The Dancers

photo: Katie Gardner

Founder, Artistic Director

 

Sadie Weinberg

As a second generation dancer and dancemaker in San Diego, I spent a lot of time in studios watching my mom teach, choreograph and dance. After watching a rehearsal as a teenager at California Ballet, I knew what the rest of my life would be about. I dove in completely, training primarily in ballet and because of my mom’s insistence, in modern. I completed her BFA at the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College in 1999 where I was influenced by Neil Greenberg, Doug Varone and Kevin Wynn among others. Since moving back to San Diego in 2002, I have produced and presented an evening of work every year and have toured my work nationally and internationally. As a dancer, I worked briefly with Gina Gibney while in New York, and have 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, I have taught for two decades throughout San Diego in high schools, studios, colleges and universities including. I am currently on faculty at MiraCosta, Palomar and UC San Diego. In 2018, I founded LITVAKdance along with core group of homegrown dancers I met as an educator in local institutions.

Photo credit: Wren Polansky of Sadie with the original LITVAKdance ensemble

current LITVAKDancers

Ashley Akhavan

Dance has been my greatest joy since my parents put me in my first class when I was 2 years old. I continued to study dance at MiraCosta College before joining Litvak as an original member in 2017. I received a BA in Dance from SDSU, and an MA ub Professional Communication from USF. Alongside dancing with Litvak, I currently work as an accountant for a semiconductor business, and teach dance & fitness classes. For LITVAK, I have worked as outreach coordinator, collaborating with school leaders and districts to bring dance enrichment projects to elementary schools in underserved communities, led classes for high schools. I have also collaborated with our artistic director to develop content for obtaining grants. Photo: Doug McMinimy

Nicole Kim

My movement journey began with a decade of dancing hula in Encinitas, then shifted to studio dance in middle through high school—where I grew a deep love for contemporary dance. I graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a BFA in Art & Design, and later resumed my dance training at MiraCosta College. Apart from dance, I’m a full-time graphic designer. In the days to come, I hope to discover avenues to find and share healing through the arts. Photo: Ana Ramirez

Nick McGhee

I started dancing at age 15 at Canyon Crest Academy. After attending MiraCosta College, I received my BFA in dance from Cal State Long Beach. While there, I had the opportunity to perform for several esteemed choreographers such as, Keith Johnson, Kevin Williamson, and Micaela Taylor. Along with performing for LITVAKdance, I also work as a server at a brunch restaurant, I dabble in graphic design, and perform with other dance companies in the San Diego region. Photo: Doug McMinimy

April Tra

My dance training began at age 5. I found my way to performing for many years with Eveoke Dance Theater before obtaining my B.A. in Dance Performance from the UC Irvine. I am a founding member of LITVAKdance, though I have danced for Sadie for quite some time. In addition, I have had the opportunity to train with or perform works by Kathryn Irey, Ericka Moore, Donald McKayle, Jess Humphrey, Eric Geiger, Marcos Duran, Gina and Kyle Sorenson, Kathleen Hermesdorf, William Forsythe, Jennifer Archibald, Tamisha Guy, and Kyle Abraham. Outside of dance, I work as a Department of Justice accredited representative at a local nonprofit providing legal services to the immigrant community. I am excited to contribute a piece for the upcoming show! Photo: Doug McMinimy