Alexa Breakiron (Dancer)
Alexa is an alumni of CCBC's Dance company who graduated in 2018 and has returned to dance again after taking a break for a few years. Before graduating from CCBC, she was a competitive dancer with training in ballet, tap, jazz, and modern. She continues to explore her love of movement and has recently received her 200 RYT.

Megan Caldwell (Dancer)
Megan began her dance training in Hanover, PA at The School of Music and Dance. Other training includes Kirov Academy of Ballet and The Rock School of Ballet. She earned her bachelors degree in Advertising at Penn State University while dancing for the Penn State Lionettes Dance Team. She went on to work professionally dancing on stages for Holland America Line cruise ships, regional theaters, theme parks, and was in the last remaining cast as a Bluebell dancer in Jubilee! at Ballys Las Vegas. She is now a licensed Realtor in Maryland and a member of BODYspace Movement Collective.

Jaquan Hanson-Campbell (Dancer)
Jaquan is in his first year dancing with the CCBC Dance Company. He attended Towson High School prior to coming to CCBC. He is enjoying the many opportunities that are a part of the CCBC Dance Program and being a member of the CCBC Dance Company.

Sarah Emilia Harris (Dancer)
Sara is in her third year of dancing with the CCBC Dance Company. She is currently teaching with Holabird Dance Parks and Rec and graduated from Center Pointe Performing Arts in 2022. She is enjoying this year Performing Arts theme “What’s so Funny” and exploring this theme through the many different genres of dance. She is dancing a CCBC to continue her growth as a dancer as she works with the amazing faculty at CCBC.

Rachel Huber (Dancer)

Rachel is a CCBC Dance Company alum and graduated from CCBC in June 2023. Rachel is enjoying the creative process of learning, memorizing, and cleaning the very intricate choreography that has been given to her this semester. She enjoys dancing at CCBC because it is a very open and welcoming environment to walk into every day.

Jalen Johnson (Dancer)
Jalen is in his first year at CCBC. He attended Patapsco High School Center For the Arts, and graduated from the Dance Program in 2022. He is super excited to have joined the CCBC dance company this year! He made a vow to himself that he wouldn’t stop dancing after high school, no matter what, and he is so grateful to have this opportunity bestowed upon him. He has enjoyed dancing with the company this year. He feels that there’s a sense of community whenever we’re all in the space, and there’s never a dull moment. He is excited to see what’s to come for the company as he continues his education here at CCBC.

Talyia Johnson (Dancer)
Talyia is a high school senior who is homeschooled. She began attending CCBC this fall as a dual-enrolled student, and this is her first year dancing with the CCBC Dance Company. Talyia also trains in the pre-professional dance program at the Peabody Preparatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where she has danced since she was three years old. She is thrilled that CCBC Dance Company is providing performance opportunities, master classes, and the opportunity to work with guest artists, all of which are helping her meet her dance goals. She is honored to perform with incredible dancers who have become her really good friends.

Melissa Lloyd (Dancer)
Melissa began dancing at CCBC wanting to get back to doing something she loved as a child and early teen. As a young adult, uncertain of her career path, she found a home in the CCBC dance program and finally declared a major. Since attending CCBC, she went on to continue her studies in California at The Performing Arts of San Diego and El Camino College in Los Angeles. She danced with New York based company, Zullo Raw Movement under the direction of John J Zullo, along with Baltimore based companies: Trajectory Dance Project under the direction of Alice Howes, Deep Vision Dance Company under the direction of Nicole Martinell, and Vaught Contemporary Ballet under the direction of Katie Vaught. Outside of performing, she works as a personal trainer and yoga instructor, helping others find health and healing through movement. She is enjoying being reunited with her past peers, sharing the stage with beloved teachers, and performing a piece restaged in which my aunt originally danced in 30 years ago!

Anastasia McKenzie (Dancer)
Anastasia is a CCBC Dance Company alum and dancer with Trajectory Dance Project. She recently received her Master's degree in Sports Science and Rehabilitation at Logan University. She is enjoying being able to dance again.

Naomi Muthama (Dancer)
Naomi is in her first year as a member of the CCBC dance company. Participating in dances and mastering choreography brings me back to high school, when I danced all four years while at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts. Naomi had a long gap in her dancing since starting college, and it's been a rough journey. She is excited to be able to get back on my feet and dance throughout the semester.

NyMa'at Re (Dancer)
NyMa’at this is in her first year dancing at CCBC. She is am a dual enrollment student this year and is enjoyingmaking new long-term friends and learning new dance techniques. She is dancing at CCBC to improve her dance skills.

