Meet the Cast*

Heather Acomb (she/her) is a dancer and educator originally from the Rochester, NY area.  She has performed and had her work shown in several venues, including Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Core Project/Going Dutch, WAX Works, and Midwest RADFest, among others.  Heather has danced and toured nationally with the Bill Evans Dance Company and works locally on a project basis with Biodance, electricGRIT/Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp, and Heather Roffe.  She currently teaches dance at Nazareth College.  She holds an MFA in Dance from The College at Brockport, is a Hatha Yoga instructor registered through Yoga Alliance, a Pilates mat instructor certified through Evolution Pilates, and a certified Holistic Health Practitioner, specializing in nutrition and natural healing. Heather is an advocate for organics and sustainability, working on organic farms locally and across the nation.

Zachary J. Frazee (they/them) is a mover, creator, educator, photographer, and creative entrepreneur based in Rochester, NY. They are the Founder and Artistic Director of Frazee Feet Dance - a contemporary dance company based in Rochester. Their choreographic works have been featured in festivals and events across the country in cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Richmond, and more. Frazee has performed with companies such as the New York State Ballet, Biodance, electricGrit Dance, Project 44, among others, and they currently teach ballet and contemporary technique at various local dance studios and universities. When they are not in the studio, they are usually behind a camera lens, talking to their cats, or breaking the
binary one fabulous outfit at a time.  (Photo Credit: Rachel Coutant)

Tsiporah Gil (she/her) is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Dance Studies and American Sign Language at the University of Rochester.  She loves modern and contemporary dancing, and is excited to explore more dance styles during her undergraduate studies. Tsiporah's other passion lies in learning and education, particularly how movement connects to the learning process.  Additionally, she is  interested in discovering more about the field of somatics. In her free time Tsiporah enjoys photography, reading, painting, and spending time in nature. She is  grateful to have the opportunity to perform with artists in the area and engage with the cast of Remnants.

Hannah Bloesch (Gluckman) (she/they) is a classically trained vocalist who has released four singles on all major streaming platforms.  A high school student at The Harley School, she studies jazz and classical with Diane Abrahamian at the Eastman School of Music.  Hannah won the American Protégé International Vocal Competition for Jazz and Musical Theater for her age group in both 2019, 2020, and 2022, performing solo at the winner’s recital at Carnegie Hall three times.  Hannah is currently working on her first full album and participating in collaborative artistic endeavors. (Photo credit:  ZJ Frazee Photography)

Sarah Jacobs (she/her) is a mover, maker and educator. She is a recent transplant from Los Angeles, native lands of the Tongva peoples, and grateful to create with and learn from this generous group of indigenous and regional artists. Sarah is a lover of sunshine, somatics, Sadie (her puppy), and alliterations.

Joshua Koelle (he/him) is an engineer and artist with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from RIT. He has always had a deep love for music and the arts. His main form of expression is photography, though he enjoys creating vivid fantasy settings for his tabletop role playing campaigns. He is excited to be a part of the Remnants project and contribute his singing voice to the event.

Caitlin E. Mahon (she/her) graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Brockport with her B.S. degree, and Honors College degree, in Dance, Environmental Science and Political Science in 2014 and earned her MFA in choreography and performance in 2017. Mahon was awarded the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Faculty Development Award (2019). In 2015 Mahon was appointed co-artistic director –alongside Master Khalid Saleem— of the SANKOFA: African Dance and Drum Ensemble. Additionally, she was a panelist at the BETI Somatic and Performance Conference (2019)— African Diasporic Dance Education Makes Us Better Humans. Mahon is excited to share her passions and interests with future communities, dancers, and students through the vehicle of MAYHEM//dance— which has been under her artistic direction since 2017. (Photo Credit:  ZJFrazee Photography)

Nanako Horikawa Mandrino (she/her) is a Rochester-based performer, choreographer and collaborator, originally from Sapporo, Japan. She has been performing as a soloist and an ensemble member for local dance companies for 10 years. As an independent dance artist, Nanako had been involved in theater, opera, film productions, and co-produced shows presenting locally and internationally. She is also a certified Projective Kineticist (CPK) in Projective Kinetics Analysis and Training (PKAT) and a Pilates Instructor at Evolution Pilates.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Sasha Nakita Murray (they/she) is a University of Rochester student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. They have served as the Vice President of Ma’Frisah, the campus’ West African performance group, and studied West African dance abroad in Guinea. They were the recipient of the 2021 Distinction in Leadership Award for their commitment to engaging with the Rochester community through campus organizations. Within the field of dance research, Sasha is most interested in investigating connections between dance, language, Identity, and more. They hope to continue to research and create post-grad.

