The dancers of 32 Flavors each come with their own story and experience making the company a unique and diverse group.

CORE MEMBERS:

Kathleya Afanador is the choreographer and co-founder of Armadillo Dance Project, a small company dedicated to the production and performance of dance within computer-interactive environments. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cornell University with degrees in Dance, Visual and Auditory Cognition, and a concentration in Computing in the Arts. Before going to Cornell, Kathleya was a senior level ice dancer and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. She also had training in rhythmic gymnastics. Currently, she is a graduate student in Cognitive Psychology and a NSF IGERT Fellow in the Arts, Media, and Engineering Program at Arizona State University. Her academic work has been presented at the Congress on Research in Dance (CORD) conference and the International Computer Music Conference. Her choreography has been presented in Ithaca, NY, Boston, San Remo, Italy, and commissioned by the Hockaday School in Dallas, TX.

Teal Darkenwald recently finished her M.F.A. in Choreography at the University of Arizona where she taught, performed, choreographed, researched, and directed dance as well as film. Teal completed her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and B.S. in Exercise Science at the University at Buffalo, where she was selected to receive the Outstanding Senior Dean’s Award for the College of Arts and Sciences. While in Buffalo, Teal founded On the Edge, a dance company that collaborates with various visual artists, filmmakers, and musicians including Robby Takac of the GooGoo Dolls and Amungus. Performances for On the Edge included gallery events, arts festivals, live television events, dance film and video, and cd release events. While finishing her M.F.A at the University of Arizona, Teal taught choreography, theater dance, modern, and jazz, as well as performed and choreographed for the UA Dance Ensemble. Recently, Teal was featured in Douglas Nielsen’s A Fragile Stability, a collaboration between the School of Dance and the School of Architecture. Additional performance, choreographic, and directorial experiences include involvement with the Zodiaque Dance Company, Young Choreographers Showcase, Dancers Workshop, the American College Dance Festival, Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble, and the Music is Art Festival. Teal has received several grants and awards both regionally and nationally for her performance, research, and choreography. Teal is honored to be joining 32 Flavors in their first season!

Andrea Hashim is a native of Bakersfield, California, where she began her training under the Royal Academy of Dance method at the age of seven. Andrea continued to train and complete many of her Royal Academy of Dance examinations through high school. After high school, Andrea left for Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. Andrea received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance, with a concentration in Teaching/Choreography, and a minor in Political Science. Andrea then went on to complete her Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona in Choreography. Andrea has danced with many ballet companies, including Lake Erie Ballet in Pennsylvania, and Ballet Concerto in Fort Worth, Texas. She has trained at the American Ballet Theatre in New York City, the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and the Royal Academy of Dance summer schools in Long Beach, Ca. In addition to her dance training, Andrea has presented her research, The Evolution of the Royal Academy of Dance’s Vocational Graded Examination Syllabus from 1920 to the Present, to audiences at the National Dance Education Organization’s 2005 Conference and the Hawaii International Conference on the Arts and Humanities 2005 International Conference. Andrea is currently involved as an advocate for dance education as a member of the Arizona Dance Education Organization. She also has worked as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC for arts education with Americans for the Arts. Andrea is currently on the Dance Faculty at Scottsdale Community College. This is her first year with 32 Flavors.

Marissa Koretski is a proud native of Arizona, and a natural born mover! She has danced and performed all over, including California, Nevada, New Mexico, and New York. In May of 2007, Marissa recieved her B.F.A in Dance Choreography from Arizona State University. While attending ASU, she had the priviledge of working with various artists such as Pablo Cornejo, Randy Johnson, Kim Karpenty, and Ying Yang as a member of ASU’s elite dance company, D.A.R.T. Continuing on her with her love for performing, she was also a company member of Rayn Dance Theatre. Marissa enjoys collaberation between art forms, especially on a more musical basis. While dance is her main squeeze, she loves to dabble in singing, drawing, and writing her own music. This is her first season with 32 Flavors and she couldn’t be happier! She thanks her family and friends for all their support over the years!

