Choreographer Bios

2026 Choreographers:

Olivia Evans

Olivia Evans is a dancer, choreographer, and educator. She grew up training in classical ballet, but more recently attended the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program from 2021-23. There, she performed works by Kayla Farrish, Moscelyne ParkeHarrison, Chuck Wilt, and Jay Carlon. Since graduating, she has worked with Aleño Dance Project, BKirk Dance, and Davianna Griffin for Full Tilt Dance Festival. Olivia began choreographing work in 2019. In 2025, she premiered “As the World Widens”, a segment of BKirk Dance’s evening-length show “Etymology of Being” presented at Base: Experimental Arts + Space. She was a co-choreographer on the award-winning dance film, “Intimité Révélée”, in collaboration with Ballet22 and the SF Dance Film Festival in 2024. She has presented live works with ZK Gallery, Mark Foehringer Dance Project, and the LINES Training Program, and her films have been screened in the US and Australia. Olivia currently teaches for Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Community Education Program, PNB School, and Creative Dance Center. To learn more, visit her website at oliviaevanschoreography.com.

Marlo Martin

Marlo Martin is a director, choreographer, educator and producer in Seattle, WA.  She holds a BFA in dance from Western Michigan University and recently received the 2022 WMU Department of Fine Arts Distinguished Alumni award for Arts Education. Marlo finds fulfillment and joy in celebrating and practicing all that encompasses and defines dance. Martin founded and currently directs eXit SPACE (est. 2004), a center for dance education and performance opportunities for the beginning student through professional level dancer. Martin has grown eXit SPACE from a single room studio with two teachers into three locations, five studios, a theater, 19 faculty members, housing for local dance companies, a host of artist programming, a pre-professional training program, and over 90 classes per week.

While developing eXit SPACE, Marlo has also continued to work as a choreographer. She has created works for her own company, oaklanDrive (2005-2009) and badmarmarDANCE (2010-2015, 2022-current). Since moving to Seattle in 2002 her work has been presented at numerous concerts and festivals including The Bridge Project Velocity Dance Center, the High Wire Series Seattle U, 12 Minutes Max On the Boards (2005, 2010, 2012), BASH theater, Redd Legg Dance, A Moving Conversation The Fremont Abbey, Evoke Dance Production’s Full Tilt, Beyond the Threshold / Spotlight on Seattle (2011, 2013, 2015), the BOOST dance festival, the Fall Kick Off Velocity Dance Center, NEXTfest NW Velocity Dance Center, self-produced full length tenSIDES (2012) and SPLIT BILL (2013) and WITNESS (2024), Cornish Dance Theater, Bellingham Rep Dance, Strictly Seattle (2013/2015), and Western Michigan University Dept. of Dance.

Martin’s Artistic Directorship has evolved over the course of the past 20 years of leadership at eXit SPACE. In 2016 and 2021 Martin continued to develop eXit SPACE by creating two new artist’s spaces called theNEST and Studio SEA. In 2021 Martin also founded NOD Theater in an effort to deepen her commitment to serving the Seattle arts & dance community; playing a vital role in its development and longevity. 

In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Marlo is proud to be the Artistic Director and Choreographer of badmarmarDANCE. badmarmarDANCE is in creative residence at NOD Theater | eXit SPACE (Seattle, WA). badmarmarDANCE, is a collective of storytellers, performers, dancers, magicians of movement, and knitters of the human experience as we see and feel it. As a producer, Marlo proudly presents BOOST dance festival, takePAUSE, BOOSTmeUP, and PROPEL AIR.

As an educator Marlo spends the majority of her time at eXit SPACE. Currently you can find Marlo teaching weekly technique classes, guiding workshops, and co-directing the pre-professional division, thePROGRAM. She has enjoyed being a guest faculty member at Cornish College for the Arts and Western Michigan University as well as a variety of WA state studios, conservatories, and events.

Marlo is genuinely interested in sharing her vision and ideas through teaching and creating dance, by developing forums for the exploration and presentation of dance works, and by supporting and nurturing fellow dancers, artists, and directors.

