Master Classes
Dancers will attend classes taught by our esteemed faculty in Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, Composition/Improvisation, Musical Theatre, and more! These inspirational master classes will give students an opportunity to meet working professionals and further their artistic and technical training in a non-competitive dance environment.
2023 Faculty
Krissie is the Co-Founder/Artistic Director of the Expand Community Arts Alliance; a nationally recognized group of arts organizations dedicated to igniting community dialogue through an artistic lens. The alliance consists of three organizations that she operates; The Dance and Music Academy, The Trifecta Dance Collective, and Metamorphosis; Fearless Evolution. She was selected to be a Conference Presenter at the International Dance Pedagogy Conference and Performance Festival at New Mexico State University. She has also served master class clinician at Peridance in NYC, the Big River Dance Festival WV and the US Tournament of Dance National Finals. Her choreography has been selected for the Spring Choreography Showcase at Peridance in NYC, Jennifer Mueller's "Hatch" series in NYC, the Detroit Dance Festival, the Minnesota Fringe Festival, the Big River Dance Festival, the Exchange Choreography Festival in Tulsa, OK. She has produced 4 full length work in Anita's Way in Times Square. She was selected as one of 3 National Choreography Competition winners by Ovation TV. She is the co-director of three National Youth Companies that offer opportunities to hundreds of students each summer. Krissie has also been on staff for Goliard Concerts in New York City, the Ethnic Dance Theatre in St. Paul, MN, and a faculty member for the New York City Public School System.
Krissie Odegard Geye
Andi Learman was born and raised in Woodstock, Illinois. She went on to earn a degree in Dance Business at Anderson University. While there, she worked with artists such as Earl Mosley, Eddy Ocampo and Gregory Hancock. Following her time at Anderson, Andi went off to train with Hubbard Street's Professional Program under the direction of Alexandra Wells. Andi has had the opportunity to perform at the American College Dance Festival's National Gala, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's 2018 Winter Series and New Dance's 2020 Virtual Performance. Since then, she has worked with Tapestry Dance Company, as well as performed in various projects within the Chicago dance community. Andi is currently a principal dancer with Trifecta Dance Collective and on staff at Dance and Music Academy.
Andi Learman
Tori Stewart graduated Manga Cum Laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, receiving a B.A. in Dance, with a focus on Dance Performance, Choreography and Theory. Tori has been dancing with Trifecta Dance Collective since 2019 and currently is a Principal Dancer and Choreographer for the company. She helped conceptualize TDC 2, Trifecta's second company, and leads both TDC 2 and Trifecta Youth Ensemble as Artistic Director. As a choreographer, her works have performed at Charlotte Dance Festival, American College Dance Association, Wake Forest Dance Festival, Loose Leaves Showcase, Trifecta Dance Festival, Alluvion Dance Chicago's Emergence, and most recently, Detroit Dance City Festival. Internationally, Tori had the privilege to study dance and perform at Italian venues including the Palace of Venaria and Orsolina28. Based in Chicago, IL, she divides her time between dancing, instructing, and choreographing. Her passion for bringing awareness to and discussing mental health is brought to life in her choreographic works, in which she utilizes contemporary techniques and improvisational practices for movement generation.
Tori Stewart
Carrie Patterson, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, began her training with the Atlanta Ballet, and continued training in the summers with Houston Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Luna Negra Dance Theater. In 2011, Carrie graduated cum laude from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Psychology. After graduation. Carrie choreographed/danced professionally with Louisville Ballet, Thodos Dance Chicago, Project606 Dance, and Nomi Dance Company. In 2016, Carrie cofounded Trifecta Dance Collective /Metamorphosis Fearless Evolution with Krissie Odegard Geye. Carrie is also the Owner/Creator of the national dancewear brand Illuminate Dancewear.
Carrie Patterson
Robert attended Point Park University and is a former company member of Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago. He has been a guest dancer and choreographer most recently with Chicago Dance Crash, Cerqua Rivera, and other Independent projects. Robert began an interest in teaching and choreography at a very young age. Influenced by percussive rhythms and dynamic shapes, he finds himself always inspired to create.
Robert has been on faculty at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, a teacher for Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, and teaches throughout the Chicagoland area. He has worked with Rockford Dance Company, The Giordano Project, Giordano Juniors, McDonald Dance Academy, Barrington High School, Northshore School of Dance Performing Ensemble, the Giordano on Giordano choreography showcase, Riverside Brookfield High School, Northern Illinois University and Framework Dance Chicago.
Robert McKee
Jorge Sigler of siglerphotographics is a published performance/portrait photographer and videographer based in Chicago. Jorge comes with 20+ years of photography experience in a variety of styles. He currently is the resident photographer for Trifecta Dance Collective, Metamorphosis; Fearless Evolution, and the Dance and Music Academy.
