STUART COLEMAN

Associate Artistic Director, Dance Kaleidoscope (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Stuart Coleman began dancing in Lynchburg, VA as a student of Keith Lee and then at Virginia School of the Arts. He graduated cum laude from Butler University with dance departmental honors in 2014. Immediately upon graduating from college, Stuart joined Dance Kaleidoscope as a dancer and was promoted to Artistic Associate in 2020 and Associate Artistic Director in 2021.

Stuart has attended summer programs with Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Ballet West. He has performed roles choreographed by dance pantheons, including the Revivalist in Martha Graham’s “Appalachian Spring”, the Crook in Paul Taylor’s “Le Sacre Du Printemps (The Rehearsal)”, Talley Beatty’s “Mourner’s Bench”, and Nacho Duato’s “Por Vos Muero”. Under DK Artistic Director David Hochoy, he has performed in over thirty productions, including soloist roles in “An American in Paris”, “Carmina Burana”, and “Ravel Piano Concerto”. He has had new work created on him by Stephanie Martinez, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Brock Clawson, and Kiesha Lalama among others.

Stuart has choreographed over ten new works for Dance Kaleidoscope, including full-length dances, collaborations with David Hochoy, and site-specific installations. His choreography has also been featured in concerts produced by Phoenix Rising Dance Company, Ballet Theatre of Indiana and Butler Ballet. He was among three choreographers selected to choreograph on students at Butler University for a performance series across Poland and Russia in 2014.

The Arts Council of Indianapolis named Stuart a Robert D. Beckmann, Jr. Emerging Artist Fellow in 2015. In 2021, he represented Dance Kaleidoscope at Water Street Dance Festival in Milwaukee, WI, teaching master classes and choreography workshops to students across the country.

LARRY CSERNIK

Lighting Designer for Mutual Dance Theatre, Instructor at Northern Kentucky University, Designer at Vincent Lighting Systems

Larry Csernik is a lighting designer for theatre, dance, and opera. Originally from Louisville, KY, Larry stayed in Cincinnati after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre at Northern Kentucky University. He has designed many shows for his alma mater including Mud Nostalgia, The Divine Visitor, The Wedding Singer, Birds, Years: A Musical, As You Like It, The Heidi Chronicles, Angels In America: Part I, and several dance concerts (DANCE ‘14/15/18/19). For the past four years he has designed for both The Commonwealth Theatre Company (The Games Afoot, The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee, Some Enchanted Evening, The 39 Steps, Burgertown, The Odd Couple, Churchgirls) as well as Contemporary Dance Theater (Performance and Time Arts Series, and ‘16/17/19/20/21 Area Choreographers Festival at the Jarson-Kaplan Theater). Other credits include Don Giovanni, La Cenerentola, Iolanta, Der Freischutz, Fidelio (Queen City Opera); The Full Monty, Willy Wonka, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Joseph…Dreamcoat (The Carnegie in Covington); the premiere performance of Soldier’s Christmas (Blueline Editorial); and numerous shows at Thomas More College (Almost Maine, Macbeth, Frankenstein, Godspell, Little Women, The Crucible, Urinetown).

CLAIRE DIERINGER

Company Member of Mutual Dance Theatre

Claire Dieringer is a 2016 graduate of Kent State University, from which she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Magna Cum Laude. Claire has worked professionally as the director of the dance program at Lake Bryn Mawr Camp in Pennsylvania, and as a dance educator at several studios. In 2017, Claire joined both MamLuft&Co. Dance and Seven Dance Company. She is now MamLuft&Co. Dance’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, as well. As a student, Dieringer was a member of the Kent Dance Ensemble and performed in faculty-choreographed concerts. In 2014, she performed at American College Dance Association and also studied at American Dance Festival in Durham, North Carolina, studying with numerous teachers in multiple styles from all over the world. Dieringer previously served as the President of the Student Dance Education Organization of Kent State. Claire was recognized on the Dean’s List every semester of her college career while also receiving many accolades such as the Dance Faculty Award for Service to the dance division and Outstanding Achievement Award as an Emerging Artist Award.

