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Cristine Davis (CD)
KDT Faculty -
Alyssa McKay (AM)
Showcase Administrator, KDT Faculty -
Cameron Smith (CS)
KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer -
Michaela Emmerich (ME)
KDT Faculty -
Gretta Zinski (GZ)
Registrar, KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer -
Carol Asher (CA)
KDT Faculty -
Levi Coy (LC)
KYE Repertory 2 Director, KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer -
Pamela Humeston (PH)
KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer -
Tori Farnsworth (TF)
KDT Faculty -
Jodi Guzewich (JG)
KDT Faculty -
Alex J. Krebs (AK)
Associate Artistic Director -
Liz Quiñones (LQ)
Artistic Director -
Erin Rooner (ER)
KDT Faculty -
Cara Rakes (CR)
KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer -
Melissa Nibali (MN)
KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer -
Teresa Whittemore (TW)
KYE Pre-Repertory Director, KDT Faculty
Cristine Davis (CD)
KDT Faculty
Alyssa McKay (AM)
Showcase Administrator, KDT Faculty
Alyssa McKay is currently in her second year at Howard Community College pursuing an A.A in dance. She owns her own ministry based business where she has been teaching dance to all ages throughout churches for the past 5 years. She specializes in teaching youth between the ages of 2-5. Alyssa has loved dancing since she was a kid and is enthusiastic about sharing the joy of dance to the younger students. Her patience and innovative teaching style leaves room for their imagination to grow as well as technique to form.
Cameron Smith (CS)
KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer
Cameron Smith has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has studied a variety of genres including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, contemporary, and lyrical. When she was 13 years old she began to focus more on ballet classes and also had the opportunity to be a student teacher for her ballet teacher, Maureen MacNeill Wheeler, which is where she first realized she had a passion for teaching. She attended University of Maryland to obtain her BS in Environmental Science and a Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture and continued to dance with the University’s premier ballet company, Ballet Company M. She was a member from 2016 until she graduated in 2020 and she choreographed multiple pieces and performed in their annual Nutcracker and Spring Showcase. She also acted as the Artistic Director and Executive Director of the company from 2018-2020. She also was a guest artist with the Metropolitan Ballet Theater Performance Company for one of their 2018 performances and danced in the Little Mermaid with Charm City Ballet in 2018. She began teaching ballet and pointe in 2019 and has had the opportunity to choreograph pieces for a variety of ballets including The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. She has also previously worked as a choreographer for a ballet and pointe competition team for a local dance studio in Columbia Maryland and her choreography has won numerous overall, choreography, and judges awards. In addition to being a dancer she is currently a student at the University of Maryland, School of Public Health to obtain her PhD in Environmental Health Sciences. She loves that she gets to continue to keep dance in her life through not only teaching dance but by dancing with the Kinetics Dance Company which she joined in Summer 2022.
Michaela Emmerich (ME)
KDT Faculty
Michaela Emmerich is a teaching and performing artist with a passion for sharing and exploring dance with others. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a BA in Dance as well as a BA in Geography & Environmental Studies in 2023. Prior to college, she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, and contemporary at Power Explosion Studio of Dance.
During her time at UMBC, Michaela developed a strong interest in choreography. She received an Undergraduate Research Award to conduct movement research and create a narrative based work titled, “Under this Roof.” As a senior, she choreographed “Mechanics of Memory” and had the honor of presenting her work at the American College Dance Association’s Regional Conference. Michaela has also enjoyed performing with Baltimore Dance Project, HCC Dance Company, and in the 2023 CIRCA-IMET Artist in Residence Screendance. She most recently performed in the BAIRA Performance Project in New York City.
As a dance educator, Michaela aims to create a safe space for all to be curious and engage in movement. She hopes to share the joy and fulfillment brought to her by dance and guide others throughout their journey.
Gretta Zinski (GZ)
Registrar, KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer
Gretta Zinski is a contemporary dance artist who graduated from UMBC in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Fillmore in Silver Spring, two American College Dance Association Conferences, and annually in UMBC Dance Department showcases during her undergraduate career. She now dances with the Kinetics Dance Theater Professional Company and creates a variety of pre-recorded and live contemporary dance works. She explores site-specific, multi-media, and dance film ideas in her work. Currently, Gretta works as a personal trainer and specialized dance coach to help young dancers, and anyone else, reach their performance and/or fitness goals to live a happier, healthier, and fulfilling life!
Carol Asher (CA)
KDT Faculty
Carol Asher holds a Masters Degree in Reading and Literacy as well as her BS Degree in Special and Elementary Education with a Minor in Dance from the University of Maryland. She holds a Teacher’s Certificate (Advanced Professional) for K-12 Special Education and 1-6 Elementary and Reading Education. Carol has been a special and elementary education teacher for the Howard County School System for over 20 years and has developed a training program for new dance teachers in elementary level classes. Carol was the Creative Movement Program Instructor for the Columbia Association and is affiliated with the National Education Association, Council for Exceptional Children, International Reading Association and is the Artist Enrichment Coordinator for the PTA Executive Board. She performed with Kinetics back in 2003 and 2004 and looks forward to continuing at Kinetics again as an instructor.
