The Dancers
photo: Jenny Wingrove
Founder/Artistic Director
Sadie Weinberg
As a second-generation dancer, Sadie spent a lot of time in the studio as a young person, but didn’t start her own training until high school. In high school, she trained mostly in ballet at California Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego and Hammonds Studio of Dance. She completed her BFA at the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College in 1999 where I was influenced by Neil Greenberg, Kazuko Hirabayashi, Doug Varone and Kevin Wynn among others. After moving back to San Diego in 2002, she produced and presented an evening of work every year and toured her work nationally and internationally. As a dancer, she worked briefly with Gina Gibney while in New York, and performed locally in San Diego as a company member with Malashock Dance, McCaleb Dance, Jean Isaac's San Diego Dance Theater, Yolande Snaith's ImagoMoves, and other independent dancemakers. Since completing her MFA at UC Irvine in 2005, she has taught for two decades throughout San Diego in high schools, studios, colleges and universities. She is currently on faculty at MiraCosta, Palomar and UC San Diego.
In 2018, Sadie founded LITVAKdance along with core group of homegrown dancers she met as an educator in local institutions.
Photo credit: Ana Ramirez
Current Dancers
Photos: Jennifer Curry Wingrove, Katie Gardner
Ashley Akhavan
Hometown: Valley Center, CA
Ashley Akhavan is a San Diego native that took her first dance class at the age of two, but received some of her most influential training at Mira Costa College before joining LitvakDance as an original company member in 2017. She holds a B.A. in Dance from SDSU and a M.A. in Corporate Communications from USF, and works as a Communications Specialist and teaches fitness and dance classes in North County.
Lulu Arellano
Hometown: Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines
Lulu Arellano is a classically trained Cecchetti ballet and Philippine folk dancer from the Philippines. She moved to the US in 2022 to pursue her BA in dance in California State University, Fullerton where she furthered her training in ballet, modern, contemporary, and Afrocuban. Currently, she is pursuing her Masters degree in Environmental Science, while juggling performing, and teaching dance.
Jordan Daley
Hometown: Bloxom, VA
Jordan began his dance training at the University of California San Diego, where he received a BA in Dance and a BS in Cognitive Science. After graduation, he would join Litvak Dance as the start of his professional dance career. Having recently completed a Master’s in Library and Information Science, he is working as a technology librarian and community organizer/activist.
Mya Dixon
Hometown: Pauma Valley, CA
Mya(she/her) is a Payómkawichum (Pauma band) artist, dancer, and aspiring choreographer. She recently graduated with her B.F.A. in modern dance from the University of Utah in 2023 with a minor in Native American Studies. This will be Mya’s second time performing with Litvak. Outside of dance, Mya works at a nature inspired retreat/ regenerative farm & creates jewelry.
Emily Hrea
Hometownn: Encinitas, CA
Emily started dancing at six years old at Ballet Arte in Solana Beach, where she trained in classical ballet. At Canyon Crest Academy, she joined the Dance Conservatory and discovered her love of contemporary dance. Emily continued dancing at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, joining the Orchesis Dance Company, while obtaining her BS in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting, Dance minor. Outside of dance, she works for PricewaterhouseCoopers, in their assurance practice.
Nicole Kim
Hometown: Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Nicole Kim began her dance journey at age 4, dancing hula at Kehulili O Kailani in Encinitas for ten years, then trained in contemporary, hip hop, and ballet at Danceology PAC. She holds a BFA in Art & Design from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and an AA in dance from MiraCosta College. Outside of dance, she is a full time graphic designer working in the music industry.
Nick McGhee
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Nick McGhee is a San Diego-based dance artist who began his training in 2015 at Canyon Crest Academy. He continued his studies at MiraCosta College before earning his BFA in Dance from California State University, Long Beach. During his time at CSULB, Nick worked professionally in Los Angeles. He has since returned to San Diego, where he dances with LITVAKdance. Outside of the studio, Nick works as a bartender and freelance graphic designer.
Hannah Wyer
Hometown: Atsugi, Japan
Hannah was introduced to the world of dance through ballet classes at the age of 3 in Atsugi, Japan. She continued her dance training in San Diego and graduated from San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. She has performed with Philadanco (Philadelphia Dance Company) and San Diego Dance Theater prior to performing with LITVAKdance. Outside of dance, Hannah works full time as an administrative specialist in defense and diversified technology.