2024 MFA in Dance cohort
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Marissa Finkelstein is a second year MFA student and a Graduate Assistant in the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. She received her BA in Dance and Business from Muhlenberg College. While at Muhlenberg, Marissa had the chance to study abroad and dance in Florence, Italy at Florence University of the Arts. |
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Lisa Hines began her dance career and developed her artistry at Henderson State University in Arkansas while pursuing a degree in Sociology/Psychology. She became instructor/director for the Latin dance scene in Arkansas and merged her global experience into her choreography. Lisa is a second year MFA student and Graduate Assistant to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro School of Dance. |
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Candace Perry is a dancer, choreographer, educator and anatomy enthusiast starting her graduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance and minor in Business from George Mason University. |
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Davida Reid (she/they) is a dancer, choreographer, and educator. She is a second year MFA student in the School of Dance and a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the school of Dance as well as in the School of Art. |
2025 MFA in Dance cohort
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Adriana Blanco is a mindful mover committed to exploring cultural movement practices based on resistance to oppression and applying them to current, community, artistic, political and personal healing practices. Adriana has deeply immersed herself in the study of Capoeira and Samba since 2017. She has been traveling back and forth to Brazil since this time which has recently led her to explore other artistic and dance modalities such as modern dance and dances rooted in her own ancestry. Adriana is also a practicing clinical social worker who incorporates identity work and mindful movement into her treatment modalities. Adriana hopes to bring her personal discoveries in dance, identity and political movements to her community as a way to uplift and inspire. |
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Zoia Cisneros immersed in Samba training with Brazilian instructors Alex Coutinho, Ale Jensen, Jorge Amarelloh and Mayara Lima via Zoom and her improvisation was featured at wimmin@work curated by Andrea Woods at the Hayti Heritage Center. Most recently, Zoia had the opportunity to perform as a passista (Samba dancer) in Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome for Carnival 2022. She is a mother of three and a Registered Nurse who is thrilled to give dance some undivided attention as a Masters of Dance student and Graduate Assistant to improve communication skills as an instructor, to become a dynamic dance mentor and to explore improvisation and performance. |
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Angelica Kankam is a dancer, choreographer, and educator from Ghana, West Africa. She holds a BFA in Dance and Theatre from the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana. She has served as a dance educator in both public and private institutions. Angelica has worked as an Artistic Director and choreographer for Vivie’s Dance Factory and for many renowned artists locally and internationally. She is passionate about dance and it’s impact on individuals and the society as a whole. Currently, she is enrolled as an MFA student and Graduate Assistant in the School of Dance, UNCG. |
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Victoria Williams is a performing artist and choreographer from Durham, North Carolina. She is a first year MFA student and Graduate Assistant in the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Victoria received her Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, where she studied African Diasporic dance and trained in Dunham Technique. While at A&T she had the opportunity to study abroad and dance in Senegal, West Africa, where she began her study of Germaine Acogny’s Contemporary African Dance Technique. |
2026 Graduate cohort
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Jonah Carrel is an MA student and Graduate Assistant in the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Jonah earned his BFA in Dance with a minor in Communication Studies from UNCG in 2023. Jonah’s interests lie in dance notation systems, dance history, and contemporary dance practice. An avid choreographer, Jonah aims to create inclusive spaces for knowledge and creativity as he begins his career as a dance scholar. |
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Tiffany Moss is an MFA student and graduate assistant at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Born in South Carolina, Tiffany graduated Cum Laude with BA in Dance / K-12 Certification from Winthrop University. Throughout her time at Winthrop, she received multiple Modern Dance Awards and had her choreography showcased at the American College Dance Association Regional Conference. Post-graduation, Tiffany taught public school dance at Central Academy of the Arts, a Title I magnet arts school in the upstate, where she infused core curriculum with dance to increase student engagement. While located in the upstate, Tiffany served as Regional Coordinator for the South Carolina Dance Association as well as directed for the Easley High School Color Guard Program. |
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Liz Stillerman Anderson is a dancer, choreographer, and educator from Covington, GA. Liz holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Elon University in North Carolina. In her professional career, Liz has performed with Elements Ballet, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Chicago Civic Ballet, and Kit Modus, as well as served as Artistic Director for Georgia-based pre-professional company Covington Regional Ballet. Liz is an MFA student and Graduate Assistant in the School of Dance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. |