Meet the Company!

Raina Lucas is the current Faculty Artistic Director of the Georgetown University Dance Company (GUDC), and a lecturer within the Department of Performing Arts at Georgetown University. She specializes in 21st century dance and ballet pedagogy practices, artist-agency within dance creation, intersections of dance and society (emphasis on race, access, and opportunity), and arts leadership. Raina’s creative research focuses on liberating and cultivating the dance-making space through harnessing the power of process-to-product collaboration. Recent creative-collaborative choreography projects include Of Poison & Beauty (2024) The Truth Spun Backwards (2023), ATLAS (2022), Parade (2021) and The Container (2020). In 2019 and 2020, she was commissioned by Washington College for two original works, The Invitation (2019) and revé (dance on film, 2020). Earlier in her career, she was selected for a Tobacco Road Dance Productions (TRDP) dance-making grant to develop new approaches to choreographic craft. Later, she was asked to return as a TRDP panelist to mentor new and established choreographers. Her choreography has been shown at the Durham Performing Arts Center, Crown at the Carolina Theatre, Greensboro Fringe Festival, Penn-Griffin School of the Arts (commissioned work), Gonda and Devine Theatres at Georgetown University, among others. At Georgetown University, she serves on the Department of Performing Arts Justice, Equity, and Community (JEC) Committee.  Raina has developed in-person and virtual courses in dance history, dance and society, dance appreciation, choreography, capoeira, ballet, and modern dance technique. Prior to her current faculty position at Georgetown University, she has taught as a member of the faculty at Guilford College, Salem College, Washington College, and North Carolina State University. Raina continues to enjoy performing as an independent dance professional. Most recently, she appeared in Lloyd Whitmore’s revelatory work “Songs Without Words” restaged by Miya Hisaka for The Washington School of Ballet’s Adult performance program concert (2023). She has also performed excerpts of works from William Forsythe’s “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated” restaged by Elizabeth Corbett, original work, “Older Dances” by Elizabeth Corbett, Doris Humphrey’s “Soaring” restaged by Mino Nicholas, and Larry Keigwin’s heart-pumping “Mirrors.” Today, she continues a rigorous and extensive ballet training program under teacher and coach Aaron Jackson (former school, School of American Ballet). Raina has a B.A. in dance with a concentration in dance therapy from Goucher College. While at Goucher, she studied abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she was introduced to contemporary dance practices in Brazil, and national forms, including samba and capoeira. Following her undergraduate education, Raina went on to pursue and complete an M.F.A in dance- choreography at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, where she served as a teaching assistant and Instructor of Record. While there, she was a recipient of the Kristina Larson Dance Fund award to support the development of her first evening-length thesis work, meta (2015).

Stephanie is a senior in the McDonough School of Business majoring in Operations and Analytics and Management. She is originally from Houston, Texas where she began dancing at the age of 4 at J&H Dance Company. Her training primarily focused on traditional Chinese folkloric dance, ballet, and contemporary where she then became part of the junior elite competition team, performing at regional and national competitions, including America’s Got Talent. After moving to Columbia, Maryland, Stephanie then joined the Studio Dans Dance Company Senior Elite Competition team where she then trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, and tap.  She was also part of her high school’s Senior Dance Company and was given the opportunity to choreograph multiple group, duo, and solo pieces. Stephanie was able to perform pieces by multiple esteemed choreographers such as Maddie Rodriguez, Kathleen Laituri, David Gourov, Dana Keane, Alicia Canterna, Haley Nachlas, Nathaniel Hunt, and Ricki Huff and work with other professionals including, Dmitri Malikov, Joe Lanteri, Suzi Taylor, Andy Pellick, and more. Throughout her dance career, Stephanie attended and participated in numerous competitions, conventions, showcases, productions, galas, and masterclasses, receiving many top-scoring awards and scholarships. This is her fourth season with GUDC and she is excited for all there is to come!

