Spring Dance 2022 Cast & Crew Profiles
Aleen Phelps
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
From Alameda, California, Aleen Phelps started performing dance at a young age in ethnically traditional styles with the dance troupe of St. Vartan Armenian Apostolic Church. She later moved on to participate with the dance team at Alameda High School for three years. Throughout her experience, she worked under guest teachers to learn techniques in dance styles ranging between hip hop, contemporary, jazz, and others. She gained the opportunity to choreograph original pieces for multiple productions in assemblies and concerts. One memorable moment in her dance career was a social justice performance increasing awareness for the environment in a group production to a moving audio of spoken word. Currently, she is studying to earn a degree in Psychology, looking forward to taking more courses in dance at Sonoma State University, and is grateful to be a part of the Spring Showcase production.
Alessandra Balestrieri-Jennings
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022); (re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Alessandra Balestrieri-Jennings is a third year dance major and early childhood minor at Sonoma State University. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old. She has had the honor of performing in Fall Dance 2019, Fall Dance 2020, Spring Dance 2021. She choreographed and performed in last semester’s production of Fall Dance 2021. She will be performing in Spring Dance 2022 this semester in-person. Alessandra is excited to be collaborating with a fellow student to put on her senior project that will be performing live this semester. She hopes to follow her dreams of becoming an elementary school teacher and dance teacher after graduating from SSU.
Alyssandra DeContreaus
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022); Favorite Self (2022)
Alyssandra DeContreaus is an attending senior studying Kinesiology while maintaining her desires to travel, learn more about life, and to help others. Her past experience includes Figure Skating for over 10 years alongside various other sports such as: softball, volleyball, and basketball. She had only started her self discovery with Hip Hop in the second year of her college career. Since, she has pursued her passion for dance taking multiple classes and having the opportunity to perform in shows. She is very pleased with the dedication everyone put in for you to enjoy the production.
Brandon Leong
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Brandon Leong is a recent graduate of Sonoma State Dance program as of Spring 2021 and is currently in his credential year at SSU for a Single Subject Credential in Physical Education. He is super excited to wrap up his time at Sonoma by being a part of his 5th spring dance process and 9th dance production with the Dance Department. Brandon would like to thank his family, boyfriend, mentors and friends for their constant support during such a difficult time this past year. He is excited for the opportunities coming his way and thankful for Christine and Kristen for allowing him to join on the creative process to round out his time at Sonoma State.
Byb Chanel Bibene
Choreographer
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022)
Byb, an MFA graduate and award winner is a dance educator, choreographer and performer working in theater, African ethnic, urban, and contemporary dance forms. His own technical and aesthetic sensibility is rooted in the culture and dances of his country of origin, the Republic of Congo. He has toured the world and performed internationally with companies and choreographers originating from Africa, Asia, Europe and the USA. Bibene owns a BS, Economics/Finances and a MF from Marien Ngouabi University/Congo, an MFA in Dance Creative Practice, earning the Dean’s award for Academic Excellence from Saint Mary's College of California. He is the artistic Director of Kiandanda Dance Theater and Mbongui Square Festival.
Outside of his professional careers of Theater and Dance, Bibene has a passion for writing. He is author of numerous poetry and shorts and winner of poetry contests.
Bibene is the facilitator of the monthly Talk series called Tracing Africa Circle-African Dance Histories and Philosophies.
Casey Hemphill
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022)
Casey Hemphill is a first year Geography, Environment, and Planning major who has decided to participate in the Spring 2022 Dance Concert for an opportunity to express her creativity. With 6 years of experience in Irish dance, she celebrates energetic movement in her performance.
Christine Cali
Director/Choreographer
Noise (2021); (re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Christine Cali is the director of the San Francisco based CALI & CO dance (2001) and Chair and Associate Professor of Theatre Arts & Dance at Sonoma State University. Christine is an ongoing guest performer with the Brooklyn-based Urban Bush Women in Hair & Other Stories, with recent performances at Duke University (Feb 2022) and the NJPAC in NYC (April 2022). Christine directed CALI & CO’s site-adaptive work ADAPT, performed in 20 locations in SF in collaboration with Matt EL Music (17-20’); and the company was also commissioned to perform in the Yerba Buena Gardens ChoreoFest (July 2021) and the San Francisco International Arts Festival (Oct 2021). In March 2020 Christine began offering SIP Somatic Dance & Wellness classes via ZOOM, with donations supporting SF Bay Area BIPOC artists and organizations. Cali has been described as “one of the most ferocious, spell-binding dancers I’ve seen in this city” in the SF Chronicle, and nominated as Best Dance Class in SF Magazine’s “Best of 2015”. Her creative work and teaching are rooted in anti-racist practices and pedagogies, embodied story-sharing, original live music by Matt Langlois/Matt EL, and community building practices through art-marking.
