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Anna S
started vintage dance by studying with Stanford dance historian Richard Powers. She joined Danse Libre in 2013. |
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Danielle
joined Danse Libre in 2013. |
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David C looks much better in tails than he does in regular clothes. He's thrilled to be a member of Danse Libre. |
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David S performed with the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble, returning to dance after a long hiatus. In between, he worked on a number of theatrical productions. |
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Edoardo discovered social dancing in the spring of 1997 and joined
the Academy of Danse Libre in the fall of the same year, at
the beginning of its second season. Little did he know that
dance would play such a pivotal role in his life: the elegance
of Victorian dances and the energy of those from the early
20th century immediately captured him and haven't let go since.
As his passion for dancing grew at a very fast pace, he joined
the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and eventually other dance
groups on and off-campus, like the Knotts Dance Company, decadance,
and SF Bounce. Edoardo choreographed the opening dances for
the Stanford Viennese Ball in 2000 as well as a few pieces
for the Academy of Danse Libre. He became Artistic Director
in 2000 and held that role until 2006, when he passed on the
flame thrower to Julie, with whom he co-directed through
the 2010-2011 season.
He will do anything (within legality) for a serving
or two of good fries.
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Irvin’s passion for performance dance stems from being introduced as a child to classical music and opera. He played piano competitively for many years, but discovered a new mode of musical expression at Stanford: social dance. After taking a number of classes under Richard Powers, he joined the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and also performed with the Viennese Ball Opening Committee. He missed dance so much during the three years he attended law school at Michigan that he immediately joined Danse Libre from 2002-05 upon his return to the Bay Area. Irvin has also performed with the Knotts Dance Company and decadance. He has taught historical period dance in New York as part of the Spacial Dynamics program and choreographed first dances for weddings. In early 2011, he directed a Viennese program in collaboration with the Peninsula Symphony, which included a world premiere Strauss Viennese waltz choreographed by him and Kimber set to On the Blue Danube. In his spare time, he is learning Argentine tango and attending milongas.
He is Artistic Co-Director with Kimber. |
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Jason grew up in San Diego before moving to the Bay Area to attend
Stanford University, where he earned his BS and MS in Computer
Science. Before being introduced to Social Dance through the
classes of Richard Powers, Jason was a Second Degree Black
Belt in Taekwondo. Jason has been a member of Danse Libre since 2005, and still tries to remember that unlike the martial arts, while
dancing he is supposed to do lifts and not take-downs, and
to instill pleasure instead of inflict pain on his partner.
Jason can often be found out dancing at Friday Night Waltz,
Jammix, and Gaskell's Ball, and also DJing social dance events such as Friday Night Waltz. Jason co-choreographed his first piece for Danse Libre in 2008. He was the co-choreographor for the 2009 Stanford Viennese Ball Opening Committee. |
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Jeff has always been interested in dance and is quite honored to
be a member of Danse Libre for his ninth season. During the 1980s, he was involved
with all aspects of professional theatre with a focus on musical
theatre in Connecticut and Boston. His partner
dance experience didn't come until much later in life: a chance
class with Richard Powers. It then
became a full-time passion. Since the fall of 2005, Jeff has
been out social partner dancing most days of each week, taking
classes wherever he can and dancing as much as possible. Every
form of dance interests him: waltz, foxtrot, swing, mazurka, tango,
hustle, blues, salsa, club two-step, samba, etc. He finds dance venues to
attend everywhere he travels. He studied dance privately with
Anna Botelho and takes ballet classes at Western Ballet. You'll
often find him dancing at Friday Night Waltz, Lindy Central,
Wednesday Night Hop, and blues venues. When he's not dancing, coaching, or composing music,
he's designing typefaces with his new type foundry
Slanted Hall. He also performs with the Boulder/Denver troupe Watch Your Step!. |
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Jeremy has only recently begun his journey into the wide world of social dance. In freshman year, he barely let his friends drag him to social dance events. In sophomore year, he took his first class with the legendary Richard Powers. Now, he dances at every chance that he gets, and has particular fun dancing with and beside the awesome members of Danse Libre. Jeremy was Managing Director for the 2012-2013 season.
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Jerry
can start a campfire in 15.3 seconds. It's not a
helpful skill for dancing as gracefully as he does,
but we encourage our dancers to be well-rounded.
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JT
returned to Danse Libre in 2014 for the Peninsula Symphony performances. |
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Julie had the honor of being the Artistic Director for the 2006-7, 2007-8, 2008-9, 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12
seasons. A native New Yorker she came out west for undergraduate
school and never left. As a founding member she took a hiatus
for 3 years for physician assistant school before returning
in 2003. Her previous performing experiences include founding
member of the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and the Swing
Cats Rhythm Revue, Stanford Viennese Ball Opening Committee
member and choreographer, and member of the Knotts Dance Company.
