KIRA BARTOLI

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Kira Bartoli, a Southern California native, began her dance training at the age of four. She furthered her studies at Chapman University where she received a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Business Administration. She is proud to be back at Chapman, now as faculty in the dance department. Kira served as the Dance Manager and a performer at Teatro Martini Dinner Cabaret Show and has performed in multiple Disneyland parades. Her most recent choreographic endeavors include music videos for JORDY, Cory Wong, and Cyrus Reynolds. Kira has performed works by choreographers Dwight Rhoden, Mauro Astolfi, Ido Tadmor, Jhonathan Soutchy, and Shay Kuebler, among others. This is Kira’s fifth season with Backhausdance.

What is a must-have item in your dance bag?

Lacrosse ball.

How do you prepare for a rehearsal?

Coffee and a huge breakfast!

What gives you inspiration?

Boredom. This most likely stems from telling my mom, "I'm bored" as a child and her suggesting 10 chores I could do. I quickly learned I would be better off crafting, dancing in my room, or learning a new skill. To this day, when I quiet the busy and allow myself to feel boredom, I find that's when my brightest creativity strikes.

SAMUEL DEANGELO

YORBA LINDA, CALIFORNIA

Samuel DeAngelo, originally from Yorba Linda, California, began dancing at the age of eighteen. In 2016, he graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance from Chapman University, with additional awards for performance and choreography. Samuel has also danced with FUSE Dance Company, and has performed choreographic works by Dwight Rhoden, Mauro Astolfi, Yin Yue, Ido Tadmor, Jhonathan Soutchy, Andrea Guise, Amanda Kay White, and Jennifer Backhaus. Samuel also worked with Disney Cruise Line, and was in the opening cast of Beauty and the Beast, directed and choreographed by Connor Gallagher. This is Samuel’s seventh season performing with Backhausdance.

What is your favorite non-dance activity or hobby?

Aside from dancing, I’m probably spending time with my friends and loved ones. I really enjoy spending quality time conversing with people, and creating new fun memories together.

What is a must-have item in your dance bag?

My collapsible foam roller. One of my most beloved objects. 

How do you prepare for a rehearsal?

Prior to rehearsal, I do my best to review whatever material we are working on for that day. As well as making sure to grab my cold brew as I wouldn't function without it. 

What gives you inspiration?

Music, nature, friends, new life-experiences, and human connection all inspire me endlessly.

JOÃO DUCCI

Londrina, Brazil

João Ducci moved to Los Angeles, CA from his home-country of Brazil at fourteen and began his dance training at the age of eighteen at Santa Monica College. He went on to train at Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet on full scholarship and earn his BFA in Dance Performance and BFA in Choreography from the University of California, Irvine. João has had the pleasure of studying under Charlotte Griffin, Dante Puleio, Kate Skarpetowska, Tong Wang, Diane Diefenderfer and Seda Aybay to name a few. He has performed works by Lar Lubovitch, Donald McKayle, Jennifer Backhaus and DIAVOLO among others, and has worked as a freelance dancer with Ballet Project OC, C. Eule Dance and Fuse Dance Company. While at UCI, João premiered several of his own works and was honored to receive the Excellence in Dance Choreography award. He is also certified in Pilates by Diane Diefenderfer – Studio du Corps. João continues to pursue choreography alongside his career as a performer, as well as being a Pilates instructor. He is in his second season with Backhausdance, and he will be returning to his Alma Mater next year to pursue his MFA.

What is a must-have item in your dance bag?

A clean change of clothes for when I'm done dancing. (Oh and Ibuprofen!)

How do you prepare for a rehearsal?

I try to make sure I warm up specifically for what I will be rehearsing, which could be getting grounded and present, stretching a specific body part, or warming up my core and upper body for partnering.

What gives you inspiration?

Music, art, fashion, photography, generous choreographers, teachers, people I get to dance with, and definitely knowing I will never be done learning.

MO GOODFELLOW

PULSBO, WASHINGTON

Mo Goodfellow (she/her) is a lifelong performer and advocate for the arts. She is a graduate of Chapman University’s prestigious College of Performing Arts with a BFA in Dance as well as a BA in English Literature. Her artistic and professional goals work to combine her degrees in a career dedicated to arts innovation through performance, creation, and activism. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Mo has an intense passion for concert work, contact improvisation, and site-specific dance. Throughout her career she has had the privilege of working with Alice Klock and Florian Lochner of FLOCK Works, Kybele Dance Theater, Ido Tadmor, and Tommie-Waheed Evans. Mo is currently a dancer with Mackenzie Martin’s GEOMETRY as well as a company member and teaching artist with Backhausdance.