Cali has taught at Alonzo King’s LINES BFA, A.C.T. MFA Acting, U of San Francisco, The Branson School, The Marin School of The Arts, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Sacramento State University, Scottsdale Community College, Niagara County Community College, Modesto Community College, University of Nevada (Reno)University of Wyoming, University of South Florida, Mendocino College, Ohio University, Arizona State University, Hollins University, Sung Kyun Kwan University (Seoul, S Korea), The Ambrit School (Rome, Italy), ROCO Dance, SF City Dance, Lewiston Dance Center, The American Dance Festival/ADF (Duke Univeristy), workshops in Japan, China, Canada, South Korea, Germany; and her work has been performed at The Cowell Theatre/Fort Mason, ODC Theatre, Z-Space, Venue 9, The Garage, Safehouse for the Arts, Dance Mission Theatre, Little Boxes Theatre, Joe Goode Annex, The Supper Club, The Exit Theatre, Dancer’s Group/Foot Works, Brady Street, Marin Convention Center, CounterPulse, Jon Sims Center, West Wave Dance Festival, Summer Performance Festival, The SF International Arts Festival (2014, 15’, 16’), Saeng Saeng Festival (2007), Seoul International Improvisation Festival (2007, 08’), The Asian Art Museum - Divine Bodies Exhibit (2018), The American College Dance Association (ACDA), Yerba Buena Gardens Choreofest/RAW Dance (2021). www.calidances.com
Deja Crockett
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022); (re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Originally from Inglewood, California, Deja Crockett has been dancing since she was 10 years old and it has been a passion ever since. She Trained at Dance 4 Life Dance Studio in ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop. Taking advantage of many opportunities she had the honor of performing in many City of Inglewood events and eventually was able to secure a leadership role on her competition dance team. As a Freshman at SSU, Deja participated in the Fall Dance Concert of 2021. While Deja intends to keep dancing, she is currently studying to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology in hopes of becoming a Genetic Counselor
Delaney Temple
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Delaney Temple is a 4th year English major and Dance minor at SSU. She has been dancing for 8 years and competed in gymnastics for 15 years. She now coaches the competitive team at Rohnert Park Gymnastics and choreographs some of the floor routines. At Santa Rosa High School, she joined ArtQuest for all 4 years and practiced a variety of styles including modern, jazz, hip hop, African forms, ballet, and Latin forms. She choreographed 3 minute concept pieces for ArtQuest Dance’s performances each year. She also took classes in contemporary and jazz at the Dance Center. Delaney is happy to be dancing back in person again and excited to finally perform at SSU.
Eros Mene
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022); Favorite Self (2022)
Eros Mene is a seventh year Dance and Biology major. Their journey in dance began with hula and tahitian at age 7 through Halau Ka Pa Hula Kanoelehuaokahalema’uma’u ’O Kalama under Loea Naomi Kalama. Since then, their interest in learning other dance forms has broadened into forms such as contemporary, modern, house, locking, and waacking/whacking. They have directed, choreographed, and edited two of their own piece’s in previous SSU Fall Dance Shows, NGHTMRE (2020) and Adultlescence (2021). They have been a guest educator and choreographer at schools in Sonoma County- including Santa Rosa Middle School, Brook Hill Elementary, Steele Lane Elementary, Sheppard Elementary, and Roseland Creek Elementary. They are extremely grateful for their mentors: Kristen Daley, Christine Cali, and Farrah McAdam, for being incredibly supportive and providing amazing opportunities to shine throughout their time in the dance program.