Kyra is a senior studying nursing and is originally from Newtown, Connecticut. She began dancing at the age of 6, and competitively at the age of 10 training in styles such as ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz. For the past 3 years, she competed with Thrive: The Essence of Dance on their senior intensive company and worked under choreographers such as Gabriella Sibeko, Rudy Abreu, Luke Romanzi, Courtney Schwartz, and Evan Debenedetto. She competed at various competitions including Break the Floor Productions, The Dance Awards, and YAGP, and her group even received a perfect score in 2021. She was also cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the company’s annual nutcracker performance. She currently teaches summer classes and choreographs solos for current competition dancers at Thrive. Additionally, Kyra was captain of the Newtown High School Varsity Dance Team which won the title of CT State Champions in the jazz division and 1st runners up in hip hop.

Zoe is a senior in the College, majoring Government and French & Francophone studies. Zoe is from northern Virginia, but started doing ballet in southeast Wisconsin at the age of 4. She owes her dance training to schools and teachers around the country, including Milwaukee Ballet School, Virginia National Ballet (VNB), the Washington School of Ballet, and the faculty of the Smith College Dance Department. Under the direction of Rafik Hegab and Dina Fadeyeva at VNB, Zoe performed alongside the professional company in classical and contemporary ballets like The Nutcracker, Aida, Carmina Burana, and more. Zoe also spent a summer with the Washington School of Ballet professional training division, learning from Rinat Imaev and Xiomara Reyes. In her year at Smith College, Zoe continued her ballet journey with Rodger Blum, and contemporary and composition with Sarah Lass. This is her third year with GUDC, and she is so happy to be a part of the dance community at Georgetown.

Alex is a senior in the College, majoring in psychology on the pre-law track. This is her fourth year with GUDC and she is beyond excited to be dancing in this great company! Alex has been dancing since she was five years old in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She began her dance journey at Studio One Dance Company and then moved to Accent on Dance at the age of eight. Alex was first involved in developmental programs until she was nine, then she started competitively dancing and training in many styles of dance: ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, contemporary, modern, and hip-hop. At Accent on Dance, Alex had the opportunity to assistant teach younger classes, and continued her student teaching to local students during her summers. In high school, she was a part of the Broadway Company, an audition-only musical theater group. Alex was a lead dance performer in three fall musical productions: The Wedding Singer, Mamma Mia! The Musical, and Catch Me if you Can. Also through the Broadway Company, she choreographed and directed many numbers for the three spring productions of Musical Theater Nights, led auditions for current and hopeful members, and held the position of Dance Captain her senior year.

Hailey is a senior in the McDonough School of Business studying finance. She is originally from outside of Cleveland, Ohio, where she danced at Kibler Dance Academy for 15 years. Here, she danced competitively for 10 years in the styles of jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip hop, and for 5 years, she was an assistant dance teacher for dancers ages 2-10. At Hudson High School, Hailey was the co-captain of the Dance Line, and she performed at her commencement ceremony.

Yee Xin is a senior majoring in Marketing and this is her fourth season at GUDC. She is from Penang, Malaysia and started taking ballet lessons at the age of four. Under the Royal Academy of Dance exam curriculum, she completed up to the Grade 8 and Intermediate Foundation level. At six years old, she started Latin dance lessons, and participated in local Latin dance competitions. For high school, she attended The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, where she trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. She was a dancer and choreographer in the Lawrenceville Dance Team and the inaugural Lawrenceville School Dance Collective.

Cecelia is a senior in the College studying psychology. Cecelia began dancing when she was two years old. She trained in ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary at Wilmington Dance Academy. She was a part of the pre professional program there and competed in many annual conventions and competitions. Cecelia also trained at North Atlantic Ballet in addition to Wilmington Dance Academy. At North Atlantic ballet, she was a ballet apprentice performing in a yearly production of the Nutcracker and other productions such as The Little Mermaid, and Cinderella. In addition, Cecelia attended intensive summer programs including Intergrarte Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theatre, and the Click Boston.

