SATURDAY November 23RD
Show 2 - 4:00 pm
Meet the Artists
SUJATHA SRINIVASAN (she/her) Sujatha Srinivasan is an internationally renowned Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and teacher of Bharatanatyam, an India classical dance. The Ohio Arts Council recently awarded Sujatha the Individual Excellence Award 2024 for choreography. Sujatha was one of the resident artists of Akron Soul Train for 2023 and the winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize - Martha Joseph award for 2022. She has nurtured an appreciation for Bharatanatyam in Cleveland with her thematic productions, collaborative initiatives with diverse artists from other art forms, spanning themes from the traditional to the relevant, showcasing her versatility and artistic capabilities. Winner of many awards and titles from her young age, Sujatha brings creative compositions to life with dynamic rhythm, evocative mime, and inimitable choreography. She has been lauded for her workshops and master classes at several Universities and as an arts educator, she brings meaningful connection between art and education in Northeast Ohio schools through the Center for Arts Inspired Learning. As the founder and artistic director of Shri Kalaa Mandir- Center for Indian Performing Arts, a leading Indian dance company, she has fostered and trained the next generation of dancers, successfully establishing the continuity of Bharatanatyam in Cleveland. Sujatha has created new pathways in the teaching methodology of Bharatanatyam and many of the company dancers are top winners at National Young Arts and major National Dance competitions. Sujatha has used the traditional elements of Bharatanatyam to choreograph new dances for her dance company on themes including climate change, unity in diversity and women's issues.
BLISSED OUT HUMAN COLLECTIVE (she/her) Amanda Butterfield is everything and nothing all at once. She geeks out over weird film, anything hand-crafted (this runs the gamut from beer to embroidery), and pop psychology. She annoys dog owners with her high pitched voice and complete lack of boundaries. She’s a brilliant artist who only makes masterpieces or she’s a complete novice. Either way, she’s having a helluva good time.
ELYSE KASSA (she/her) is a multidisciplinary movement artist based in Columbus, Ohio. Originally from New England, Elyse moved to Ohio to obtain a BFA in Dance: Performance & Choreography from Ohio University. Elyse’s solo and collaborative work has been selected for performance at Blockfort Gallery, Synergy Dance Series, Columbus City Dance Showcase, Cleveland Dance Festival, and the East-Central ACDA Gala Concert. She has traveled internationally to train at the b12 festival in Berlin, Germany, and more locally to Nashville, Tennessee, for the New Dialect Summer Intensive, with grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Elyse is deeply passionate about uplifting her dance community– both regionally and globally. She serves as the Studio Manager and member of the Teaching Staff at Flux Flow Dance Center, volunteers as an administrative assistant for Columbus Community Dance Class, and is part of the Columbus Dance Alliance Leadership Team. As a choreographer, performer, and educator, Elyse is invested in process, research, and keeping it light. She loves making people laugh.
KYLIE KARAM (she/her/hers) is a dancer and choreographer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She recently obtained her B.F.A. in Dance from Kent State University, with a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship, graduating summa cum laude and a member of the Honors College. She has trained at several intensives with companies such as SALT Contemporary Dance, New Dialect, BODYTRAFFIC, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Regional Dance America's National Choreography Intensive under the direction of Peter Chu. Additionally, she has performed works by Brandon Lee Alley, Norbert De La Cruz III, Micaela Taylor, Rena Butler, Hope Boykin, Amy Hall Garner, Stefanie Batten Bland, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Ray Mercer, and Yoshito Sakuraba. This past summer, Kylie served as a Seasonal Company Member with The Movement Project. She is currently beginning her first season with the Dancing Wheels Company as a Company Member. Kylie is elated to share the space with her fellow CDF artists and premier an original solo with the community.
RENEE CLIPPINGER (she/her) started dancing at the age of three at Midwest School of Ballet in Amherst, Ohio. She trained there in styles of ballet, contemporary, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and hip-hop. She competed as a member of their company team from the ages of 10-17. She started choreographing her competition solos at the age of 14 and went on to start choreographing for their competition team and recitals. After graduating from Firelands Highschool in 2021, she went on to further her education at The University of Akron. Studying Psychology and Dance, she has had numerous opportunities through this institution. At UA, she was a member of The University of Akron Dance Team for two seasons, performing at UA football and basketball games furthering her training in jazz, hip-hop, and pom. In the dance program at UA, she has had the opportunity to perform in numerous works as a member of The University of Akron Dance Company working with various artists such as Colleen Barnes, Christine Howe, Tyler Ring, and Wilfried Souly. She is also an active member of Terpsichore Dance Club, which she is the current president of. Through Terpsichore, she has had the opportunity to choreograph and perform in various works for their Underclassmen Showcase and their annual Spring into Dance concert. Outside of UA, she recently performed in CDF Akron as a member of Frtrss Dance Theatre, and had the opportunity to be a Seasonal Trainee with The Movement Project.