Farrah McAdam
Choreographer
Noise (2021); Favorite Self (2022)
Calling on her 20+ years of widespread movement experiences and gatherings, Farrah McAdam is a dance educator, choreographer, and artist in the Bay Area who is invested in equitable, collaborative environments where history and critical thinking are investigated just as much as physical embodiments. She currently teaches through Sonoma State University and the Luther Burbank Center, has performed with CALI&CO Dance, Kristen Daley, and PULP Dance to name a few, and has been honored to perform at ACDA’s 2016 Nationals at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Farrah has been a guest educator and choreographer around the West Region- including Arizona State University, Scottsdale Community College, Modesto Community College, San Jose State, Fresno State University, Sonoma State University, and ODC in San Francisco. She holds a B.A. in both Psychology and Dance, and is currently
pursuing certification through Rennie Harris University’s first ever cohort group as a C1 Candidate. In this season she is currently a guest choreographer at Sonoma State and will be continuing her relationship with Urban Bush Women by assisting their CSU Summer Arts Course “Dance and Identity” in collaboration with Christine Cali. Farrah is deeply grateful to both premiere a new work AND perform in the same program, live and in-person.
Jada Dosty
Favorite Self (2022)
Jada Dosty is a third year English major with a Dance minor at Sonoma State University. Jada has been dancing for 12 years. She had the honor of performing in Fall Dance 2019, Fall Dance 2020, and Fall Dance 2021. She loves being involved in the dance community here at Sonoma State and is very excited to be back performing live in this year’s Spring Festival.
Jasmine Kaiulani Lee
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Jasmine Kaiulani Lee is a 4th year Dance Major at Sonoma State, graduating Spring 2022. Jasmine has been dancing since age 3 with Tahitian and Hula, training and competing with her Tahitian halau. She has since added Ballet, Tap, Afro-Brazilian Samba and Afro-Cuban to her resume, with a current focus in Hip Hop and Modern Dance. She has been working on a Senior Project, “checking in,” which is part of the 2022 Spring Festival, as well as co-coordinating Pacific Cultural Night with SSU’s Filipino-American Association club. Jasmine has danced and choreographed for four Fall Dance productions, with one having represented SSU at the 2020 American College Dance Association West regional conference. She has been involved in, now, three Spring Dance productions and is full of gratitude to be able to spend her last semester at Sonoma State performing live, on stage with her wonderful peers.
Jay Haralson
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2002); Favorite Self (2022)
Jay Haralson is a Theater Arts major with a concentration in dance. She is from Ukiah, a small town in Northern California, where she has lived most of her life. There, she trained with Carol Martinez at Carol’s Dance Studio in Ballet and Jazz. Jay continued on to Mendocino College where she trained with Eryn Schon Brunner, Rachel Young and Kirsten Turner in Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop and Ballet. In Fall of 2018, Jay transferred to SSU and will be graduating in Spring 2022. When she is not a student of dance, she is a teacher of dance and has taught at the following: Near and Arnold’s School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education, Willits Dance Academy, and The Studio on State. She was a part of Dynasty Dance Crew based in Santa Rosa, CA. In her free time, you can find Jay rolling through Starbucks with her bestie, taking evening strolls, or procrastinating on “adulting-related” tasks.
Jennifer Martuscelli
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Jennifer Martuscelli is a second year Dance Major and Business Minor. She has been dancing since she was three years old. Her love for dance has stayed with her throughout the years and has brought her many wonderful memories and opportunities. At SSU she has performed in Fall Dance 2021 and 2022 and Spring Dance 2021 and 2022. She was able to choreograph for Spring Dance 2021 and Fall Dance 2021. She is excited to finally perform on a stage in front of a live audience. She can’t wait to continue her journey at SSU and see what the future holds.
Jordan Murayama
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022)
Jordan Murayama is a senior Hutchin’s Liberal Studies major and a dance minor. Her dance background is primarily comprised of hip-hop, lyrical, jazz, and contemporary. She is thrilled to be performing in her first Spring Dance, and her fourth dance show at SSU. After graduation, she is planning to get her teaching credential, and she wants to teach kindergarten, as well as teach dance to young kids. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her dreams, and is excited to see what the future holds for her. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Kayle Lemons
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Originally from Elk Grove, California, Kayle Lemons has been dancing since she was three years old and has fallen in love with it ever since. Training at Encore Studio of Performing Arts in ballet, lyrical, jazz and hip hop, she later joined her high school dance team. Exploring many opportunities she had the honor of choreographing for major productions and eventually took a place on the leadership team as a student director for three out of her four years in high school. Kayle eventually branched out to theater arts for about a year and she has always enjoyed helping with the younger students at her local studio. As a Freshman at SSU, Kayle participated in the Fall Dance Showcase of 2021. Although she will never stop dancing, Kayle is currently studying to earn a degree in Liberal Studies in hopes of becoming a future educator.
