Amy Cadwallader is a dancer, choreographer, pole dancer, performer, improviser, and educator currently living in Ann Arbor, MI. Amy earned an MFA in Dance at the University of Michigan, where she studied with faculty members Amy Chavasse, Jillian Hopper, Judy Rice, and Amy West. She earned a B.S. in Mathematics Education with minors in Dance and Spanish at Purdue University, where she studied with faculty members Rebecca Bryant, Melodie Carr, Carol Cunningham-Sigman, Holly Jaycox, Mary Beth Van Dyke, and Sally Wallace. Amy’s nontraditional partnering training originated with Purdue faculty and blossomed with guest artist Bill Wade of Inlet Dance Theatre. She trained in compositional improvisation with The Architects, Lower Left, at MICI in Lancaster, PA, and at Thinking Dance in NYC. She studied Vaganova Ballet under Sandra Peticolas and Lisa Douglas of Lafayette Ballet School in Lafayette, IN.

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Amy performs with Dance Uprising, Terpsichore Dance Collective, and the Ann Arbor Aviary. She has performed with The Precipitants, Detroit Circus, Resonant Bodies, and as a freelancer. Amy has performed throughout Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, and in Hamilton, ON. Her work has been featured in collaborative shows, mixed-bill programs, and full length evening productions.

Nicole (she/they) has been dancing for over 25 years. Their dancing began at Dance Express in Garden City, then after high school went on to Wayne State University. She graduated cum laude with a BS in Dance with a focus on dance education and a BA in theatre in 2018. After doing some freelance work, Nicole joined Dance Uprising in 2021 and became Assistant Director of Dance Uprising in 2023. Nicole also dances and choreographed for Diversiform Dance Project for their first 3 seasons. Nicole's work regularly revolves around topics that are important in her life. Their process is often collaborative and you can often see more literal interpretations and display of emotion, stemming from their theatrical experience. Nicole is currently in Wayne State University's Master of Arts in Teaching Artistry in Theatre and Dance program.

Nicole is also a dance educator and has taught at various dance studios in the southeast Michigan area. She teaches almost all dance styles to students of all ages. She often integrates elements of social emotional learning and creative practices. She is also passionate about creating a more accessible world for dancers with disabilities.

GingerAnn Neslund is a professional dancer and physical therapist and is currently in her third year with Dance Uprising. She is owner of Divergent Physical Therapy and Wellness and teaches Kinesiology for Dancers within the Department of Dance at the University of Michigan. Ginger is very active in the Ann Arbor and Metro Detroit dance scene, dancing for guest performing with Terpsichore Collective (Ann Arbor, MI) in addition regularly dancing and choreographing for Dance Uprising. She also teaches adult ballet classes in the Ann Arbor area. Ginger recently graduated with her MA in Teaching Artistry with a focus in Dance from Wayne State University and is looking forward to using what she learned in her career in the dance industry.

Autumn Short is a Michigan local who has 20 years of complex dance training. With a degree from Wayne State University under their belt,  Autumn has big plans for her career, in both education and performance. They specialize in modern and post-modern styles of choreography and loves floorwork.

Mackenzie (Mac) is a professional dancer and choreographer from Bangor, MI, and received her B.A. in dance and business from Hope College in 2022. Mac uses her dance knowledge and skills to speak on the darker side of the human experience – tackling topics such as depression, loneliness, sexual trauma, and loss. She is currently based in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas, working with Dance Uprising, CloudMoon Dance, and Terpsichore Collective. Mackenzie is also a performance technician at The Village Theater where she has the pleasure of designing lighting for both dance and theater.

Elijah Lennington is a movement artist specializing in dance theatre and contemporary partnering and floor-work, as well as aerial arts. He received his BFA in Dance from Wayne State University in 2024. He is excited to return for his third season with Dance Uprising! Additionally, Elijah teaches aerial arts and is completing his Pilates certifications. He combines his love for research, activism, and movement into what he creates and performs.

Rachel Meloche is a dancer, choreographer, and assistant stage manager(ASM). They are a choreographer and dancer for this concert. They graduated from Wayne State University(WSU) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. Rachel’s previous choreographic works include Configurations and All Encapsulating, My Love. Their work uses partnering and props to build a world for the audience to discover.

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Rachel has performed in a variety of work and was a part of the WSU company Dance Workshop. They have worked with many artists including Wanjiru Kamuyu, Leah O’Donnell, Biba Bell, Jessica Rajko, Jackie Nowicki, Amy Miller, and Brother(hood) Dance. Rachel has been an ASM for both dance and theatre productions including Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. and Eyes on the Watchtower. They were most recently an ASM for Sense and Sensibility at the Encore theatre and will be returning for West Side Story in June.

Ashley began dancing in 2011 Aerial Arts in 2017. She is a founding member of the modern dance company Dance Uprising. She is certified by Cirqfit and Born to Fly Aerial and currently teaches aerial throughout Southern Michigan. Outside of teaching and performing, she is a Registered Holistic Nutrition Practitioner (RHNP), which informs her teaching style to support her students’ physical & emotional wellness in and out of the classroom.

Erin is a passionate movement and multimedia artist with a strong foundation in contemporary and modern dance forms. She will graduate from Wayne State University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Dance with a concentration in Pre-Dance Movement Therapy. Their choreography draws from real-life relationships and emotional storytelling, aiming to both move and connect with audiences. She co-created and taught Mini Mindful Movers, a Brain Dance-inspired movement class for young children, and has worked closely with artists from CONTRA-TIEMPO and Leah O’Donnell. They are a current member of Dance Workshop, a student led company at WSU, where they have served on multiple committees and aided in choreographing original evening length work. With a background in arts administration and production support through Dance Uprising, she blends creative leadership with a deep love of performance. Whether teaching, performing, or choreographing, they strive to create dance that is both exhilarating and personally resonant.

Donna Roberts has been dancing for fifteen years. Donna teaches solo and group dances to a wide range of ages at Shearrer’s Arts’n’Motion in New Boston, MI. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she has successfully built up her own tumbling business, as well as creating custom jean jackets, mirror painting, sewing, and photography. This is Donna’s third season with Dance Uprising. She is so thankful for this opportunity, and appreciates everyone’s support.

Bridget currently resides in Mid-Michigan where she works as the assistant director of Delta Dance Connection's Junior Company and the executive secretary of Michigan Dance Council. Bridget performs in work with Dance Uprising, Elements, and Happendance, and her choreography has been selected for festivals such as Ypsi Dance Swap, Dancing in Summer: The Festival, and DANCE Lansing.