Claire is a senior in the SFS studying Science, Technology, and International Affairs. Claire is originally from Arizona where she began dancing at the age of three at Impact Dance. There, she trained for 13 years in many styles including contemporary, jazz, ballet, lyrical, ballroom, hip hop, and tap. The studio competed at many conventions both nationally and regionally such as Velocity, Radix, and Hollywood Vibe. This allowed Claire opportunities to dance in a music video and on stage with musical artists as well as the chance to work with choreographers like Travis Wall, Talia Favia, Blake McGrath, Kyle Hanagami, and Kent Boyd. For all four years of high school, Claire was a member of her school’s nationally ranked pom team, the Highland Hawkettes, and she served as a gameday captain in her senior year. Additionally, she was a member of her school’s One Image Dance Company where she choreographed pieces for the annual concerts.

Alice is a junior in the McDonough School of Business hoping to major in management and minor in psychology. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She started dancing at the age of three at Oriental Arts Education Center, training primarily in folkloric and ballet styles. Alice entered the competition dance world at the age of 6, where she won numerous first place titles at national dance competitions like Showstopper, Starquest, and Dance Showcase. She also had unique opportunities to perform at city-wide galas with the mayor, charity concerts with her non-profit organization, Music of Harmony, the America’s Got Talent stage, and more. She also assisted in teaching a ballet class for young children for two summers. In high school, Alice joined the Kinkaid Dance Company in her freshman year, eventually rising to become president of the company and of her school’s National Dance Honor Society division. Through this position, Alice has been able to choreograph twice in the Spring Student Choreography Projects, as well as organize many community outreach and company bonding events. She has also participated in her high school’s annual musical for all four years, acting as lead dance captain for three consecutive years in Bright Star, Carrie, and The Hello Girls. Alice is extremely grateful to be a part of GUDC this year, and she is so excited to dance with the rest of the company!

Beatrice is currently a junior in the College, planning to major in Biology of Global Health. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Beatrice began dancing at the age of 4 with the Dance Arts Studio. She soon transitioned to Palmetto City Ballet School where she has been trained primarily in ballet and contemporary for the past eight years. Beginning in middle school, she was selected for the studio’s youth ballet company and performed in school-wide performances and minor roles with the professional company. Later, she began taking a larger part in the professional company’s performances each year, and was given the opportunity to perform solos and duets alongside company members. Her performance experience includes The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Thumbelina, The Snow Queen, and several original works choreographed by Jonathan Tabbert and Stephen Gabriel. During her training, she has also had the opportunity to dance at the Orlando Ballet summer intensive, the Governor’s School intensive, and Burklyn Ballet. This is Beatrice’s third year with the company.

Evelyn Slatoff is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and is hoping to study English. This is her third year with GUDC and she is so excited to be part of the company! Evelyn is from New Canaan, Connecticut and began taking ballet lessons at two years old with New England Academy of Dance. She has continued ballet for sixteen-years and has trained extensively in the Cecchetti style including pointe work. She also enjoys contemporary modern, jazz, and serving as a teaching assistant for young dancers. Some of Evelyn’s favorite dance experiences include performing in Swan Lake, Paquita, and her studio's annual Nutcracker.

Alexa is a sophomore in the College studying biology on the pre-med track, and this is her second year with GUDC! She is from Madison, Wisconsin and started recreational dance at Move Out Loud at the age of two. Eventually, she started competing in hip hop at the age of ten. For the next 8 years, she started to explore more styles such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, and musical theater. Throughout her competition years, she attended competitions such as Showstoppers, Precision Arts Challenge, Tremaine, Hollywood Vibe, and NUVO. In 2023, she attended the summer intensive with Nova Linea Contemporary Dance and fell in love with contemporary. Since graduating high school, she has continued to take contemporary classes at Barrio Dance Studio under various instructors.

