Company Members

Amy Berto
Amy graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in Modern Dance from Texas Christian University in May of 2006. She is a native of Whidbey Island, WA, where she received training from Island Dance and was a member of Whidbey Island Dance Theatre. While at TCU, she had the opportunity to study and perform works by artists from all over the globe, including Christian von Howard, Andrea Harris, Luis Lara Malvacías, and the late Fernando Bujones. Amy performed as a guest with Peninsula Dance Theatre during a dance tour of France, which included a performance at Disneyland-Paris and the Avignon Festival. She recently returned to Seattle after performing as a dancer and magician's assistant in Baltimore, MD. This is her second season with Redd Legg Dance.

 

 

 

 

 




Company Members

Courtney Ryan
Courtney's performance career began with the Ithaca Ballet Regional Dance Company in New York State. She has studied with many wonderful artists in the US and Paris such as Kennet Oberly, Jin Wen Yu, and Wayne Byars. In Seattle, Courtney has had the opportunity to perform works by a number of local choreographers including Alianna Jaqua, Wade Madsen, Jason Ohlberg, and Karn Junkinsmith. She holds a BA from Smith College, where she was an active member of the dance department, and a M.Ed. in early childhood special education from the University of Washington. She currently works as an autism specialist/special education teacher. Courtney joined Redd Legg Dance at the end of the 2006 - 2007 season and is starting her third full year with the company.

Rian Creighton
Rian recently graduated from Cornish College of the Arts with a Bachelors degree in Dance. During her time in school, she had the pleasure and privilege of working with choreographers such as Deborah Wolf, Jason Ohlberg, Christy McNeil Dobson, and Daniel Cruz. She has performed in a number of great works, including “Mixin' It Up” by Bill Evans. Rian has also been able to work with Broadway choreographers Andy Blankenbueler and AC Ciula in her earlier years with New York City Dance Alliance. She is currently teaching at Elite School of Dance in Puyallup. This is Rian's second year with Redd Legg Dance.

Stacy Brenner
Stacy holds a BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University where she received a number of grants and scholarships, including being named the Department of Dance 2004 Presidential Scholar. At WMU, Stacy had the great opportunity to dance works by internationally credited choreographers such as George Balanchine, Martha Graham and Gus Giordano. Stacy has studied as an apprentice with Ballet Concerto in Fort Worth, Texas and danced professionally with MoreDances Contemporary Dance Company in Michigan. Since moving to Seattle, Stacy has performed with Maki Morinoue (of Esse Aficionado, NYC), Selfick Ng-Simancas, Maika Misumi, oaklanDrive dance company, and Jerboa Dance. Stacy is also a Pilates instructor at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Bodycenter Studios. Stacy is in her fifth season with both Redd Legg Dance.

Alex Goldstein
Alex began her dance training in Calgary, Alberta where she studied ballet with Dorothy Sinclair. She abandoned dance at the age of 12 to pursue sports and academics, eventually earning a doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Washington. Since moving to Seattle, Alex has danced with Lehua Dance Theatre, ARC Dance, oaklanDrive dance company, and Wobbly.com and has had the opportunity to perform the works of numerous choreographers, including Jean Campbell, Marie Chong, Mark Haines, Mark J. Kane, and Wade Madsen. This is Alex's fifth year with Redd Legg Dance.
Jamie Karlovich
Jamie Karlovich graduated summa cum laude from Cornish College of the Arts in May of 2006. She has performed in many pieces including a suite from Jose Limon's “A Choreographic Offering,” as well as Martha Graham's “Diversion of Angels” in which she played the roll of the red woman. Jamie is an active company member of Wade Madsen and Dancers, Redd Legg Dance, and Dance Contemporary. She has danced with Lehua Dance Theater, Interweave Dance Theatre, as part of the Boulder Jazz Dance Workshop, and has been invited to River North Chicago's summer dance intensive. She performs and teaches in the Seattle Metropolitan area. Jamie returns to Redd Legg Dance for her fourth season.

