collaborating artists
ALYSSA ANDERSON
Mezzo-soprano Alyssa Anderson, M.M., D.M.A., specializes in contemporary music for voice and chamber ensemble with particular focus on new works by American composers. As the Artistic Director and founder of The Dream Songs Project (classical voice and guitar) and the chamber ensemble La Bonne Chanson as well as a founding member of the experimental ensemble RenegadeEnsemble, Alyssa has commissioned and/or premiered numerous works for voice and has worked diligently to bring contemporary classical music to broader audiences. Alyssa is a 2013 Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant recipient and a multiple-year winner of the Minnesota District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions competition. A native of Falconer NY, Alyssa has lived in Minneapolis since 2000. More information and upcoming performances can be found at: www.alyssaanderson.org
Annie Cady (Costume Designer) is excited to be working with AMP again. She has designed for several area theatre and dance companies including Black Label Movement, Children’s Theatre Company, Commonweal Theatre, Jungle Theater, The Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company, Mixed Blood Theatre, Normandale Theatre, Park Square Theatre, Ten Thousand Things, Threads Dance Project, Workhaus Collective and Zenon Dance.
NON EDWARDS
Non Edwards (Costumer) grew up in small-town Iowa and graduated from Grinnell College with a degree in Math. She spent two seasons dancing for the 940 Dance Company before moving to Minnesota in 2009. Non has costumed the Grinnell College Department of Theater and Dance, several of her own productions, and Missa Kes. She is a feminist, performer, and choreographer.
Penelope Freeh
Penelope Freeh (Guest Artist) is a McKnight Artist Fellow for Choreographers and a SAGE Awardee for Outstanding Performer. She has been commissioned by: James Sewell Ballet, MN Ballet, Gem City Ballet, MN Orchestra, the Walker Art Center/Southern Theater’s Momentum, and Russia’s Link Vostok Dance Festival among others. She has created several works in collaboration with composer Jocelyn Hagen including their dance opera Test Pilot, which will be touring Minnesota this fall. Penelope danced for James Sewell Ballet for seventeen years, serving as Artistic Associate from 2007 – 2011. She teaches at TU Dance, the University of MN and Zenon. Penelope is thrilled to be part of the AMP family!
Learn more at Penelopefreeh.com.
Learn more at Penelopefreeh.com.
Per Olson Greibrok (Lighting Designer & Technician) is a regional lighting designer, technician, and technical director. Per worked as the Assistant Technical Director at The Southern Theater; during this time, he designed many shows ranging from modern dance to classical music. His collaboration with Chris Yon on his dance piece Infinite Multiverse was met with rave reviews and Chris used the piece to become a 2011 McKnight fellow. Per has designed lighting for shows such as, 7 Shot Symphony with Live Action Set, and with James Sewell Ballet on the 2013 Ballet Works Project. He has been the Lighting Designer and TD for the International McKnight Fellowship for the past two years. He has had the great fortune of taking the show Bon Appetite to the National Theater in Bogotá, Columbia, and to L'étoile du Nord in Paris, France. Recently, his work with Swandive Theater’s Outopia for Pigeons was featured in the February issue of American Theater Magazine.
Richard Haglund
A native of Minnesota, Richard Haglund (Composer + Musician) received his musical training in Percussion, Music Education and Orchestral Conducting. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Bard College Conservatory of Music where he studied with Harold Farberman and Leon Botstein. In addition to his conducting studies, Haglund studied composition with world-renowned composer Joan Tower.
Mr. Haglund’s compositions have been heard around the world. Most recently his string quartet “States of Consciousness” was performed by Quartet Sintez in Gabrovo, Bulgaria and his “Altered States” was performed in Champaign-Urbana in Illinois. He has composed in many different genres and sizes of ensembles from solo instrument compositions to large symphonic orchestrations.
From being a Principal Timpanist to playing drum set in an intimate loungezs, Haglund is an accomplished percussionist. The experience of his performing in symphonic realms, jazz ensembles, and solo literature has given Richard a large vocabulary of expression on percussion instruments. For this performance he is performing on the Roland - OCTAPAD SPD-30.