STEVEN P. EVANS

Company Director and Choreographer-in-Residence, Mutual Dance Theatre

Steven P. Evans hails originally from Cincinnati, Ohio.  He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography at Ohio University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. Evans apprenticed with the Sean Curran Company in New York City in 2012. Evans joined Mutual Dance Theatre when it was MamLuft&Co. Dance in 2014. He has performed lead roles since his very first season in the original productions and canon of works, /SHIFT/, The Tragedy of Time, Maps, and Memoriam. He starred in The Double, an evening-length work based on the eponymous Dostoevsky novella. Evans has premiered work at Contemporary Dance Theater’s Area Choreographer’s Festival in 2014 and 2015, and regularly contributed sections of choreography for Mutual’s aforementioned stage works. In 2016, Steven received his first commission from Mutual when he was tapped to create an evening-length work with Elena Rodriguez Moore, titled Double|Sided, which became one of the Company’s most successful productions selling at 138% capacity, standing-room only. He returned to the company in 2020 as Company Co-Director and has continued to lead and create work in the Company. While at Ohio University, he was the recipient of the Undergraduate Student Enhancement Award and the College of Fine Arts Creative Research Award for his project “Improvisational Dance: Performance Development, Exploration, and Movement Stylization.” Evans is also a Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resources Management. The 22-23 season is Steven’s 6th with the Company.

REGINALD J. HARRIS

City Councilperson AND Formerly of Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Austin, River North Chicago, and Dances Patrelle

Reginald Harris, MSW, LISW-S, CTP is a social work strategist, therapist, and arts educator. A former professional ballet dancer with ten years of professional performing experience, he danced with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Ballet Austin, River North Chicago Dance Company, and Dances Patrelle. Reginald’s teaching experience began in Ballet Austin’s Academy in 2003 and included a two-year stint as resident choreographer for the Ballet Conservatory of South Texas and four years as a company teacher for River North Chicago Dance Company. In 2009, Reginald was one of a small group of arts educators to open The Chicago High School for the Arts (Chiarts) – Chicago’s first and only public performing arts high school. In 2011, Reginald became the dance department chair at Chiarts and worked to build a comprehensive and intensive dance curriculum. For the past several years, Reginald has had the honor of serving as dance panel adjudicator for the National Endowment for the Arts. As a certified trauma practitioner (CTP) – Reginald has developed an arts-focused training that addresses trauma and its impact on students’ cognitive and emotional development and academic achievement and works closely with arts education organizations on becoming trauma-informed. He holds a Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Organizational Leadership from Roosevelt University and a Master of Social Work from Boston University.

STEVIE LAMBLIN

Company Member, Mutual Dance Theatre

Stevie Lamblin was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. They were a member of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company for 8 years (initially as a three-year member of the second company before being promoted to the first). They have had the immense pleasure of working professionally with Donald Byrd (Spectrum Dance Theater), Bridget L. Moore and Ray Mercer (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Francesca Harper (Ailey II), Ronald K. Brown (EVIDENCE), Keisha Lalama, Crystal Michelle and Debbie Blunden-Diggs (DCDC), and Robert J. Priore, among others. They attribute much of their growth as an artist to the mentorship of Shonna Hickman-Matlock and Qarrianne Blayr (Director and Associate Artistic Director of DCDC, respectively). One of Stevie’s favorite memories as a professional was performing “This I Know for Sure” by Ray Mercer at the Shanghai Dance Festival in China. Stevie retired in 2020…or so they thought! Stevie joined Mutual Dance Theatre in 2021. They are humbled to be able to continue their passion of dancing and hope to continue to grow as an artist. Stevie also holds a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wright State University. When they are not on stage or working with clients, they can be found sculpting, painting, or playing with their pet jumping spiders.

JEANNE MAM-LUFT

Artistic and Executive Director of Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Center

Jeanne Mam-Luft is the Artistic and Executive Director of Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Center, founded as MamLuft&Co. Dance. She holds Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. Mam-Luft is certified in Labanotation from the Dance Notation Bureau (NY).

As an artist-producer, Mam-Luft has worked with numerous Cincinnati organizations, including Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Contemporary Arts Center, and Clifton Cultural Arts Center, producing 18 evening length works and 61 shorter works (35 of which were her own works). She was the first and only dance artist to be named a Cincinnati Arts Ambassador Fellow in support of an original dance-for-camera she choreographed, filmed, and edited in 2014-2015. Most of her works are spurred by her personal history as an immigrant and a refugee of the Cambodian genocide, which led to the death and continued impoverishment of many of her family members. As a choreographer, her interests lie in human connections and energy created by spatial relationships.

She served on the board of OhioDance (the state-wide organization for dance) for 6 years, was Assistant Director of Contemporary Dance Theater for 4 years, and is a founding member of Greater Cincinnati Dance Alliance. Mam-Luft has served on the governance committee of the local chapter of Ohio Alliance for Arts Education.

She has guest-taught and/or set work on university students at Texas Woman’s University, University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, Wittenberg University, Northern Kentucky University, Tarrant County College, and Kent State, where she was an artist-in-residence in 2016.