Levi Coy (LC)
KYE Repertory 2 Director, KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer
Levi Coy is originally from Indiana and graduated from Ball State University in 2019 with a BFA in Dance. He soon moved to Baltimore to pursue his dreams of dance and has been seen doing work with The Collective Dance Company and Kinetics Dance Theatre. Levi currently teaches and choreographs with the Kinetics Dance family in his second year there. He is thankful for an amazing season and is looking forward to future projects!
Pamela Humeston (PH)
KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer
Pamela Smith Humeston has been teaching, choreographing, and performing dance for over 45 years. She has a background in Dance, Dance/Movement Therapy, Nursing, and Nursing Education. Pamela has studied Modern, Contemporary, Improvisation, and Ballet. She has studied and performed with the Conservatory Ballet, the Dance Dimension, Improvisations Unlimited, Kei Takei’s Moving Earth, Koshin, University of Maryland Improvisational Dance Company, Blizzard Dance, Robert Small, Phyllis Lamhut, Carmen Beuchat, and multiple independent choreographers. In 1984, Pamela performed internationally with the Dance Dimension Company as a United States Delegate at the International Cultural and Performing Arts Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Pamela attended the University of Maryland, College Park on a full Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship in Dance (CAPA), and graduated from the University of Maryland in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance. During her college career she was awarded an Undergraduate Apprenticeship for Research from the University of MD in 1989 for Art and Dance, and produced a full performance based on her artwork and choreography. She was recognized as the Martha Graham Summer Dance Intern Alternate to the Martha Graham Dance Studio for her performance at the National College Dance Competition in North Carolina in 1988.
After graduating Pamela continued to study dance and perform in New York City with Kei Takei’s Moving Earth and several independent choreographers. She continued dancing and studying with the Louis and Nikolais Company, as well as Graham, Limon, and Hawkins techniques. While living in New York she obtained a Master of Science degree in Dance/Movement Therapy in 1995. Pamela returned to Maryland in 1997 where she developed the Dance/Movement Therapy Program and worked as an integral part of the Creative Therapies team as a Dance Therapist at the Kennedy Krieger School. This work was integral to enhancing development of children with autism, developmental disorders, and behavioral disorders. She returned to school to receive her Associate of Arts degree in Nursing in 2007, and continued her education to receive a Master of Science degree in Nursing Education in 2017. Pamela has worked in Howard County as a Labor and Delivery Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse, Nurse Case Manager, Community Health Nurse, and School Cluster Nurse. During this time she also continued teaching dance and choreographing for Beneath His Wings Dance, Blizzard Dance Studio, Howard County Recreation and Parks, and Ballet Petite, as well as performing and choreographing throughout Maryland with the University of Maryland Improvisational Dance Company, and with Blizzard Dance Studio. Pamela enjoys spending time with her family and pets and is happy to provide support, knowledge, and caring to her community.
Tori Farnsworth (TF)
KDT Faculty
Jodi Guzewich (JG)
KDT Faculty
Jodi has been teaching dance since 1997 and has called Kinetics her home since 2010. Her early education is from Dance Dynamix later named Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts as well as the Gniazdowski Studio of Ballet. Jodi attended summer programs at North Carolina School of the Arts, Joffrey Ballet School, and Point Park University. In 2002, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Point Park University with a concentration in ballet. After college, Jodi danced and trained in New York City and became certified to teach the Pilates Method under master teacher Deborah Lessen. While in New York, Jodi choreographed for and trained dance students in Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland. In 2004 Jodi moved to St. Louis, MO with her husband and worked at The Pilates and Yoga Center of St. Louis as well as Ballet Midwest. Jodi moved to Wuerzburg, Germany in 2005 and created a dance program for the children on a military installation. Fort Hood, Texas, was her next location, where she created and maintained another successful dance program on the military base. While in Texas, Jodi had the privilege to dance and work with the late Renee Gillenwater at the Newcomb School of Ballet. Jodi’s love for music has led her to further her education in tap dancing and tap history under master teacher, Karida Griffith. It brings her joy to share this unique dance style that creates rhythm and music. She truly enjoys helping all ages and levels of dancers discover their authenticity; she strives to create a safe place to grow, learn, and practice.
Alex J. Krebs (AK)
Associate Artistic Director
Alex J. Krebs has distinguished herself as an artist and educator throughout Maryland for over a decade. Holding a BA in Dance from UMBC, she is now the Associate Artistic Director of Kinetics Dance Theatre, a non-profit dance organization located in Ellicott City, MD. She directs the Kinetics Youth Ensemble, a non-competitive student dance company for students in grades 4-12. Alex also assists KDT Artistic Director, Liz Quinones, with Kinetics Dance Company and the operation of Kinetics Dance Theatre.
