Maia Bergren (They/Them)
Maia is a dance and movement artist from and currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and a third-year student studying toward a BFA in Dance at the University of Minnesota. Maia’s background in postmodern/modern dance forms and exploratory floorwork has led to having opportunities to work with artists such as Maria Bauman, Laja Field, and Carlo Antonio Villanueva. Within their own work, Maia values the opportunity for artists and audiences to have an immersive experience, one that draws them in. Maia’s future goal is to incorporate thought-provoking concepts into their own work in a way that allows the audience to have a unique experience and leave them with something to ponder.
Kavya Chirayil
Kavya is a multi-stylistic dancer exploring the endless possibilities of movement. Born to Indian parents and raised in Oman, she was fortunate to inherit a rich musical and cultural heritage that runs in the family. Kavya began dancing at the age of four, training extensively in Bharatanatyam for many years. She is currently pursuing a BA in Dance at the University of Minnesota. Beyond dance, Kavya is an aspiring violinist, studying both Indian and Western classical styles. She also enjoys painting and, on quieter days, watching cat videos. Kavya hopes to have a fruitful interdisciplinary career merging the worlds she is involved with, to be an artist in a more excellent way.
Alena Corniea
Alena grew up dancing at a local studio in Waconia, MN. Within the last few years, she has performed in works by artists jess pretty, Carlo Antonio Villanueva, Dr. Ananya Chatterjea, the Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company, and 8:20 Dance Company. She is graduating this semester with a dance BFA and plans to continue exploring contemporary dance and teaching in Chicago as of next year.
Claudia Garcia (she/her)
Claudia is from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, and is in her fourth year as a journalism student with a dance minor at the U. Claudia is hoping to dance as much as she can before graduating to become a broadcast reporter. In her spare time, Claudia loves going to the movie theater, listening to music and DJing.
Mia Grim (she/her)
Mia is from Plymouth, Michigan. She is a Senior at the University of Minnesota pursuing a Dance BA. Mia is hoping to move to NYC in the near future and begin her performance career. Maybe on a cruise ship, maybe on Broadway, maybe touring with Tate McRae, which are all dreams of hers. Healthcare is another passion of Mia’s. Her long-term goal is to become an Occupational Therapist, so when she is not dancing, she spends her time at the Children’s Hospital working as a Rehab Technician.
Daisi Gomez
Daisi is a Sophomore at the University of Minnesota, pursuing a BA in Dance and a BA in Psychology. She grew up in Hammond, Indiana, and trained and competed in various styles of dance with a nearby studio from the ages of three till eighteen. Since coming to the University, Daisi has had the opportunity to perform in Fall UDT’24 and Spring UDT’25, as well as get to perform for a student work at ACDA this March. During her free time, Daisi loves spending time with friends and family, going to concerts, cooking and baking, and reading.
Katie Hatteberg (she/they)
Katie is from Roseville, Minnesota and is in their fourth year studying Dance, Creative Writing and Spirituality through a Bachelors of Individual Studies at the University of Minnesota.Katie is also a songwrite and musician looking forward to playing local shows this upcoming winter, as well as studying abroad in Auckland, New Zealand this spring.
Lindsey Hart (she/her)
Lindsey is a second year Dance major and Management minor at the University of Minnesota. She has experience with performing and teaching competitive dance at Marshall Academy of Dance in Marshall, Minnesota. After graduation, Lindsey hopes to further explore the Twin Cities dance community. In her free time, she enjoys going on coffee dates, taking naps, and being with the people she loves.
Ashley Hemschemeyer (she/her)
Ashley is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin and is in her Junior year at the University of Minnesota as a Dance BFA and Kinesiology student. Post-grad Ashley hopes to find a career in performance and/or choreography, as well as personal training. In her spare time, Ashley loves lifting, journaling and baking.
Sophie Houdek (she/her)
Sophie is from Maple Grove, Minnesota and is in her Senior year as a Dance and Strategic Communications: Advertising and PR Major at the University of Minnesota. Sophie is looking forward to graduating in Spring 2026 surrounded by family and friends. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with friends and bake banana bread.
Lucy Kavanagh
Lucy is from Bemidji, Minnesota and is a Sophomore at the University of Minnesota studying Dance and Human Physiology. A highlight of her college experience thus far has been joining the UBreak breakdance club. During her free time, Lucy enjoys spending time outside, playing piano, puzzling, and reading historical fiction.
Talia Marcus
Talia is a fourth year mover/maker in the dance program, and currently in their 6th UDT season. Marcus spent her first years of training in the Chicago-area, studying mostly codified techniques. Since then, she has appreciated interdisciplinary practices that allow for the breaking down of form. In her practice, she strives to foster spaces of joy, collaboration, and generosity. She believes in the power of intension space-making as a means to give to others and to the work.
Juliana Miller (she/her)
Juliana is from Plymouth, Minnesota. She is enjoying her first year as a Dancer Major/ Photography Minor at the University of Minnesota. Juliana also works as a Dance and Acrobatics Coach at The Awakening Dance and Gymnastics private lesson studio. She loves helping young competitive dancers build confidence and learn skills in a healthy and positive environment. Additionally, she enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as participating in community on campus service events with her sorority, Phi Mu.
Meghan Morgan (she/her)
Hailing for Pulaski, Wisconsin, Meghan is an honors Dance BFA and Global Studies Minor in her Senior year. This past spring, she spent four months in Auckland, New Zealand furthering her practice as a contemporary dance artist. Most notably, Meghan has danced in works by Carl Flink, Jordan Demetrius Lloyd, Eva Mohn, Taja Will, and Carlo Antonio Villanueva. Previously, she had two of her own pieces featured in University Dance Theatre: Always an Actress (2024) and land as One leave as Many (2025). As both a choreography and performer, Meghan values storytelling, intimate interdependence, and simulating relationships between audience and artists.