Noelle Niegsch (she/her), born and raised in Brockport, began her love for dance at a young age. Noelle attended SUNY Fredonia where she graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance along with a minor in Sports and Exercise Science. During her time at Fredonia, she danced with Doug Varone, Jon Lehrer, Rosy Simas, and Kista Tucker. After graduating, Noelle moved to New York City to pursue her love for dance. While in New York, Noelle taught Pilates and danced with ASHA Dance Company and Rubix Dance Collective. Now back in Rochester, Noelle is thrilled to continue doing two things she loves- teaching Pilates at Evolution Pilates and dancing!

Bjarne Nielsen (he/him) was born and raised in the Rochester area and is a graduate of the Harley School. He also has two degrees from St. Lawrence University, in music and anthropology. He enjoys spending his free time riding or working on bicycles, playing bass, drums, or guitar, and building and tinkering. A Tonawanda Seneca of the Bear clan, Bjarne is very excited to be involved in the project!

Eva Nielsen (she/they) has performed in a number of Fringe Shows and Shakespeare in the Park at Highland Bowl. In addition, she has been in numerous musical and theater productions at the Harley School where she is a Junior. Eva runs Cross-Country and Track for Harley, but also loves riding her bike and skateboarding. When she’s not active, she can be found chillin’ in her hammock with a good book, and very possibly there will be a Native pollinator on her arm.

Natalie Parker was born in Buffalo, but both her parents were born on the Tonawanda Reservation. Her grandmother Roxie, went to Carlisle Boarding School. Natalie is part of the Turtle clan and has spent much of her life in New York City, though is happy to be back living on Tonawanda. She attended the Art & Design High School in Manhattan and then, Diné College in Arizona. Following that she entered Deganawidah – Quetzalcoatl University at Davis, California. Natalie worked twenty-five years at Reuters World News in NYC. In her retirement she participates in and belongs to the Seventh Generation Land Defenders and the Tonawanda Historical Society. Natalie is one of three sisters, and she has a beautiful daughter.

Tiffani Robinson (she/her) is a dancer and choreographer based out of Rochester, NY. She is currently a senior at SUNY Fredonia studying to obtain a BFA in Dance and a BA in Psychology. Her most notable credits include Anthony Alterio’s work titled, “Full Blown”, with performances at the Abrons Art Center in New Jersey, Ujima Theatre in Buffalo, NY and at the 2020 American College Dance Festival in Potsdam, NY. She hopes to pursue a Masters Degree in Dance Movement Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. She would like to send tremendous thanks to Rose Pasquarello Beauchamp for the opportunity to perform at this year's Fringe Festival!

Heather Roffe (she/her) (MFA) is an Associate Professor/Program Director of Dance at Nazareth College, and a Certified Evans Technique dance educator and Pilates (BASI Pilates Mat & Reformer for Dancers) instructor. She has danced and toured nationally/internationally with Garth Fagan Dance, Bill Evans Dance Company, FuturPointe Dance, Electric Grit, and Assemblage Dance, as well as in her own work with her company HR Dance. In 2018, she was awarded the New York State Dance Association’s “Outstanding Educator in a Post-Secondary School” – though outside of teaching and performing/choreographing, she loves to garden, spend time with family & friends, and cuddle with her 3 rescue cats. Dance continues to be her platform for expression, and that passion spurs her to perform, collaborate with other artists, and create work.

Katherine Serna (she/her) is a recent graduate from the University of Rochester, where she majored in Creative Writing and Dance with a minor in Latin American Studies. She has received various recognitions for her work in prose and film. She is originally from a border town called Laredo, TX. She currently lives in Rochester, where she works at Writers & Books as a Communications Associate, and Mt. Hope Family Center as a Dance Instructor.