Mr. Haglund’s compositions have been heard around the world. Most recently his string quartet “States of Consciousness” was performed by Quartet Sintez in Gabrovo, Bulgaria and his “Altered States” was performed in Champaign-Urbana in Illinois. He has composed in many different genres and sizes of ensembles from solo instrument compositions to large symphonic orchestrations.
From being a Principal Timpanist to playing drum set in an intimate loungezs, Haglund is an accomplished percussionist. The experience of his performing in symphonic realms, jazz ensembles, and solo literature has given Richard a large vocabulary of expression on percussion instruments. For this performance he is performing on the Roland - OCTAPAD SPD-30.
BILL HEWITT
Bill Hewitt (Costumer) has been sewing since the age of four. As a young adult he was designing and constructing men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. His work with costumes began as his two daughters danced and performed throughout their school years. In addition to sewing, his early artistic work included photography, music, and the visual arts. Bill's choreographic debut was this last November at the 9x22 Dance/Lab.
STEVE HOWE
Steve Howe (Vocal Percussionist) has been performing since childhood. Starting in church and school choirs, Steve developed a passion for vocal music which launched him towards his college degree in Music from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. During college, he learned the art of Vocal Percussion (also know as Beat-Boxing and Mouth Drumming) and won numerous awards for his vocal arrangements and vocal percussion performances. Steve also spent time in the professional vocal bands Almost Recess, The Cat's Pajamas, and InPulse performing all over the country while also participating in hundreds of educational outreach programs to students of all ages. Steve is now a Top Realtor for Minnesota's #1 Real Estate Team, and performs with various groups and events in his spare time.
LEE KESSELMAN
Chicago-area composer Lee R. Kesselman has been Director of Choral Activities at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago, since 1981. He is Founder and Music Director of the New Classic Singers, a professional choral ensemble. A native of Milwaukee, he holds undergraduate degrees in piano and composition from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and a master’s degree in conducting from the University of Southern California. In addition to teaching and composing, Kesselman is active as a conductor, pianist, clinician and lecturer. He has been music director for a variety of opera and musical theatre productions.
Among Kesselman's larger works are The Bremen Town Musicians and The Emperor's New Clothes (both operas for young audiences with librettist James Tucker), Portals for Kanopy Dance Theatre of Madison, WI, Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand for children's chorus and orchestra, Measuring the Holy for mixed & treble chorus and orchestra, Make me a Willow Cabin (concert scene for soprano, clarinet & piano), and SHONA MASS for chorus and African percussion.
Kesselman is the composer or arranger of over 90 published choral works and an equal number of unpublished works in the genres of choral, opera, symphonic, solo voice and chamber music. Kesselman’s works for children have brought him national attention and he has been commissioned to write for children’s choirs, middle school, junior school, high school, college, community, church, and professional ensembles. Boosey & Hawkes, Roger Dean Music, Lawson-Gould Music Publishers, Colla Voce and G. Schirmer have published Kesselman’s works. Kesselman is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and has received annual ASCAP awards since 1994.
'I'm grateful to be collaborating with AMP, René Romero Schuler, Joanna Lees, the dancers and the musical performers on this meaningful project!"
-- LRK
Among Kesselman's larger works are The Bremen Town Musicians and The Emperor's New Clothes (both operas for young audiences with librettist James Tucker), Portals for Kanopy Dance Theatre of Madison, WI, Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand for children's chorus and orchestra, Measuring the Holy for mixed & treble chorus and orchestra, Make me a Willow Cabin (concert scene for soprano, clarinet & piano), and SHONA MASS for chorus and African percussion.
Kesselman is the composer or arranger of over 90 published choral works and an equal number of unpublished works in the genres of choral, opera, symphonic, solo voice and chamber music. Kesselman’s works for children have brought him national attention and he has been commissioned to write for children’s choirs, middle school, junior school, high school, college, community, church, and professional ensembles. Boosey & Hawkes, Roger Dean Music, Lawson-Gould Music Publishers, Colla Voce and G. Schirmer have published Kesselman’s works. Kesselman is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and has received annual ASCAP awards since 1994.