Link to additional videos here

dani tirrell

dani tirrell (dani), recipient of Seattle’s 2019 Mayor’s Arts Award, is a Black, Trans Spectrum, Queer choreographer, dancer, and movement guide, known for their deeply impactful work centered on Black identity, community, and storytelling. dani has shared their practice in cities across the U.S., including Detroit, Seattle, Washington D.C., and beyond. Currently, dani serves as the Artistic Director of Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas in Seattle and is the founder and artistic director of The Congregation, a movement-based performance ensemble dedicated to stories from the African Diaspora.

dani’s work has been commissioned by organizations such as Seattle Theater Group, On the Boards, and Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas, and they maintain close collaborations with Velocity Dance Center and Northwest Tap Connection. Their artistic achievements have been recognized with fellowships from Arts Matter, Artists Trust, 4Culture, and most recently, the 2023 NEFA National Dance Project Grant.

Looking ahead,dani will present Elysium: Book II of the Leviticus or Love series in May 2025, while their new work, The Children Were Never Promised a Home on Your Plantation, is in development and will be at the renowned Jacob’s Pillow | Pillow Lab in January 2025.

Sin(k)in – video shot and edited by Luke Wigren
The Hybrid Lab: Conversations In Merging Dance Cultures at BASE in Seattle May 2025 Curated by Amy O’Neal
Madeline Maxine Roman
Madeline Maxine Roman is talkative and loud. That’s partly due to being hard of hearing, but primarily because she embraces her queer, disabled, and neurodivergent identity. Featured in Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch, she is the Artistic Director of GRIDLOCK Dance in Washington, DC. A standout force among Gen Z choreographers, her choreography is “intellectually probing, politically minded, and personally revelatory” (Dance Magazine), “conceptually rich and ambitious” (Maryland Theatre Guide), “boldly explores technology’s downsides” (Washington City Paper), and provides “a searing comment on how pervasive social media and mobile devices affect human behavior” (Arts ATL).
 
Max’s recent engagements include the Men in Dance Showcase (WA), a James Madison University commission (PA), Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery commission (DC), Dance Loft & Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation commission (DC), Steps on Broadway Choreography Lab (NY), Pentacle’s Tour Ready Lab (NY), Montgomery College’s Artist-in-Residence (MD), Dance Canvas Choreographer Career Development Initiative (GA), Maryland Youth Ballet’s S.H.E./Moves Program (MD), Rutgers University Integrated Dance Collaboratory Choreo Lab (NJ), Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch Showcase (NY), Atlas Arts Lab Fellowship (DC), Dance Place’s Dance and Disability Residency (DC), and a Joe’s Movement Emporium commission (MD).
 
Max graduated as commencement speaker from Towson University with her B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography and B.S. in Mass Communication. During college, she received the Honors College Award, the Kaplan Award, the Research Impact Award, and the Outstanding Choreography Award.
 

Heather Smith & Samantha Weissbach

Heather Smith & Samantha Weissbach are the co-founders of Equipoise Dance, a Seattle-based contemporary company dedicated to exploring the human experience through vulnerability, connection, and authentic movement.

Heather (she/her) holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Illinois and brings a multidisciplinary background as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Master Reiki Practitioner, and 500hr Certified Yoga Instructor. Her choreography spans concert dance, theater, and commercial work, including collaborations with Intrepidus Dance and Cultivate Dance Project.

Samantha (she/her) has been choreographing, performing, and teaching for over fifteen years, with work presented by Intrepidus Dance, Seattle International Dance Festival, and Continuum Dance Project. A Dance Educators Association of Washington Educator of the Year and NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Samantha blends her extensive background as an educator and performer to create work that is both technically rigorous and deeply expressive.

Together, they guide dancers through introspective creation rooted in journaling, meditation, and reflection—crafting movement that is personal, athletic, and deeply human.

Catlyn Griswell, videographer

Diana Kim

Diana Kim is a Seattle based dancer, choreographer, and instructor who originates from the Metro Atlanta Area. Diana has trained in a variety of styles ranging from Fosse Jazz to Horton Modern to UDA Competition Pom, and greatly enjoys learning and blending various styles. As an artist Diana is narratively driven and focused on using dance as a medium to communicate emotions that transcend words. Their work explores the power of human connection through eclectic movement and comedic, eccentric narratives.