DDC Dance Artists
Claire
Claire Call began her dance training in Royal Oak, MI at Borgo School of Dance where she studied ballet, jazz, and tap. From 2010 to 2014, she attended Hope College where she was a member of the H2 Dance Company under the direction of Matthew Farmer and Crystal Frasier. It was here that she discovered her love of modern dance. During her time at Hope, Ms. Call performed various works by Sharon Wong, Steven Iannacone, Angie Yetzke, and Kristen Farmer. In 2014, she graduated from Hope College, receiving her BA in dance, philosophy, and English. During her four seasons with DDCdances, Ms. Call has had the opportunity to work with and perform choreography by Barbara Selinger, Chris Masters, Amy Hutchison, and Paula Kramer. Ms. Call has performed at RADfest in Kalamazoo, MI, Oakland Dance Festival, and the Detroit Dance City Festival, and in July 2018, performed with DDCdances at the Bill Evans Somatic Dance Conference in Geneva, NY. In addition to performing with DDCdances, Ms. Call teaches ballet, modern, jazz, and creative movement, and is a certified RYT 200 yoga teacher.
Sharla
Sharla Desentz began her dance training at Cathy Carevic’s School of Dance, where she also taught and choreographed for many years. While attending Wayne State University and acquiring her Bachelors of Science in Dance, Sharla was a member of the WSU Dance Company, where she performed, choreographed and also toured with the WSU Reparatory Company. Acceptance into The Laban Centre for Movement and Dance in London, England was an opportunity for her to study dance abroad, and she was privileged to be chosen to perform with the Leni Williams Dance Company while at WSU. Along with teaching at several Metro-Detroit and Lansing area dance studios over the years, Sharla has been a member of the Lansing, MI dance company Happendance, as well as a member of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons Dance Team. Since leaving the NBA as a dancer, Sharla has adjudicated for both the Detroit Pistons Dance Team and the Detroit Lions Cheerleaders for several years. Currently, Sharla is teaching dance at Michelle’s Academy of Dance & Performing Arts Center, is a Zumba Fitness Instructor, and is excited to be performing in her fourth season with DDCdances!
Emma
Emma Davis earned her Bachelors or Arts in English and minor in dance in 2011 and Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies, Theatre in 2015 from University of Michigan-Flint. She has trained with many dance intensives including Anna Halprin, Liz Lerman, and the American Dance Festival, and is certified to teach Giordano jazz technique. Emma dances with El Ballet Folklorico Estudiantil and is a back-up dancer for singer Tunde Olaniran, where she has toured in ten major U.S. cities, England, and France. Her choreography has been presented at regional dance festivals, Flint Youth Theatre, Shop Floor Theatre Company, and Flint Dance Collaborative. Emma has won many awards for her work with dance and the community, including from the University of Michigan, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the Jubilation Foundation. Emma is a current board member for the Michigan Dance Council and is a dance lecturer at University of Michigan-Flint where she teaches modern, jazz, tap, lecture and performance based dance courses. She is excited to perform in her first season with DDCdances!
Amy
Amy Hutchison received her early classical ballet training with the Saginaw Valley Dancers under the direction of Doris Marsh. Amy was a company member of the Farrell Ballet Theatre from 2006-2010 while pursuing her BA in Psychology from Kalamazoo College. A member and guest choreographer for People Dancing, she has also been a guest performer with LaMarre and dancers, and Patty Solórzano Dance. She has attended workshops and intensives with Paul Taylor Dance Company, Kista Tucker Dance Company, Sidra Bell Dance New York, Toronto Dance Theater, and Peggy Baker Dance Projects. This past summer, she studied with L-E-V dance company at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Amy's choreography has been presented at 555 Gallery (Detroit), Oakland Dance Festival, and most recently on DDCdances. Amy is a certified GYROTONIC® Instructor and also teaches ballet.
Apprentices
Lizz
Lizz Piskor is a Detroit-based dancer, choreographer, and graduate of Wayne State University, having completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Dance, as well as a K-12 Teaching Certificate in Dance Education. Lizz is currently apprenticing with local dance company DDCdances, under the direction of Barbara Selinger. She specializes in modern and postmodern dance techniques, including improvisational methods and experimental choreography; and teaches dance from a critical feminist perspective. Lizz has always been passionate about the arts, starting her dance training at just three years old, and is constantly exploring new mediums with which to express her creativity and satisfy her artistry. In her pursuit of diverse artistic experiences, Lizz has studied a wide variety of dance styles throughout the years, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, hip hop, Hawaiian, Ethio-modern, Congolese African, and traditional Irish step dance. Healthy movement is essential in Lizz’s movement practice, promoting longevity in the dance careers of herself and her students, encouraging her to supplement her dancing with training as a STOTT Pilates Mat Instructor. Lizz has worked with numerous dance artists from around the world, such as: Bill Evans, Lisa LaMarre, Jeanne Mam-Luft, Adesola Akinleye, Karen Prall, Eva Powers, and Nick Cave.
Stephanie
Stephanie Nava received her early dance training at Oerhlein Dance Center in Auburn MI. She continued to train recreationally through college first at Albion College then at Carolina Dance Center while finishing up her bachelor’s degree in anthropology at North Carolina State University. After college She moved to New York City where she trained ballet, modern, and musical theatre at Ballet Academy East and Broadway Dance Center. New York is also where she also began her training and love for aerial circus arts. Following her completion of an MA in Anthropology, Stephanie danced with Happendance as both a dancer and choreographer for Dance Lansing’s Community Dance Project and Art Lab J as a member of Art Lab J III company. She previously worked as a Wolf Trap Artist for Living arts. Her recent choreography has been featured at Detroit Dance City Festival, Riopole gallery, Detroit Artist Test Lab, Trumbleplex, and Teatro Chico. When Stephanie isn’t dancing she is working as a Professor for Northwood University’s Adult Education Program where she teaches Art is Western Civilization and Intro to Anthropology. Stephanie is excited to be apprenticing with DDC dances during the 2018-19 season!