SOPHIA LANG

SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA

Sophia Lang, originally from Simi Valley, California, began dancing at the age of three. Her passion for dance led her to Chapman University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Business Administration. While at Chapman, Sophia was exposed to the techniques and repertory of Alvin Ailey, Pilobolus, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Martha Graham, and many more. She has had the opportunity to work with and perform works by notable artists such as Dwight Rhoden, Ido Tadmor, Jennifer Backhaus, Julianne O’Brien, and Sean Greene. This is Sophia’s third season with Backhausdance.

What is your favorite non-dance hobby or activity? 

My favorite non-dance hobby is watching TV or movies.

What is a must-have item in your dance bag?

Snacks I intend to eat, but never get around to.

How do you prepare for a rehearsal?

I prepare for rehearsal by watching the videos of the pieces to familiarize myself with the movement and choreography.

What gives you inspiration?

I'm most inspired by human connections. That is something that has always been a prominent aspect in my own pieces as well as my favorite part of dancing and performing in the pieces of others.

KELLY MCGILL

UPSTATE NEW YORK

Kelly McGill is a professional dancer, instructor, and choreographer born and raised in Upstate New York. Kelly holds a MFA in Dance from the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at the University of California, Irvine and a BFA in Dance from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. As an instructor, Kelly specializes in yoga, ballet, modern, and contemporary dance forms. Kelly has performed professionally with multiple contemporary dance companies and produced her own choreography on both the East and West Coast. Currently, Kelly is teaching ballet and modern dance at several area dance schools and looking forward to beginning a new chapter as a company member in her first season with Backhausdance. 

KATIE NATWICK

ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA

Katie Natwick began dancing at the age of eleven in her hometown of Escondido, California. Having discovered a deep passion for movement, she furthered her training at Chapman University where she received a BFA in Dance Performance. Throughout her career, Katie has had the opportunity to perform with companies including DANCE AEGIS, Kairos Dance Company and Nickerson-Rossi Dance, as well as choreographers Robin Conrad, Sean Greene, Jess Harper, and Dale Merrill, among others. This is Katie’s seventh season with Backhausdance.

What is your favorite non-dance activity or hobby?

Backpacking! I love see new places, camping, and getting away from my routine when I can.

What are your words to live by?

We have everything to share, nothing to prove.

ADRIEN PADILLA

Rosemead, California

Adrien Padilla is a dancer/choreographer that resides in the small town of Rosemead, California. Padilla earned his BFA in Dance at Cal State Long Beach and Graduate Certification in Arts and Culture Outreach and Advocacy at the University of Denver. Aside from dance, he works behind the scenes as a stage technician and is a photographer focusing on dance and conceptual photography as well as solitude art. Padilla has had the privilege to work with artists Keith Johnson, Dwight Rhoden, Norbert De La Cruz III, and Jessie Lee Thorne, to name a few. This is Adrien’s fifth season with Backhausdance.

What is a must-have item in your dance bag? 

Lacrosse ball and EXTRA clothes

How do you prepare for a rehearsal? 

Roll-out the hips and back, and most importantly gotta make sure the knees are warm

What gives you inspiration? 

Making my mom and grandma proud

What are your words to live by?

“Always plant good seeds.”

KAITLIN REGAN

PHOENIX, ARIZONA

​​Kaitlin Regan is an alumni of Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance. She has had the opportunity to perform both nationally and internationally with Backhausdance and is in her 11th season with the company. She has performed the works of Jennifer Backhaus, Dwight Rhoden, Ido Tadmor, Walter Matteini, and Yin Yue, among others. As an influential dance educator in Southern California, Kaitlin helped develop an adaptive dance program for students with special needs. She is currently on faculty at OC Music and Dance, Impact Dance Center, and the Art of Dance and Ballet Academy.

What is your most embarrassing stage moment?

I fell off the stage during a performance. It was during a piece that was performed using black light with no other lighting on stage. We were dressed as stick figures but our costumes were only lit from the front, so we had to staying facing the audience. I had a solo where I stole the "head" of another dancer, had to run across the stage traveling sideways, and then throw the head piece back. I apparently was so engrossed in my performance that I failed to see the glow tape marking the edge of the space. It looked like a cool disappearing act to the audience though and the head piece made it back to the dancer!

What cross-training or non-dance physical activities do you participate in?

Paddle boarding and yoga. Sometimes both at the same time!

How do you prepare for a rehearsal or performance?

I prepare for performances by making sure to eat a healthy meal and packing up all my things the night before. I prefer to listen to music with headphones as I warm up to center myself. I may go over a few choreographic and/or performance details to remember, but mostly I trust that my body and mind are prepared so I can go onstage and be in the moment.