Antonia is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, intending to study Philosophy and Politics. Antonia lives in Greenwich, CT, but is originally from Argentina, and has lived across the world in Budapest, Moscow, London, and Florida. Starting her dance journey at the age of 4, Antonia has been a dedicated performer, particularly as part of the Greenwich Dance Studios company since 8th grade. She has had the privilege of working with professional dancers like Ehizoje Azeke, Karla Puno Garcia, Zuleka Diamond, and Rockette, Bailey Callahan. She dances a wide range of styles including ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, modern, and pointe. Antonia is also a passionate advocate for the arts, specifically dance. She founded "Step by Step," a dance school for underprivileged children in Argentina. Partnering with the nonprofit Pequeños Pasos, she raised over $8,000 to provide the 40 enrolled students with weekly dance lessons, nutritious meals, and social workers. She recognizes the importance of arts access, especially for children in dire circumstances. Antonia also initiated a dance program at her high school, continuing her commitment to spreading the transformative power of dance. This is her second year with GUDC, and she is eager to continue being a part of Georgetown’s dance community.

Katherine is a sophomore in the College and was born and raised in West Windsor, New Jersey. She began dancing at the age of 4 and has trained at Princeton Ballet School, Ballet Central New Jersey (BCNJ), and Princeton Dance and Theater. She has attended summer intensives at these schools and at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Her training focused on ballet and contemporary, with additional experience in traditional Chinese dance, jazz, and modern. She’s competed in competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix and Miami International Ballet Competition. At YAGP Semi-Finals, she’s placed top 3 in ensemble categories and competed a contemporary pas de deux at YAGP Finals in Tampa, Florida. Katherine was also a captain of The Hun School of Princeton’s Dance Company, and choreographed various contemporary pieces for their performances. With BCNJ and Princeton Youth Ballet, she’s performed principal and soloist roles in ballets including The Secret Garden, The Nutcracker, Paquita Grand Pas Classique, and Giselle. This is her second season with GUDC and she is so excited to dance with everyone!

Annabelle is a sophomore in the School of Health studying human science on the pre-med track. This is her second season with GUDC. From Boston, Massachusetts she grew up dancing competitively at The Dance Academy of Siagel productions. She competed up to the Elite company and performed various styles such as jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and tap. She competed at various competitions including Word Class, The Dance Awards, and Starquest, and participated in summer programs at Berklee Conservatory in Boston. This is her first time dancing with a company outside of her home studio and she is so excited to dance with GUDC and be a part of the community!

Natalie is a second year in the College studying Psychology. Originally from Bethesda, Maryland Natalie began dance classes in ballet and tap at age 2. Later, she moved onto the recreational program at C-UNIT studio and learned new styles, including jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. Natalie moved to Boston, Massachusetts where she joined the competition team at the Dance Academy of Siagel Productions for 9 years and moved back to Maryland to pursue the pre-professional dance program at C-UNIT for her senior year. During this time, Natalie trained and competed in jazz, hip-hop, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, ballroom, tap, and musical theater. Throughout Natalie’s dance career she’s been selected to perform repertoire in programs and competitions, including the Interlochen Arts Academy and Washington Grand Prix competition. She’s also earned various regional/ national scholarships and titles, including Velocity MVA Scholarship, Radix Artist’s Choice, JUMP Senior VIP, and NRG National Finals Scholarship. Natalie teaches jazz, lyrical, and tap at her studio’s dance camp over the summer, and is teaching jazz classes for ages 7-16/ choreographing their recital pieces for the first time this year.

Jaegar is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in history. He is from Atlanta, Georgia where he began dancing at the age of 6 at Susan Chambers Dance Company. At the age of 13 he moved to the Royal Dance Academy where he began participating in dance competitions including YAGP, NYCDA, ADCIBC, and more. Some of his accomplishments include acceptance to the Juilliard Summer Dance Intensive 2023, 1st Place Senior National Solo at NYCDA, and attending YAGP and ADCIBC Finals in 2023. Jaegar has worked with amazing choreographers like Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Medhi Walerski, Houston Thomas, Michael Garcia, and more through his time spent at Jacob’s Pillow and Ballet BC. Most recently, he was a trainee with the Washington Ballet under the direction of Trinidad Vives and Peter Ballard. This is his first year in GUDC and he is so excited to be a part of the company!

