upcoming project: the people
Artistic Director and Choreographer: L. Brooke Schlecte
L. BROOKE SCHLECTE was born and raised in Waco, Texas. Upon graduating from Reicher Catholic High School in 1999, her supportive parents encouraged her to pursue a dance degree in college. She initially enrolled at Kilgore Junior College, where she auditioned and joined the Kilgore College Rangerettes. As a Rangerette, Schlecte was able to perform at a St. Patrick's Day celebration in Ireland, at a United States Presidential Inauguration, and two Cotton Bowl Games. After graduating from Kilgore in 2001, she enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin to continue her dance education. In 2003, she graduated with honors from UT with a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Dance. After teaching at a dance studio in Fort Worth for one year, Schlecte decided to pursue a graduate degree in dance at Texas Woman's University in Denton. She graduated with a Master's of Fine Arts in Dance from TWU in 2007. During her final year of graduate school, she was the recipient of the school's "Excellence in Choreography Award."
In 2007, Schlecte founded Out On A Limb Dance Company and moved back home to Waco. While beginning to grow her professional dance company, she also taught in the Health and Human Performance Department at Baylor University. She developed two Dance Minor theory courses for the department, Dance Pedagogy and Dance Composition, while there. In 2012, Schlecte and Out On A Limb collaborated with Waco Cultural Arts Festival to create (254) Dance-Fest, a curated, multi-faceted dance festival. In order to coordinate and promote the dance festival throughout the state, she subsequently founded the Texas Dance Festival Alliance as well. In 2013, Out On A Limb expanded to include a creative dance class for children called Dot Buds and a pre-professional group for local emerging artists called Dot Vines. Schlecte has been choreographing, collaborating, developing, teaching, and performing through Out On A Limb for 10 years now, locally, regionally, and beyond.
Schlecte has been married to her husband Charlie, a Waco native, for 14 years. They have two children, Sadie (7) and Silas (4).
In 2007, Schlecte founded Out On A Limb Dance Company and moved back home to Waco. While beginning to grow her professional dance company, she also taught in the Health and Human Performance Department at Baylor University. She developed two Dance Minor theory courses for the department, Dance Pedagogy and Dance Composition, while there. In 2012, Schlecte and Out On A Limb collaborated with Waco Cultural Arts Festival to create (254) Dance-Fest, a curated, multi-faceted dance festival. In order to coordinate and promote the dance festival throughout the state, she subsequently founded the Texas Dance Festival Alliance as well. In 2013, Out On A Limb expanded to include a creative dance class for children called Dot Buds and a pre-professional group for local emerging artists called Dot Vines. Schlecte has been choreographing, collaborating, developing, teaching, and performing through Out On A Limb for 10 years now, locally, regionally, and beyond.
Schlecte has been married to her husband Charlie, a Waco native, for 14 years. They have two children, Sadie (7) and Silas (4).
RACHEL BRUCE JOHNSON: Collaborator, Since 2007
Photo by Jeanne S. Mam-Luft
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RACHEL BRUCE JOHNSON is the founder and Executive Director of Bell House Arts, Inc., a collaborative dance and art cooperative dedicated to creating opportunity for artistic exchange. Ms. Johnson’s film work is centralized around dance specifically made for the film medium. This entails considering dance and film equally in all its depth and complexity to fuse the two mediums into the genre of dance for camera. Mrs. Johnson’s dance film work includes Deeper, we all fall down, PASSAGES, Prepare the Veil, PaperCUTS, and She Drew a Picture of a Whale. Ms. Johnson has worked as a dance performance soloist, contributing choreographer and video enthusiast for various companies across the U.S. and abroad. Her work has garnished such critical comments as “avant-garde” [Margaret Putnam, Dallas Morning News] and “excellence in kinetic artistry” [Loretta Livingston] and was included in the American College Dance Festival’s gala invitational in 2007, the National Dance Association/AAHPERD convention, Screen Door Film Festival, Kivisto Studio K Tulsa, and various other multi-disciplinary venues.She has studied with such artists as Melody Ruffin-Ward (Rhode Island College), Sarah Gamblin (Bebe Miller), Mary Williford-Shade (Mark Taylor), and Todd Rosenlieb (Erik Hawkins Dance Company). She is particularly interested in performance process and in creating work for the dance for camera genre. Ms. Johnson holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Performance and Choreography from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX and received the 2007 Outstanding Graduate Student Award. In 2009, she launched the first adjudicated dance choreography festival in Tulsa, OK; EXCHANGE DANCE FESTIVAL. Ms. Johnson also performs and choreographs with the Living Water Dance Company in Tulsa, OK and Out On a Limb Dance Company in Waco, TX. She has served as adjunct professor in the Dance Program at Oral Roberts University and currently serves as a dance committee member for the Living Arts Council of Tulsa.
