & Founder of SOUL DE SOUL Dance Convention where she also teaches on faculty. She is the founder of MMMETHOD; a comprehensive and holistic approach to movement focusing on breath work, focused study of evolving modalities, mindfulness, and a heightened physical and emotional awareness. Mackenzie is also the founder of GENESIS STUDIOS in Los Angeles. She has had the honor of being invited to showcase work and full length concerts across the world in Scotland, Greece, Italy, Austria, Australia, and Spain and presented her research entitled "Intentions: Getting Present for Contemporary Movement" at the World Congress of Dance in Athens, Greece

Mackenzie is on faculty at AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Hollywood. Before COVID-19 she was teaching weekly open classes at IAF Compound in North Hollywood;her classes can be found online via IAF PRIME, a virtual platform for the studio She is also guest faculty at Broadway Dance Center and Peridance in New York Mackenzie is also a judge and guest faculty for West Coast Dance Elite. Mackenzie is a proud member of the International Dance Council (CID) and has had the privilege of teaching throughout the United States, Europe, Greece and New Zealand. She is represented by GTA for dance, choreography, and education.

Margaret Canady

Margaret Canady is a dancer, choreographer, photographer, and aspiring clinical psychologist currently based in Los Angeles. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she trained at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts In May 2020, she received her B A in Psychology from Harvard University, minoring in Theatre, Dance, and Media. In 2019, Margaret directed the Harvard Ballet Company, which included directing two original productions at the American Repertory Theatre and Farkas Hall In 2020, she received the Suzanne Farrell Dance Award from the Harvard Office for the Arts in recognition for outstanding artistry in the field of dance. She has performed works by Sidra Bell, Ohad Naharin, Aszure Barton, Jill Johnson, and Mario Zambrano, among others Her choreography has been featured with the Harvard Dance Project, the Harvard Ballet Company, and the Harvard Radcliffe Modern Dance Company, along with several independent films, music videos, and projects. She was awarded an Emerging Choreographers Residency by the Harvard Office for the Arts in 2016 As an artist and aspiring clinical psychologist, Margaret is particularly focused on healing trauma through body based practices, as well as exploring the inherent wisdom and emotions contained within the body. Her creations are often centered on amplifying marginalized voices whilst celebrating stories, experiences, and identity

Madison Olandt and Derion Loman

Madison Olandt is a mover, choreographer, and director born and raised in Los Angeles. Graduating from UCLA with a B.F.A in Dance/WACD and a B.A. in Psychology, she studied among many different forms of education and styles of dance - developing a love for partnering, modern, house, and theater Her choreographic career began at UCLA, creating works performed at Royce Hall, Glorya Kaufman Hall, and Pauley Pavilion. She is a curious creative who loves to dip her toes into all things movement Madison was a company member with Diavolo Architecture in Motion and Jacob Jonas The Company, then transitioning into a freelance artist while working with GOOGLE, Mike Tyus, Rennie Harris, Kanye West, Jackson Wang, Niki Zefanya, Helene Fischer, Katy Perry, Academy of Villains Contemporary Company, and America's Got Talent Her choreographic works have been seen on Dallas Black Dance Theater, Whim W'HIM Seattle Contemporary Dance, the Coachella Main Stage 2022, UCSB Dance Company, and NBC's World of Dance

Derion Loman is a Multimedia Artist/Dancer based in Los Angeles. He holds a B.A. and B.F.A. In Psychology and Dance, respectively, from the University of California Santa Barbara He began his career in Ballet Hispanico’s Second Company, where he performed at a variety of different events. Most notably the 2013 Presidential Inauguration. He then went on to tour internationally and domestically with Pilobolus Dance Theatre from 2013-2017 Derion joined the cast of Diavolo Architecture in motion in 2017 for America’s Got Talent, and then toured with the company full time. He was a Divisional Finalist on NBC’s World of Dance Season 3 Currently, he works as a freelance choreographer with an array of organizations including Google, Portland Opera, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and The Los Angeles Dance Film Festival

