The Dancers
Clara Alger
Clara Alger (she/her) is a sophomore prospective History major from Doylestown, PA. While her foundation lies in ballet, she loves getting the opportunity to spend more time on modern dance at Vassar. Outside of the studio, she can be found making playlists, forest bathing, or decorating her Jewett dorm walls. She is so happy to be a part of a community of talented dancers and to work with the experienced teachers of VRDT. She wants to thank her wonderful family and friends for all their support.
Helen Ambrose
Helen Ambrose is a junior from Colorado (where they have real mountains) and is pursuing a Greek and Roman Studies Major with correlates in dance (!!) and Arabic language. Around campus, you can find her eating ice cream sandwiches in the Deece, reading books when she should be studying, or practicing dead languages (yay GRST majors). She is excited to perform with VRDT for her third year and hopes to avoid body-slamming another dancer!
Cassidy Baratta
Cassidy Baratta likes to dance!
Nia Bethel-Brescia
Nia Bethel-Brescia is a junior American Studies major and Dance correlate from Norwalk, CT. When she’s not dancing, she might be zooming around campus on her gorgeous pink bike, taking pictures of sunlight bouncing off the water in little rivers and rippling puddles, scribbling in her journal (probably writing a weird poem), and daydreaming about elaborate desserts. She thinks the present moment is a beautiful place/time to be. She is sending lots of love and gratitude to her sweet dance friends, fabulous dance teachers, and ever-supportive family!
Hana Colley
Hana Colley is a first-year from NYC. Her parents put her into dance at a young age of three because she always had a little too much energy. Ever since then she has continued dancing and has trained at The School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theater and Ballet Academy East. She’s very excited to continue dancing at Vassar with VRDT!
Frieda Dangerfield
Frieda Dangerfield is a first year (who has almost no idea what she wants to do, but LOVES to dance). Originally from the Boston area, she has mainly trained in modern and ballet and is so excited to be joining VRDT this year!! Outside of the studio, she can be found possibly sick, probably with her film camera, and definitely ready to talk about your letterboxd top four. She has also been told that she has incredibly identifiable feet, so watch out for them when you come to see the shows!
Julia Dawson
Julia Dawson is a senior Mathematics major from San Diego, California. She can be found mulling over the hoard of pointe shoes in her locker or perched atop the Studio 2 bars. She began her dance training at the California Ballet School in San Diego and later moved to Chicago to train year-round at the Joffrey Academy of Dance. It was there that she watched snow fall for the first time, and, for her, it has never lost its novelty.
Maria Dean
Maria Dean is a sophomore from Northampton Massachusetts, who is ecstatic about her second year in VRDT. She has been training in ballet for over 10 years and was introduced to contemporary and other styles in the last three years of her dancing career. When she’s not dancing she’s singing in her room, admiring the rain, procrastinating her work, or hanging out with friends.
Alexandra Duff
Alexandra Duff is a senior from Brooklyn, New York majoring in International Studies and English. She began her dance training at the School of American Ballet and went on to study at Ballet Academy East, spending summers at intensive programs across the country. After studying abroad at the University of Oxford last year, she is thrilled to return to VRDT for her final semesters at Vassar! She would like to thank the dance department for their support and her wonderful family and friends for their guidance, humor, and love.
Annabelle Fields
Annabelle Fields is a freshman and this is her first year in VRDT! She is from Los Angeles, but lived in Kauai, Hawaii for most of her life. She began dancing at 3 years old and has always classified herself as a certified bunhead ballerina. Her favorite color is purple and you can always find her listening to Taylor Swift or Lana del Rey. She is very excited to join her new dance home, VRDT!
Jacob Geiger
Jacob Geiger A jazzy guy. A natural born hater. A big fan of fries in a cup.
Paige Glover
Paige Glover is a sophomore art history and english double major who loves to dance! Her foundations are in contemporary and ballet, though she’s found a new love for modern at Vassar. It is true....her C-curve needs work...but she (solemnly) promises to sort it out by the end of the semester.
Eva Gubitz-Hess
Hallöchen! My name is Eva Gubitz-Hess and I am a senior Biology major and German correlate. My hobbies include giving hugs, not knowing the combination, and being in awe of my fellow dancers. I’m juggling too many responsibilities as per usual, but the support of my friends always carries me through. Looking forward to an inspiring final year with VRDT!