Erika Rosales is a native of Arizona. She has been dancing for 14 years and has loved every minute of it. She is currently working on her BA in Dance Education and a BA in English Lit. She was a former member of Glendale Community College’ modern company, Physical Graffiti. Erika has performed in many events around the community. She recently had the privilege to be apart of a piece entitled “Deep Maps”, that was performed at the ODC Theatre in San Francisco. She has also been a guest performer for Center Dance Ensemble and performed at the Herberger for the past four years. She has also been honored to take part in many intimate performances at Rayn Dance Center. Erika is currently a dance instructor at Prestige Dance Academy in Surprise, where she teaches and choreographs many styles and assists in directing their Mini Troupe. Erika wishes to thank Lenna DeMarco for all her support and the kick out the door she needed. To the “Fab Five” for their honesty and support and to her Mommy who has never missed a show, thank you, I love you!

Lydia Sakolsky-Basquill, Born in Rochester, NY into a military family, Lydia has spent most of her life moving and traveling. She began her ballet training at age 5 in Springfield, VA. From there she was introduced to jazz in California, and later hip hop and tap in Boise, Idaho. More experience was gained in Germany and various summer intensives throughout the Northwest. After high school, Lydia moved to Miami, Florida to attend New World School of the Arts, focusing on various modern and ballet techniques under Peter London, Tina Santos-Wahl, Daniel Lewis, Freddick Bratcher, and Bambi Anderson. She left in 2006 with an AA in Dance to continue her studies at Arizona State University. She is currently a senior in the Herberger School of Fine Arts and plans to graduate in 2008. Lydia is looking forward to being a part of the first season of 32 Flavors.

GUEST DANCER:

Angela Rosenkrans received the Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Centenary College of Louisiana and the Master of Fine Arts degree at Sam Houston State University in Texas. She is currently the Dance Program Director at Scottsdale Community College in Scottsdale, AZ. Mrs. Rosenkrans has been teaching and choreographing for the past 14 years at dance studios and colleges in Colorado, Texas, Louisiana and Arizona. She has performed professionally with Ormao Contemporary Dance Company, Scorpius Dance Theatre, Conder Dance and Lizcasebolt Dance. She has been the Artistic Co-Director for Escaped Images in Louisiana and SCC Moving Company in Arizona and is now the Artistic Director for Instinct Dancecorps in Arizona. She has also been the acting Lighting Designer and Technical Director for three dance companies in residence at Scottsdale Community College. She was also a commissioned Lighting Designer for a Full Tilt Dance Company production in Maui, Hawaii. She is looking forward to dancing as a guest artist for the new dance company 32 Flavors.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:

Gwen Bueker, an Arizona native, has had a love for dance her whole life. She graduated in 2006 with a BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona. Aside from her dance background, Gwen has also been greatly involved in musical theatre and has performed in a variety of musicals and plays both locally and all around the world! She is extremely excited and proud to be a part of 32 Flavors!

Bridgette Caron was born in Milford, Ma and then moved to sunny san diego when she was one year old. Growing up in a small town, Bridgette engaged in as many athletics as possible, including softball, basketball, soccer, and field hockey. Since her family could not afford dance lessons, she learned many routines from her oldest sister who was in high school. Dance did not become a huge part of Bridgette’s life until she saw the back-up dancers at a Britney Spears concert and she knew right then that dance was going to be her life. She then joined the Black Student Union (the school step team), the dance program and performance dance program, and the cheerleading squad at her high school. Even though dance was becoming her life, Bridgette’s life was revolved around softball, hindering her dance experience. She went to San Diego State University to play softball and studied dance. Two years later, Bridgette finished her degree in Dance Choreography at Arizona State University on a Softball Scholarship. She is currently a Ballroom Instructor at Arthur Murray in Phoenix and is competing professionally in Ballroom Competitions. She is loving her new family in 32 Flavors and cannot wait for the Valley to experience thier dance Company.