In addition to working with KDT, Alex is also a Senior Adjunct of Dance at Howard Community College, where she has been the Assistant Artistic Director of HCC’s Dance Company for 5 years and teaching classes for dance majors and non-majors for 8 years. With a broad performance resume including work with Baltimore Dance Project, LucidBeings Dance and Masala Soul Project, Alex has performed in and created works for notable showcases (Megopolis Music Festival, Baltimore’s Artscape, The MD Choreographer’s Showcase and more).
Alex was awarded MDEA’s “Dance Educator of the Year – Teaching Artist” for 2022. It is Alex’s goal to instill confidence and creativity in her students and collaborators of all ages. She feels strongly that dance education is reciprocal, and that she learns from her students every day.
Liz Quiñones (LQ)
Artistic Director
Erin Rooner (ER)
KDT Faculty
Erin Rooner graduated Magna Cum Laude from UMBC with BA degrees in both Dance and Ancient Studies. Erin has performed with Howard County Ballet, Common Ground Dance Company, Kinetics Dance Company, and LucidBeings Dance. She is currently Director of Dance Education at Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School in Pikesville, MD, instructing students from grades 5-12 in technique and choreography. There, Erin instructs students in a variety of styles including ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, lyrical, improvisation, partnering, tap, and composition. She also teaches at Kinetics Dance Theatre, primarily in ballet and pointe. Erin is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and trained in Functional Awareness with a focus on anatomy for dancers.
Cara Rakes (CR)
KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer
Cara attended Shenandoah University as a Dance major performing with the dance department in Tap and Jazz Festivals in Northern Virginia and at the Willam Shakespeare Center in D.C. in 2014 .She then transferred to Hagerstown community College and graduated with a A.A in Dance. She began teaching in 2012 at her hometown dance studio in WV, also in WV she has been continuing a dance program with Jefferson County Parks and Recreation since 2015. She came to the Baltimore and Maryland area in 2018 and joined Kinetics Dance Company in 2021. Since then she began teaching at Kinetics in 2022 and dedicates her time to her teaching career with Kinetics and performing with the Kinetics Dance Company. She hopes in continuing her career in dance education.
Melissa Nibali (MN)
KDT Faculty, KDC Dancer
Melissa graduated magna cum laude from UMBC with a BA in Dance. At UMBC she had the privilege to study under amazing faculty and guest artists. Melissa has taught dance for over 15 years, in a wide variety of styles, for all ages, with the start of her teaching career in 2008 at Kinetics Dance Theatre.
In the past, she served as the School Director of Kinetics Dance Theatre’s School of Contemporary Dance as well as a Director for the KDT Student Company (now Kinetics Youth Ensemble). Melissa also served as Studio Manager and Student Company Director of Design In Motion Dance Studio for six years. Under her direction, she expanded the company program and doubled student enrollment. Melissa is thrilled to be back to teaching and dancing with Kinetics this year! She looks forward to many years of dancing and teaching with Kinetics to come.
Teresa Whittemore (TW)
KYE Pre-Repertory Director, KDT Faculty
Teresa graduated Magna Cum Laude with her BA in Dance and Pre-Physical Therapy from University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2020. She attended her undergraduate program under full scholarship as a member of the Linehan Artist Scholars Program. Knowing early that she wanted to pursue a career in education, Teresa completed the Teaching Academy of Maryland in 2016, through which she studied child development, curriculum, pedagogy and theories of education. Teresa instructs students in Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, and dance conditioning. She has completed the Lisa Howell Teacher Training and is certified in teaching Progressing Ballet Technique, both of which have contributed to her wholistic approach to teaching that centers anatomy, physiology, injury-prevention, psychosomatics, and above all else, healthy dance training.
In addition to her focus in education, Teresa has received the honor of presenting her choreographic works When Eve and Eve Bit the Apple and Giving Skin at the American College Dance Association’s Regional Conference. Both works were adjudicated and selected for the ACDA Gala Concert. Her work, Spoon Theory, was also selected for presentation through New York based Arts By the People.
Teresa has been a part of the Kinetics community in nearly every capacity over the years. She started out as a student right here at Kinetics and fell in love with our warm, familial community. She began volunteering administratively and assistant teaching under Jodi Guzewich in 2012. Teresa interned under Kinetics’ former School Director from 2014-2016, and she began teaching in 2014. Throughout college, Teresa continued instructing at Kinetics and served as both the Interim School Administrator, and the Assistant School Manager through Kinetics’ transitions of direction. In Spring 2021, Teresa completed her first year as a Kinetics Youth Ensemble director, working with Pre-Repertory.
In addition to teaching at Kinetics, Teresa has been on the teaching faculty at JMD Studios, C-Unit, EMC Performing Arts Studio, and Expressions Performing Arts, and regularly guest-teaches at Design in Motion Dance. In the Fall, Teresa will be the director of her own Ballet Company at Expressions Performing Arts, where she will be setting a classical ballet production and coaching students for the Youth American Grand Prix.