Emily Haussler (she/her) is the Artistic and Executive Director of RESILIENCE Dance Company (RDC), founded in 2019 in St. Louis, MO. Overall, her work centers on building healthier, more sustainable dance communities by equipping dancers with resources for their mental health, physical wellbeing, and artistic success. She believes in the power of collaboration and in challenging the toxic norms of the dance world, seeking to create engaging, visceral dance works inside of healthy dance spaces. Her full-length choreographic works for the company include Instead of waiting, they weave (2025), Falling Forward (2024), Come With Me (2023), All Times At Once (2022), Making Room (2021), and Stanzas & Sculptures (2020). Her notable short works have been shown in St. Louis, MO (Washington University, The Link Auditorium), Kansas City, MO (The Gem Theater), Detroit, MI (Detroit Institute of the Arts), Cape Girardeau, MO (Southeast Missouri State University), Nashville, TN (The Looby Theater), and Durham, NC (American Dance Festival). Furthermore, her dance film, There Are No Rules, was shown at Exchange Choreography Festival 2020. She has danced professionally with Common Thread Contemporary Ballet (2017) and Emily Duggins (2020), and as a trainee with Nashville Ballet (2018) and The Big Muddy Dance Company (2019) prior to founding RDC. She has taught master classes at St. Louis University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Washington University, Lindenwood University, Principia College, Southeast Missouri State University, the Missouri Dance Organization Conference, and the American College Dance Association Conference. Emily holds a B.A. in Dance and Biology from Washington University in St. Louis where she was the recipient of the Ian D. Cramer Prize for Dance (2018) and the Marcus Artist in Residence Award (2022).

Alice Anders is originally from Fort Smith, AR. After completing her Bachelor’s Fine Arts in Dance and minor in Technical Theatre she came to Saint Louis. She was a trainee for Saint Louis Dance Theatre and started working as a theatre electrician for COCA, Touhill Center for the Performing Arts, and the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts. She is also the production manager for Ballet 314. This is her third season working with Resilience Dance Company and she’s looking forward to another great season.

e-GoS (Gabriel Vianello) (Composer & Musician) is an experimental producer, composer, and musician based in St. Louis, Missouri. With a background in sound recording and engineering, e-GoS takes inspiration from improvisational jazz and electronic music, creating an otherworldly sound landscape through the use of looping pedals and percussive instruments, complemented by the movement of modern dancers. The twenty-four year old artist isn't afraid to explore new realms of creative expression, always evoking a sense of wonder and playfulness in his work.

Terra graduated from Texas A&M University in 2024 with a BS in Kinesiology: Dance Science and a minor in Choreography. They were able to perform and choreograph in many capacities there: most notably presenting their own work for adjudication at ACDA. They were also on staff for MA Dance, a company member for Brazos Dance Collective, and a teacher at many studios throughout Texas and now Chicagoland. Terra moved to Chicago last fall to work as a trainee with Visceral Dance Chicago. They now dance for Noumenon Dance Ensemble and Hot Crowd Dance! They’ve had the opportunity to work with many notable choreographers, including, but not limited to, Nick Pupillo, Braeden Barnes, Kaia Olsen, Megan Rhodes, Carisa Armstrong, Diane Bedford, Elijah Gibson, Abby Williams Chin, Jane Weiner, Andy Noble, and Stephanie Pizzo.

Maya Villanueva (she/they) is a Chicago-based freelance dance artist. She holds a BA in Dance and a BS in Exercise Science from the University of Iowa, where they performed works by Martha Graham, Melinda Jean Myers, Tony Orrico, Stephanie Miracle, Kieron Dwayne Sargeant and others. Maya recently performed with Synapse Arts under the direction of INSÉKTA (Camila Rivero Pooley) and has received additional training from Co/Motion Dance, Symbiosis Arts, Kizuna Dance, and Gibney.

Kyra Laster is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher based in Chicago, Illinois. She is a graduate of Western Michigan University where she received a BFA in Dance and a BBA in Marketing. During her time at WMU, Kyra participated in numerous Department of Dance concerts where she performed works choreographed by faculty, peers, and guest artists BAIRA and Mike Esperanza. In 2019, she became the Artistic Director of Hip Hop ConnXion Michigan, a branch of the professional hip hop company based in Chicago. Kyra currently is a company member with Hot Crowd and Dance In The Parks in addition to being Studio Manager American Dance Center and Program Manager for Dance City Festival.

