Meet the Company
Seiche is a performance based dance company, which identifies as a collective. Under the Artistic Direction of Danielle Kaiser, our Company Artists produce and perform original choreography. We also offer programs for Trainees. Contact us today if you are interested in joining us!
Artistic Director
Danielle Kaiser
(she/her)
Danielle brings over 30 years of experience to her work as Seiche Dance Collective’s founding Artistic Director. Her passion lies in educating the upcoming generation of leaders in the Arts, as well as creating choreography that connects dancers’ experiences with their minds and bodies. She remains focused on preserving the integrity of dance education by using her knowledge in the fields of education and dance, creating pathways for the future generation of dancers, choreographers, and dance educators.
Her training supported a professional performance career during which she appeared on stage both nationally and internationally. Danielle’s professional performance credits began as performer and soloist with PGT Entertainment, onboard the Dawn Princess. She performed with Princess Cruises, Ltd. onboard the Dawn, Emerald, and Grand Princess vessels as an aerialist, ballet soloist, and Assistant Company Performance Manager. In addition to performing, Danielle managed the cast responsible for a six-show repertoire, including re-staging of shows and choreographing and preparing the onboard holiday spectacular. Danielle has also previously appeared as a company member with SoMar Danceworks, and served as Captain for the Erie Bayhawks AAA NBA dance team.
Her choreography has been presented aboard the Dawn Princess with Princess Cruises Ltd., as well as with the Mercyhurst University Department of Dance, Cleveland Ballet Conservatory, Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre, Erie Dance Theatre, and Seiche Dance Collective. Danielle’s choreography has been presented at the Northeast Regional Dance America Festival, where she was nominated for the prestigious Monticello Choreography Award in 2015.
Danielle graduated from Mercyhurst University in 2010 with a B.A. in Dance, as well as a B.A. in Secondary Education Mathematics. During her time at Mercyhurst, Danielle was the recipient of the Mercyhurst Egan Scholarship from 2006-2010, as well as the Etoile Leadership Award in 2010. Danielle recently earned her M.F.A. in Choreography with a Concentration in Practice as Research from Jacksonville University in 2019. She was honored with the Howard Gilman Fellowship Award through Jacksonville University’s M.F.A. program, and acted as the cohort and faculty liaison from 2017-2019. Danielle is both a PBT Certified Teacher, and an ABT NTC Certified Teacher for levels PP-L5.
Danielle currently works as Adjunct Faculty and full-time Administrative Assistant for the Mercyhurst University Dance Department. She also currently serves as the Head Coach for the Mercyhurst University Dance Team, and as Faculty Advisor for the Dance Club. Danielle also currently serves as Ballet Advisor and Faculty at Little’s Dance Studio.
Danielle is a founding Board Member of Seiche Dance Collective, and is proud to serve as the organization’s first Artistic Director. Her vision is “to work with pre-professional and professional level dancers, both in an educational and choreographic environment.” She is passionate about “creating ways to offer dance to an adult audience who may otherwise lack the opportunity to train or continue training in an accepting and appropriate environment.” These are the reasons that Danielle gravitated to the other four co-founders of Seiche, in order to create this opportunity in our community.
Company Manager
Jo Theisen
(she/her)
Jo started dance lessons at the age of six, and began her formal ballet training at the age of 16 with the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet. She has performed professionally with Ballet Concerto in Fort Worth, Texas, Ballet Theater of Ohio, Albany Berkshire Ballet, SoMar Danceworks, and Dafmark Dance Theater. Jo also has extensive teaching experience, and has worked with Linda Dies Dance Unlimited, Cleveland Ballet Conservatory, and Erie Dance Conservatory. Jo graduated from Mercyhurst University with B.A. as a Double Major in Dance and World Languages, and earned her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Jo is a Partner at Amicangelo and Theisen, LLC, practicing Family Law. As a founding Board Member of Seiche Dance Collective, Jo is committed to working as a part of a like-minded community to elevate and expand dance opportunities for adults in the Erie area. Jo serves as Company Manager as well as a performing Company Artist.