'I'm grateful to be collaborating with AMP, René Romero Schuler, Joanna Lees, the dancers and the musical performers on this meaningful project!"
-- LRK
HEATHER KLOPCHIN
Heather Klopchin (Guest Choreographer) is an Associate Professor of Dance at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN where she teaches Ballet Technique, Modern Dance Technique, and Dance History classes as well as choreographs for the student dance company. She holds a B.S. degree in Management and a Dance minor from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Geneseo and a M.F.A. degree in Dance Choreography and Performance from the University of Illinois at ChampaignUrbana. Heather is passionate about performing, choreographing, researching, and teaching dance and considers herself very lucky to be able to live her life so involved in dance and expression. She currently is a Principal Artist with Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater. Heather has also performed with ARENA Dances, Zenon Dance Company, Eclectic Edge Ensemble, Linda Lehovec & Dancers, Joe Chvala Flying Foot Forum, and Dancing People Company in Ashland, Oregon. She has had her choreographic work performed at St. Olaf College, Carleton College, Gustavus Adolphus College, the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and SUNY Geneseo. Heather is very excited to have the opportunity to work with Alternative Motion Project!
NIC LINCOLN
Nic Lincoln (Guest Choreographer) is an instinctive seeker of beauty, uses dance to voice his artistry and activism. Nic was named as one of “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine in 2014. He has produced, choreographed and danced his own work for over twelve years in the Twin Cities. For ten years James Sewell Ballet acted as a creative incubator for Lincoln. Before JSB, he danced with Dayton Ballet, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet and has also performed internationally. He was named "Best Dancer" by the City Pages for his work in Judith Howard’s "Dressage", and “One of Artists Who We Love” by MN Monthly magazine. Recently, he performed six solos at O’Shaughnessy Theater as an evening of work created for him by James Sewell, Larry Keigwin, Carl Flink, Chris Yon, Patrick Corbin and Lincoln himself. As a dance artist and activist he has teamed with the Human Rights Campaign, OutFront MN, the Red Door Clinic, Transforming Families and the MN AIDS Project. He is a past recipient of the McKnight Artists Fellows for Dance and is thrilled to create a new work for AMP.
BLAKE NELLIS
Blake Nellis (Guest Choreographer) is an artist, educator and improviser who creates work with the body. His work is deeply rooted in human connection, physical touch and shared emotion. He originally hails from Door County, Wisconsin, and graduated from Luther College with a degree in Theater/Dance. He later spent two years as adjunct faculty at Luther in the Visual & Performing Arts Department. He is a 2015 recipient of the MN State Arts Board: Artist Initiative Grant and 2013 recipient of the McKnight Foundation’s Metropolitan Regional Arts Council: Next Step Fund. He has taught and performed throughout the US, Mexico, Europe & Asia and is proud to call Minneapolis home! He has recently produced work at the Walker Art Center, Red Eye Theater, TEK Box, Bryant Lake Bowl Theater & Luther College. He is a freelance photographer, choreographer and dancer. His other professional experience includes performing with Mathew Janczewski's ARENA Dances, Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater, Jim Lieberthal’s Footholds Project, Jane Hawley, Rosy Simas & Taja Will. His work is inspired by his experience with athletics, the circus, singing, acting, playing piano, photography and filmmaking. His favorite moments are those in which laughter reminds us that play is valuable, even when working very seriously on something. And he strongly believes that riding bicycle, eating good food and being curious, compassionate and creative are all integral parts of being a good artist. www.blakenellis.org
RENE ROMERO SCHULER
René Romero Schuler (Visual Artist) Internationally recognized for her unique style and method, René Romero Schuler has never limited herself to any particular dimension in the scope of her work. Her paintings of abstracted figures or constructed spaces, executed in thick impastos, resonate in richly layered and deep tones in multiple dimensions. Her paintings are literally “sculpted” out of oil with a palette knife. In fact, every piece she creates, whether on canvas or paper, or even three-dimensional sculpture, has great texture, surface-tension and depth. The content, human figures or their landscapes, are deconstructed of their specificity and speak to more universal and visceral reality. These figures truly are “everyone, and no one.”