MARCO VEGA

Los angeles, California

Marco Vega (he/they), currently located in Southern California, began dancing at the age of 16 under the direction of Cassie Dalena. Graduating from the University of California, Irvine in Spring 2021, they received a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Education Sciences specializing in Digital Media. Throughout his time at UC Irvine he had the opportunity to train under faculty such as Tong Wang, Molly Lynch, Diane Diefenderfer, Vitor Luiz, Charlotte Griffin, and Lindsay Gilmour; and guest artists Lar Lubovitch, Kate Skarpetowska, and Dante Puleio. Additional training includes the Whim W’him Summer Intensive under the direction of Olivier Wevers and Karl Watson, as well as the GALLIM Summer Intensive as an Emerging Artist Scholar under the direction of Andrea Miller. Throughout their time with BD, they have had the opportunity to originate roles in works by Ching Ching Wong, Tommie Waheed-Evans, and Amanda Kay White, as well as perform works by Dwight Rhoden and Jennifer Backhaus. Marco joined Backhausdance in Fall 2021.

MORE FROM Marco

When did you start dancing?

At the age of 16! Beginning with Jazz and tap, then formally starting ballet, contemporary, etc. a year later.

Do you have a pre-performance ritual?

Listen to an early 2000s pop/r&b playlist.

What is your favorite non-dance hobby or activity?

Quality time with friends and family, finding new coffee shops, and taking time to be lazy and do nothing!

What gives you inspiration?

I find my inspiration from the constant change and progression that surrounds society each day. Discovering new ways to make space to grow while leaving room for what has gotten us to this current point. Acknowledgment and acceptance of the past are crucial for the progression of growth.

SAMANTHA WAUGH

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Samantha Waugh (she/her) is a dance artist and educator working in Southern California. After moving from her hometown of Austin, Texas, she graduated from Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance. Passionate about arts education, Sammi has taught and created curriculum for private studios, community centers, and elementary schools across Southern California. In addition to assisting with the development of Backhausdance’s educational outreach programs, she currently serves as Director of the Early Childhood Music and Dance program at OC Music and Dance in Irvine, CA. Throughout her performance career, she has had the opportunity to work alongside many notable artists, including Dwight Rhoden, Ido Tadmor, Jennifer Backhaus, Sean Greene, Amanda Kay White, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Amy Morrow, and Nicole Hagen, among others. Samantha has performed in many project-based festivals around the LA area, and has presented her own choreographic and movement research works. This is Samantha’s fifth season with Backhausdance.

MORE FROM SAMANTHA

When did you start dancing?

I started dancing when I was 3 years old in Austin, TX

What is your most memorable stage moment?

Ironically, this moment wasn’t on a traditional stage. In one of our site specific performances (Sherman gardens 2021), I had an incredible connection with an audience member. A young girl of about 6 was watching me during one of our improvisation sections when we were weaving in and out of the audience. She started following my movements and dancing with me in the middle of the performance. It was a brief, but beautiful moment for me and the other audience members to witness. Our site specific performances (audience interaction) are some of my favorite performances of ours because of how close to the audience we get to be. Movement is what helps humans understand each other, and the audience interaction in these performances brings out so many incredibly personal and profound moments for our audiences. 

What is your favorite non-dance activity or hobby?

Reading a good book, (usually a mystery), taking a walk, and embroidering are some of my most favorite pastimes when I'm not dancing. A leisurely morning spent doing any of these things would be the start of an ideal day.

How do you deal with nerves or stage fright?

Before the audience is in the theatre, I try to get on the stage and take a moment to take in how it feels looking out into the auditorium. It prepares my brain and body for the feeling of performance and makes me more comfortable with my presence onstage. I also always try to find some time to myself in the dark area side-stage before I go onstage. I touch the tips of my fingers to my sternum and take a few intentional breaths while I'm alone to center my thoughts and my body, and then I feel completely present and ready to go.

AMANDA KAY WHITE

ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI

Amanda Kay White is a founding/current member and associate artistic director of Backhausdance. She is a proud alumni of Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Communication Arts with an emphasis in Advertising. Amanda continued her education and graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from Jacksonville University. She has worked with Tommie Waheed-Evans, Pioneer Winter, Yin Yue, Ido Tadmor, Walter Matteini, and Dwight Rhoden. Amanda is currently on faculty at Santa Ana College, Chapman University, Orange County School of the Arts, and South Coast Conservatory.

What cross-training or non-dance physical activities do you participate in?

I'm trying yoga … we will see how that goes …

How do you prepare for a rehearsal or performance?

Each morning and evening I spend about an hour rolling out my body with a variety of torture tools.

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