Professional Affiliations: AAHPERD NDEO Dance Films Association Dance Camera West |
ERIKA RECORD: assistant director, collaborator 2014
Erika Record holds an MFA in Dance from Texas Woman's University in Denton, where she was awarded the Excellence in Choreography Scholarship (2014), and a BFA in Performance and Choreography from Texas State University. In addition, Erika holds a Texas Educator Certificate for Dance, grades 8-12. While in college at Texas State University, Erika was a member of the world famous Texas State Strutters (2007-2009) and also Merge Dance Company (2009-2011). At Texas State, Erika performed in over 40 dance works, obtained the College of Fine Arts and Communication Council of Scholars Award for academic excellence (2009-2011), and also received the Opening Door Dance Theater Scholarship for her senior choreographic work titled, Threshold (2010).
Erika has traveled to and performed in Santiago, Chile (2009), Los Angeles (2010), and New York City (2011). In the past five years, her choreography has seen audiences all over Texas, including Denton, Huntsville, Waco, and College Station. Erika has taught as a guest artist at ACDFA at Sam Houston University in 2013. Some of Erika's most recent performances include dancing in Sarah Gamblin's Act's of Absence, presented at the New Genre Arts Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in March 2014 and performing in her own choreographed solo, LightBody in Texas Woman's University's DanceMakers concert series in April 2014. In addition, Erika recently debuted a new work in the 2015 {254} dance-fest for Out on a Limb Dance Company titled, light swarm, with music composed by Benjamin Shirey and projections designed by TCU's Roma Flowers.
Currently, Erika is an Adjunct Professor at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas, and an Associate Professor at Collin College in Plano, Texas. In addition, she teaches yoga at Inspire Yoga, which opened its Denton location in August 2015. Erika is also on staff at the Center for Ballet Arts, Denton's newest and largest dance studio for children, pre-professionals, and adults. She is making work independently on a project-to-project basis and is dancing as an Associate Member of Out on a Limb Dance Company, which operates out of Waco, Texas.
Erika has traveled to and performed in Santiago, Chile (2009), Los Angeles (2010), and New York City (2011). In the past five years, her choreography has seen audiences all over Texas, including Denton, Huntsville, Waco, and College Station. Erika has taught as a guest artist at ACDFA at Sam Houston University in 2013. Some of Erika's most recent performances include dancing in Sarah Gamblin's Act's of Absence, presented at the New Genre Arts Festival in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in March 2014 and performing in her own choreographed solo, LightBody in Texas Woman's University's DanceMakers concert series in April 2014. In addition, Erika recently debuted a new work in the 2015 {254} dance-fest for Out on a Limb Dance Company titled, light swarm, with music composed by Benjamin Shirey and projections designed by TCU's Roma Flowers.
Currently, Erika is an Adjunct Professor at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas, and an Associate Professor at Collin College in Plano, Texas. In addition, she teaches yoga at Inspire Yoga, which opened its Denton location in August 2015. Erika is also on staff at the Center for Ballet Arts, Denton's newest and largest dance studio for children, pre-professionals, and adults. She is making work independently on a project-to-project basis and is dancing as an Associate Member of Out on a Limb Dance Company, which operates out of Waco, Texas.
project collaborators
BRITTANY LOPEZ: Choreographer and performer
BRITTANY LOPEZ is a contemporary dance artist, educator, and feminist based in San Antonio, Texas. She earned a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography from Texas State University. She has performed and presented choreography throughout the state of Texas as well as in Asheville, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Salt Lake City, Utah, and Mexico City, Mexico. From 2015 – 2018, Brittany served as President of the San Antonio Dance Umbrella, a local nonprofit organization whose mission was to ensure that dance remains a vital part of the community.She is thrilled to be serving on the Texas Dance Improvisation Festival Coordinating Committee for the first time this year.
Currently, Brittany is an Instructor in the dance program at Northwest Vista College and directs the NVC Repertory Dance Ensemble. Additionally, Brittany started a contemporary modern dance company called grit danceworks that focuses on manifesting the resiliency of woman-led perspectives and stories through the power of the moving body. grit danceworks is eagerly preparing for their premiere concert in 2019.
Currently, Brittany is an Instructor in the dance program at Northwest Vista College and directs the NVC Repertory Dance Ensemble. Additionally, Brittany started a contemporary modern dance company called grit danceworks that focuses on manifesting the resiliency of woman-led perspectives and stories through the power of the moving body. grit danceworks is eagerly preparing for their premiere concert in 2019.