Jorge Sigler
Braeden Barnes, a native from Chicago, Illinois, received his training from Faubourg Ballet and San Francisco Ballet school. Braeden was then accepted into the Joffrey Ballet training program under the directors Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznik.
Braeden has worked professionally with Balletmet, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Ron de Jesus Dance, Billy Elliot the Musical, Cocodaco Dance Project, C5, Nevada Ballet Theatre and Visceral Dance Chicago. Braeden has performed both nationally and internationally. He has worked with choreographers such as James Canfield, Paul Vasterling, Danielle Agami, Kevin O’Day, Mónica Cervantes, Marguerite Donlon, Matthew Neenan, Lucas Crandall, Nick Pupillo, and Yoshito Sakuraba.
Braeden is an award-winning choreographer. His choreography has been featured in such cities as Chicago, Las Vegas, New York City, and Atlanta. Among these places, his work has won the first place audience choice award at REVERBDance Festival in New York, as well as first place for best choreography at YAGP. He has choreographed on various companies such as Nevada Ballet Theatre, Cirque Du Soleil, Visceral Dance Chicago, Peoria Ballet, Waterstreet Dance Milwaukee, A&A Ballet, Common Conservatory, Indiana University Contemporary Department and for New Dances: a collaboration between Danceworks and Thodos Dance Chicago.
In 2020, he started his own nonprofit company, Symbiosis Arts, which is based in Chicago. Symbiosis has produced full evening shows in Chicago and Denver and has commissioned choreographers such as Anna Long, Francisco Aviva, Shannan Alvis, Jason Parsons, and Noelle Kayser. For more information, visit symbiosisarts.org.
Photo: Katie Miller
Braeden Barnes
A native of Elgin, Illinois and proud first generation Mexican-American, Christian Sosa started dance at the age of 15 during high school in the style of Hip-Hop. He later expanded his knowledge and trained in various Latin styles such as Salsa, Bachata, & Cumbia after becoming a student/faculty member of Ivangel Dance Studio (Elgin, IL) and broadened his training in classical styles such as Jazz, Ballet & Contemporary after becoming a part of Urban Dance Concept (Elgin, IL). Christian has been a part of various dance companies as a member and in directive roles with Ascension Performing Arts (Chicago, IL) and DLD Professional Dance Company (Downers Grove, IL), and is also a member of CODA World (Chicago, IL)
Christian has performed and choreographed for various events around the Chicagoland area such as World of Dance: Chicago, Prelude Midwest Dance Competition, Elgin Short Film Festival, Elgin Fringe Festival, Nightmare on Chicago Street, Freespace Dance Festival, and has performed with world renowned artist OnSean Zion as a backup principal dancer in a Latin Cabaret. You can also catch Christian along with his partner, Karen Arreola, on tour with Activate Your Artistry Dance Convention as a faculty member.
Christian Sosa
Originally from Stillwater, Minnesota, Ava began her dance training at St.Croix Ballet at the age of 3. She furthered her dance training at The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Harid Conservatory, Classical Ballet Academy, and Indiana University. In 2020 Ava graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Conservatory at the University of Missouri Kansas City where she received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography with an emphasis in Ballet and a minor in Communications. While at UMKC she performed works by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Gregory Dawson, Cleo Parker Robinson, and Paula Weber. She has danced professionally with Kansas City Ballet, Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company, and performed the role of Louise in Musical Theatre Heritage production of Carousel. Ava has danced internationally in Athens, Greece at the 51st World Congress on Dance Research. Ava is currently a company member with Trifecta Dance Collective, Joel Hall Dancers, and Still Inspired.
Ava Wichser Foerster
Keesha Beckford began her dance studies in Queens, New York, before graduating cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B. in American history and a minor in dance. She has performed the choreography of Milton Myers, Teri Lee and Oliver Steele, Danny Herman, Paige Cunningham-Caldarella, Amy Marshall, Michael Foley, and Lorn MacDougal, among others in the U.S. and abroad. Her teaching credits include Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, Dance Center Evanston, Charlotte Ballet, the UNC Charlotte dance department, and as a guest teacher for Thodos Dance Chicago. Beckford most recently served as the Youth Programs Manager at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and is honored to be the Youth Division Liason at the Joffrey Academy since 2016.
Keesha Beckford
Abigail Stachnik is a dance artist, choreographer, and educator based in Chicago where she dances with Moonwater Dance Project and Symbiosis Arts. In addition, she has performed professionally with MitchellMovement Collective, Jessica Miller Tomlinson Choreography, Cocodaco Dance Project, Marlene Skog Dance, and Chicago Repertory Ballet. She earned her BFA in Dance with Honors from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Abigail has created work for Simantikos Dance Chicago and Trifecta Dance Collective.