Operations Manager
Andona Zacks-Jordan (she/her)
Andona took her first ballet class at the age of four, and has loved to dance ever since. She is an experienced performing artist and appreciates the artistry and creativity of dancing as well as choreographing. She graduated from Skidmore College with a B.A. in English and Philosophy, and minors in Religious Studies and Music. She earned her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Penn State University. Andona is an attorney, mediator, and collaborative professional. She is a founding partner of A to Z Law Erie, and she currently serves as a Guardian Ad Litem for Erie County. As a founding Board Member of Seiche Dance Collective, Andona is excited and committed to being a part of creating a new community around dance for adults in Erie, and happy to continue to explore dance as an artform and means of self-expression. Andona serves as Director of Operations as well as a performing Company Artist.
Company Artists
Brooke Butler
(she/her)
Starting ballet at 12, Brooke initially felt behind the girls who had been dancing for years, but she was determined to catch up. Through private lessons, dedication, and countless hours of practice, she learned to value hard work and developed an even deeper passion and appreciation for the art of ballet. Brooke studied Biology and Nutrition at Mercyhurst University and she currently works at SpaGo MedSpa. Dance will always be a part of who she is, and she's thankful to be part of an organization like Seiche in her adult years, returning for her second performance season.
Riley Callahan
(she/her)
Riley started dancing at three and her favorite experiences have included teaching at Long's School of Dance and Erie Dance Conservatory, being in Tethered for two years, filming WAR, and being a part of Seiche performances. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work from Mercyhurst University, and recently earned her Master of Social Work from Edinboro University. She currently works as a Behavioral Consultant at the Achievement Center, providing intensive behavioral health services working with children who have behavioral difficulties and their families. Riley is also working toward becoming a licensed behavioral specialist. After a break from dancing, Riley was excited to connect with other Seiche Artists and to find a positive and encouraging environment to take class and perform again, and she returns for her third performance season.
Ali Chludzinski
(she/her)
Ali started dancing at two with Spotlight Dance Studio and has experience performing and teaching various styles of dance. Ali graduated from McDowell High School and earned her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with a minor in Film and Media Studies from Slippery Rock University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude as a Presidential Scholar, was recognized as Student Employee of the Year, and received the Outstanding Dance Service Award. She completed a Social Media and Marketing Internship with the National Dance Education Organization, and she is currently studying with Point Park Univerisy to earn her M.Ed. with a PreK-12 Dance Education Certification. Ali learned about Seiche during the American College Dance Association conference at Mercyhurst University in 2023, and returns for a fourth performance season.
Elaina Ciecierski
(she/her)
Elaina is a performer, choreographer, and dance educator originally from Murrysville, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Seton Hill University, where she earned a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Biology. Currently, she is working toward her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at LECOM. Over the years, Elaina has performed in numerous productions, including Stage 62's production of Something Rotten!, Pippin, Dance Spectrum, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater's Open Air Series, Shana Simmons Dance's Taste the Seasons, and The Commercial Dance Experience. She has performed at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and the Alvin Ailey Theater. She was both a dancer and a choreographer for the Seton Hill University Dance Team. In the fall, you will find her touring with Thrive Dance Experience as an assistant. This is Elaina's second season with Seiche Dance Collective and she is grateful for the opportunity to continue training and performing throughout medical school.
Haley Fabich
(she/her)
Haley started dancing at three and she teaches Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Lyrical at Little Dance Studio. Having the opportunity to choreograph several pieces for her studio's 100th anniversary recital was one of her proudest moments. Being a dance teacher has been one of her most rewarding experiences, seeing the students' growth and knowing that she helped them to achieve their goals. Haley graduated from Allegheny College with a degree in Public Histories and a minor in Dance and Movement Studies. Currently, she works in retail management and she plans to attend graduate school to pursue a Masters Degree in Museum Studies. After moving back to Erie, she was looking for a place where she could continue dancing as an adult, and she continues to learn and grow as a performer with Seiche, returning for a second performance season.
Taylor Foster
(she/her)
Taylor started dancing at six, danced through high school, and started again at 25 when she was the first person to sign up for community classes at Seiche Dance Collective. A Mercyhurst and Arizona State graduate, she has degrees in Philosophy, Religious Studies, French, and Fashion. In her spare time, she runs her own business called Taylor & Tonic, teaches Colorguard at General McLane, and loves working at Erie's Sexiest Pizza and managing Altered State Distillery. She is a proud member of the Seiche family, returning for her fourth performance season.