Krislyn Dote
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022); Favorite Self (2022)
Hailing from Honolulu, Hawaii, Krislyn Dote is a first-year Biology major. She danced for two years as a part of Henry J. Kaiser High School’s dance program and is currently training under Xstatic Dance Studio where she is an instructor and former competition team captain. Throughout the five years that she has spent training with Xstatic, she has gained experience in many styles of dance including hip hop, contemporary, and ballet, while also dabbling in ballroom and hula dancing. She has choreographed multiple 3-5 minute pieces for shows hosted by Henry J. Kaiser High School and has performed in various performances under Xstatic Dance Studio. Krislyn is excited to be performing on stage after many years of virtual classes and pre recorded dances.
Kristen Daley
Director/Choreographer
Noise (2021); (re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Kristen Daley is currently a Professor and Co-Director of the Dance Program at Sonoma State University. She served for five years as the Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts & Dance at SSU. Kristen toured Europe, Canada and much of the United States for eight years performing and teaching with the critically acclaimed, Bessie-award winning Doug Elkins Dance Company (based in New York City). Kristen has also worked with Christine Cali, Mark Haim, Locate Performance Group, Nancy Lyons, Matthew Nash, Mercy Sidbury, Gus Solomons Jr. Dance and Nichele Van Portfleet. She was a member of the Chamber Dance Company in Seattle, WA dancing the works of Isadora Duncan, Hanya Holm, Hannah Kahn, Murray Louis, Susan Marshall, Bebe Miller, Mark Morris and Anna Sokolow. She has been a guest artist at Ohio University, New York University/Tisch School of the Arts, Dance Works Rotterdam and Summerdance Santa Barbara. She was a member of SEAM-2017 (Support and Elevate Artist Mothers), a dance collective in the San Francisco/Bay Area landscape that explored the complex relationship between art-making and motherhood. Kristen is a founding member of SoCo Dance Theater (2010), a multi-generational dance company based in Sonoma County, CA. Her work has been presented at American College Dance Association’s West Gala Concert (Arizona), Dance Mission Theater San Francisco, Spreckels Performing Arts Center, the Museum of Sonoma County and Sonoma State University. She recently performed in the San Francisco International Arts Festival in October 2021 with CALI & CO Dance. Kristen was invited in January 2022 to be a guest artist at the Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga, TN where she taught and restaged a 2019 dance, pressure/shift. Kristen received her BFA (dance) from Ohio University in Athens, OH and her MFA (dance) from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. She would like to thank her amazing family and friends for all their incredible support these past few months so she can continue to live out her dream of “practicing dance”.
Lauren Flowers
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022)
Lauren Flowers is a senior at Sonoma State University, majoring in early childhood education with a minor in dance. She started her dance journey at a young age and has been in a variety of dance productions. Lauren’s favorite style of dance is ballet; it brought her great joy to pass it on to her students in her hometown of San Jose, CA. She is currently working at Sonoma State University’s Children’s School where she supports dance movement in the classroom. After graduating in spring 2022, Lauren hopes to become a preschool teacher and interweave dance into her classroom. She recently was involved in Liz Lerman’s Wicked Bodies at the Green Music Center.
Lilia Rechin
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Lilia Rechin is a second year psychology major and dance minor. She has been dancing for 10 years. Her favorite styles are contemporary and lyrical; she has also been trained in modern and ballet. Her hometown dance studio is the Dance Center Santa Rosa. She performed competitively for 7 years. She has also had the opportunity to perform internationally in Seoul and the Jeju Fire Festival in South korea. Before coming to SSU she went to a small arts school in London and performed in art exhibits. There she learned how to do stilts, harness, and poi. Now that she is in SSU dance program she has loved discovering new ways to move and create.
