UNLV Dance Alumni

Alumni

Julie Fotheringham

BA in Dance, 2002

After two years of performing in Cirque du Soleil's KA in Las Vegas, Julie Fotheringham has relocated to New York to surround herself with the influences that will contribute to the evolution of her own work. She is grateful to UNLV for the opportunities it provided for her to perform and create, in particular, the month spent at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. That exposure to the European aesthetic in modern dance continues to influence her work today. She is in the process of developing her own evening-length solo performance that will debut in New York next spring. She also credits UNLV for the opportunities it provided to perform and create. And she is grateful for the resources it continues to provide her even after graduation.

Jason Hort in

BFA in Dance, 2005

Jason Hortin (Olympia, WA) graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a B.F.A. in 2005. While attending UNLV, Jason performed at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland; the International Dance Festival in Kiel, Germany; the Lincoln Center in New York City; and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Jason has danced with Moving People Dance Theatre in Santa FE, NM; B.A.D. in San Francisco, CA; and with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company based in New York. Jason is currently a company member with River North Chicago Dance Company. In addition to being a member of River North, Jason teaches at numerous studios around the Chicagoland area and has guest performed with Barrington Youth Ballet and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

"Without my training from UNLV, I would not be where I am right now. Not only does UNLV offer world-class instruction, but world-class opportunity. Some of my greatest memories thru my time at UNLV include performing in Edinburgh, Scotland; Kiel, Germany; performing with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company in New York City; and Moving People Dance Theatre in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The instruction, professors and school is simply amazing. I loved the school and the professors are great, inspiring and fun. I'm glad I switched from computer science to dance :)

Stephanie Naddaff

BFA in Dance, 2005

Stephanie resides in New York and studies at the Paul Taylor School and Dance New Amsterdam. She is currently rehearsing with Chen and Dancers, a modern company with roots in Martial Arts and Chinese Opera.

"The UNLV Dance Department offers many great opportunities, such as participating in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and working with accomplished Guest Artists. I believe that the core of its sucess to guide, prepare, and create dancers who can easily fit into the world of professional dance is the full time faculty. These distinguished mentors are caring and knowledgeable individuals who want nothing more than the best for their students. The relationships I have made and lessons learned from my professors are something I value immensely and give credit to the dancer and person I have become. I will always cherish and miss my time as a dance major."

deeAnn Nelson

BA in Dance, 2001

deeAnn Nelson holds a B.A. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas & an M.F.A. from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts. Currently she is a company member of STREB/RINGSIDE while working as a pilates instructor. She has danced with a variety of choreographers including Kun Yang Lin, Maleshock Dance Company, Adrienne Celeste Fadjo Dance, & recently w/ Nicholas Duran at DTW, &Niles Ford at PS 122. She has also had the opportunity to work as rehearsal director for Nicolo Fonte’s Force Quit. deeAnn has been creating and performing her own work since 1999. Her choreography has been presented in such venues as Chashama, Joyce Soho as part of the Dancenow Festival, the D.U.M.B.O. Dance Festival, and the American College Dance Festival.

You probably saw deeAnn on November's cover of Dance Magazine.

" My experience at UNLV opened up new ideas about movement and art. Because of the travel opportunities to through the university my knowledge was broadened and I was able to have more courage to explore the dance world. I often think about my teachers at UNLV and the impact they had on my life. They were there for me...answering questions, encouraging progress, and helping me grow into the dancer I am now."

Petrina Olson

BA in Dance, 2004

Petrina Olson graduated from the UNLV Dance Program in May 2004. An Interdisciplinary artist. she has been a student and author of dance for more than 30 years. After graduating from UNLV, she founded, and is the Artistic Director of Threshold Dance Theater, the first contemporary dance company in Las Vegas with it's own resident facility within which operates a school/studio/ and Theater performance space. In addition to teaching and choreographing, Petrina designs and creates her own costumes, sets, and props. Her signature work Flux, which can be seen on the TDT website, incorporates a six foot steel Orb Sculpture she built.

In addition to her dance degree Petrina holds a B.A. in Psychology. Her movement studies encompass Ballet, various modern and ethnic movement forms, the Halprin Life/Art Expressive Therapy Process, and Laban/Bartineiff Movement Fundamentals. She also is a certified Health Fitness Instructor and Reiki and Thai Massage Practitioner.

Petrina credits her magnificent, unique, 10 year old autistic daughter as her creative partner in the development of her specialized expressive movement classes for disabled children which she teaches at her studio.

“I appreciate the many great opportunities the UNLV Dance Department afforded me - such as performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and working with distinguished guest artists. I am most grateful to the faculty for their openness, support, and guidance in the manifestation of Flux - the work I created as my final student project. The dance program, and the faculty at UNLV provided me with the priceless knowledge I have utilized in the creation and formation of my company.”
Visit: www.ThresholdDance.org.

Kristen Sholes

BFA in Dance, 2005

Kristen is currently pursuing her MFA at Florida State University where she teaches Jazz dance. She performed with Florida State's Dance Repertory Theater from 2005- 2006 and is a member of Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theater of Daytona Beach, Florida. She has had the opportunity to work with Dan Wagoner, Suzanne Farrel, Anjali Austin, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Bruce Wood, Anthony Morgan, and Sheila Humphreys. Kristen will be spending Fall 2006 in New York where she will intern with Dance New Amsterdam in the marketing and development departments.

The UNLV dance department's three-emphasis program in ballet, modern, jazz made me the well-rounded dancer I am today. The faculty's knowledge of choreography, performance, and teaching enriched my own understanding of the art of dance. I found out that I knew very little about dance before I went to UNLV and left knowing I could make a career of it in many ways. My decision to further my education with the MFA stemmed from wanting to be able to give to other young inspiring dancers what they were able to give to me. My four years there set a high standard in the quality of dance and instructors that I will strive to have throughout my career.

UNLV Dance Alumni:

We would love to include you in these pages. Please submit a photo, brief bio telling us what you are up to. I am also happy to include any statement you have about our program. Email these to: louis.kavouras@unlv.edu