Sam Duran

Sam graduated from the Metro Arts where he first met Lisa Starry. He continued his education and training at California Institute for the Arts where he received his BFA in dance. Upon graduating, he became a soloist for Pasadena Dance Theater. He has also participated in workshops and trained with Limon Dance Company, Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. He currently teaches dance at Metro Arts, Arizona School for the Arts and Sam performed as guest artist with Scorpius through the years; however, he officially joined the company in 2007.

David Starry

Cofounder + Production Manager

David discovered dance (and his wife) in high school and majored in Dance at the University of Arizona. He is a true product of the 1980s dance craze. David commits his energy and talents as an extreme performer, digital artist, and makeup designer. Away from the company he is the building manager for Metropolitan Arts Institute, loving husband to Lisa, and proud father to their boys, Christian (15) and Leo (5).

Nicole Olson

Rehearsal/Production Associate Director 1

Nicole received her BFA in Dance from the University of WI-Stevens Point after attending Milwaukee Ballet School. She has worked with numerous dance companies throughout Milwaukee and Chicago, and has received recognition for her choreographic endeavors. Currently, she directs the dance department at Metropolitan Arts Institute. Nicole joined Scorpius in 2000.

Nancy Lynn Miller

Administration Associate Director + Aerial Trainer

Nancy earned a Professional Certificate in Dance from MIAET as one of six initiate dancers with Instinct Dancecorps. She lived in New York City for 2.5 years, dancing with independent choreographers, performing in various exciting locations such as City Center in Manhattan and Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn. Nancy holds a BA in English and is now a freelance graphic designer and photographer [poshcreative.com]. She serves as Scorpius’ resident marketing designer. She has trained in aerial dance for the past 3 years and loves to perform on the silks and lyra. Nancy welcomed her son, Merritt, into the world in June 2011 and is thoroughly enjoying motherhood. She first joined Scorpius in 1999 as one if its original company members.

Maggie Cortez

Maggie received her Associates in Fine Arts from GCC and graduated in May 2007 with her BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Performance from ASU. Maggie is trained in various dance techniques. She enjoys running, swimming, hiking, and loves taking pictures. Maggie joined Scorpius in 2003 and has loved every minute of it!

James Marinaro

James began dancing at the age of 15 at Tempe High School. He continued his dance education at Turning Pointe Dance Academy and Studio One Performing Arts Center in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the recent winner of an AriZoni Award for his choreography in the production of “Twlight’s Quest” at Phoenix Children’s Youth Theatre. He currently coaches Junior Varsity cheer at Peoria High School. James joined Scorpius in 2004.

Kalli Schmuecker

Kalli grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and went on to graduate from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in May 2006 with a B.A. in dance and a minor in psychology. After graduation, Kalli spent the fall of 2006 dancing and living in NYC. Upon returning to Minneapolis, she has enjoyed dancing throughout the city in various projects – including the Minnesota Fringe Festival, University of Minnesota Opera Theatre, a reconstruction of Trisha Brown’s Planes at the Walker Art Museum, Rainy Day Cabaret, and spent 2006-2008 as an apprentice and performer with Carl Flink’s Black Label Movement. This summer she completed her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at the U of MN and recently relocated to Phoenix. Kalli joined Scorpius in 2009.

© 2010 Scorpius Dance Theatre

Tawny Hyster

Tawny grew up dancing in Rosemount, MN. She went on to earn her B.F.A in Dance from the Univ. of Minnesota- Twin Cities in 2009. Tawny received her Yoga Teaching certification in 2009 from Core Power Yoga- Minneapolis, MN. She has worked with various choreographers in and out of the college such as Joanie Smith, Daniel Shapiro, Carl Flink, Paula Mann, Toni Pierce-sands and Uri Sands, Nathan Trice, Doug Varone and John Beasant among others. Through 2007-2010 she was involved with Shapiro and Smith Dance as an apprentice and a stage manager. She continued stage managing for the company and others, incuding Black Label Movement and Ananya Dance Theater. Summer of 2010, Tawny participated in a dance team for a Semi-Pro Football Team in Minnetonka, MN. She relocated to Phoenix in 2010. She first joined Scorpius that year as an apprentice and became a company member in 2011.