Her choreography has also been presented at the Athenaeum Theatre, the College of DuPage’s Choreography Showcase, Emergence, and the “Take Up Space” dance festival.
Abigail Stachnik
2023 Assistants
Genesis Bossette is a 17-year-old incoming junior who has danced since the age of five. She first started taking dance classes in the Joffrey outreach program where she trained in many styles including ballet, modern, Latin, jazz, contemporary, and hip hop, and also participated in countless performances around the Chicagoland area. Genesis then at the age of 14 started taking classes at the Chicago multicultural dance center training under Homer Hans Bryant in styles such as ballet, pointe, hip-let, modern, Latin, Afro, and African. Genesis now dances competitively at LM Premiere Dance since she was 13. Genesis recently was selected to be one of the upcoming 2023-2024 Activate Your Artistry tribe assistants. Her plans for the near future, after graduating, are to continue pursuing a dance career while double majoring in dance and psychology or being on a collegiate dance team.
Genesis Bossette
Tegan DeRosier has been dancing since she was two years old and has been dancing competitively since the age of six. She is currently a senior at Central Bucks High School East. Tegan is in her 9th season of dance at the Dance Arts Conservatory in Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania. She trains and competes in various genres including Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theater, Ballet, Pointe, and Hip Hop. She has also performed professionally with the Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble for two seasons in their holiday production of the TapCracker in Philadelphia, PA. Tegan has earned both regional and national champion awards as a competitive dancer.
Tegan DeRosier
As a third-generation dancer, Kaia has grown up with dance studio life as her second home. With a head start on movement, she developed an early passion for art. Throughout the years, Kaia has added many styles to her repertoire, including Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tumbling, Acro, Musical Theatre, Improvisation, Pointe, Ballroom, Heels, Latin, and African. Kaia began attending dance conventions and competitions at age 5, teaching and choreographing at age 10, and has received numerous scholarships, high honors, and national titles as a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from several organizations including KAR, Rainbow, NUVO, Groove, Starpower, Refresh, Precision Arts Challenge, 24seven, DanceMakers, Nexus, CRU and Showstopper, to name a few. She has participated in New York City All-Star Dancer programs, the Hollywood Dance Experience alongside Dancers Against Cancer, CRU National Heart & Soul, Broadway, and Contemporary Dance Companies, Liberate Artist’s Phoenix Fire NYC program, and Trifecta Dance Collective’s 2022 Metamorphosis Performance Ensemble. She is a past and current Tribe Member with Activate Your Artistry and a Liberate Artists’ Dance Captain program member. She is excited to return to Metamorphosis as an assistant for this year’s event and is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful organization!
Kaia Kenyon
Daisy-May is a senior at Dance and Music Academy. She began her training at the age of 3 in the UK, receiving merit from the Royal Academy of Ballet. She has danced with DMA for 9 years training in Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz and Hiphop styles. She also has taken voice lessons for the last 5 years, taking part in school productions and DMA summer camps. During her time at DMA she has been a part of many companies such as, Trifecta Dance Collective 3 (TDC3), Infinity Collective and Tap Motif. Over the summer breaks she has taken many dance intensives, including UCLA’s hiphop summer institute. Daisy-May is the captain of Glenbrook South High School’s Hip Hop dance team this year and choreographs every routine performed. She would like to peruse dance in her future at college level! Daisy-May is excited to dance as an assistant for the 2023 Metamorphosis event!
Daisy-May Hutchinson
Christopher Siregar, @dancing_christopher, was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He has studied at Horizons Dance Center since the age of 2 and has been competing since the age of 6. Christopher has trained in multiple styles including ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical, Horton, and Graham. He is a national title winner as well as a member of the USTD senior dance team. Christopher also studied dance at Alvin Ailey and Dance Molinari in New York and recently completed a week with the Gus Giordano Jazz intensive here in Chicago. This is his 3rd year working with Trifecta Metamorphosis. Christopher is currently a senior at the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan New York. He is thrilled to dance as an assistant at the 2023 Metamorphosis Fearless Evolution experience!
Christopher Siregar
Giulia LaSusa has been dancing for 15 years in multiple styles of dance, including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, and musical theatre. She originally began her journey at Virtuoso Performing Arts, where she was a part of their pre-professional dance company. Giulia now dances at Dance and Music Academy with Trifecta Dance Collective 3 (TDC3) and the Trifecta Seniors company. She was formerly a part of their Trifecta Trainees and Trifecta Interns companies as well. She is also the DMA Ambassador for TDC3, Trifecta Interns, and Trifecta Trainees companies for the 2023-2024 season. Giulia has had the opportunity to learn from many professionals and perform at multiple showcases throughout the years. She is looking forward to being an assistant for Metamorphosis; Fearless Evolution this year!
Giulia LaSusa