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 Development Associate for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, while teaching dance technique and lecture courses part-time at SCC. Andrea joined Scorpius in 2008.

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

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 (13) and Leo (3).

Nicole Olson

Assistant Director

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

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 3 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 designer and grant writer. She’s recently taken up aerial dance training and loves to perform on the silks, trapeze, and lyra! Nancy 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 cheorgraphy 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.

Andrea Chesley

Andrea received her Associates in General Studies from GCC and her BFA in Dance (Choreography) from ASU. Andrea sings, acts, plays the piano but loves to dance. She was a dance finalist in the Young Artists Competition in 2003, won the Arizona Choreography Competition in 2004, and various professional companies have commissioned her work. She currently teaches and directs the dance program at Peoria High School. Andrea joined Scorpius in 2005.

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. This is her first season with Scorpius.

Christina Sheldon

Christina grew up dancing in Milwaukee, WI, where she trained and performed with the Milwaukee Dance Connection. She graduated from the U of A with a BFA in Dance and a BS in Business Administration/Accounting. Christina spent her last semester of college in New Zealand where she worked with the Auckland City Ballet. Upon moving to Phoenix in January ‘08, she had the opportunity to dance with the Arizona Opera for two seasons. She’s now employed as an auditor, simultaneously working on a CPA license…and DANCING! Christina joined Scorpius in 2008.

Tricia Vander Woude

Tricia graduated from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Dance. Tricia has performed with David Storey and Dancers in New York City and other independent companies in Chicago. She recently received her certification in Pilates from Long Beach Dance and Conditioning. She currently teaches and directs the dance program at New School for the Arts in Tempe, AZ. Tricia first joined Scorpius in 2000.

Victor Vela

Victor hails from Xenia, OH. He trained at the Cleo Parker Robinson School for two years in Denver, CO and went on to perform with Kim Robards Dance Company and Academy of Classical Ballet. Victor joined Scorpius in 2008.

© 2009 Scorpius Dance Theatre

Liliana Gomez

Lili has had great opportunity to work with Scorpius Dance Theatre, Desert Dance Theater, Aaron McGloin Dance, Garner-Gutierrez Dance, Instinct Dance Corps, Lizcasebolt & dancers, and Rayn Dance Theatre. She has also danced for The Phoenix Metropolitan Opera doing Aida (2008) and Carmen (2009). Liliana has set works on Conder/Dance, Scottsdale Community College’s Moving Company and Instinct Dance Corps. She is currently assistant director/choreographer of Dulce Dance Company and freelances around Phoenix. Lili is an arts advocate and helps produce art shows/benefits for the Phoenix downtown arts/dance scene. She also enjoys riding her bicycle to help the environment. Lili first joined Scorpius in 2003.

Rufus Rodriquez

Rufus began dancing at age 14 in the style of hip-hop, and was eventually introduced to modern dance at Camelback High School. At 17, he started training in ballet and jazz at Studio One Performing Arts Center. Rufus has also danced with Gravity Jazz Dance Theater and the Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad. Rufus was a dance soloist for the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera’s production of AIDA (2009). He has taught for a host of dance groups, studios, workshops, and high schools in Arizona and Wisconsin. Currently, he dances with Scorpius, Epik Dance Co, and NBA Phoenix Suns Solar Squad. Rufus’ first joined the company in 2007.

David Griswold

David Griswold started his dance training at Metropolitan Arts Institute. He has also trained and performed with Ballet Etudes and the SCC Dance Company. He has won two AriZoni Awards for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. In 2007, he moved to New York where he had the opportunity to perform at Madison Square Garden during NBA and WNBA games. David first joined the company in 2006 and is VERY happy to be back this season!

Alexis Peralta

Apprentice

Alexis started dancing at the age of 14 in Honolulu, Hawai’i.  When she moved to Phoenix her freshman year she continued to train under Nicole Olson and Lisa Starry at The Metropolitan Arts Institute. During that time she performed in several Metro-Arts produced plays and dance concerts. Alexis also had the opportunity to dance in Phoenix Metropolitan Opera’s production of AIDA (2009).  Upon her HS graduation in June of 2009, she received the “Dance Award” for being the most dedicated dancer. This is her first season apprenticing with Scorpius Dance Theatre, and she plans to attend the UofA in the Fall of 2010 for dance and psychology.

Martha Patricia “Patty” Hernandez

Apprentice

Patty graduated from Metro-Arts in 2007 at the age of 16, where she was a member of their dance department for two years. Currently, she is attending Glendale Community College where she trains with Lenna DeMarco and Teal Darkenwald and their dance company 'Physical Graffiti.' Patty is very excited to be apprenticing with Scorpius Dance Theater. In her spare time she paints, participates in theater and choreographs. Patty has won several awards for solos and group choreography pieces. She thanks her family, friends, and God for supporting her love for dance and the arts.

Edgar Soto Garcia

Guest

Edgar (Dancer/Actor/Hairstylist) has been dancing for over 14 years. His expertise lies in hip-hop and breakdancing but he has trained in modern, jazz, and ballet as well. Edgar has also dabbled in martial arts, such as Chinese Kung-Fu and Brazilian Capoeria, which he often incorporates into his choreographic work. He is a founding member in Rulan Tangen's "Dancing Earth" Indigenous Dance Company -- a contemporary native dance and cultural art group. Edgar has been a guest artist with Scorpius Dance Theatre off and on for most of his career and he considers Lisa Starry a mentor and dear friend. He is pleased to be working with the company once again.