Angel Castro

Angel started his career in the arts at a young age when he began to study acting and musical theater. It wasn't until his senior year in high school, at the age of 18, when he started dancing. His training started at the South Mountain High School dance magnet. Upon graduating in 2008, he auditioned and was admitted to the ASU School of Dance where he is currently pursuing his BFA in Dance. In 2009, Angel performed with Aaron McGloin Dance and Dulce Dance Company. He is currently dancing with EPIK Dance Company and Scandalesque. Angel joined Scorpius in 2010.

Jose Soto

Jose graduated from Maryvale High School where he started his dance training at the age of 17 with Ms. Elizabeth Roper in ballet. He has been a company member of Center Dance Ensemble and was a member of Epik Dance Company for 3 years. He has worked with the Mercury Hip Hop Squads for two seasons and the NBA. Jose has choreographed for The Arizona Sidewinders Dance Team (NFL) and has worked with many high schools around the valley. Jose has participated in a “My45” Commercial, Ms. Asia Arizona Pageants and Celebration of Dance. Right now, Jose teaches at 3 dance studios while performing with Scorpius and Scandalesque. Although he has been involved as a guest artist with Scorpius, his first official season with the company started in 2010.

Cynthia Tom

Cynthia began her dance training in ballet, tap, and jazz at Dance World Academy in New Jersey at the age of 3.  From there she moved on to study modern dance at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. She has performed for the Krannert Center for the Arts, NBC's Today Show, Tap Dance Extravaganza, and participated in one of Bob Rizzo Educational Dance videos.  Loving mother to a 2-year old boy, Cynthia enjoys all aspects of the arts including dance, painting, music, and culinary arts. She joined Scorpius in 2010.

Bridgette Caron

Bridgette graduated from Arizona State University in 2007 with a BFA in Dance Choreography. While studying dance in college, she had the honor of playing Division I softball for San Diego State University and finishing her career at Arizona State University. Bridgette danced in 32 Flavors Dance Company and taught Ballroom lessons at Arthur Murray Dance Studio upon graduation. Perhaps her most ambitious endeavor was establishing her own Massage Therapy Practice in Phoenix in 2009. Bridgette joined Scorpius in 2010.

Elisa Marie Reed

Elisa is a Phoenix native. She started dancing at Scottsdale Community College where she performed with SCC Moving Company and SAJE. She then finished her BFA at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA where she performed with Cornish Dance Theatre, Acorn Dance and in multiple student works. Upon graduating she moved to Chicago where she danced with Zephyr Dance Ensemble and trained with various companies in the area. She then moved to Indianapolis and trained with Dance Kaleidoscope. Elisa loves performing and choreographing.  She is very excited to be back in Phoenix and dancing with Scorpius. She first joined Scorpius in 2010 as an apprentice and became a company member in 2011.

Jaylene Verhaagen

Jaylene started dancing at the age of three training in various styles of dance. Upon graduating high school, she received the Senior Dance Scholarship award. Currently, she is attending GCC working on an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts. She is a dance teacher at Groove Theory Dance Project, teaching ballet and contemporary. She first joined Scorpius in 2010 as an apprentice and became a company member in 2011.

Jeremiah Jenkins

Jeremiah Jenkins graduated from Metropolitan Arts Institute with his focus in dance. For the past two years he has trained with Nicole Olson and worked with Lisa Starry. He is now continuing his dance education at Scottsdale Community College and plans to transfer to Columbia University in Chicago within the next few years. He first joined Scorpius in 2010 as an apprentice and became a company member in 2011.

Rufus Rodriquez

Rufus "Rufio" Rodriquez, a Phoenix native, is a dancer and choreographer currently in his 4th season with Scorpius Dance Theatre and Epik Dance Company. In his six years as a professional dancer he has worked with Gravity Jazz Dance Theate, WNBA Phoenix Mercury, NBA Phoenix Suns, AZ Rattlers, and the Phoenix Opera. He has taught many students over the years at a host of high schools and studios across the valley through guest teaching, master classes, and workshops. Rufus first joined Scorpius in 2006.

