Kate Ashworth (Stage Manager)

Kate Ashworth, from Northeastern Washington, is a senior dance major, minoring in communication studies. In her second year with UORDC as stage manager and tour production assistant, she has also danced in UO concerts, with Traduza Dance Company, and is one of the choreographers producing the 2009 Student Dance Concert. Kate has been awarded the 2008-09 Lotta Carll Scholarship and recently earned a teaching certification in STOTT Pilates. She has received a 6-week production internship this summer for the Bates Dance Festival, after which she will return to Eugene to dance and teach Pilates, and get more experience in technical production and lighting design. Her future plans include massage therapy school, and eventually working as a body worker for a dance company.

Mara Bateman (Dancer)

Mara Batemen was born in Florence, Oregon and grew up in Toledo and Corvallis. She started dance at age three at the Newport School of Artistic Movement, and later at Modern Dance Technique and the Regional School of Ballet in Corvallis. She is a junior dance major in her first year dancing with UORDC. Mara has participated in several UO faculty and student concerts, and was one of the first three recipients of the Lotta Carll Scholarship in 2007. Mara plans to continue dancing after graduation, and hopes to pursue a career in teaching modern dance.

Emily Baumann (Dancer)

Emily Baumann, born in Portland, Oregon, attended Lincoln High School. A sophomore dance major, she is in her first year dancing with UORDC. She studied at Oregon Ballet Theater throughout childhood, dancing annually in "The Nutcracker". She spent her high school years taking classes at various Portland studios, and on the Lincoln Cardinal Dance Team, which earned first place in State all four years. Emily joined the UO Dance Team for one year, before turning her focus to modern dance. She recently attended the American College Dance Festival. Emily hopes for a performance career and plans for a lifelong involvement in dance.

Celie Erickson (Dancer)

Celie Erickson was born and raised in Hamilton, Montana, where from a young age she danced with River Street Dance Theater, directed by her mom. She is a junior dance major, dancing in her first season with UORDC. She has also appeared often in other department performances. She was one of the first three recipients of the Lotta Carll Scholarship in 2007, and was awarded travel funds for summer study from the dance faculty in 2008 to assist with her attendance at the Bates Dance Festival in Maine. Celie is one of the choreographers producing the 2009 Spring Student Dance Concert. She plans to earn a master's degree in dance and teach at the college level.

Elizabeth JeanMarie Foster (Dancer)

Elizabeth (Liz) JeanMarie Foster grew up in Elmira, Oregon. A junior with double majors in dance and human physiology, Liz is in her first year dancing with UORDC. She has danced in UO department concerts and has been a company member of Traduza Dance Company since 2008. She teaches and performs Argentine Tango and organizes dance events for the local community. In 2006/2007 she traveled to Buenos Aries to further her education in Argentine Tango. Liz was awarded travel funds from the dance faculty for summer study in 2008. She used the funds to assist her trip to Aspen, Colorado to attend the Performing Arts Medicine Association's symposium on medical problems of musicians and dancers. Liz plans for a career in dance medicine.

Karta Purkh Khalsa (Dancer)

Karta Purkh Khalsa, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, is a senior dance major, dancing in her second season with UORDC. She was trained in classical Indian dance while abroad in Amritsar, India from 2003-2005. She has appeared in many UO dance concerts, and in Salt Lake City at the 2008 American College Dance Festival in choreography by Gina Bolles. Karta has been awarded the Lotta Carll Scholarship for the current year. Upon completion of her degree this year, she plans on pursuing a dance career teaching young children.

Emily Leonard (Dancer)

Emily Leonard grew up in Redding, California. She took dance lessons at the Redding Dance Centre, from age six years until she graduated high school. In high school, she traveled extensively throughout North America with an elite singing and dancing group, Starship. As a junior dance major and English minor, Emily is in her first year dancing with UORDC. She has performed in UO concerts and currently she teaches tap at Musical Feet dance studio in Eugene. Emily was accepted to attend the Paul Taylor West Coast Dance Intensive in Davis, California in 2008, and recently attended this region's American College Dance Festival. After she graduates Emily plans to further study dance and attend graduate school somewhere on the East Coast.

Jana Mazsaros (Dancer)

Jana Meszaros, raised in Gold Beach, Oregon, is a senior dance major and business minor fully supported at UO by scholarships from Chetco Federal Credit Union and the Staton Family of Eugene. This is her first year dancing with UORDC. She has danced locally with Adrenaline Hip Hop Company and JCB Dance Project and in several UO concerts, leading the ASUO theatre group Forbidden Fruit for two years as president. Jana is one of the choreographers producing the 2009 Spring Student Dance Concert. As administrative intern for Dance Africa, she recently facilitated attendance from seven special population organizations for the In Reach concert, extending dance to over 150 people from groups across Eugene. Eventually, she plans to pursue a master’s degree.

Kyle Sorensen (Dancer)

Kyle Sorensen attended high school in Grants Pass, Oregon. A senior dance major, Kyle is in his first year with UORDC. Prior to attending UO, he was awarded a scholarship to EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angles, where he also performed at the Theater Center and Director's Guild. Kyle has performed throughout the western states and was invited by the Austrian government to choreograph and perform in the international Tanzsommer festival (2003). Kyle was Dance Director at Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance Studios in Portland (2006), and teaches Hip Hop, Jazz, and Ballroom locally. He has been accepted to the Dance Theatre MFA program at UC San Diego beginning Fall 2009. Kyle and his dance partner/fiancee, Gina Bolles (UO MFA 2008, UORDC 2006-08) premiered their own company "somebodies dance theater" in February in Seattle.