Chris Branche Chris Branche is a dance performer and burgeoning choreographer who has been dancing for the last 7 years. He hails from Anchorage Alaska but has found his roots all over the world. Chris is currently studying Business Management and Dance at the University of Alaska Anchorage where he also studies Capoeira and modern dance. He has enjoyed two seasons of dance with UAA Dance Ensemble under the direction of Brian Jeffrey. He finds himself fascinated by odd occurrences, strange goings on, and beautiful moments.
Stephanie Brown Born and raised in Anchorage Alaska, Stephanie's interest in dance was sparked by watching musicals and Dance Sport competitions on public television as a young child. This passion lay dormant until her teen years when she began taking ballroom lessons at Fred Astaire Dance Studios. While in college she studied Anthropology and Dance at the University of Alaska Anchorage where her passion for contemporary and postmodern dance styles was cultivated, especially for the Japanese dance theatre of butoh. Stephanie has had the honor of working with noted choreographers Jay Hirabayashi, Marianne Kim, Brian Jeffery, Katherine Kramer, Katya Kuznetsova, Valeria Pinheiro, and Billy Siegenfeld. She has both performed and choreographed for UAA's New Dances (2005, 2006, 2007), Dia de Muertos (2010), and UAA's Multicultural celebration (2004). She has performed in UAA's Dance Ensemble in Concert (2005, 2006, 2007), UAA's New Dances (2003), Expanding the Stage (2004), American College Dance Festival (2006, 2007), ACBA's Annual Spring Concert (2011), Alaska Women's Show (1996), MTS's "The Artists have Left the Building" (2011) and multiple First Friday shows such as the recent U-Haul event held by the IGCA. Stephanie is proud to be a past member of the UAA Dance Ensemble and Pulse Dance Company. Ms. Browns other interests include etymology, film, linguistics, philosophy, photography, playing Scrabble to a point of fanaticism, pugs, and taxonomic classification systems.
Courtney Cooper Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Courtney graduated from Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas in 2009. She was blessed to marry her best friend during the summer of 2009. Immediately following her graduation from college and memorable wedding day, they packed up their lives and took an adventurous road-trip 4,000 miles to Alaska with the United States Air Force. They have truly embraced the fullness of Alaska and the rich natural beauty the state has to offer. With their two dogs, Lady and Buddy by their side, they are truly loving life. With her love of dance, she has pursued her true passion since she was six years old. She continues to find creative outlets through inspiring groups like Momentum. Dance is an expression of the soul and the art of movement that tells a story.
Samuel Franklin Samuel Franklin is a long time local dancer and contemporary pianist in Anchorage. He started his original ballet training at age 3 at Alaska Dance Theatre and has been with their performing company for 5 years. Currently he is a student at UAA and while attending scholl continues to dance with several local groups, most notably Momentum Dance Collective.
Dorthy Fredenberg Dorthy has been a part of Anchorage's dance community virtually her entire life. At age 5 she began her dance education began where Alaska Dance Theatre was home to her first dance steps. She studied 13 years of classical ballet, jazz, and hip hop. Her dedication to continuing to learn and her passion of sharing her talents as a dancer has given Dorthy many opportunities throughout the state of Alaska. Some of her many credits include company member for Underground Dance Company, UAA Dance Ensemble, The Arctic Angles and Pulse Dance Company. Dorthy's passion for performing has extended to include other fabulous works such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Mad Myrna's and appearing n Mr. Whitekeys Alaska- The First 50 Years.
Ariel Graham
Ariel is a home-grown Anchorage-ite and is thrilled to be dancing with Momentum this season.She began her dance training at a young age with Alaska Dance Theater and has worked with East High School's Dance Contempo, as a performer, guest choreographer, and currently serves as the assistant director of the program.She was also a member of the Dance Theatre Group at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and had the pleasure to train under artists such as Sarah Skaggs, Dawn Springer, Paula Aarons, Karl Rogers, and Rachel Boggia.In Anchorage, Ariel also works with the Alaska Theatre of Youth, most recently as the choreographer for School House Rock Jr. and has been known to lead a dance workout for the Begich Middle School cross-country running team.
Karlyn Grotts Karlyn Grotts is currently attending the University of Alaska Anchorage pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Dance. She started dancing at age 3 at Center Stage Dance Studio on Elmendorf and continued there until she joined Dance Spectrum Alaska's company in 2005. She has choreographed for Dance Spectrum, UAA's New Dances 2011, The Dance Machine, and has had the privilege to take master classes from artists such as Carlos Jones, Donald Byrd, Tammy Gibson, and cast members from Broadways, The Lion King. Karlyn is extremely excited to have the opportunity to be part of Momentum and is looking forward to expanding her knowledge of dance and artistry.
Amy Mushett Amy was born and raised in Anchorage where she began dancing at a young age, growing up with the girls from Dance Spectrum Alaska. She was a DSA Company member for 3 years where she studied jazz, tap, ballet and modern, working both local and guest artists. Amy works for the Alaska Heart Institute while also pursuing her interests in modeling and dance.
Ryan Nixon
Ryan Nixon has been a part of the Anchorage community for many years now. Having been a part of the University of Alaska Anchorage's Dance Ensemble for two years, he has gotten to know all of the wonderful people sharing his passions for dancing. In his off-time Ryan also doubles as a web developer on the side, but his creative energies have always returned him to Modern dance. Ryan was privileged to take part in Momentum's show last season and is overjoyed to continue contributing his dancing to them this season.
Rick Ruiz From the entertainment capital of the world we bring you Rick "Rickness" Ruiz. Born and raised in Las Vegas Nevada, musical theatre was a huge influence on Rick's decision to study formal dance. Some of Rick's credits include; ASAAs March Madness Basketball Tournament, Alaska's 50th Anniversary Celebration and the Great Alaska Shootout. He has been a guest for performances with UAA, ADT, Momentum Dance Collective, Ritmovida Dance Partnership, SalsAlaska, Salseros of Las Vegas, SwingSet Hooligans, UNLV Ballroom Dance Team and Underground Dance Company. Rick is also an instructor here in Anchorage with expertise in many styles of International and American style Ballroom, Club and Swing.
Julia Stutzer Julia is originally from Homer Alaska and spent her formative years doing the hippie "taffy pullin" dance at local potlucks and concerts in the woods. Since then, she has traveled a bit, discovered social dancing in the Dominican Republic and now back in Anchorage, loves a good swing or Latin social. Along with social dance styles she has studied modern, tap, jazz and afro-brazilian for a number of years at the University of Alaska Anchorage as well as on her own in New York City and Brazil. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to dance with Momentum and their many talented choreographers and performers.