Maegan Read (Dancer)
Maegan is a CCBC Dance Company alum and graduated from CCBC in June 2021. This semester she is enjoying being able to dance with her friends again after graduating from CCBC last year. She is back dancing at CCBC this semester because she missed her friends and missed dancing in a studio and just dancing in general. Since graduation, Maegan has not been dancing as much and is very thankful for this opportunity.

Maheshwari Shukla (Dancer)
Maheshwari is in her first year dancing with the CCBC Dance Company. She attended Oakland Mills High School. She enjoys dancing and collaborating with her fellow dancers, fostering a sense of teamwork, and building strong relationships. Also, opportunities for continued growth and improvement in dance techniques, learning and creating choreography, and performance skills. She feels that Dance at CCBC offers a well-structured and reputable dance program that provides dancers with access to experienced instructors, artists, and opportunities to improve in diverse dance styles. She also enjoys that the program offers flexible class schedules, making it easier for dancers to balance their dance training with other commitments like work or family responsibilities.

K. Rayne Smith (Dancer)
K. Rayne is in her first year at CCBC as a student and a dancer. She went to Pikesville High School and danced there and in middle school. She is enjoying learning choreography that takes her out of her comfort zone. She is dancing at CCBC because she wants to pursue the Associate of Fine Arts degree and pursue dance as her future career.

Melinda Blomquist (Artistic Director/Program Coordinator/Choreographer)
Melinda holds an M.F.A. in Dance Choreography and Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Arts in Dance Pedagogy from Brigham Young University. Melinda has presented her choreographic work at numerous venues nationally and internationally including the Mid-Atlantic and South-Central American College Dance Festival, Northwest Vista College, Towson University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the Attakkalari Festival in Bangalore India. Currently Melinda is a Professor of Dance at the Community College of Baltimore County, and she also serves as the Program Coordinator and the Artistic Director for the CCBC Dance Company. Melinda has also worked with Trajectory Dance Project and with the Theatre and Music departments as a choreographer for Musical Theatre productions in Arizona, Texas and Maryland including The Fantasticks, Fiddler on the Roof, Good News, and She Loves Me. Melinda is involved in community outreach, focusing on promoting the importance of dance as art form in public education. She has provided workshops and master classes in Texas, Alaska, and Maryland to students at the Elementary, Middle, and High School levels. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Deep Vision Dance Company and as Past-President of the Maryland Dance Education Association. To learn more about the Dance Program visit: www.ccbcmd.edu/dance

Kristi Schaffner (Associate Director/Choreographer)

Kristi attended the University of Oklahoma as a teaching fellow where she received her MFA in modern dance (2011). She also has BFA in dance education from Kent State University (2004).  Through a graduate student grant, she studied Laban Movement Analysis at the Laban Institute in NYC. Ms. Schaffner has performed with Jeslyn Dance Gallery, Clawson Dances, Junction Dance Theatre, and Tommy Parlon Dance Projects among others, and is a current dancer and Director of Education and Outreach for Dragonfly Dance Experiment. Her choreography has been presented across the country including Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, Washington D.C., Annapolis, Baltimore, Salt Lake City and at the Howard County Dance Festival. A passion for education has inspired her to create and implement dance curricula for both preschools and charter school students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder. Ms. Schaffner is a current adjunct faculty member in the dance divisions of Anne Arundel Community College and the Community College of Baltimore County and is a frequent guest instructor and performer in schools and community events.

Alice Howes (Choreographer)

Alice is a dance artist and educator who is director of Trajectory Dance Project, a Baltimore-based modern dance ensemble. She has held full-time faculty positions at universities including Coppin State University, UNC Charlotte, and Lamar University.  In addition, she served from 1995 to 2004 as artistic director and resident choreographer of Washington, D.C.’s Sister’s Trousers Dance Company, a modern dance ensemble based in the D.C. area. Sarah Kaufman of The Washington Post described Howes’ performance as “riveting, thrilling and deeply mysterious”.  Howes’ choreography has appeared in selective showcases at venues such as D.C.’s Dance Place, The Booth Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and Millennium Stage. She holds an MA in dance from American University and an MFA in dance from Sam Houston State University. Howes also has earned a Certificate of Movement Analysis (CMA) from the Laban Institute of Movement Studies in New York City.

Adrienne Kraus Latanishen (Choreographer)

Adrienne is proud to have graduated with honors from The Community College of Baltimore County with her A.A. in Dance.  She then transferred to The University of Maryland where she also graduated with honors with her B.A. in Dance.  Besides being an adjunct dance faculty member at CCBC, she dances professionally for Trajectory Dance Project and independently for herself.  Previously, she also danced for BlueShift Dance (principal dancer), The Collective (dancer, choreographer, educator), B3W of New York City, Andary Dance (soloist, principal dancer), and withhart.dance.projects (founding member, assistant director, soloist, principal dancer).  She was Director of Dance at St. Timothy's School, a private and boarding school for girls and she choreographed as Artist in Residence at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts for numerous years.  Recently, Adrienne choreographed for The Salem Players Theatre Company, Northeast High School, and Baltimore Composers Forum. 