Mam-Luft has also worked for several architectural design firms and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. She is also a professional designer and photographer, a hobby baker, and a mother.

ADRIENNE MCDADE TAYLOR

Senior Development Officer for the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation

Adrienne McDade Taylor, CFRE, is the Sr. Development Officer for the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.  She is responsible for elevating the organization fundraising processes and sharing its impact.  She joined the Women’s Fund after spending 5 years with the University of Cincinnati Foundation.

Adrienne is a 2013 graduate from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s Arts Administration Graduate Program along with receiving her MBA from the Lindner College of Business.

Prior to entering the field of fundraising, Adrienne spent 3.5 years as a full-time registered stock broker and part-time dance teacher.  Adrienne also received her bachelor’s degree in Finance with a Dance minor from Millikin University.

Adrienne started her career path in fundraising through the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Greater Cincinnati Chapter’s diversity program, New Faces of Fundraising, which she is now serving as the program’s co-chair and involved in the national expansion of this program.  Her commitment to Diversity & Inclusion efforts extends beyond her role within AFP and in to her current role at the Women’s Fund.  Adrienne believes in the efforts towards evolving inclusive philanthropy and is excited about being a part of the movement! 

Adrienne has served in numerous roles with AFP Global including, co-chairing the New Faces of Fundraising program, is a Collegiate Chapter Advisor with the University of Cincinnati, serves on the Membership Services Committee, the WII Taskforce, the Committee on Directorship and Leadership Academy Committee.

ELENA RODRIGUEZ MOORE

Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant, Certified in Myofascial Taping, and former member of MamLuft&Co. Dance/Mutual Dance Theatre

Elena danced for eight seasons with MamLuft&Co. Dance (now Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Center) and served both as the company’s Repertory Rehearsal Director and a choreographer.

Elena has assisted in choreographing several shows for the company, including Double|Sided, a full-length work created in collaboration with Steven P. Evans, which premiered at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center during the 2015-2016 season.

Born in Queens, New York, Elena received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Cum Laude with a concentration in choreography from Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. While at Goucher, Elena performed and studied under such esteemed artists as Gabriel Masson, Alan Hineline, Roger Jeffrey, Heather McArdle, Anne Hutchinson Guest, Mino Nicholas, and Janice Garret. After graduating, she moved to Dayton, Ohio and danced for SMAG Dance Collective under the direction of Michael Groomes, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2 under the direction of Shonna Hickman-Matlock. Elena holds a Physical Therapist Assistant degree and is a Physical Therapist Assistant at a skilled nursing facility.

SHANE OHMER

Cincinnati-based artist Shane Ohmer is presently an Adjunct Professor of Dance at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music. Mr. Ohmer was the Associate Dance Captain for the Broadway Tour of The Phantom of the Opera where he initiated the development of the “how-to” manual for teaching the production. Mr. Ohmer has appeared in Susan Stroman’s “The Merry Widow” at The Metropolitan Opera, the world touring hit dance show “Rock the Ballet”, Flashdance – the Musical 1st National Broadway Tour, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Whim W’him, River North Chicago Dance Company and as a Principal guest artist for various companies around the world. Shane trained in Dance/Musical Theater at Cincinnati’s School For Creative and Performing Arts and Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle.

Commercial work includes appearances on Law and Order SVU, David Letterman, Dos Equis Adverts,  Warby Parker , GQ magazine, and runway shows for Commonwealth Utilities and Armani Exchange. Shane has created choreography for New York Fashion Week designers The Blonds, L’Officiel Hommes Video, numerous competitive dance pieces, stage plays, and musical reviews.

Shane’s mission is to expand his performing career, educate emerging artists, produce creative choreography, and direct movement that pushes boundaries for Dance and  Musical Theater in live and digital spaces.

“Statuesque Shane Ohmer, the lead male dancer, is clean and airborne, his jetes and turns thrilling, his star power unmistakable.” — Chicago Tribune

“Shane Ohmer (a potent new addition to Whim W’Him)… delivers a giddy, long-limbed solo that somehow embodies the jubilant pull of flesh to flesh without going into anatomical specifics.” — The Seattle Times

“Ohmer was the picture of masculinity—his muscled chest bared for a solo piece, his limbs solid yet graceful in their execution of movement.” — CityArts

“Shane Ohmer was a standout as a feature dancer. His passionate duets… revealed not only his impeccable technique but also his ability to connect emotionally to the audience.” — Examiner.com

“… dancing Lamborghinis (including Shane Ohmer, briefly of River North Dance Chicago) zooms into town.” — Time Out Chicago