Keira is a freshman in the College studying Global and Comparative Literature. Originally from Los Angeles, California, she began her dance journey at MNR Dance Factory. Later, she continued her dance journey at A Squared Academy of Dance, training in a variety of styles including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and hiphop. She’s worked with top choreographers such as Kelly, Sweeny, Tricia Miranda, and Kaycee Rice. She was a KAR Dance Convention Protege and a Radix Protege Finalist. She was captain of the Harvard-Westlake Dance Team and she is also a TA and choreographer at her home studio. This is her first season with the dance company and she is so excited for a great year!

Brynn is a freshman in the McDonough School of Business studying finance and accounting. She is originally from New Jersey and has grown up training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, musical theater and hip hop since the age of 3. Brynn has trained at Broadway Dance Center in New York City and been a competitive dancer since age 6. She also has toured with dance convention Artists Simply Human as a part of ASH: The Company and Intensive Thrive Dance Experience as a faculty assistant. Most recently, Brynn danced in a professional pre-production choreography lab with tap dancer Jared Grimes for The Muny’s Anything Goes. Brynn has also performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She is so excited for her first year in the company and cannot wait to dance with everyone!

Abby is a freshman in the College and this is her first year with GUDC! She has lived most of her life in Shanghai, China, before coming back to the United States for boarding school and moving to the Boston area. She started dancing at the age of 4, training in various styles including but not limited to ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, hiphop, waacking and tap. She has attended Interlochen Arts Camp as a dance major for two years, and most recently trained at CLI Conservatory’s Summer Intensive, working closely with Teddy Forrance, Jakevis Thomason, Martha Nichols, Kenichi Kasamatsu, Stephanie Shumway, and Spencer Myles. Abby continued dancing as a part of Deerfield Academy’s dance program, serving as a fall term captain her senior year and choreographing for almost every show from freshman to senior year. She has participated in Deerfield’s rendition of The Nutcracker, dancing the roles of Coffee/Arabian, Mouse King, and Snowflake. Additionally, Abby has conducted research on how frequent and extended use of mirrors leads to body dysmorphic disorder and eating disorders within dancers. Her final product consisted of a published research review paper and a dance film she directed, choreographed, and filmed independently, depicting the findings from her research. She is so excited to join the GUDC and dance with everyone!

Shruthy is a freshman in the School of Health majoring in Human Science on the Pre-med track. She is originally from Orlando, Florida where she began dancing at the age of 4 at Danzforce Extreme. She is trained in many styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, and ballroom. She joined her studio’s competitive dance team when she was 10 and continued with competitive dance until she graduated high school. Throughout her dance career, Shruthy attended and participated in numerous competitions, conventions, showcases, productions, galas, and masterclasses, receiving many top-scoring awards and scholarships. She has even had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas to compete at Velocity Dance Convention Nationals and her studio in her senior year got to win studio of the year at Artist Simply Human Nationals. This is her first season with GUDC and she is excited for all there is to come!

Ipeksu is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences intending to study Government and Spanish. She is originally from New Hampshire where she began dancing at the age of 4 at Londonderry Dance Academy. As a student at LDA, Ipeksu trained under the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum, passing her vocational ballet examinations from Grade 4 through Advanced 1 with distinction. Additionally, she participated in the American Academy of Ballet’s Performance, earning gold with distinction in levels 4 through Advanced 1 and recieving scholarships to their summer intensive program which she attended in 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2022, Ipeksu competed at YAGP in the senior women’s classical category and a large ensemble which placed top 12 in Boston Regionals. Ipeksu is also a member of the New England Dance Ensemble under the direction of Barbara Mullen, where she has had the opportunity to perform lead roles such as Clara in the 2020 film production of The Nutcracker as well as Snow Queen and Arabian partnering with professional dancers Garritt McCabe from the Nashville Ballet and Elijan Geolina from the American Ballet Theater. This is her first year with GUDC and she looks forward to working with the company.

The 2024-25 senior graduating class consisted of Cate Walter, Olivia Noreke, Annabelle Black, and Marialaura Saenz.

The 2023-24 senior graduating class consisted of Chloe Holman, Kate Liggio, Haley Wexelblatt, Caroline Ericsson, and Lily Dettmann