The Producers
Theresa Knudson received her training from Lois Ellyn in southern California, and attended intensive programs including ABT NYC, Boston Ballet, Ballet Austin. Theresa began her professional career with Nouveau Chamber Ballet under the direction of Lois Ellyn, and freelanced with Diablo Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Menlowe Ballet, Wonderbound, ARC Dance, Mark Foehringer Dance Project, Raiford Rogers Modern Ballet. Theresa holds a BA in Business from California State University, Fullerton, and is the owner and director of BlackBox Studios- a ballet studio in Oakland. Theresa is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Ballet22, a professional ballet company focused on presenting men, trans, and non-binary artists “en pointe” and commissioning works that bring LGBTQIA+ representation to ballet through live performances and film. Since its founding, Ballet22 has commissioned twelve new ballets, produced over 10 productions, and created two award winning dance films. Ballet22 was named by Dance Magazine “25 to Watch” in 2022 and received an Isadora Duncan Dance Award Nomination for the 2021-22 season for Outstanding Achievement in Performance – Company.
Ryan Rouland Smith hails from Colorado where he graduated from the Denver School of the Arts. In 2013, Smith graduated cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Dance and Choreography. Smith received additional training at the American Dance Festival, where he had the pleasure of working with John Jasperse, Reggie Wilson and performed in the first reconstruction of Bill T. Jones’ Love Redefined. In 2014, Smith became a member of Kate Weare Company, performing in and originating roles in such works as Dark Lark, Unstruck, Marksman and Praise. In 2019 while dancing in New York, Smith had the pleasure of working with Stefanie Batten Bland, Look Who is Coming to Dinner and Nicole Vaughn Diaz, A Portrait of Them. Following the collaborative process between Kate Weare Company and ODC, Decameron/Up For Air; Smith joined ODC/Dance from 2021-2025. While there he had the pleasure of dancing and originating works by Sidra Bell, Mia J. Chong, Sonya Delwaide, Catherine Galasso, KT Nelson, Dexandro Montalvo, Kimi Okada, Amy Seiwert and Brenda Way. Ryan Rouland Smith is currently a freelance artist collaborating with Sharp & Fine, Mark Foehringer Dance Project | SF, as well as self producing.