Anna S
Danielle
David C
David S
Edoardo
Irvin
Jason
Jeff
Jeremy
Jerry
JT
Julie
Kimber
Laura
Laura
Lee
Molly
Peling
Sasha
Tatiana
Tina
Val
Valerie
Vincent
Yan Yan

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Meet the Danseurs

Anna S started vintage dance by studying with Stanford dance historian Richard Powers. She joined Danse Libre in 2013.

 

Danielle joined Danse Libre in 2013.

 

David
David C looks much better in tails than he does in regular clothes.  He's thrilled to be a member of Danse Libre.

 

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.

 

Edo
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.

 

Irvin
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.

 

Jason
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.

 

Jeff
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!.

 

Jeremy
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.

 

Jerry
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.

 

JT returned to Danse Libre in 2014 for the Peninsula Symphony performances.

 

Julie
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.

 

Kimber
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.

 

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.

 

Laura
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.

 

Lee
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.

 

Molly is an avid historical costumer and is excited to return to Danse Libre this season.

 

Peling joined Danse Libre in 2012. She is the Managing Director.

 

Sasha
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.

 

Tatiana is an experienced Flamenco dancer. She joined Danse Libre in 2012.

 

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.

 

Val performed with the Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble and joined Danse Libre in 2012 after extensive theatre work.

 

Valerie
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.

 

Vincent travels and dances around the world. He joined Danse Libre in 2012.

 

Yan Yan
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.

 

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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