Madeline Hsiao
Madeline Hsiao is a first-year maybe-math-major from Natick, Massachusetts. When not napping or dancing, you can find her curating Spotify playlists, expanding her ever-growing photo wall, journaling at a cafe, or calling a friend. She is an avid enjoyer of iced vanilla lattes, baggy dance clothes, casual friend dinners, and ambient lighting. A reformed comp kid, she is eager to continue dancing at Vassar and get to know the talented people of VRDT (and possibly end up with a dance correlate?)!
Cecilia Kittross
Cecilia Kittross is a sophomore prospective art history major from western Massachusetts. She loves Deece sugar cookies and late night walks. She is very excited to be a part of VRDT this year!!
Zoë LaCheen-Fine
Zoë LaCheen-Fine loves ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz and is so excited to join VRDT this year. She is interested in computer science, web design, and digital art. Outside of academics and dance, she loves to hang out with friends, take her camera to capture some nature photos, or read a good book. Most of her dance training is thanks to Nunnbetter Dance Theatre in New Jersey. She would like to thank her family and friends for helping her achieve everything she has done to get her here!
Ethan Maluccino
Ethan Maluccino is just happy to be here (and honestly probably thinking about Beowulf right now)
Sophia Maron Schaeffer
Sophia Maron Schaeffer is a sophomore from Yonkers, New York. As a math and French double major (and dance performance correlate!), she’s optimistic that she can survive off of four hours of sleep each night. When she isn’t dancing, Sophia can be found in the Coffee N’ Sweets section of the Deece, laughing obnoxiously loud with her friends, or playing with her pet gecko, Popcorn. Sophia is so excited to perform with VRDT for her second year. She sends her love to her family, friends, and teachers for their endless support!
Emma Mazloom
Renowned for her purple prose, flexed hands, and versatility with a sunny-side-up egg, Emma Mazloom is endlessly grateful to be part of the vibrant community of artists and people that is VRDT. She is a senior political science and Chinese major with a correlate in dance performance from upstate New York, from which she brings a sophisticated taste in tabbouleh, a deep sense of yearning, and satisfaction with only having Spotify Free. Love always to her family and friends, DWS, and deece water; hate always to apathy, celery, and overhead light.
Sofía Mendez
Sofía Mendez
Cruz Nunez
Cruz Nunez is a sophomore from Tucson, Arizona who has absolutely no idea what his major is, please don’t ask or he will probably cry. He loves anything penguin related, obscene amounts of sugar, and making fun of the Speros for being short. He can usually be found running across campus to whichever class or rehearsal he’s late for this time, most likely having forgotten both his VCard and his ADHD medication.
Lillian Palmer
Lillian Palmer, also known as Lilli, Lilz, and Lil’ P, is a freshman from Falmouth Massachusetts. As a native Cape Codder, she loves the ocean (namely the Atlantic), laying on the beach, and her vast collection of sunglasses. She also loves her many pets: her poodle Clover, her cat Ollie, and her ancient bunny Flash. She has been training at Turning Pointe Dance Studio for the last 15 years and is ecstatic to be joining the Vassar dance department and the VRDT fam!
Bella Restrepo
Bella Restrepo is a freshman from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Though she is beyond indecisive so this will probably change, she is a prospective environmental studies major. Things that Bella likes: cooking with too much garlic, drives home from the beach, sleeping under her weighted blanket, spending time in forests. Things she doesn’t like: any kind of soup, wearing shorts, the dark. Bella is so excited to start her journey at Vassar with the beautiful people of VRDT.
Abby Rice
Abby Rice (she/her) is so excited to be returning to VRDT as a junior this year! She is from Buffalo, New York, and is a history major with a dance performance correlate. In addition to VRDT, she is a member of Flypeople, and is also on the exec board for Vassar On Tap. When not dancing, she enjoys reading in the sunshine, having movie nights with her lovely suitemates, and blasting music on long car rides. She would like to thank Vassar’s wonderful dance faculty and the incredible VRDT dancers for making Kenyon her second home on campus!
