SIMILAR TO THE RIVERA COURT STAGE HOWEVER ON AN OUTDOOR STAGE, DDCF’S SUMMER STAGE IS A SERIES OF SHOWCASES DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT LOCAL AND NATIONAL TALENT, SHARING DIVERSE STYLES OF DANCE ALL THE WHILE DDCF AUDIENCES ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL SUMMER WEATHER.
Read about our 2024 summer stage Artists!
Kaleidoscope Movement
Karen Opper-Rhoad is a 2018 Case Western Reserve University graduate with her Master of Fine Arts degree in Contemporary Dance, and a 2013 Central Michigan University graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre and Interpretation with a minor in Dance. At CMU, she was a member of The University Theatre Dance Company and was selected to present her choreography in the faculty concerts. She performed works by Heather Trommer-Beardslee, Keeley Stanley-Bohn, Bird Clarkson, as well as other CMU students. Also during this time, she stage managed, worked costume and make-up crew, and directed one-act plays. Opper-Rhoad’s final project earned her the privilege of working with tap artist Ellie Sciarra, co-choreographing the classic musical 42nd Street. In her third year of graduate studies, she choreographed and performed her thesis concert, Infinite
Kaylin Bazick
Kaylin Bazick grew up in Holland Michigan, studying ballet and contemporary. She continued with her dance training after high school, receiving a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the SUNY Purchase College Dance Conservatory. Upon graduating, Kaylin trained with a program alongside Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and began teaching ballet in the Chicago area. Kaylin premiered her own choreography at the Detroit Dance City Festival in 2019, and performed professionally for DEOS Contemporary Ballet in 2021. Throughout her dance career, Kaylin has studied with and/or performed works by: Shannon Gillen, Shannon Alvis, Doug Varone, Merce Cunningham, Anna Sokalow, and Ohad Naharin. Internationally, she has taken workshops at the B12 Dance Festival in Germany, and has worked with JUNTOS Abroad, bringing dance to schools and organizations in Nicaragua. Kaylin taught ballet, Jazz, and contemporary at Avalon School of the Arts in Holland, MI. for two years, and is about to complete her first year as the Artistic Director and resident choreographer of pre-professional ballet school Turning Pointe School of Dance.
Embodied Arts Collective
Jake Gerard Price and Sloan Lemberg formed a choreographic relationship during their time at Michigan State University. Together they have formed a unique dance style of psychedelic movement and comedic motifs. Misfit Dance Collective represents the synergy between dance as an art form, and dance as entertainment.
Co/Lab Dance Company
Gianna Daprai is a third year student at Northern Michigan University, she is majoring in both dance and environmental science with a concentration in natural resources. She trained in various styles of dance for 16 years at various studios in the Oakland County area, including Elevate Dance Company. Her previous performances at NMU include The North Coast Dance Festival (2023), CO/LAB Dance Company Concert (2023, 2024), The Producers (ensemble), and The Nutcracker (Snowflake). She has also choreographed multiple contemporary pieces, A Different Kind of Love and Fractured Reflections for the CO/LAB Dance Company and the North Coast Dance Festival (2023). Outside of being a choreographer and dancer, Gianna is also the president of CO/LAB Dance Company.
Oerhlein Dancers
Linda Oehrlein EDM former member and board member Harvard Radcliffe Dance Co/former dance major U of M. Oehrlein Dancers have performed at the Statue of Liberty,Mt.Rushmore, the Liberty Bell, Country Tonite Theater, Welk Theater, and have opened for Nascar Main Stage in Michigan, etc
Bridget Vander Hoff
Bridget Vander Hoff graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts in dance. There, she was a member of the Oakland Dance Theatre and performed the lead role in The Autumn of the Rite of Spring. Bridget has performed in work with Diversiform Dance Project and Greater Lansing Ballet, and is a current member of Dance Uprising, Happendance Velocity, and Elements. Her choreography has been showcased in both Ypsi Dance Swap and Dance Lansing. She works as the assistant director of Delta Dance Connection's Junior Company and serves as Michigan Dance Council's executive secretary.
Julia Schaeffer
Julia Schaeffer (she/her) is originally from California, and she began dancing at age 13. She received her BFA in Dance Performance from Chapman University where she studied ballet, jazz, modern, and contemporary. After graduation, Julia danced with the Lineage dance company for four years where she had the privilege of performing and teaching community outreach classes. She relocated to Chicago in the summer of 2019 and danced for South Chicago Dance Theatre as a guest artist at Night Out in the Parks, Kaela Norwood in Fused, and Mariah Eastman in Patternalia. She joined Winifred Haun & Dancers in 2021 and was promoted to Assistant Choreographer in 2023.