Jessie Lee Thorne

Jessie Lee Thorne is a free-lance dancer/teacher/choreographer based in Los Angeles. She started her training at LACHSA and continued at The Boston Conservatory. After receiving her B.F.A in Dance and Choreography, she spent two years in Italy touring with the Imperfect Dancers Company Jessie has traveled the world performing works by Walter Matteini, Ohad Naharin, Jiri Kylian, Doug Varone, Robert Moses Kin’, Adam Barruch, Rebecca Lemme and Micaela Taylor. Jessie is currently a member of The TL Collective She is the creator of "Poets In Motion," a company housing dance and film, and has created movement in music videos for artists such as: David Archuleta, Kevin Mchale, Emit Fenn, Sandwoman & Grant Carey, Tam Visher, as well as choreographed for a Universal feature film (releasing fall 2020) and for the short film titled, "Daisy Boy " Jessie makes art from the place of wanting to connect with others on a deeper level, as well as allow people space to connect back to themselves.

The Seaweed Sisters

Megan Lawson, Jillian Meyers, and Dana Wilson are professional choreographers and dancers who work alongside some of the most iconic performers of our time (Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, and Madonna to name a few) As The Seaweed Sisters these women come together to illuminate discovery: of self, of their surroundings, and of the world at large. They move seamlessly from intuitive improvisation to acutely executed choreography. The Seaweed Sisters call on humor and imagination to animate a connection to their experiences and their audience They celebrate the unusual and the opportunity to play

2023 Exemplary Women in L.A. Dance Honorees

Nina Flagg is a LA native, Dance Artist, Choreographer, and Educator. Her movement foundations began with Gymnastics, Classical Ballet, and Modern Dance followed by studies in West African Dance, Tap, Jazz, and Hip-Hop/Street Dance She attended Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA) and excelled under the tutelage of the acclaimed LACHSA dance faculty. After graduating from LACHSA, she went on to obtain her BA in Sociology with a Specialization in Communications from UCLA

Over the past two decades, Nina’s work has evolved as an embodied intersection between multiple movement traditions, explored through the lens of Hip-Hop consciousness. The plurality of her training and practice has lent itself to a diverse career in concert dance, television, and academia. As an educator, Nina has been on faculty at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), UCLA, and Connecticut College and served as guest faculty for Bennington College and LMU She has worked with such artists as Prince, Tina Turner, Bette Midler, Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Solange, Will Smith, and J Balvin. Her choreography has been featured on The Grammy’s, TV Land Awards, ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock, Flight Path Dance Company, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Her television appearances include The Oscars, The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, and Good Morning America. In summer of 2021, Nina appeared in the documentary film AILEY which was released in theaters nationwide after its premiere at Sundance Film Festival

Currently, Nina is continuing her practice as a dancer, choreographer, pedagogue, and guest artist for organizations such as CLI Studios, LA Dance Project, and Everybody Dance LA! In January of 2023, Nina joined the faculty of USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, teaching courses in Hip-Hop and Dancehall studies. As a BIPOC artist and educator, Nina remains passionate about creating curricular strategies for equitable, multi-generational engagement in dance education and live performance

Nina Flagg

2023 Exemplary Women in L.A. Dance Honorees

REBECCA LEMME is a choreographer, performer, and educator She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the performance group Acts of Matter Her work has been commissioned by Visceral Dance Chicago, LA Contemporary Dance Company, Santa Barbara Dance Theater, River North Dance Chicago, CalArts, Loyola Marymount University, Grand Valley State University, California State University Long Beach, Columbia College, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Chicago’s Dance in the Parks. Additionally, Lemme has been invited to present work in the The A.W.A.R.D. Show!: Chicago, Los Angeles Dance Festival, Dance at the Odyssey (Los Angeles, CA), Front + Main Festival (Temecula, CA), Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival, Choreography Showcase and Competition (Glen Ellyn, IL) Since its founding the company has produced annual shows in the greater Los Angeles area, has been presented throughout southern California and the Chicagoland area, and recently toured to New Mexico to headline the SHIFT Dance | Festival Thematically and physically, Lemme’s work is grounded in an unfettered willingness to attempt something while accepting the possibility of its failure This physical exertion this act of trying is the core of humanity in her work

A Chicago native, Lemme has toured nationally with contemporary repertory companies Luna Negra Dance Theater, River North Dance Chicago, RTG Dance, Hedwig Dances, and Instruments of Movement, working with and performing choreography by Jose Limon, Robert Battle, Daniel Ezralow, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Eduardo Vilaro, Frank Chaves, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, and Alejandro Cervera.