When not dancing with Danse Libre, she may be found dancing
lindy at local venues, wandering through bookstores, or reading
— oh yes, and working at a community clinic. |
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Kimber is a California native who spent her formative years learning
to be coordinated while cold (synchronized swimming) and pained
(ballet). She discovered vintage dance while at Stanford University
and decided that, not only was it better than being cold,
it was great fun. She spent the rest of her time at Stanford
performing in Richard Powers' Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble
and the Viennese Ball Opening Committee. After graduating
with a B.A. in history and an M.A. in humanities, Kimber did
some musical theater and cofounded Decadance, a social dance
performance group. She returns to the Bay Area after a hiatus
in Los Angeles, where she studied ballroom dance and lindy
hop in between learning about the Constitution, and Arizona,
where she experienced some very hot weather. When not driving
to rehearsals, Kimber does dog agility with her dog Sara.
She is Artistic Co-Director with Irvin. |
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Laura
is honored and excited to return to Danse Libre this
season. A year after transplanting from the midwest
to California, Laura was introduced to social and
ballroom dance in the mid-1990s, at which point she
quickly realized she had discovered a life-long
passion for these forms of dance. The synergistic
partnership formed on the dance floor, and the
meditative yet energizing movement created in unison
with the music are nothing less than exhilarating.
Laura performed with Danse Libre from 1998 through
2003, also serving as the Managing Director
1999-2002. Additionally, Laura was a performing
member of the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble
1996-1998, and the Stanford Viennse Ball Opening
Committee 1994-1999 culminating as co-choroegrapher
for the 1999 Opening Ceremony. She has performed in
venues throughout California, as well as
internationally in Prague, St. Petersburg, and most
recently at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto,
Italy. When not on the dance floor Laura also enjoys
cycling, yoga, travel, and keeping up her with day
job at a Bay Area hospital.
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Laura's first foray into social dance was at Stanford in 2004, when she enrolled in Richard Powers' Social Dance I on a whim and a dare. Within the first month of class she was hooked: from salsa and swing to waltz and one-step, Laura wanted to try it all. After participating in numerous social dance classes and performing with Stanford's Viennese Ball Opening Committee, Laura decided there was something missing from her dance experience: more petticoats. Laura joined Danse Libre in 2006 to fill this void, and the group's Victorian choreographies will always have a special place in her heart. When she escapes from her corset and spaniel curls, Laura enjoys hiking, cooking, jewelry making, and chocolate. Especially chocolate.
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Lee started dancing the Shag and Swing summers at Myrtle Beach while on vacation from Duke. To survive the Viennese Ball, he woke up early to sign-up for Duke's most popular class: Mrs. Trout's Social Dance I. Later he found the one ballroom dance class in Allentown Pennsylvania. In 1999 he moved to the Bay Area and was amazed by the dance scene. He originally joined DL in 2005 and returns for the Peninsula Symphony performances. Outside of dance, Lee loves games of all sorts and works as a software engineer for Apple working on OS X. He also likes cheese.
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Peling
joined Danse Libre in 2012.
She is the Managing Director. |
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Sasha
is thrilled to be returning to Danse Libre for the coming
year! She discovered her passion for dancing at the
age of 8, soon after coming to the Bay Area from
St. Petersburg, Russia. She is trained in classical
ballet, with most of her education coming from the
UC Irvine Dance Department and Western Ballet.
Sasha's love for social dance began in a high school
swing class, and she is excited to finally
incorporate it back into her life.
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Tatiana
is an experienced Flamenco dancer. She joined Danse Libre in 2012. |
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Tina's been dancing most of her life. While trained
in classical ballet, she's also dabbled in several
other styles. When not frolicking about in corsets
and petticoats, she can be found lindy hopping,
board gaming, or failing to grow a garden.
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Val
performed with the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and joined
Danse Libre in 2012 after extensive theatre work. |
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Valerie
was born into a family of big band jazz musicians
and always danced around the house and night clubs
of her childhood. She trained in ballet and modern
dance, receiving her BFA from California Institute
of the Arts. After a career as a dance artist, she
worked as a movement educator for Waldorf schools,
and now is a Spacial Dynamics' movement therapist
and international trainer. Founder of
The Movement Academy Project and
Agile Aging,
she gives workshops and trainings in the US and Asia
in between DL rehearsals and shows. A fan of Diana
Nyad's "never give up, you're never too old," she
is grateful to the DL dance community that helps her
practice that credo.
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Vincent
travels and dances around the world. He joined Danse Libre in 2012. |
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Yan Yan
dances in the rain, has impeccable taste in men, and
likes shoes. She hopes to apply two of those three
traits to her time in Danse Libre.
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Members from past seasons
It is with great affection we remember former DL members:
Tina Juul-Dam
who passed away in a car accident in Dec. 2004 and
Elizabeth McGee who passed away in Oct. 2009.
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