Director and Dancer Biographies

Carley Conder is an Arizona native. She received a B.F.A. in Ballet and an M.F.A. in Modern Dance from the University of Utah . Carley has been a performing member with Arizona companies Semaphor Danceworks, Scorpius Dance Theater, Garner-Gutierrez Dance, Mary Fitzgerald Dance, and Los Angeles based company Keith Johnson/Dancers. Her choreographic work has been commissioned by many academic institutions and companies including University of California - Santa Barbara , Arizona State University, Brigham Young University , University of Utah , University of Texas – Pan American, Snow College , and Ballet Yuma. She is the Grand Prize Winner of the 2000 Palm Desert Choreography Competition, 2006 Professional Winner of the Arizona Choreography Competition, and a 2006 Project Tier Awardee through Regional Dance America . Carley has taught at Arizona State University and currently teaches at Scottsdale Community College . She and her husband Mike are the parents of Emma and are expecting their second child in August 2008. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of CONDER/dance.

 

Erica Downes was born and raised in Phoenix , Arizona . She began her training at the Nina Marlow School of Ballet and was then accepted into Arizona School for the Arts where she trained with Ballet Arizona . Upon graduation, she attended the Modern Dance Department at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City . Erica moved back to Phoenix in 2005 and began taking classes at Scottsdale Community College where she met Carley Conder. After dancing with Instinct Dancecorps, Erica joined CONDER/dance in August of 2007 and has enjoyed every minute of working with such talented and creative dancers.

Amanda Franco began her dance training at the age of seven in N.Y.C. There she attended the Broadway Dance Center where she had the opportunity to study and perform for the next ten years. After relocating to Arizona, she attended Scottsdale Community College and became a member of the Moving Co. along with Semaphor Danceworks, Inc. Amanda received a professional degree in dance from the Maricopa Institute for Arts and Entertainment Technology. During her time with the Institute, she was also a founding member of Instinct Dancecorps. In 2000 Amanda became certified in Pilates matwork through the Core Dynamics program. She currently owns and operates Studio 3 in Fountain Hills and is very excited to be working with CONDER/dance.

Christina Harrison began dancing at the young age of three in her hometown of Sacramento, CA. In her teens she had the opportunity to tour with her studio to the Kingdom of Tonga to dance for the King. She studied at Brigham Young University where she danced with the BYU touring modern company. She also took the opportunity to study dance abroad in China. After graduating in 2004, she began dancing with CONDER/dance. Christina is currently working on her MFA in dance at Arizona State University and enjoying life in the heat.

Jean Kelley is a native to Arizona, and has performed all around Phoenix and neighboring states. She graduated in 2006 from Arizona State University, receiving her B.F.A. in Dance Performance. While dancing at ASU, Jean had the privilege of working with many artists such as Sang Cheul-Choe from South Korea, Mary Fitzgerald, Jennifer Tsukayama, and Shouze Ma. She is currently working on a certification that includes nutrition, aerobics, and personal training. She is thrilled to be a part of what she refers to as an amazing company.

Beverly Kerr has enjoyed performing in many theatrical productions and dance companies that have allowed her to tour abroad and perform locally. She also has loved being able to teach privately as well at several different studios. She has conducted master classes, choreographed several performances including fashion shows, organized workshops and dance camps, and most recently she has taught classes at BYU, ASU, PVCC and ACDFA. Beverly graduated from Arizona State University with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance. She and her husband Paul reside in Mesa and are the proud parents of four wonderful children.

Jenna R. Kosowski Originally from Rochester, NY, Jenna was recently awarded her MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography at ASU. After receiving her undergraduate degree in studio art and dance from New York University, Jenna decided to continue her dance education at ASU. While in graduate school, she had performed for many choreographers including Shouze Ma, Jennifer Tsukayama and Nina Watt. In the summer of 2007, Jenna attended ASU's China Dance Program.

Aaron McGloin was born and raised in Arizona and is a recent graduate of ASU with a BFA in Dance (Choreography). He has performed with companies Dance Arizona Repertory Theater (DART), Scorpius Dance Theatre, Temenos Dance Collective, CONDER/Dance, and AMEBA Acrobatic and Aerial Dance of Chicago. In 2006 he was the winner of the Arizona Choreography Competition (with collaborator Cerrin Lathrop). Within the past year his work has been commissioned by SCC Moving Company, Scottsdale Arizona Jazz Ensemble, Scorpius Dance Theater and AMEBA.

Michelle Taylor has been teaching dance in the valley for over 10 years at various studios and local high schools. Her movement/choreography is highly energetic and intense. Michelle teaches jazz technique and modern lyrical. Michelle started dancing in high school with Margie Romero-Wolf at Dobson High School in Mesa. She then studied dance with Melvin R. Claridge at Ricks College and toured with the Contemporary Dance Theatre to England and Wales in 1996. She was a member and Educational Director of the Desert Dance Theatre throughout the 2003-2005 seasons. Michelle is owner of Taylor'd Dancewear. Michelle is married and has 2 little dancers, Emily and Macy. "I feel blessed to have the ability to share dance as a teacher and performer." Live. Love. Dance!

Holly Wooldridge a native Californian, received a BFA in modern dance from the University of Utah and is currently a MFA candidate at Arizona State University. Ms. Wooldridge has performed, choreographed and taught in California, Utah, Wyoming and Arizona. Ms. Wooldridge has performed seasons with Pappas and Dancers of San Francisco, CA. and Contemporary Dance Wyoming. Holly has also performed both historical and contemporary works by numerous choreographers such as Jose Limon, Isadora Duncan, Babs Case, Lisa Townsend, Lisa Race, Rebecca Pappas, Carley Conder, Shouze Ma, Karen Schupp and Mary Fitzgerald. Recently, Holly received her Pilates mat and equipment certification through the Physical Mind Institute.

Lucio Abruzzi (apprentice) is currently pursuing his BFA in Dance (Choreography and Performance), on scholarship, at Arizona State University. Recently he was awarded a summer study scholarship from ASU to train with AMEBA Acrobatic and Aerial Dance in Chicago. In addition to performing with CONDER/ dance, he is working with Aaron McGloin Dance and Scorpius Dance Theatre. Lucio will be an apprentice with CONDER/dance next season.