René has shared her artistic talent and passion by teaching at the Illinois Institute of Art and Chicago City Colleges and lecturing at Northwestern University. She currently teaches art to elementary school students through Art From The Heart- a not-for-profit organization bringing arts education to schools and students in need. Her work is on display in public collections inside the Chicago Cultural Center, the Prudential Building, the Chanel boutique at Neiman Marcus, Hyatt Regency Hotels, among many others, and in the permanent archives at the Art Institute of Chicago.
René’s work has been exhibited during Art Basel Miami since 2011, and exhibited internationally in Paris, Rome, Paxos and Beirut. She continues to be permanently represented in the United States and in Paris, France.
A book, René Romero Schuler: Life and Works, showcasing images of the artist’s thick impastos and striking figural canvases in addition to providing readers a look into her artistic process, was released in 2013.
René has shared her artistic talent and passion by teaching at the Illinois Institute of Art and Chicago City Colleges and lecturing at Northwestern University. She currently teaches art to elementary school students through Art From The Heart- a not-for-profit organization bringing arts education to schools and students in need. Her work is on display in public collections inside the Chicago Cultural Center, the Prudential Building, the Chanel boutique at Neiman Marcus, Hyatt Regency Hotels, among many others, and in the permanent archives at the Art Institute of Chicago.
René’s work has been exhibited during Art Basel Miami since 2011, and exhibited internationally in Paris, Rome, Paxos and Beirut. She continues to be permanently represented in the United States and in Paris, France.
A book, René Romero Schuler: Life and Works, showcasing images of the artist’s thick impastos and striking figural canvases in addition to providing readers a look into her artistic process, was released in 2013.
Sarah Salisbury (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back with AMP. When not AMPing it up, Sarah stage manages for Rhythmically Speaking and Eclectic Edge Ensemble, as well as production managing for Shadow Horse Theatre's production of Crazyface this summer. Sarah is also a props designer and technician around the Twin Cities area.
DAMEUN STRANGE
Dameun Strange (Composer) is a Minnesota Sound Artist who grew up in Washington, DC where he started on his journey with music and sound at a very young age. He was fortunate to have grown up exposed to many different styles of music influenced by the vibrant culture represented in the Mid Atlantic Area. He has since been fascinated with the idea of exploring the outer limits of music and fusing them into a style that is uniquely his. Dameun moved to the Twin Cities to attend Macalester College where he majored in Music and English. His formal study has included Classical, Jazz, West African and Electronic music. Dameun has performed as a saxophone soloist and keyboardist with a number of groups in the Twin Cities area of many genres including gospel, neo-soul, acid jazz, ska and hip hop. Recently, He collaborated with choreographer, Erinn Liebhard on Railing Forward: The John Henry Suite which premiered at the 2011 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Dameun’s latest projects include producing an opera, a dark retelling of the West African folktale “Ananse the Spider”; writing for and performing in a musically eclectic groups Strange Perspective and KBDS; and promoting Modern Classical and New Music through the Strange New Music Experiment.
DARRIUS STRONG
Darrius Strong (Guest Choreographer) is a Twin Cities based choreographer, dancer and teacher whose creative work has been chosen for the Walker Arts Center Choreographers Evening, Rhythmically Speaking, The American College Dance Festival, The University of MN Dance Theater and was featured in the New Griots Festival at the Phoenix Theater, Minneapolis. Darrius has created works for Threads Dance Project, Flying Foot Forum, St Olaf College, St. Paul Conservatory Performing Arts, Southwest High School and a shared Evening of work titled, Ipseity.
He on faculty at St. Paul Conservatory Performing High School, TU Dance Center, and Eleve Performing Arts Center, focused on teaching young dancers how to connect their identity to movement. Darrius is also a company member of Black Label Movement.
He is interested in working with movers of all experience levels in hopes of developing a broader supportive community, creating and building his company STRONGmovement. www.strong-movement.com
He on faculty at St. Paul Conservatory Performing High School, TU Dance Center, and Eleve Performing Arts Center, focused on teaching young dancers how to connect their identity to movement. Darrius is also a company member of Black Label Movement.
