COMPANY BIOS

Artistic Director | Assistant Director | Board of Directors | Dancers

Dancers:
 

Christa Campbell Christa is originally from Wisconsin where she began her dance training locally in Madison as well as at various summer programs, including Virginia School of the Arts and the Joffrey Ballet. She went on to attend Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, graduating with a BA in dance. After graduating she moved to Indianapolis, IN to dance professionally with the Graham based modern dance company Dance Kaleidoscope. Christa then relocated to Philadelphia to pursue her dance career further. Christa has danced with ContempraDance Theatre based in Wayne, PA since 2004 and toured Poland with them during the summer of 2006. She has danced with Vada Dance Collective based in Philadelphia, PA since 2006, with Melange Contemporary Dance Company based in Pottstown, PA since 2009 and with 180 Dance Company based in West Chester, PA since 2009. She has also performed with REALM as a part of the World Dance Extravaganza, with Theatre Mama with which she helped promote the Cirque du Soleil show “KOOZA”, with Public Eye: Artists for Animals, with Indigenous Pitch Dance Collective and as a guest artist with the Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company (SVRDC). Christa has also appeared as a dance instructor in the TV commercial for Versa Fit Studio and has performed at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. Christa teaches at several area dance schools and is the co-director and choreographer for the ContempraYouth Dancers who performed in Disney in April 2008. Christa’s teaching credits include master classes and workshops for Cirque du Soleil, Marywood University and several local dance schools. In addition to the ContempraYouth Dancers her choreography has been performed by Melange Contemporary Dance Company, Public Eye: Artists for Animals and the Villanova Wildcat Dancers. Christa serves as publicity manager for ContempraDance Theatre and is on the Board of Directors for SVRDC.

Andreas Johnson Andreas has been dancing professionally for 10 years with professional dance companies such as Chosen Dance Company, Versatile Dance Company and The Human Project Dance Company. Andreas has appeared on BET, the Apollo and as a back-up dancer for recording artists 50 Cent, Wayne Wonder, Amerie, 3LW, Philly's Most Wanted, Nina Sky, Fat Joe, No Questions and Lil' Mama. He teaches hip hop throughout the Philadelphia area and at ContempraDance Center. Andreas is an Mc/Dj for Pulse Entertainment entertaining at Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. He has mastered the art of combining hip hop and contemporary dance.

Heather Bare Heather Bare began her dance training at age seven. During her high school years, she was a principal dancer for Hempfield High School's Dance Theater. She received her BFA in dance from The University of the Arts. She trained with artists of such companies as Philadanco, Martha Graham Dance Company, Momix, Koresh Dance Company, Pilobolus, Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and others. Upon graduating she was invited to teach dance at UArts. She co-choreographed and performed as a dancer and on trapeze in New Vision Cirque's nationally touring show "White, The Light Beyond". Recently, she co-directed, choreographer for and danced in "Revolution 9", a show that premiered in Ephrata, PA, based on The Beatles "White Album" featuring dancers, musicians, vocalists, actors and aerialists. Heather has been performing with Contempra Dance Theater for five years and toured Poland with them in July 2006.

Alberto Colon Jr. Alberto is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He attended the University of the Arts on a Presidential Merit Scholarship. He took advanced training at The Rock School, NCSA and the University of Akron. Alberto has performed with Ballet Met, Pennsylvania Ballet, and was a soloist with Columbia City Ballet and State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, CA. He was also a guest artist with Ballet Lafayette in Pittsburgh, PA. Alberto performs annually with the Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company in their season Nutcracker and other ballets. He teaches ballet and jazz at various dance academies as well as master classes throughout the region.

Shauna Tyser Shauna is from Somers, Conn. where she trained at the Connecticut Contemporary Ballet Theatre and the Northern Connecticut Ballet. She attended summer programs including the Alvin Ailey School, White Mountain Dance Festival, and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. She graduated from Temple University, Magna Cum Laude, with a BFA in Dance. Shauna attend Philadanco's Professional Training Program and was a member of Philadanco II. She is a recipient of the Drayton Visual Arts Scholarship for Dance, is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and was listed in the Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. She teaches dance and Pilates in the Philadelphia area.

Cesa Zuniga Cesa was born in Bronx, New York. Cesa’s received his dance training from Olive Dance Theatre. From international travel, Cesa realized that there is no language barrier when it comes to dance, and he views dance as a means for activism. Along with Indigenous Pitch Dance Collective, Cesa helps nurture children who have been affected by natural, environmental and/or economic disasters. Cesa is a member of dance company Illadelph Plava and a dance teacher in the Philadelphia area.