“New York dance rebel Shane Ohmer is bringing his particular brand of physical expression to the Fringe stage with Rock the Ballet.” — Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

JASMINE SNELLEN

Company Member of Mutual Dance Theatre (as well as Marketing Manager and Choreographer ’22 MODERN MIX)

Jasmine Snellen began her dance training at Louisville Youth Performing Arts School where she studied Martha Graham’s technique and classical ballet. Snellen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Shenandoah Conservatory and University where she trained with equal emphasis in Ballet, Jazz (classical, contemporary, & commercial), Modern (Graham, Limón, & Horton), composition, and pedagogy. Snellen has had the honor of training with Alan Arnett, Tiffanie Carson, Ting-Yu Chen, Maurice Fraga, Elijah Alhadji Gibson, Erica Helm, Linda Miller, and Lisa Startsman among others, including mainstage features by Mike Esperanza of Bare Dance Company NYC, Company | E of Washington DC, and Brussels-based artists Katie Vickers and Albert Quesada.

Jasmine has performed at Peridance Salvatore Capezio Theater in NYC, trained with LA Contemporary Dance Company and Sidra Bell Dance New York, and presented work at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Snellen is currently dancing, teaching, and choreographing as Company Director with Mutual Dance Theatre in her third season. Recently, she conceptualized, choreographed, and edited a five-part dance-for-camera entitled FFIFF (2020), which explores society’s rapidly shifting polarity, clashes of beliefs, and the tethers of groupthink.

SHAUNA STEELE

Chair of Dance Department at University of Cincinnati (Graduate of University of Michigan and Indiana University)

An administrator and educator with nearly two decades of experience, Shauna Steele most recently taught at Michigan’s Hope College where she taught dance history and criticism, jazz, modern, improvisation, assisted the historic and social dance sections, and mentored Student Dance Showcase choreographers. From 2011-18 Steele served as the dance program director and associate professor of dance at Anderson University in Indiana.

Steele is the founder and artistic director of Mocha Dance Project – which pursues projects engaging the fusion of photography, video, dance and collaboration – and was the associate director for RusticGroove Dance.

Her research interests include dance in world culture and context, Africanized movement in the Diaspora of Western culture (specifically Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean), the influences of Celtic traditions on art and movement, the function of art in restricted or repressed environments, and body movement logic.

She was the artistic director of Parallel Differences youth dance and the Associate Instructor for the Indiana University African American Arts Institute’s dance company. Her choreography has appeared in Robert Hay-Smith’s Pollen: The Musical, RADfest, The Tank NYC, Midwest RADfest, the Arizona Positivity Project and the Ypsilanti Fringe Festival. She has taught master classes in Roots of Jazz Dance and served as dance faculty at Grand Valley State University, Eastern Michigan University, Anderson University and the University of Michigan’s MPulse summer dance institute.

Steele has lead master classes and workshops in improvisational movement, African dance, modern dance, jazz, Afro-jazz and hip hop. Her professional credits include Windfall Dancers, African American Dance Company, Dancers Studio Inc., Sancocho: Musica and Dance Collage and Ann Arbor Dance Works. She has performed in Robin Wilson’s Slave Moth, in Alexandra Beller’s Reasons for Moving and in Gay Delanghe’s Motor Tango/Tangle.

Her past projects include Millstones in August 2010 and The Positivity Project in Tempe, Arizona in October 2010. Her current choreography projects include Disobedient Objects/Caged Bird Legacy (a site-specific work), Sacred Ground (an evening length concert in three parts), /ˈākər/ (which delves into compulsive behavior and the need to sort, measure and catalogue), Leyenda in Winter (a dance for camera work), Still Frame (a video dance project) and Passengers (a contemporary modern work).

A published dance scholar, Steele’s co-authored textbook, “Experiencing Dance: A Creative Approach to Dance Appreciation” (2011), examines the ever-changing culture of dance and provides a basic historical context and appreciation of dance as an art form. Her research articles include Exploring Choreographic Responsibility through the ‘Cultural Lens’ (2013); Drawing Parallel Lines: Dance, Architecture, and Society (2009); and Drawing Parallel Lines in Dance, Architecture, and Society: African American Modern Dance, and Jewish Deconstructivist Architecture (2006), among others.

Steele received her MFA in Dance Choreography and Performance with a focus area in History and Technology from the University of Michigan in 2006, and a BGS in Arts and Humanities with a focus area in Cultural Anthropology and Dance from Indiana University in 2002. She is a member of the American College Dance Association, World Dance Alliance and the National Dance Education Organization.