Director of music: Chris sies
Chris Sies is a percussionist and sound artist who seeks to bring visceral sonic and performative experiences to diverse audiences. A unique performer with “virtuoso flair" (Detroit Free Press), Chris has appeared with such groups as New Music Detroit, The National Arab Orchestra, Man Forever, So Percussion, The Black Earth Ensemble, My Brightest Diamond, and the Fulcrum Point New Music Project, among many others. As a composer and collaborative artist, Sies has worked in many facets including dance, performance art, and multimedia with works presented by the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS), The Percussive Arts Society, The American College Dance Association, The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and the Detroit Bureau of Sound. Through the integration of percussion and live electronics, Chris’s music lives at the crossroads of the academic avante garde, DIY rock, and power electronic genres. Among his many musical projects, Sies currently serves on the percussion faculty at Baylor University, and is a percussionist/composer with new music ensemble Latitude 49 along with eclectic art band, Willo, and the genre-mashing experimental duo act, Archisms.
Projects links:
www.chrissiesmusic.com
www.willocollective.com
www.archisms.bandcamp.com
www.latitude49music.com
Projects links:
www.chrissiesmusic.com
www.willocollective.com
www.archisms.bandcamp.com
www.latitude49music.com
Martheya Nyygard: CHOREOGRAPHER AND PERFORMER
Martheya G. Nygaard is a dance artist who shares her knowledge and passion of dance through the art of choreographing, performing, and creating videodance. Ms. Nygaard received her dance training with several ballet companies in the Dallas area. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. She received her Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University in May 2018. She served the TWU Dance Department as the Publicity Coordinator where her roles included managing the department social media platforms, graphic design, and managing the new Alumni Network. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant Martheya was the teacher of record for dance aerobics (Pilates) and modern I. Martheya was selected as the TWU Dance Department Outstanding Graduate Student for the 2016-2017 school year where she was the recipient of the Aileen Lockhart Endowed Scholarship. During the summer of 2017 Martheya performed a contemporary work and presented a videodance at the World Dance Alliance Global Summit in Canada. In Fall 2017 Martheya co-organized and presented a panel about Drill Team and Dance Education for the Nation Dance Education Organization Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Martheya was the recipient of the TWU Dance Department Adrienne Fisk Outstanding Service Award for the 2017-2018. At the 2017-2018 TWU Pioneering Spirit Awards Martheya received the Graduate Teaching Assistant Award of Excellence. Recently Martheya and her colleague YeaJean Choi launched a social media based company, kNOwBOX dance, to connect interdisciplinary art, technology, and artists, to re-envision the process of art making and sharing. The company pursues experimental production and collaboration with other artists in order to create, discuss and advocate for art.
For more information visit http://www.martheyamovement.com| www.knowboxdance.com
For more information visit http://www.martheyamovement.com| www.knowboxdance.com
hyun Jung Jenna chang: CHOREOGRAPHER AND PERFORMER
Hyun Jung (Jenna) Chang is a dance artist who is passionate about sharing the joy and power of unity through dance. After training under Dr. Choi at Tarrant County College Northeast campus in 2012, she began her journey to become a dance educator and transferred to Texas Woman's University where she obtained both her B.A. and M.F.A. in Dance. She received an “Excellence in Teaching” award from TWU and is the new Associate Professor of Dance at TCC NE. Chang is a fluid mover with background in hip hop, modern, jazz, ballet, contact improvisation and traditional Korean dance. As a performer and choreographer, Chang’s interest lies in the cross-section of dance/movement and her identity as a young Christian Korean-American woman of the 21st century.
reyna mondragon: CHOREOGRAPHER AND PERFORMER
jamie suzuki: assistant to director
Jamie Suzuki began dancing at eight years old in Jackson, NJ. Dance quickly became and passion of hers and she continued to study it through college. She graduated from Colby College in Waterville, ME with a major in chemistry and a minor in theater and dance. While in Maine, under the leadership of Annie Kloppenberg, Jamie performed in her classmates’ pieces every semester including a thesis work, Truah, choreographed by Madeline Kurtz (2014).
Upon graduation, Jamie became a high school chemistry teacher in Westport, CT. While in Connecticut, Jamie found it difficult to continue dancing because of a lack of access to adult dance classes. She began using Crossfit to fill this void and has continued to train at Crossfit Waco following her move to Texas in 2017. She will be continuing her love of education as a middle school teacher at Rapoport Academy in Waco, TX and a dance teacher at Joy’s School of Dance in Waco. Although you are more likely to find her picking up a barbell than pointe shoes these days, Jamie is grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the arts community in Waco as assistant to director with Out on a Limb Dance Company and their upcoming project and {254} Dance Fest.
Upon graduation, Jamie became a high school chemistry teacher in Westport, CT. While in Connecticut, Jamie found it difficult to continue dancing because of a lack of access to adult dance classes. She began using Crossfit to fill this void and has continued to train at Crossfit Waco following her move to Texas in 2017. She will be continuing her love of education as a middle school teacher at Rapoport Academy in Waco, TX and a dance teacher at Joy’s School of Dance in Waco. Although you are more likely to find her picking up a barbell than pointe shoes these days, Jamie is grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the arts community in Waco as assistant to director with Out on a Limb Dance Company and their upcoming project and {254} Dance Fest.