Mary Kirkpatrick
Mary received her BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University under the direction of Nina Nelson and special studies with Gretchen Warren. Beginning her formal training in classical ballet, she continued her education in modern and freestyle hip-hop dance with several artists in Chicago, South Carolina, and Baltimore. Since moving to Seattle, Mary has performed with Maki Morinoue, Jerbora Dance, Jessica Jobaris Dance Company, and oaklanDrive Dance Company. She is starting her fifth year as a member of Redd Legg Dance.

Mari Hingtgen LaRocca
Mari began her early dance training in the Preparatory Dance Division at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. While there she studied with Pat Hon, Shelagh Regan, Terry Sparks and Marie Chong. Mari attended college at Texas Christian University, graduating with a BFA in Ballet & Modern Dance in 2008. At TCU, she performed in many pieces by faculty and guest artists including Li-Chou Cheng, Susan Douglas Roberts, Peter Kalivas, Christi Weindorf and Holly Williams. Since moving back to Seattle after graduation, Mari has been working on her Pilates certification and is currently teaching at Vitality Pilates. She is excited to be in her second season with Redd Legg Dance.



Stephanie Littlefield
Stephanie received her early training from Ballet South in Savannah. She holds a BA in Spanish from the University of the South, during which time she danced with Ballet Tennessee and later went on to be the director of her University dance company. Since moving to Seattle, Stephanie has danced with a number of choreographers and has performed with Seattle Jazz Dance Company, Ballet Bellevue's Jazz Nutcracker, Pacific Chamber Ballet, R-Dance and Jerboa Dance. This is Stephanie's third season with Redd Legg Dance.

Marlo Martin
Marlo holds a BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University. She has been on faculty at numerous studios in Michigan and Washington as well as at WMU, where she served as the instructor for all university jazz classes in 2002. Marlo is the owner of eXit SPACE School of Dance. Since moving to Seattle, Marlo has performed at Velocity's Under Construction and danced as part of The Three Yells at the Northwest New Works Festival and Bumbershoot. Marlo is currently on maternity leave.






Christina Kennedy
Christina, a Maryland native, began her training with Sally Tierney, studying the Cecchetti Method of Ballet. She has received numerous awards including scholarships from the East Coast Cecchetti Committee and was named a Maryland Distinguished Scholar of the Arts. Christina has performed with the Dance Institute of Washington at the Kennedy Center, under the Artistic Director Fabian Barnes. While earning her BFA in Dance from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, she performed with the Phoenix Dance Company. Since relocating to Seattle, Christina has been teaching and looks forward to her second season with Redd Legg Dance. Christina is currently on materniny leave.

Karena Birk
Karena received her training at Cornish College of the Arts and Prepertory School, the University of Washington, and the Richmond Ballet.  She has worked with Lehua Dance Theatre, the Colorado Ballet, oaklanDrive Dance Company, and ARC Dance.  Karena has worked on faculty at Bainbridge Dance Center and spends her summers teaching at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan.  She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Washington with a degree in Classics. Karena is currently in her third year working toward her MFA in Dance at the Ohio State University.

Photos by Leo Chen Photography.

Michele O'Neill
Michele, originally from Southern California, started her early dance training with Barbara Plomer and Bob Banas.  She went on to receive a BFA in Dance from the University of California, Santa Barbara where she trained with Christopher Pilafian, Jerry Pearson, Valerie Huston, and Vincent Brousseau.  She also attended workshops at UCLA and UC Berkley and performed throughout California with the UC Santa Barbara Dance Company.  After taking a long break from dance to get married, join the business world, and have two children, she is delighted to be back performing.  Michele is in her fourth season with Redd Legg Dance.

Past company members:
Estes Braggs, Astre Kay, Andrea Laretta, David Lorence, Michelle Miulli, Pamela Shahan, Karena Valiquette, Anthea Young

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