Choreographer, performer and collaborative artist, Missy Pfohl Smith (she/her) directs the Institute for the Performing Arts and Program of Dance and Movement at University of Rochester and is artistic director for the contemporary multi-disciplinary company, BIODANCE, based in Rochester, NY. Rochester City Newspaper said of her most recent collaborative work “…every bit of the performance was an absolute masterpiece." She enjoys creating socially conscious and site specific work, often in collaboration with media artist W. Michelle Harris. Her choreography, performance and teaching has spanned across the US and internationally, most recently in Germany, Greece and Finland. Her work has sold out shows at Edinburgh and Rochester Fringes, having been called "Gorgeous...astonishing...exceptional" by Rochester City News. www.biodance.org (Photo Credit:  ZJFrazee Photography)

Remiah (she/her) is a recent graduate from University of Rochester where she obtained majors in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Psychology as well as minors in Dance and Political Science. She has a passion for representing social issues through artistic expression and hopes to work towards policy change in the future. She has danced extensively in studio spaces through highschool and spent the last four years participating in a small contemporary ensemble while also exploring classes offered by the Program of Dance and Movement. Currently she works at Berkshire Farm Center for Youth as a case worker and is hoping to continue dancing post-graduation.

Jeanne Taradena was born and grew up on the Tonawanda Reservation, where she lived her formative years. Her father was chief of the Snipe clan. Her mother was Turtle clan and was sent to Thomas Indian School. After Jeanne graduated from Akron High School, she continued her education at Genesee Community College. Now retired, she has held a variety of positions in her 81 years on Turtle Island. Jeanne is a member of the Seventh Generation Land Defenders and the Tonawanda Historical Society; appropriately, as she is quite a historian. She has lectured at a number of schools, colleges and community organizations on the topic of the Onondowaga (Seneca). Her favorite saying is, “ya’ don’t know, what ya’ don’t know”. How true that is – but Jeanne does know quite a bit and we are all fortunate that she is currently writing a book! Trish Corcoran would like to thank Jeanne for her assistance in genealogical research for the “Seven Generations”.

Donetta Tchoroleev (she/her) was born and raised near Pittsburgh, transplanted to Brockport, pursued her passion and degree in dance then graced with the opportunity to perform locally. Met her love, grew roots then spent 13 years at home adventuring with their three growing boys and family dog. With kindergarten for the youngest, returned to dance! Since June 2019, grateful for and honored by performing once again in this absolutely fabulous dance community! 

Cheyenne Reuben-Thomas (Oneida/Seneca) (she/they) is currently a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary genomics at the University of Rochester. She actively advocates for Indigenous visibility and justice through presentations on and off campus. She also engages the local community for Seneca Park Zoo, where she focuses on community science in conservation. In her free time, she enjoys roller skating, hiking, and dancing (fancy shawl and more recently smokedancing).

Anne Harris Wilcox (sher/her) (MFA) is an Associate Professor for the Program of Dance and Movement at the University of Rochester, the founder of Active Learning Games, for which she designs kinesthetic educational products for K-university learners, and a Rochester choreographer, dancer, and educator whose work has been featured at Geva Nextstage and numerous Rochester Fringe Festivals.  She has choregraphed over forty works for her company, Present Tense Dance, which she directed from 1991 – 2016. She is a former President of New York State Dance Education Association and presents nationally and internationally on topics such as kinesthetic education, creativity and assessment, linguistics and dance, and intergenerational dance.

Dizz Young (they/them) is a Senior BS Dance major/ Acting minor at Nazareth College. They are a Non-binary artist and is ecstatic to be a part of Rose Beauchamp’s Fringe project. In their spare time, Dizz likes to practice Pilates pedagogy, film freestyle footage, and watch horror movies.  Dizz prides themselves on being a role model for Black and LGBTQ+ individuals. “You can break into any social sphere you see fit. We break limits, no more being confined by them!” Dizz’s greatest dreams are to become a Dance instructor, a Choreographer, a Back-Up Dancer for a recording artist, and an Actor.“I feel like dance is my medium for self expression because whatever built up rage, attitude, sensuality, and sexuality I have stored can be expressed when I move across the floor.” (Photo Credit:  A. Gluckman/Aspexi Images)

Gianluca D'Elia

Anaar Desai-Stephens

Natalia Lisina

Matthew Martin Nickoloff

Jennifer Nieves

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