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About Me
How it Started
I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. As a little kid, I insisted that I take dance classes. I started when I was four, with tap and ballet classes. Even at a young age, I knew that the performing arts were an important part of my life. When I was in 2nd Grade, I joined my studio's competition team with a dance called "Bugaboo", which encouraged me to continue challenging myself and growing as a dancer.
Outside of Dance Class
I continued developing a passion for dance and creativity. Even when I was not at the dance studio, dance and the performing arts were on my mind. Like the time that I insisted I make tap shoes for an art project despite my inability to draw them without help. I also was learning a lot about music and attended a few different theatre camps.
As I Grew Up
I continued taking dance classes and competing at dance competitions all the way through high school. Along the way, I also learned about how I could pursue dance and the performing arts as a career. I went to a summer program through Talent on Parade called Pre Pro that is put on in Branson, Missouri at the Clay Cooper Theatre. On the first day, I got to watch the Go Pro dancers perform in Kidz Roc, and knew that I wanted to be one of those performers someday. Which I did get to do once I was in high school.
Theatre
Growing up, I had a limited ability to be involved in theatre until I started high school. In my freshman year, I jumped right in. It was not until then that I started to develop a love for working on the technical aspects of a production. I performed in a lot of musicals, but I also worked on props, assistant stage managed for a production of Blythe Spirit, and was an assistant choreographer for both musicals, Lion King Jr. and The Addams Family, my senior year. I also performed as Lois, and a swing in a production of A Chorus Line put on at the Des Moines Playhouse.
Show Choir
I started my show choir journey in middle school and started to develop choreography skills in 8th grade when I was asked to help choreograph a medley with a group of peers. I made it onto the varsity show choir my freshman year and by the time I was a senior, I was the president of the show choir and had to help our director run rehearsals. I also choreographed for the JV Show Choir my senior year. Even after I graduated from High School, I continued to go back and help with the show choir over breaks with learning choreography and cleaning.
University
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dance & Arts Management and a Minor in Directing at Oklahoma City University. I held many management positions throughout the four years; running both static and moving lights for the American Spirit Dance Company, being an Assistant Production Manager and Assistant Stage Manager for the Star Dance Company, and directing my own devised piece for a directing showcase. I also held leadership positions in my sorority and was on my chapter's executive board and was Panhellenic President starting in my Junior year. During the summers, I was an Assistant Choreographer for a production of Godspell, worked as a program intern with the Des Moines Arts Festival, and worked with Des Moines Performing Arts as a Broadway Intensive Intern.
Now
I am currently back in Des Moines, Iowa, and am looking for theatrical adventures to be a part of! I spent the last summer working with Wagner Summer Theater for various children's camps. I stage managed, lighting designed, and assisted choreography for Ankeny Community Theatre's production of the Addams Family in the Fall. Most recently I have been on the board for and have worked with Des Moines Young Artists Theatre. Choreographing Finding Nemo Jr. has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had, and I am looking forward to continue working with young artists as I stage manage for their upcoming production of the Marvel Plays.