M.E Nieman
M.E. is a movement artist based in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Their work blends contemporary, post-modern, and street styles with ballistic movement to explore themes of direction, strength, focus, and the coexistence of the mind, spirit, and body along with works in social and political context. Trained at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, they have performed with the University Dance Theatre and Point Dance Ensemble. He is currently working towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance along with a Minor in Sports Coaching with hopes to bring his work to a larger audience.
Dylan Peterson (she/her)
Dylan is from Minneapolis, Minnesota in her final year as a double Major in Dance and Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Dylan is looking forward to connecting movement and mental health in her future career, as she believes movement. isa form of care and restoration. When Dylan is not in class, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family and cozying up with a good book or movie.
Lyle Pundt (He/Him)
Lyle is from Nowthen, Minnesota and this is his Junior year as a Dance Major and Economics Major at the University of Minnesota. Lyle is looking forward to continuing his career in the arts in any way that falls in his path. He also helps choreograph a local show choir and is always teaching others. Lyle enjoys being surrounded by dancers who enrich his movement.
Ella Quinn (She/Her)
Ella is from Madison, Wisconsin and is in her third year as a Dance BFA student at the University of Minnesota. Ella most recently performed at the Walker Art Center in Eduardo Navarro’s Cloud Museum and is looking forward to working on Martha Graham’s Steps In The Street to be performed at Northrop Auditorium in Febuary and The Unicorn, the Gorgon and the Manticore choreographed by Penelope Freeh, in collaboration
Cayenne Ramirez (She/Her)
Cayenne is a third year Dance Major from Saint Paul, Minnesota. In her time so far at the U of M, Cayenne has performed in works by Cynthia Oliver, Shakia "The Key" Barron, and Ananya Chatterjea. She is looking forward to working with the Martha Graham company for a project in the spring. After college Cayenne hopes to dance professionally and become a personal trainer. Outside of dance she enjoys spending time with friends and family.
Brett Rogers (He/Him)
Brett is from Minneapolis, MN and is currently in his Junior year studying Dance at the University of Minnesota. Brett is looking forward to continue to dance and perform, take classes as well as teach classes in hopes one day to open his own dance company. In his spare time, he enjoys taking walks outside, bike riding, working out, and cooking.
Patrice Rubian (She/Her)
Patrice is from Shakopee, Minnesota and breathes her Filipino culture through her artistry. She is in her third year of university as a Dance Major. She'll be graduating early this spring and has been grateful for the experiences in her short time with the dance program. Patrice is heavily involved in Choreos UMN Dance Community on campus and has been on the student board as an events and social media coordinator. Occasionally, she teaches and choreographs for Shakopee Just for Kix - the program that started her dance journey. Patrice enjoys exploring commercial dance styles and hopes to break into the commercial dance industry in the future. In her free time, she enjoys baking banana bread and bothering her siblings.
Sophia Seymour (She/Her)
Sophia is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is in her third year at University of Minnesota as a dance major with a focus in pre-physical therapy. Sophia is looking forward to exploring opportunities in the dance community while working towards becoming a physical therapist. In her spare time Sophia loves crafting, listening to music, and hanging with friends.
Kaelin Smith
Kaelin is from Broomfield, Colorado and is in her 1st year as a Nursing Major/Dance Major at the University of Minnesota. Kaelin plans to become a practicing nurse and hopefully join a Contemporary dance company. In her spare time she enjoys drawing and spending time with her family and friends.
Greta Soens (She/Her)
Greta is from Anoka, Minnesota. She is a Junior at the University of Minnesota studying Dance and Developmental Psychology. Greta is also a member of Crash Dance Productions' pre-professional program and enjoys taking on substitute roles at The Hothouse in Minneapolis. Greta loves sharing her passion for dance with others and being part of a creative, supportive community.
Delaina Thill
Delaina is from Shoreview, Minnesota, and is having a great time in her second year at the University of Minnesota. She is currently majoring in Kinesiology and Dance; after graduation, she hopes to provide physical therapy for dancers and have the opportunity to perform with a dance company. In her free time, Delaina enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, practicing photography, and attending dance classes in the community!
Olivia VanArk (She/Her)
Olivia is a dance artist from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, currently completing her senior year in the BFA Dance program. She is grateful for the many opportunities the program has offered, from working with guest artists and participating in student composition works to being part of the awesome Barker community. Olivia looks forward to carrying these experiences into the next steps of her career. Outside of dance, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, baking, and puzzling.
Desdemona Wang (She/Her)
Desdemona comes from Nanjing, China and is a freshman CS major/maybe dance minor at U of M. As an old school street dancer doing locking and soul dance, Desdemona is looking forward to exploring more dances she hasn’t tried before and sharing them with her friends and dance teachers in Nanjing. In her spare time, Desdemona wishes to sleep all the time because she is always tired.
Meredith Weston (She/Her)
Meredith is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin and is in her fourth and final year as a Dance and Psychology Major at the University of Minnesota. Meredith is looking to get her Master's degree in Social Work after graduation. Meredith enjoys spending her free time with friends and reading a good book. She is very grateful for this opportunity to dance and collaborate with so many amazing artists through UDT.
Sonja Williams
Sonja is from Andover, Minnesota and is currently a Junior studying Dance at the University of Minnesota. In the future, Sonja hopes to continue to both dance and travel, and if she can combine the two that would be ideal. This is her first year a part of UDT and is happy be here and to get the opportunity to grow as a dancer.
