CHOREOGRAPHER

 is an internationally active choreographer and dance educator. As a young dancer, she danced in New York with Dan Wagoner and Dancers from 1984-89. In 1990 she began a freelance career—choreographing, performing and teaching throughout the US and abroad. She has been commissioned to create works for companies and performance groups in the US and Europe and has been a guest teacher for numerous dance companies including Rambert Dance Company, DV8 Physical Theatre, London Contemporary Dance Theatre and Matthew Bourne's New Adventures. Honored as one of Dance Magazine’s top “25 to Watch,” Janice currently co-directs the San Francisco based company, Garrett + Moulton Productions with fellow choreographer Charles Moulton. In addition to her work as a choreographer, Janice teaches ongoing Intermediate/Advanced Modern Technique classes at ODC Dance Commons. For more information, visit www.garrettmoulton.org

CHOREOGRAPHER & DANCER

ArVejon is a Bay Area based freelance dance artist, choreographer, and educator. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, his training was diverse, studying Tap, Hip Hop, the Dunham Technique and other dances of the African diaspora as a student of Universal Dance Designs, under the direction of Paul and Arlene Kennedy.  He was later exposed to Ballet, Modern dance, and studio based Jazz when he attended San Francisco State University, where he was recognized for his excellence in performance upon graduation. ArVejon holds a B.A in Dance from SFSU and has performed professionally, with Copious Dance Theater, Robert Moses Kin, PUSH Dance, SOULSKIN Dance, ODC Dance/ SF,  RAW Dance SF, Concept o4, Sean Dorsey Dance, Prometheus Dance Theater, Jean Appolon Expressions, Kambara+, and Garrett+Moulton Productions among others.Through which, he has been afforded the opportunity to tour throughout the United States of America and internationally in Canada and Sweden. He has taught for multiple institutions including San Francisco State University, BodyVox in Portland, OR, Boston Ballet, LINES TEENS/ SF Dance Center, among others. ArVejon is grateful to Theresa Knudson and Ryan Smith for the opportunity to present his work "Prism" as part of "Smithereens Dance Salon."

PRODUCER, CHOREOGRAPHER, DANCER

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.

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Jessi Barber (she/her) is a lighting designer, production manager, technical director, and stage manager who works with the Fresh Meat Festival, Detour Productions, RAWdance, and Gravity among many others. She is a co-producer of Shawl-Anderson Dance Center’s Queering Dance Festival (QDF), adjunct faculty at University of San Francisco, and a proud member of the unionized staff of CounterPulse Workers United.

PRODUCER, DANCER

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 over 12 new ballets, produced over 10 productions, and created 2 award winning dance films. Ballet22 was named by Dance Magazine “25 to Watch” in 2022.

DANCER

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Teo trained in jazz, contemporary, and tap, with a background in circus arts that informs their dynamic and expressive movement style. Today Teo is Co-Director of Tether Dance Project and is committed to movement as a form of connection and community-building.

DANCER

Mecca Boutte is a professional dancer from Oakland, California, trained at Oakland School for the Arts, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Bates Dance Festival. She graduated from Spelman College, studying Comparative Women’s Studies and Public Health, and is passionate about blending arts, activism, and project management.

DANCER

Maddie Friedman is a movement artist and educator based in Oakland, California. Originally from New York, Maddie was introduced to dance at a young age through the style of Isadora Duncan, which unites movement with myth, metaphor, and organic life. These themes remained with her as her focus expanded to ballet and contemporary dance, culminating in a BFA from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet program in 2022. Maddie is a certified GYROTONICⓒ instructor and currently teaches at San Francisco GYROTONICⓒ alongside her dance practice. Across styles, Maddie’s work is driven by the joy of connecting to the universe that surrounds and moves within us.

DANCER

Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Jenna Marie (she/they) began their dance training at Olga Kresin’s Ballet School and continued at The Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. She was a scholarship student at The Ailey School, where she went on to join Ailey II. Jenna has performed with renowned companies including Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, MOMIX, The Metropolitan Opera, and Ballet Hispánico. They have appeared in Amy Seiwert’s Imagery SKETCH Series (11 and 12) and have been a guest artist with The Black Iris Project, Mark Foehringer Dance Project SF, and San Jose Dance Theatre’s Sleeping Beauty production. Her commercial work includes performances with Beyoncé, Romeo Santos, Nile Rodgers, and Betsey Johnson. Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2019, Jenna has worked with Post:ballet, Robert Moses’ Kin, Marika Brussel, Christy Funsch, and Garrett + Moulton Productions. They currently dance with ODC/Dance, which they joined in 2022.

DANCER

Hailing from Maysville, Kentucky, Calvin L. Thomas, Jr received foundational training at the Otto M. Budig Academy of Cincinnati Ballet. He supplemented his studies at Boston Ballet School, The School of American Ballet, Ballet Austin Academy, and The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. Since moving to the Bay Area, he performed with Company C Contemporary Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, Oakland Ballet Company, Dance Theatre of San Francisco, Kiandanda Dance Theater, Mark Foehringer Dance Project, Garrett Moulton Productions and ODC Dance.