Lauren Janney is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher currently based in Chicago, IL. Originally from Rochester Hills, MI, Lauren graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Music minor from Western Michigan University. During her time there she performed in works from many renowned choreographers such as Yin Yue, Jackie Nowicki, Bryan and Shaina Baira, and Mike Esperanza, as well as performing in multiple faculty pieces and being a part of Western Dance Project. She moved to Chicago shortly after to pursue more opportunities in dance performance and choreography. She is currently a company member with Hot Crowd Dance, as well as a teacher with American Dance Center. Since then she has showcased her dancing and choreography all over the Chicago region. Her movement quality and choreography strives to enhance musicality and break the barriers between various styles. Lauren grew up as a versatile dancer studying and performing styles such as ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, and acro, as well as indulging in musical theater productions. In addition to everything in her dance career, she has also been greatly inspired by her background in music/vocal performance. She can belt out a note if needed, and will forever fan girl over Broadway and Glee.

Gabriela Chauta is a dancer currently residing in Chicago, Illinois. Gabriela graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in modern from Kennesaw State University (KSU) in May of 2024. In her time as a dance major at KSU, she worked under choreographers such as Andrea Knowlton, Autumn Eckman, Caitlin Gray, Lisa K. Lock and Lior Lazarof. Gabriela was also a part of the collegiate program with ALA Dance under Atarius Armstrong and was a guest artist and company member with SOMOS Dance Company under the direction of Angelita Andrade during her late college years. More opportunities that Gabriela was a part of include being a dance extra in FOX television series Monarch, being a part of a dance film directed by Bubba Carr and assisted by Danni Heverin and being able to be a dance double in the Disney television series called Just Beyond. To continue her training post grad, she went to summer intensives with companies such as Hubbard Street, Visceral, Bodytraffic, Flockworks, Hotcrowd, and was a part of the Visceral Dance Chicago Trainee Program for a year under Caitlin Cucchiara. In her time as a trainee she worked with choreographers Abdiel Figueroa Reyes, Megan Rhodes, Braeden Barnes and Nick Pupillo. Currently Gabriela is a freelance dancer in Chicago who is constantly searching for the pursuit of artistic opportunities in the city.

Soraya Cohen (she/her) was born and raised in Ames, IA where she trained at Performance Dance Centre under the direction of Shelby Droste. She went on to attend the University of Iowa to pursue a BFA in Dance alongside a BA in International Studies and a minor in French. Throughout her studies, she’s had the pleasure of performing in works by Aaron Samuel Davis, Martha Graham, Duane Lee Holland Jr., Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Stephanie Miracle, Melinda Jean Myers, and Snack Break Movement Arts. She is thrilled to be joining Resilience Dance Company for their 2025-26 Season!

Josiah Gundersen (he/him) began his dance training at Studio West Dance Academy in Olympia, Washington when he was 15, though he's been dancing his entire life. In 2015 he relocated to St. Louis to attend Webster University where he graduated with a BFA in Modern Dance (2019). Since graduating, Josiah became a founding member of Resilience Dance Company and has collaborated extensively with independent choreographers Emily Duggins and Jacob Henss. Josiah is an active choreographer, most recently creating a work for Webster University which was chosen to be performed at the ACDA Gala. He is also a contributing dance writer for St. Louis Dance HQ. When he is not dancing, you can find Josiah exploring different neighborhoods of St. Louis and giving walking history tours for the Missouri History Museum.

Nathan Krueger (he/him) began dancing at the age of 6 at Pressor Preforming Arts Center in Mexico Missouri. As his family moved through Missouri his training continued through multiple other dance schools in the area including Premiere Dance Academy and Springfield Ballet. Before attending college he trained in Houston Texas at Uptown Dance Center further solidifying his love for dance and the creation of art. He decided to pursue Dance and attended Southeast Missouri State University and trained all four years in the BFA Dance Program led by Hilary Peterson. While attending SEMO he learned from many different teachers including Hilary Peterson, Philip Edgecombe, Alyssa Alger, Thomas Proctor, Ashley Tate and Arianna Russ. He is so excited to be able to dance, create, and grow with Resilience Dance Company in his second season with the company!

