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Back (left-right): Jenna Swartz, Emmaline Devore,

Middle (left-right): Mary Joy White, Sydney Godringer, Emily Ferguson, Coryne Page, Andona Zacks-Jordan, Trinity Stevens

Front (left-right):  Emma Argaez, Giana Ruffa, Elizabeth Sabol, Ramani Rosa, Maya Richards, McKenna Hoek, Amelia Waddell

Danielle Kaiser, Artistic Director (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. 

 

Emma Devore (she/her)

Emma earned her BFA in Dance and a minor in Photography from Mercyhurst University, where she proudly presented her senior capstone, entitled (ANTI) social, and was thrilled to perform the traditionally male role of Rothbart in Swan Lake. Her current focus is growing as a dancer, artist, and choreographer. She loves the collaborative element of Seiche, as well as the friendly, welcoming atmosphere.

 

Emily Ferguson (she/her)

Emily graduated from Mercyhurst University with a BA in Dance Performance and a minor in Art Therapy. She performed as a demi-soloist with the Ballet Theater of Maryland and she has also performed with Ballet Concerto in Fort Worth, Virginia Youth Ballet, and Lake Erie Ballet. Emily currently works as a Staffing Specialist at Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center and as an Instructor for Spotlight Dance Studio. Emily enjoys collaborating with a group of talented dancers who share her passion for bringing dance to the Community, and she is thrilled to join Seiche for a third season.

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Sydney Gondringer (she/her)

Sydney graduated from Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, and from Mercyhurst University with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. She is joining Virginia National Ballet as a company member. Her favorite part of dancing is not only allowing movement into her body, but also being able to experience what other dancers in the world have to offer. She joined Seiche in order to be a part of exposing the Erie Community to new arts and new voices, which she believes is a beautiful and powerful thing.

 

McKenna Hoek (she/her)

McKenna earned her BA in Dance, as well as her BA in Early Childhood Education from Mercyhurst University. She is joining the Louisville Ballet’s Studio Company. Her interest in performing with Seiche stems from the desire to try something new and different, pushing the boundaries of her experiences thus far as a dancer.

 

Maya Richards (she/her)

Maya graduated from Mercyhurst University with her BFA in Dance and her BA in Mathematics. In addition to performing, she is passionate about teaching, recognizing the impact that one can have on others. As a small dance company that utilizes a variety of styles, Seiche is exactly the type of warm and welcoming atmosphere that Maya is proud to be a part of. 

 

Ramani Rosa (he/him)

Ramani will earn his BA in Dance from Mercyhurst University this year. He has been passionate about dance from the moment he started, and he has proudly performed as a company member of Cadence, and with the Mercyhurst College Dance Department. His primary interest as an artist has become choreographing original work, creating something unique and expressive. 

 

Gianna Ruffa (she/her)

Gianna earned her BFA in Dance, with a concentration in Ballet from Point Park University. She has studied and performed with Lake Erie Ballet, Erie Dance Conservatory, and Erie Contemporary Ballet Theater. Gianna enjoys the learning, creating, and bonding with other dancers through the rehearsal process. Gianna is a certified Pilates/Barre instructor.

 

Beth Sabol (she/her)

Beth is a graduate of Erie Contemporary Ballet theater, a current Dayton Ballet II member, and upcoming Junior at Wright State University. 

 

Trinity Stevens (she/they)

Trinity earned their Associate of Arts from Kent State University and Bachelor of Arts from Cleveland State University with a Dance in Community Major and minor in Theatre Studies. She is currently earning an Arts Management and Community Development Certificate, and teaching dance at the Ashtabula Arts Center. Trinity’s undergraduate capstone explored adapted dance, looking at different models such as the Dance for PD program, to study dance as a form of encouraging movement for well-being in older adults. She has danced with the CSU Dance Company, MadJax Dance, Cleveland Dance Project Showcases, and as a guest artist for Ballet Legato and Expedition Dance. 

 

Jenna Swartz (she/her)

Jenna is a graduate of Mercyhurst University, with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Pre-Health Science. She has performed with the Mercyhurst Dance Department, Mercyhurst Dance Team, SoMar Danceworks, Dissonance Dance Theater, and is proud to join Seiche for a third season. Her favorite professional experiences thus far include working as a choreographer and dancer for the Erie Dance Film Festival. Jenna currently serves as a Dance Instructor and Rehearsal Director for Erie Dance Conservatory and Erie Contemporary Ballet Theater, and she also teaches at Little Dance Studio. Jenna was drawn to Seiche by the opportunity to continue her training, and to advance her career as a professional dancer in a welcoming and accepting environment.

 

Amelia Waddel (she/her)

Amelia has studied and performed with the Royal Academy of Ballet and Dance, and the New York State Summer School for the Arts. She is currently earning her BFA in Dance from Mercyhurst University, and she plans to continue her education with a Master’s in Athletic Training. Her goal is to work with dancers as an AT, while continuing to dance professionally. 

 

Mary Joy White (she/her)

Mary Joy earned her BFA in Dance with a minor in History from Mercyhurst University. She loves the environment and the people she gets to work with at Seiche, where she truly feels safe. 

 

Andona Zacks-Jordan (she/her)

Andona graduated from Skidmore College with a BA 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. 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.
 

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