Addison Lampman
(she/her)
Addison started dancing when she was three. She graduated from PennWest Edinboro University with a Bachelors in Social Work and she is currently earning her Masters in Social Work from PennWest Edinboro Univeristy. She is currently a Support Coordinator at A Bridge to Independence, a regional social service agency. One of her favorite experiences as a dancer has been returning to tap dance after a long time. She returns for her third performance season with Seiche.
Mara Isaacson
(she/her)
Mara began dance lessons around four, which eventually led her to train with American Midwest Ballet Junior Company in high school. From there she attended Mercyhurst University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Social Justice. Outside of dance, Mara enjoys her job as a nanny. She is excited to cotninue dancing in her third performance season with Seiche.
Morgan Masters
(she/her)
Morgan started dancing at six, and her most notable experience as a dancer has been leading ballet class for residents of memory care and individuals with dementia. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and earned her BA in Dance from Mercyhurst University. She is currently focused on working in life enrichment activities for seniors, and teaching dance classes. Her desires to dance with an organization with strong community ties and to be a part of a collective of value-aligned artists led her to join Seiche for her first performance season this year.
Maya Richards
(she/her)
Maya has been performing with Seiche since 2022, where she is currently the Artist in Residence, dancing, teaching, and running rehearsals. A graduate of Mercyhurst University with a B.F.A. in Dance and a B.A. in Mathematics, she performed with SoMar Dance Works for four seasons. Maya is passionate about teaching young and emerging dancers and currently works as the Marketing Mananger for the Erie Philharmonic. She returns to Seiche for her fifth performance season.
Ramani Rosa
(he/him)
Ramani Rosa grew up in the city of Erie Pennsylvania. He has appeared with The Mercyhurst Dancers in the principal role of Hilarion in Giselle, in New York City at the HOT! Festival in a piece choregraphed by Anthony Alterio and as a guest artist with Erie Contemporary Ballet Theatre in the principal role of the Snow King in The Nutcracker. Ramani attended Mercyhurst University where he earned his B.A. in Dance, while attending on an academic scholarship. There he studied with notable instructors and choreographers, such as Jennifer McNamara and Matthew Christensen of Nashville Ballet, Lesley Bories-Scalies of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Solveig Santillano of MOMIX and Mark Santillano of Pilobolus. Ramani’s dance training includes several types of ballet techniques including Balanchine and Checceti. He is also trained in jazz, hip hop, contemprorary, and Graham and Horton modern. During his time at Mercyhurst, Ramani appeared in eleven contemporary works and the classical ballets, Giselle and Swan Lake with The Mercyhurst Dancers. He also performed in the 2019 production of Amahl and the Night Visitors as a dancer, performed with the Dance Team and has had several years of classical voice training. His early training began at Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy and Erie Dance Theater. Ramani now dances as a soloist with Seiche Dance collective. He has been a company artist for them for 4 years, teaching, choreographing and photographing the company alongside sharing his passion for dance.
Lauren Sala
(she/her)
Lauren has over 30 years of dance experience. She is a labor and employment attorney, currently working for PSEA advising school employees. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a B.A. in Dance Theater and Politics and Government with an Economics Management minor. She earned her J.D. and M.P.A. from Cleveland State University. She has danced with the American Dance Festival, MadJax Dance Company, the Movement Project, and Cleveland Dance Project, and she has showcased her work with Expedition Dance, a project-based modern company that she started while living in Cleveland. Lauren moved to Erie in 2021 and she is proud to be a part of developing a more vibrant dance community here. In addition to being a mom, Lauren is active in the Erie arts community and serves on the Board of Erie Arts & Culture. She returns for her fourth performance season with Seiche.
Mia Semieraro
(she/her)
Mia is a native of Pittsburgh. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2025 with a B.F.A. in Dance and a minor in Exercise Science from Mercyhurst University. She has danced professionally with SoMar Dance Works, Ballet Concerto, and Seiche. Mia returns for her second performance season as a Principal Company Artist with Seiche Dance Collective.
Nadia Stronkowsky
(she/her)
Nadia started dancing at three and she loves how rewarding the process of choreographing is, using dance to express herself in different ways. She graduated with her B.F.A. in Dance with a minor in Dance Education from Mercyhurst University. Her current focus is in teaching dance classes and pursuing a career in operations. She joined Seiche to reconnect with her dance artistry from a new perspective, drawn to the collaborative nature of being a part of a collective, working directly with other artists. Nadia joins Seiche for her first performance season.
Trainees
Kristina Birgani (she/her)