Ana (she/her) is native of a small town outside Chicago, began dancing at age three, and moved to Madison, WI at 14 to train at Monona Academy of Dance under Artistic Director JoJean Retrum. She danced competitively and pre-professionally with Dance Wisconsin, performing works by choreographers Anthony Cannarella, Chelsey Bradley, Danielle Fuhrmann, Ashley Christensen, Miye Bishop, Imani English, and Elise Jessup. She was awarded 1st Place Senior Contemporary at Youth America Grand Prix Chicago and named Senior Outstanding Soloist for three consecutive years by Regional Dance America MidStates. To expand her training, she studied Urban Dance styles at Barrio Dance in Madison. After high school, Ana joined The Grainger Academy of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago as a Contemporary Ballet Trainee under Director Katlin Michael Bourgeois, performing works by Manoela Goncalves, Jainil Mehta, and as a soloist in a piece set by Martha Nichols. ​ Ana most recently trained under Rachel Nye at the Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School and was a company member with RACE Dance Collective under Executive Director Sheri Hayden and Founder Hui Cha Poos. Her recent performances include CURE-8 (choreographers: Alex Schooling and Jessica Cajina), The In-Between (director and choreographer: Luis Rojas), RACE’s Hip Hop Nutcracker (project director: LaKeysta Goree), Bonded: Licensed to Dance (director: Hui Cha Poos), and the Bridge Choreography Initiative, where she both performed and choreographed. ​ Ana is beyond excited to begin her first season with Resilience!

Brittany Latta, originally from the Chicago suburbs, received her BA in Dance at Western Michigan University. She trained intensively in ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop, fusing the techniques together to create a unique style. Her Holistic Health Care minor compliments her dance portfolio by providing a distinctive understanding of movement mechanics in the human body, creating methods in approaching performance through a mind-body connection to herself and those around her. While in undergrad she worked with renowned choreographers Gabrielle Lamb and Rennie Harris as well as under WMU faculty members David Curwen, Whitney Moncrief and Monique Haley. At WMU she received the Luscombe Grant where she was able to collaborate with composers, musicians and poets, which further supported her dance endeavors. Post grad, Brittany trained as a scholarship student at Visceral Dance Center under the direction of Nick Pupillo. In 2017 Latta joined Hot Crowd under the direction of Emily Rayburn. With Hot Crowd, she has had opportunities to work with dancers and choreographers of various styles including Joseph Hernandez, Jessica Miller Tomlinson, Katie Carey of Purus Motus and Jessi Stegall. In 2021, Brittany joined Banks Performance Project under the direction of Elysia C. Banks where she had the pleasure of performing pieces by Grant Hill and Elysia C. Banks, adding to her experience of performing various styles. In August of 2021, Brittany took over as Co-Artistic & Programs Director of Hot Crowd where she has choreographed for each self produced show and continues to focus on the success of the organization alongside Co-Artistic and Operations Director, Devon Lloyd. When Brittany is not in rehearsal, you can find her teaching or choreographing, using movement as a platform for inspiration and change in the community.

Devon Lloyd is a dancer, educator, adjudicator, and third-space curator from Naperville, Illinois, currently based in DeKalb, Illinois. She graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University. Originally trained in jazz and tap, her undergraduate studies ignited a deep passion for modern dance. Known for her powerful attack and physicality, Devon is driven to challenge movement norms and expand artistic possibility. During her time at WMU, she worked with renowned artists including Peter Chu, Eddie Ocampo, Rennie Harris, and Ohad Naharin. She also performed multiple works by mentor Carolyn Pavlik that were presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Following graduation, Devon deepened her commitment to dance education, becoming a versatile and sought-after choreographer and technique consultant. She has traveled nationwide teaching and choreographing for studio and dance team programs. Prior to co-leading Hot Crowd, Devon spent more than 12 years with Universal Dance Association, notably leading Varsity athletes in the London New Year's Day Parade and adjudicating at both high school and collegiate levels. In 2021, she and Brittany Latta McMahon transitioned into leadership roles within Hot Crowd. Serving in multiple capacities, Devon’s mission is to champion versatility within the arts—affirming that no dancer is “just a dancer.” She believes every individual’s story, experience, and knowledge enrich the creative process and unlock new possibilities. Devon currently teaches at LOVV The Dance Studio and Plainfield Dance Academy and serves as Show Director and Emcee for CRU Dance Competition. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her wife and their nine beloved pets.