Jackie Kokolus Jackie received a B.A. in Dance from DeSales University. She studied under the instruction of Tim Cowart, Kristin Fieseler, Gretchen McClaine, and Trinette Singleton. Jackie performed in several main stage dance concerts while at DeSales, as well as stage musicals including Westside Story (Anita), and Cabaret (Frenchie). She worked and danced with many artists such as Sean Curran, The Doug Varone Company, Nicole Wolcott, and Tara Madsen. In 2007, Jackie’s choreography (The Umbrella Effect) was chosen to be presented at the American College Dance Festival at the University of Montana. Jackie is currently teaching at the Pennsylvania Youth Theater in Bethlehem, and at Dynamix Dance Center, where she is also co-choreographer for the studio’s competitive company.

Stephanie Vasta Stephanie is a graduate of Penn State Abington where she earned a B.A. in Psychological and Social Sciences. She participated in the University's dance company as a dancer and student choreographer. She has extensive training in jazz, ballet, tap, modern and hip hop. She received various scholarships to dance schools including Broadway Dance Center in New York and she won numerous awards for dance competitions. Stephanie also dances with Vada Dance Collective. She toured with ContempraDance Theatre in Poland, July 2006.

Trina Marie Moffett Trina Marie Moffett began her college career at SUNY- Purchase College and recieved her BFA from University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she was awarded for her expertise in Jazz dance. While at UArts she was able to work with Ronen Koresh, Fernando Bujones, Mia Michaels and Cuban Pete. She has studied with Pascal Rioult, Joyce Herring, Leslie Partridge, Doug Bentz, and Jana Hicks. She toured for 3 years with the Broadway Production of CATS throughout North America and was a dancer for Holland America Cruise Lines aboard the Noordam ship which traveled throughout Europe and the Carribbean. She has danced with FluidEdge Modern Dance Company and participated in the International Dance Festival in New York City. Trina is currently teaching dance and musical theatre in the Philadelphia area.

Lauren Sion Lauren graduated with Magna Cum Laude Honors from Muhlenberg College with her B.A in Dance in May 2008. She has studied many styles of dance since she was four years old including ballet/pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern, hip hop, and tap. She has performed in the Boscov’s Thanksgiving parade in Philadelphia, twice at Disney World at Magic Kingdom, and has also performed and choreographed in several dance concerts at Muhlenberg College and Drexel University. Other past performance venues have included the Painted Bride Arts Center and Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Ice House in Bethlehem, and the Sherman Theater in East Stroudsburg. She has also taught several forms of dance throughout the Lehigh Valley and continues to teach at Nardi Dance Studios. Lauren has been a guest dancer with Annex Dance Company and also dances with Serendipity Dance Ensemble, hersouldances modern dance projects and Eng and Friends Dance Company.

Karmen Fails Karmen is from Columbus, OH. She began dancing at the age of 12 at Balletmet in Columbus and is a graduate of their pre-professional program. During her time with Balletmet she had the opportunity to dance with Ethan Steifel, (of American Ballet Theatre and the movie Centerstage), and Hilary Duff. She is an alumni of University of the Arts and a former apprentice of Philadanco Dance Company. During her study at UArts, she had the privilege of taking a master class with Mikhail Baryishnikov and the troupe of The Great White Oak Project. She taught for Danceworks Performing Arts Center in Columbus in styles that ranged from ballet to hip-hop, as well as coached for the school’s jazz and lyrical dance team. While at Danceworks, she was awarded for “best choreography” in lyrical dance for her team at the National All-Star Challenge Dance Competition. She taught professionally for Fred Astaire Franchise Dance Studios in Columbus and won “first place” in the Latin portion of the Fred Astaire Ball. She now teaches dance in the Philadelphia Region and is a dancer with ContempraDance Theatre.

Kiera Bianchini Kiera is from Bucks County, PA, where she began her dance training locally at the age of four in jazz, ballet, tap, and lyrical. She has trained with various programs such as The Rock School’s summer ballet and jazz intensives and with the Broadway Dance Center, NY. She is currently attending Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA on a combined dance and merit scholarship where she will receive her B.S in dance and psychology in the spring of 2010. At Muhlenberg College, Kiera has studied various dance forms including classical ballet, jazz, modern, West African, and improvisation. These forms were taught under the direction of Karen Dearborn (Milwaukee Ballet), Charles Anderson (Dance Theatre X), Kathleen Bibalo (Radio City), Sarah Carlson and Monica Bill Barnes (Monica Bill Barnes and Co.). She has participated in various main stage performances at Muhlenberg, including the “Master Choreographer’s” dance concert, the “Dance Emerge” concert, and the “Moving Stories” dance concert. Kiera was chosen to participate in Sarah Carlson’s “Spider Dance”, an improvisational modern dance piece that was utilized in a dance on film class, and premiered at the Ice House (Lehigh Valley) in June 2009. She has also performed at the American College Dance Festival where she was chosen to perform in a number selected for the Gala performances. Kiera is currently an executive board member of the Muhlenberg College Dance Association and will complete her degree at Muhlenberg College while dancing with ContempraDance Theatre.