Lemme teaches extensively in Release, Ballet, Composition, and Improvisation Through her company she hosts open company classes in Release and has created a bi-annual workshop entitled Focused Study This workshop is grounded in the values and the mission of Acts of Matter: to bring diverse people together to enhance each others’ experience in life and in dance through sharing, listening, and learning She has also been a co-facilitator for every module of LACDC’s Choreography Lab, where she mentors emerging choreographers in process.

A tenured Associate Professor of Dance at California State University, Long Beach, Lemme has been a full-time faculty member at California Institute of the Arts where she also taught during her MFA candidacy. Lemme has also been on faculty at Columbia College Chicago, Roosevelt University, Hubbard Street’s Lou Conte Dance Studio, Visceral Dance Center, and Joffrey Ballet Chicago Additionally, she has guest taught at the American College Dance Association Conference, Loyola Marymount University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Wake Forest University, Beloit College, Loyola University Chicago, and the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters She has been Choreographer in Residence at Grand Valley State University setting work and teaching master classes within the Dance Department She has regularly taught at intensives for LA Contemporary Dance Company, Danceworks Chicago, Visceral Dance Chicago, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, and previously River North Dance Chicago. Through a holistic approach to dance education her classes merge critical thinking processes with skill building and art making.

Lemme holds an MFA from California Institute of the Arts in Choreography and a BA from Princeton University in English and Theater. She was the recipient of the Francis LeMoyne Page Theater Award for distinctive achievement in theater at Princeton as well as the Caroline H Newhouse and Sono Osato Scholarships, both for graduate study

Rebecca Lemme

THANK YOU!

It takes a village to make the International Women’s Day Dance Festival happen each year, and on behalf of the team at MashUp Contemporary Dance Company, THANK YOU to all those who have played a part - donors, volunteers, participating artists, guest speakers, companies, and performers, sponsors, vendors, and beyond. It is our honor to make this event happen with all of you. Thank you especially to The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the City of West Hollywood, for grant support that helps fund this event and all it stands for

Festival In-Kind Sponsors:

The Huntington, The LA Philharmonic, Born Tough, Academy Museum, Zelos Greek Artisan, Dear Sundays, Santa Monica Pier, Elyse Walker, Zen Wellness LA, Partake Foods, Willa’s Kitchen, Little Dom’s, Frogtown Brewery, Point of the Bluff Vineyards

MashUp's Board of Directors:

Marc Krens (Treasurer), Kimberly Taylor-Pestell (Secretary), Brittany Hicks, Stephanie Gilbert, Emily Wanserski, Haily Zaki

About MashUp Contemporary Dance Company

Witnessing a slim ratio of opportunity per number of females in the dance industry, Victoria Brown and Sarah Rodenhouse founded MashUp Contemporary Dance Company in 2010 to provide more avenues for women in dance to be heard and seen Rooted in the beliefs that dance is a powerful means for building community and exploring transformative ideas, MashUp is unwaveringly committed to uplifting female-identifying artists, encouraging critical thinking about intersectional feminist philosophies, and creating an inclusive community where all are welcomed to participate in the wealth of talent, thought, and creativity that women artists bring to the world Leading with core values of empowerment, creativity, community, diversity, and innovation, MashUp has worked with over 300 women artists, produced 8 full-length works and 4 dance films, performed throughout Los Angeles County, and toured at several national festivals Now artistically led by a Creative Council of 4 women artists, MashUp primarily focuses on consistent, reliable programming that amplifies the work of and provides more paid opportunities for female-identifying artists, creates accessible professional development and training opportunities, and brings a broader Los Angeles community together around movement and/or dialogue centered on intersectional feminist ideologies Currently, the company sustains 7 core programs, including the International Women’s Day Dance Festival, in addition to community performances, education residencies, and other events

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Text "MASHUP" to 44-321 to donate and ensure IWDDF can continue in years to come!