Aura González Orengo
Misfit Dance Collective
Jake Gerard Price and Sloan Lemberg formed a choreographic relationship during their time at Michigan State University. Together they have formed a unique dance style of psychedelic movement and comedic motifs. Misfit Dance Collective represents the synergy between dance as an art form, and dance as entertainment.
Morgan Walker
James Felton II
James Felton II initially trained under Sandra Brewer before Karen Mills-Jennings, Founding Director of Flint Youth Ballet. In 2021, James received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance & Choreography from Western Michigan University following works by Mike Esperanza, Jennifer Archibald, Jacki Nowicki, George Balanchine, and more. In 2022-2023, James joined Ballet Theatre Company as Resident Artist, Social Media Manager, Guest Choreographer, and Faculty: Director of Jazz Dance while appearing with City Ballet of Boston, Dimensional Dance, AMA Dance Theatre, Fisher Ballet, and Playhouse on Park. James currently rehearses with Thomas/Ortiz Dance, City Ballet of Boston, Woodbury Ballet, and while seeking national platforms to set and create uniquely camp danceworks.
Diversiform Dance Project Youth Company
Diversiform Dance Project Youth Company is a local program that provides the experience of being in dance spaces beyond the typical dance studio. Students are offered performance opportunities in different places around the Detroit and Metro Detroit areas, and the opportunity to perform on a professional stage at the end of the season. DDPYC is the youth component to its parent company, Diversiform Dance Project.
2nd Street Swing
Cindy Raffel is a classically trained dancer who earned her degree in Dance Education from Radford University and has taught as an adjunct professor at Southeastern University, Dickinson College, and Rochester University. While dancing professionally with Tampa Bay Ballet she started swing dancing. She met her husband, Tom Raffel, at a swing dance and they moved to the Detroit area when he got a job as a professor at Oakland University. They now host free swing and Charleston lessons and social dances every Sunday at 7pm at her studio 2nd Street Studio of Dance in Rochester Hills trying to spread the joy and fun of this traditional African American dance style and make it accessible to anyone wanting to learn. 2nd Street Swing has grown to be a large group of dancers of many ages, experience levels, and backgrounds. They love bringing together the community through dance!
Colorado State University
Grace is an educator, dancer, and creator. Her creative research and engaged scholarship focus on inclusivity, access, and the power of community, specifically related to Dance Education. Grace has taught Modern, Ballet, Pedagogy, Repertory and Ensemble, Repertory and Community Engagement, History of Western Dance Forms, Dances of the African Diaspora, among others. She has taught at Arizona State University, Front Range Community College, and now is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Colorado State University.
Ashley Boyd + Brandon Wolfington
Western Dance Project (WDP) is a touring dance company that provides a professional dance experience for students who are passionate about performing and further developing their craft as a dancer. The company is comprised of a select group of auditioned dancers. Throughout the year, there are touring performance opportunities locally and nationally, guest artist residencies and masterclasses, as well as community outreach in schools throughout Michigan. The WDP ensemble cultivates artistry, builds resilience and prepares dancers for the professional field.
Scott Stafford
Scott Stafford is a choreographer, dancer, and teaching artist. He believes expression is vital, and accessible to every individual. His artistic efforts have been recognized by The Foundation for Contemporary Arts, The Minnesota State Arts Board, Minnesota Regional Arts Council, and Springboard For the Arts. He is the recipient of a 2023 Jerome Hill Artist Alternate Fellowship. “Stafford’s choreography pursued expression with luminous flow and pristine technique - acting as a clarion call to new ways of being.” – Minneapolis Star Tribune, 2022. He has toured as a performer and teacher around the United States, with residencies spanning university dance departments, k-12, contemporary art museums, arts organizations, and partnerships with regional state parks. In addition to creating performance work, Scott competes in the ballroom scene in the categories of hand performance, runway, and New Way Vogue as Edward.007.
Mrudani School of Performing Arts
Dr. Anuradha Murali, Artistic Director of Mrudani School of Performing Arts, had formal training in Bharathanatyam from Radha Srinivassan and Shanta and VP Dhananjayan (India) and Adyar K. Lakshman (India). She has also received formal training in Kuchipudi by P. Rajeshwari and Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, Kuchipudi Art Academy, (India). As an Adjunct Professor of Dance, Anuradha has taught Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi at Columbia College, Columbia, SC. As an Instructor of Dance, she has taught Bharathanatyam at the University of South Carolina, Dance Department. She has written several scholarly articles in teaching bharathanatyam and kuchipudi at community colleges and universities for dance majors. Anuradha, a recipient of numerous grants/awards for dance choreography and dance performance, has performed at prestigious national and international festivals including India, Japan, Greece, Italy and Brazil.
Summer Stage Memories