Lindsey Scouten (she/her) is a Chicago based movement artist, choreographer and educator. She is a graduate of George Mason University, where she had the opportunity to work with artists such as Susan Shields, Roger Jeffrey, Ethan Brown, Christopher d’Amboise, Caroline Rocher, Jean Emile and more. During her four years she also had the opportunity to study Nacho Duato’s, Na Floresta, and perform an excerpt of Mass, by Doug Varone, in their annual Gala Fete. During her freshman year she was awarded the “Emerging Freshman Artist Award,” with scholarship. Lindsey has gained additional training at intensives with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, FLOCKWORKS and GALLIM. Throughout her professional career she has had the pleasure of collaborating and performing with the Merce Cunningham Trust, Company Danzante, Visceral Dance Chicago, RawArts Dance Company, Alluvion Dance Chicago, Joel Hall and Dancers, Meadows Dance Collective, PURUS MOTUS, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as numerous freelance projects. Some of her most notable performances include works by Andrea Miller, Jessi Stegall, Noelle Kayser, Katie Carey, Osnel Delgado, and Gianna Burright. She is excited to enter her fifth season with Hot Crowd as its Artistic and Development Associate, company choreographer and company artist.

Josephine Starr, born and raised in Marshall, Missouri, began her dance training at Broadway Bound Dance Studio under the direction of her mentor, Torey Spitzig. She graduated with a BFA in Dance and departmental honors from Webster University. Josie has had the privilege of training with companies across the United States, including Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Inaside Dance Chicago, and Visceral Dance Chicago. She continues her dance practice post-college, performing professionally throughout the Chicagoland area in both company and freelance capacities. Josie’s passion for teaching developed after graduating and entering the professional field. She is committed to cultivating a safe and inclusive environment where students can explore their creativity without fear or judgment. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering a supportive atmosphere that encourages artistic expression and personal growth. Josie is deeply grateful to everyone who continues to support her and her work as she grows into her artistic identity.

Ariana Fonzo is a dancer originally from just outside Atlanta, GA, where she began her dance training in ballet, tap, and jazz. Ariana graduated from the University of Utah in 2021, with both a BFA in Ballet and a BS in Strategic Communication. While at the "U," Ariana further cultivated her artistry and worked with faculty and guest artists including Katlyn Addison, Penny Saunders, Jennifer Archibald, and Melissa Bobick. Post graduation, she accepted a traineeship with Ballet Idaho for their 2021-22 season, where she performed alongside the company in Peter Anastos’ Nutcracker, Bruce Wells' Beauty and the Beast, and George Balanchine’s Serenade. After moving to Chicago, Ariana danced with Visceral Dance Chicago as a trainee for their 2022-23 season and worked with many choreographers, including: Nick Pupillo, Jackie Nowicki, Rodrick George, and Danielle Agami. Ariana has additionally danced for the University of Utah Ballet Choreographic Institute and 773 Dance Project, and has performed works by Alejandro Cerrudo, Marguerite Donlon, Quinn B. Wharton, and both Alice Klock and Florian Lochner of FLOCK. This is Ariana’s third season with Hot Crowd, and she’s excited to continue pursuing authenticity, depth, and whimsicality in her work as a Company Artist!

Haley is a dancer, choreographer and teacher located in Chicago, IL. She is a graduate of Point Park University with a BFA in dance and a BA in psychology. While there, she worked with artists such as Kiki Lucas, Maree ReMalia, Jason McDole, Pearlann Porter and Kiesha Lalama. In addition, in 2019 she had the opportunity to perform a work by Caili Quan through DanceWorks Chicago’s ChoreoLab. Her earlier training consisted of dancing as a member of Extensions Dance Company, under the direction of Lizzie MacKenzie, where she performed works by Eddy Ocampo, Christian Denice, Garth Johnson and Jared Baker. Most recently, she had the opportunity to dance in two music videos for the band Course, choreographed by Lizzie MacKenzie and Jackie Nowicki, as well as numerous projects with Sydney Jones. She was the Emerging Choreographer for Young Dancers Initiative's 2021 partnership with Brighton Dance Festival, has presented work at Dance Chicago, Trifecta Dance Festival and was commissioned by Simantikos Dance Chicago. As an artist, she strives to embody expansion, authenticity and grit, while telling stories that reflect human experience through the metaphor of intellectual ideas. Haley is elated to dance as a guest artist with Hot Crowd as part of their fifth season!