He is interested in working with movers of all experience levels in hopes of developing a broader supportive community, creating and building his company STRONGmovement. www.strong-movement.com
TAJA WILL
Taja Will (Taja/They, Guest Choreographer) is a queer, Latinx (Chilean) adoptee, performer, choreographer, somatic therapist and Healing Justice practitioner based in the Twin Cities (MN), on the stolen and ancestral Dakota lands of Wahpekute and Anishinabewaki. Taja’s approach integrates improvisation, somatic modalities, text and vocals in contemporary performance. Their aesthetic is one of spontaneity, bold choice making, sonic and kinetic partnership and the ability to move in relationship to risk and intimacy. Will’s work explores visceral connections to current socio-cultural realities through ritual, archetypes and everyday magic.
Taja is a recent recipient of the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, in the dance field, awarded in 2021. Will’s work has been presented throughout the Twin Cities and across the United States. Including local performances at the Walker Art Center Choreographer’s Evening, the Red Eye Theater’s New Works 4 Weeks, the Radical Recess series, Right Here Showcase and the Candy Box Dance Festival. Will is the recipient of a 2018 McKnight Choreography Fellowship, administered by the Cowles Center and funded by The McKnight Foundation. Will has recently received support from the National Association of Latinx Arts & Culture, the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council.
As a performer Will has collaborated with Sara Shelton Mann, Rosy Simas Danse, Keith Hennessy, Aniccha Arts (Pramila Vasudevan), Deborah Jinza Thayer, Blake Nellis, Timmy Rehborg, Off Leash Area, Vanessa Voskuil, Body Cartography Project and Miguel Gutierrez among others. As an educator Will has been a guest teacher and adjunct faculty at several institutions across the United States, including University of Minnesota, Knox College, Hamline University, Zenon Dance School, Earthdance Creative Living, wcciJam, and the Lion’s Jaw Festival.
Taja maintains a dynamic Healing Justice practice that includes consulting with individuals, organizations, and communities in the context of workshops, conflict mediation, one-on-one somatic healing sessions, nervous system triage, board development and organizational cultural competency, and individual coaching on unwinding from white body supremacy culture. They ground their work in indigenous solidarity and decolonization as a means to undo white body supremacy and it’s pervasive relationship to capitalism, Taja is committed to working for healing and liberation of Black, Indigenous and people of color.
Taja is a recent recipient of the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, in the dance field, awarded in 2021. Will’s work has been presented throughout the Twin Cities and across the United States. Including local performances at the Walker Art Center Choreographer’s Evening, the Red Eye Theater’s New Works 4 Weeks, the Radical Recess series, Right Here Showcase and the Candy Box Dance Festival. Will is the recipient of a 2018 McKnight Choreography Fellowship, administered by the Cowles Center and funded by The McKnight Foundation. Will has recently received support from the National Association of Latinx Arts & Culture, the Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council.
As a performer Will has collaborated with Sara Shelton Mann, Rosy Simas Danse, Keith Hennessy, Aniccha Arts (Pramila Vasudevan), Deborah Jinza Thayer, Blake Nellis, Timmy Rehborg, Off Leash Area, Vanessa Voskuil, Body Cartography Project and Miguel Gutierrez among others. As an educator Will has been a guest teacher and adjunct faculty at several institutions across the United States, including University of Minnesota, Knox College, Hamline University, Zenon Dance School, Earthdance Creative Living, wcciJam, and the Lion’s Jaw Festival.
Taja maintains a dynamic Healing Justice practice that includes consulting with individuals, organizations, and communities in the context of workshops, conflict mediation, one-on-one somatic healing sessions, nervous system triage, board development and organizational cultural competency, and individual coaching on unwinding from white body supremacy culture. They ground their work in indigenous solidarity and decolonization as a means to undo white body supremacy and it’s pervasive relationship to capitalism, Taja is committed to working for healing and liberation of Black, Indigenous and people of color.