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 almost two decades throughout San Diego in high schools, studios, colleges and universities including, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, Cal State San Marcos, MiraCosta College, Palomar College and Coronado School of the Arts. I founded LITVAKdance in 2018 on a core group of homegrown dancers I met as an educator in local institutions.

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

current LITVAKDancers

Photo Credit: Ana Maria Ramirez

Ashley Akhavan, company dancer

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.

Amanda Grunloh, guest

I started dancing at the age of four in Vista, California. My dance journey started with tap and I found hip hop, ballet, and jazz later. While earning my BFA in Dance from CSU Long Beach, I explored modern, improvisation, composition, and physical theatre. I’ve performed in Guatemala and two International Fringe Festivals. I am currently exploring other artistic mediums like music composition, performance art, costume design, and glass blowing. I also studied Event Planning and Management in college. I’m so grateful to be be performing with LITVAK this season.

Mya Dixon, guest

Thanks to my mom who has always shared her love of dance with me, my dance journey began when I was two years old and eventually inspired me to pursue my BFA in modern dance from the University of Utah. While there, I had the opportunity to learn from Natalie Desch, Satu Hummasti, Molly Heller, and Daniel Clifton. I’m so thankful to be able to perform with LITVAK this fall!

Nicole Kim, guest

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 freelance graphic designer, work at a ceramics studio, and teach kids’ hip hop classes. In the days to come, I hope to discover avenues to find and share healing through the arts.

Jordan Daley, company dancer

My dance journey started in college. I majored in dance as well as human computer interaction at the University of California San Diego, which is also when I started dancing for the first time! Shortly after graduating I joined Litvak and am currently training while working for a local studio. Dancing with the company has not only helped me continue dancing, but also cemented my desire to find ways to work within my community. I was inspired to pursue and currently studying for a Masters program in Library and Information Science to start a career centered on community and technology!

Cecily Holcombe, guest

My dance journey began in college when I took my first modern dance class at UCSD while majoring in physics. After college, I have performed professionally with Liss Fain Dance in San Francisco, San Diego Dance Theater, and other local choreographers. I spend my time outside of dance working with students with learning differences in math, science, and post-secondary support. I’m thrilled to perform with LITVAK for the first time this fall season.

Ray Nelson, guest

In my family, they say I have been dancing as long as I have been breathing. As a young dancer, I danced at Dance Workshop of Hanover before moving cross country. In my teen years, I was honored to be part of the dance conservatory at Coronado School of the Arts, training in modern dance under Betzi Roe. California State University Fullerton is where I pursued my BA in Dance which gave me the opportunity to work with many choreographers including Clarence Brooks, Samantha Géracht, and Heidi Latsky. I have spent the last year training and performing with Boston Dance Theater, learning work from Jenny Oliver, Cynthia McLaughlin, Jessie Jean Stinnett and culminating in performances at The Newport Dance Festival. Outside of dance, you can find me teaching Barre classes, subbing for dance classes and reading in my free time. I intend to go back to school to further my dance education in pursuit of the goal of teaching at a college level.

Nick McGhee, company dancer, graphic design support

I started dancing at age 15 in high school. After attending Mira Costa 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 am now studying to get my yoga certification. I also plan to go back to school to study psychology and one day get my license to practice therapy

Natalia Pinpin, guest

At the age of six, I began dancing at my hometown YMCA and through high school, furthered my studies at a local ballet studio. I proceeded to train at the University of California, Irvine, where I received Bachelor’s degrees in Dance and Computer Science. Upon graduating, I embarked on a career in the tech industry as a software engineer. I continued to dance in my free time at MiraCosta College through which I was introduced to Sadie and the dancers of LITVAK.

Hannah Wyer: company dancer, social media

I started my dance journey at the age of 3 at a local studio in Japan then continued my training in ballet upon relocating to San Diego. I graduated from SDSCPA where I trained in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, and contemporary. I was an apprentice with Philadanco in 2017 and then danced for San Diego Dance Theater as a company dancer from 2018 - 2020. I joined LITVAK as a guest performer in fall of 2021 and am so excited to be starting another season as a company dancer! Outside of dance, I work as an office administrator and enjoy my downtime spent with my husband and family.


Erica Ruse, former company dancer (visiting performer)

I grew up dancing in the Central Valley, California and majored in dance at UCSD. I spent my junior year abroad in London studying at Trinity Laban. After college I worked professionally with San Diego Dance Theater and other local choreographers and companies before joining Litvak in 2019. I spend my time outside of dance partnering with my husband in raising our two children.

Jacqueleen Schweighardt, former company dancer (visiting performer)

My dance journey began in San Diego with ballet when I was 3 years old. As my passion grew I explored many styles but ultimately found a love for contemporary modern dance. I received my BFA in Contemporary Dance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee ‘20. I completed the LimónPro pre professional program in ‘21 and joined LITVAKdance in the fall of 2022. I am interested in continuing to grow in dance as well as learning different forms of movement.