Rianna Rhoads

Rianna, a graduate of Metro Arts, attended California Institute of the ARTS (CALARTS). She has worked with Brooklyn-based choreographer, Jeanine Durning, performing the work entitled, "Heart," at REDCAT and performed Ann Reinkings "Cool Hand Luke.” She is grateful to be able to pursue a career in dance and hopes to travel throughout the world…"I see dance being used as communication between body and soul, to express what is too deep to find for words." -Ruth St. Denis. Rianna is delighted to be a member of this company. She first joined Scorpius in 2009.

Gavin Sisson

Rehearsal/Production Associate Director 2

Gavin is originally from Belleville Illinois. He began his professional career at the age of 18 for the St Louis MUNY Theatre, America’s largest outdoor amphitheater. He worked with MADCO from 1998-2002 before moving to New York. In New York he worked with several small companies and was then hired as one of six select dancers for the Erick Hawkins Dance Company.  In 2005 a dream came true for Gavin, as he performed classic original works choreographed by Mr. Hawkins, at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Gavin returned to MADCO in 2007 as a principle dancer, where he most recently worked with Frank Chaves (River North Dance Co), Robert Battle (artistic director of Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre), and Janice Garrett (Janice Garrett & Dancers). He also served as a teaching artist for the St Louis ArtWorks, a nationally recognized program that uses the arts to provide job training skills for youth in need. This is Gavin’s first season with the company.

Nick McEntire

Nick started his dance training under the tutelage of Nicole Olson at the Metropolitan Arts institute in 2005, where he studied Ballet and Modern Dance. After his first year of dancing he was given a full tuition scholarship to the school of Ballet Arizona's summer intensive, and continued to study at Ballet Arizona the following year. After graduating from Metro Arts with an award for Best Performing Artist in Dance, Nick was accepted to the University of Arizona School of Dance, where he studied Jazz, Ballet and Modern. Nick joined Scorpius in 2011.

Natasha Telemaque (Apprentice)

Natasha began training in gymnastics at the age of 7. It was while studying tumbling at On Stage Dance Academy that she discovered dance.  She continued her training at On Stage, Moon Valley HS, Glendale Community College, Ballet AZ, Center Dance Ensemble, and Scorpius Dance Theatre. She now teaches at Elite Dance Academy in Peoria. This is her first season apprenticing with Scorpius.

Miguel Lerma (Apprentice)

An Arizona native, Miguel was inspired to start dancing after watching Britney Spear’s music video "Stronger" in 4th grade. He began to seriously train as a freshman year in high school and was a member of the Maryvale Dance Company. He is in his senior year as a Dance Education Major at ASU. Miguel has also worked with AZ Hype, Aaron McGloin Dance (apprentice), and currently, NoLimitz Dance Crew. This past summer he was awarded a scholarship to dance in NY for a month with Movement Research: MELT Workshop. He aspires to move to Los Angeles to tour with major artists and perform in music videos, eventually choreographing and directing tours. This is Miguel’s first season apprenticing with Scorpius.

Celia Duran (Apprentice)

Celia began dancing at Peoria High School where she trained with Kim Denson and Andrea Chesley. She studied ballet at Coconino Community College for one school year and took a semester of ballet at Estrella Mountain Community College with Regina Owens. This is Celia’s first season apprenticing with Scorpius.

Joey Hall

Joey has been dancing since 2005 when he started training under Lisa Starry and Nicole Olson at Metropolitan Arts Institute. In 2008, he moved to California to study dance at California Insititute for the Arts. Joey has performed with Scorpius as a guest artist over the years. He is happy to be back and excited to dance with Scorpius again.

Andrea Hashim

Andrea is a native of Bakersfield, CA, where she trained under the Royal Academy of Dance method. She received her BA in Dance, with a concentration in Teaching/Choreography, minor in Political Science from Mercyhurst College, and her MFA at the U of A in Choreography. Andrea has performed with many ballet and modern dance companies, including Lake Erie Ballet (PA), Ballet Concerto (TX), and 32 Flavors Dance (AZ). In addition to her dance training, Andrea has been an arts researcher, presenter, board member, and Capitol Hill lobbyist. Andrea currently works as the Dance Program Director at Glendale Community College. Andrea joined Scorpius in 2008.