Tommy Parlon (Choreographer)

Tommy a native of Washington, D.C., received his M.F.A. in Dance (Choreography and Technology) from Arizona State University and his B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. From 1998-2002 he was an Assistant Professor of Dance at Kent State University. While in New York City he danced with J. Fregalette Janson Dance, Centaur Dance Theatre, Beyondance Inc! and the Paris based multi-media performance art company FIASCO. Mr. Parlon has danced in pieces by Doug Varone, Stephen Petronio, Alvin Mayes, Laura Dean and Elizabeth Streb. In 1996-1998 he collaborated on Falling to Earth, an interactive multi-media performance piece created with the Institute for Studies in the Arts at Arizona State University. His choreography has been commissioned by Incidents Physical Theater of New York City, NEW ARTiculations in Tucson, Arizona, Lansing Chamber Dance in Michigan, and numerous colleges throughout the United States. He was awarded an Individual Artist Award in Solo Dance Performance from the Maryland State Arts Council in 2004 and an Artist Award in Choreography in 2007. Mr. Parlon is currently the Artistic Director of Tommy Parlon Dance Projects in Washington, D.C., and the Artistic Associate of Ground Zero Dance in Richmond.

Andrea Miller (Artistic Director of Gallim Dance Company)
Andrea Miller is a choreographer, creative director, and founder of the internationally renowned multidisciplinary organization GALLIM. A creator and collaborator for dance, film, fashion, and the visual arts, Miller is known for her exploration of the essential elements of human behavior and the alchemy of human expression through the medium of movement and performance. Miller is a Guggenheim, Sadler's Wells, New York City Center, and Princess Grace Fellow, and was featured in Forbes as an entrepreneur and leader in the dance world. She is the first choreographer to be named Artist in Residence at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, creating two large scale works for The Temple of Dendur and the full 5th floor of The Met Breuer. Her visual art collaborations include a sound, sculpture, and performance installation for Lincoln Center featuring 25 community members processing the pandemic through breath, music, theater and dance, as well as works for The Glass House, Art Basel, Frieze Festival, Grace Farms, Grand Central Station and a film shared by The Guggenheim Museum. Miller’s dance works are presented by leading institutions and festivals around the world including Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, City Center, The Joyce, Jacob’s Pillow, BAM, Royal Albert Hall, Sadler's Wells, London Royal Opera House, Théâtre National de Chaillot, Teatre Grec of Barcelona, Theaterhaus Stuttgart, Canal Madrid, Teatro Nacional de Panamá, DanceHouse Vancouver, Spoleto Festival, and others. Recent dance commissions include New York City Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, Bern Ballet, Noord Nederland Dans, Pennsylvania Ballet, A.I.M, Rambert2, Ailey II, and The Juilliard School. She has created dance for film with celebrated directors including Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, Xavier Dolan, Ezra Hurwitz, Bat-Sheva Guez and long time collaborator Ben Stamper. Miller is an Adjunct Professor at Marymount Manhattan College and guest faculty at The Juilliard School, where she is an alumna. Her repertory, creative methodology and dance training have been taught across the country including Marymount Manhattan, The Juilliard School, NYU, UC Kaufman, Harvard, Barnard and others. Her collaborations in fashion and brands include Hermès, VOGUE, Bergdorf and Goodman, SportsMax, KSwiss, Lacoste, Target, Calvin Klein, Crate & Barrel, SLS Hotels Miami and Las Vegas, and the ministry of tourism of Panama. Miller serves on the board of Chelsea Factory and The Doris Humphrey Foundation.

Marc W. Smith (Technical Director, Lighting/Sound Designer & Operator)
Marc has been involved in theatre for over 40 years and has been responsible for designing or technically directing over 350 productions. With B.A. and M.F.A. degrees in Technical Theatre and Design from Towson University, he has been the full time Technical Director for CCBC Dundalk since 1980. In addition, he is the theatre technical consultant for the CCBC Catonsville and Essex theatre facilities. Marc has received numerous technical theatre achievement awards from The United States Institute of Theatre Technology. Several of his production designs have been displayed in juried expositions including A Little Night Music and The Cemetery Club for technical achievement and Bus Stop for Scenic and Lighting Design. Marc’s scenic and lighting designs for the CCBC Essex production of Zombie Prom were part of the finalists in the Region II Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and his lighting design for the DCT production of I Do, I Do, won “Best Lighting Design” at the Maytime International Theatre Festival in Ireland.