Madyline Jaramillo
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022); Favorite Self (2022)
From Northern California, Madyline Jaramillo grew up in beautiful Grass Valley, Nevada County. Madyline attended Nevada Union High School where she trained all four years in the school’s Theatrical Dance Program, gaining extensive training in modern, ballet, contemporary, jazz, and fusion. There she has received the opportunity to teach and choreograph for community children’s classes as well as choreograph for her fellow advanced dancers in the program’s annual Student Choreography Showcase. Madyline is currently a dance major here at Sonoma State University in hopes of continuing her dance training and artistry.
Marissa Salinas
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Marissa Salinas is a 5th year Dance and Business Administration major. Marissa has been dancing for 10 years and has been involved in 5 spring dance productions and choreographed 3 times for the Fall Dance productions. She has been working on her research project “system” with the Koret Scholarship Program and has now turned her research into her Senior Project that will be performed live on stage during the 2022 Spring Festival. She loves being in the Dance Program at SSU and is so excited to be back on the stage and part of this year's Spring Festival.
Megan James
Favorite Self (2022)
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Megan James is thrilled to participate in her first Spring Dance showcase after transferring to Sonoma State in the fall of 2021. Studying in her fourth year as an early childhood studies major with a minor in dance, Megan has kept her passion for the arts alive since she was in middle school. After training in a multitude of styles such as hip hop, jazz, and musical theater, Megan now spends just as much time teaching as she does learning. She currently coaches the Sonoma Valley High School dance team and choreographs for Sonoma Children’s Creative and Performing Arts. After Spring Dance Megan will continue to work in collaboration with SCCPA on original choreography for their children’s production of Moana Jr, as well as dance with the Sonoma State Sapphires.
Paulina Gonzalez
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022); Favorite Self (2022)
Paulina Gonzalez is a 4th year chemistry student. Coming from Crescent City, California she loves nature, especially the beach and rivers. She has been taking dance classes all throughout her educational career at SSU and loves them, using them as an outlet for her creative expression. Paulina was also a part of Spring and Fall dance 2021 during Covid and is ecstatic to be dancing more in person!
Romane Billaudel
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Romane Billaudel is an exchange student from France studying Business administration in Sonoma State University during the spring semester.
She has been dancing for over 15 years in the dance school in her hometown, and took advantage of this semester away from home to discover another way of understanding dance, movement, and group work. She is honored to be part of this project and to dance with such talented people.
Back in France, she will study to graduate in cultural and creative industries management
Samantha Marie Fuentes
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Samantha Marie Fuentes is a 3rd year Kinesiology major with a concentration in exercise science. She has danced for fours years on her high school dance team and enjoys expressing herself through body movement. Dance has been a great outlet for her and encourages her to stay healthy while broadening her knowledge in the fitness world. She is grateful to be a part of this years spring showcase at SSU.
Sierra Parkhurst
(re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Sierra Parkhurst is a recent Fall 2021 graduate from Sonoma State, earning a B.A in Dance as well as Geography, Environment, and Planning. During her time at SSU she participated in 4 Spring Dance productions, choreographed 4 original works for Fall Dance, as well as directed and choreographed her own senior project. Sierra is excited to be returning to the stage after 2 years of virtual productions and is proud to be representing as a department alumni.
Terra Bransfield
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022); (re) convene, cover, collect (2022)
Terra is in zeir 4th year as a double major in Dance and Psychology. Zi has been dancing from a young age, predominantly studio trained in ballet and aerial gymnastics. Zi has been in the annual Fall Dance productions the past 4 years, and has been a choreographer in them for the past 3. For Terra’s senior project, zi is continuing with a piece, This Is Not Political, that zi has been workin on for the past 2 years. After Terra graduates in the fall of 2023 zi hopes to join a dance company for a bit, then maybe one day create a dance studio cafe!
Zara Labbe
Uthabiti (Resilience) (2022); Favorite Self (2022)
Zara Labbe is a freshman at Sonoma State University and is majoring in dance. She has been dancing since she was six years old. Her dancing career began with Hip Hop lessons at Dance Mission in San Francisco. Zara continued to study Hip Hop at ODC in San Francisco along with Ballet, Intro to Modern, and Contemporary. Her dance lessons continued through middle school where she began to study Bollywood at ODC. In Highschool Zara studied over ten different styles of dance from around the world such as, West African, Tahitian, Hula, Bollywood, Afro Cuban, etc. Currently Zara is revisiting Hip Hop and contemporary dance styles along with studying Jazz dance at Sonoma State.