Maria-Fernanda Rodriguez
Maria-Fernanda Rodriguez
Yoshi Sanders
Yoshi Sanders is a senior psychology major and dance correlate from Western Mass. Yoshi loves vrdt, sending nice songs to friends, the smell before rain, pokemon, and cooking for others. A major fan of rest and relaxation, lounging and lazing, and staying in during cold winter days.
Maya Schiller
Maya Schiller is an STS major, abandoned Hispanic Studies correlate, pre-PA senior from Tewksbury, NJ. She enjoys eating food with friends, colorful sneakers, her emotional support water bottles, and her dog Stanley. She does not enjoy the sweaty speed walk from rehearsal in Kenyon to the Bridge for lab classes. She is so grateful for all the beautiful friendships and wonderful memories from VRDT that will last a lifetime.
David Shively-Ertas
David Shively-Ertas
Olivia Sparks
Hi!! My name is Olivia Sparks (she/her) and I am so excited to be returning to VRDT this year!! I am a sophomore from Los Angeles, California and am a prospective Psychological Science and Environmental Studies double major and Africana Studies correlate. In my free time I love to listen to and write poetry, listen to music while dancing in my room, reading outside, and hanging out with friends. I am so excited for all the amazing memories, friendships, and pieces this year in VRDT.
camryn spero
what’s the key to camryn spero’s heart? a complex question indeed! camryn is passionate about choreographing and dancing through the late hours of the day, making tasty sweets for friends, and bopping to electronic beats. a short senior, her often-sported camo jacket makes her more elusive to the eye! she’s a double major in film and cognitive science, and has had her choreography showcased in the Battery Dance Festival and the Young Choreographers Festival. camryn is madly in love with VRDT and needs to share her feelings before it’s too late!
Courtney Spero
Courtney Spero is a senior STS and Economics double major and Dance correlate. She loves dancing and choreographing so much that she’s also a member of Flypeople and Vassar On Tap. In August 2022, a piece she co-choreographed for VRDT performed at the Battery Dance Festival. Other things she feels that it’s important to mention in her final company bio include that she’s an aspiring EDM Princess, can talk your ear off about movies she enjoys, is co-operating an unofficial supper club out of her TA, and will reroute her walks if even a single goose is nearby. She is grateful for her time with VRDT and excited for one more year with these lovely people.
dana tagliaferro
dana tagliaferro is a junior neuroscience major and dance performance correlate from woodland park, nj. she loves jazz, cats, sushi, spicy foods, crocheting, and napping (not in any particular order). she may often be seen procrastinating in the deece or sprawled out on the kenyon couches. and she will always be seen with her airpods in listening to music. she would like to thank her first dance home, dance world academy, and her family for their constant support and encouragement. she loves vrdt with all her heart and is grateful to be among such talented people!
Emily Tieu
Emily Tieu is a senior International Studies major with Russian Studies & Prison Studies minors from San Jose, California. She is an expert at crying, standing on furniture, and being distracted. Emily’s friends call her "Patient Zero", due to her undiagnosed ADHD. She loves big bunches of flowers, love notes, and fancy & scrumptious things. Her ultimate life motto is: It costs nothing to be kind (just be nice, guys). Emily would like to thank her wonderful loved ones, Criminal Minds, and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Ollie, for their support over the past 4 years.
Liana Tortora
Prospective psych Major and from Chapel Hill North Carolina, Liana Tortora thoroughly enjoys all things green from forest bathing to brussel sprouts. In her spare time, when not doodling, she may be reading or ensuring her daily quests on Duolingo are met. Liana loves dancing almost as much as she loves wearing pajamas everywhere and consuming many chocolate chip cookies. She is very excited to be dancing with VRDT again this year!
Anjali Turchiano
Anjali Turchiano is a first-year from Manhattan! She is a prospective education or psychology major, but is still exploring everything. She trained at Manhattan Youth Ballet and Beacon Dance Company and is thrilled to continue her dancing with VRDT. She loves baking, watching the sunset, napping, and hanging out with friends. When she’s not in the studio, you can catch her painting her nails, making a to-do list, or drinking an iced coffee. She is so excited to be a part of this community and sends endless love to her teachers, friends, and family <3
Ki’tsai Zangpo
Ki’tsai Zangpo The jungleman dance, the jungleman prance,
The jungleman worries about splitting his pants
Hi mom!