Anna Labriola, from the suburbs of Chicago, began her training in both commercial and concert dance styles at a young age. Anna graduated summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago in 2025 with double majors in Dance and Exercise Science. While at Loyola, she worked with artists and performed works by Martha Graham, José Limón, Miki Orihara, Daniel Fetecua, Vershawn Sanders-Ward, and Sarah Cullen-Fuller, among others. Following graduation, she has received additional training at Whim W'Him Winter Intensive, has done freelance projects in Chicago, and completed one season with Concert Dance Inc. under Venetia Stifler performing works by Osnel Delgado and Edson Cabrera.

Chrissy Clair (she/her) started dancing at a very young age at Ballet Arts Center in Farmington, Mo. During this time, she fell in love with dance and knew it was something she was passionate about. After graduating high school, Chrissy continued her education and dance studies at Webster University’s Department of Dance. She graduated in 2020 with a BFA in Dance, receiving departmental honors. Chrissy returned to Webster as an Alumni choreographer for their New Works Concert in fall 2020. Chrissy now dances professionally and teaches around the St. Louis area. The last four summers she has danced in Jacob Henss’ “Space Station” residency being in works by Jacob Henss, Josiah Gunderson, Nicole Kennett, and Paige Van Nest. Last February, she performed in “…and everything stays the same…”, a show by Emily Duggins Ehling. Which was later made into an excerpt duet called “please hold me” with Abbi Le Baube. Chrissy started out as an apprentice with RESILIENCE in 2021, since then becoming a company member, as well as the costume manager. Chrissy is thrilled to be in her fifth season with the company!

Lexie Hoehn (she/her) is from the small town of Farmington, Missouri, where she worked and trained with The Dance Project. She continued her training with Webster University's Dance Department where she has had the opportunity to work with Maggi Dueker, Xi Zhao, Monica Newsam, Dawn Karlovsky, Tayler Kinner, Lorraine Stippec, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, and Michael Uthoff through class and performances. She also has gotten the opportunity to perform works by Pilobolus, Ballet Hispánico and Abby Z and the New Utility. Lexie has recently performed a self-shoreographed solo in the 2024 St. Louis Contemporary Dance Festival as well as performing in Jacob Henss’ summer residency, Space Station. She graduated with a BFA in Dance, emphasis in Modern, in May 2025 and is excited to start her first season with Resilience!

Abbi LeBaube, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, has spent the last twenty one years passionately researching and loving dance. Her experience began at Motion Express School of Dance and Acrobatics and continued at Webster University where she graduated summa cum laude with departmental honors, receiving her BFA in 2023. Through classes and performances, she had the rewarding opportunity to work with the incredible faculty, alumni, and performed in works by José Limón, Ballet Hispánico, & Abby Z and the New Utility. She also had the privilege to continue her study and performance abroad in Accra, Ghana (Summer 2022). A few of her freelance experiences include performing in works by Emily Duggins Ehling, Jakki Kalogridis (Space Station Dance Residency 2023), and most recently PrideFest St. Louis (2025). LeBaube has great passion for creation, choreography, and collaboration. Her work has been presented at ACDA’s Gala concert (2023), commissioned by Big Plate Dance where she collaborated with e-GoS music production (2024), and commissioned by Resilience Dance Company (2025). She is beyond excited to premiere her latest project with her best friend Chrissy Clair “Fruits of her Labors” this August 2025. Abbi is ecstatic to continue her journey with Resilience Dance Company as she enters her fourth season!

Michelle Parkhurst (she/her) is a contemporary dance artist and choreographer based in STL! Originally from Buffalo, New York, she began dancing at a young age at Donna Scott school of dance under the direction of Donna Scott and Lynn Dalfanso. She then continued on to SUNY Brockport, graduating in 2020 with a BFA in Dance. There she had the opportunity to perform works by Doug Varone, Rosylande LeBlanc, Tammy Carrasco and Cameron McKinney. She has danced with Chutzpah dance and DanceKerr and Dancers based in New York City, She has performed in festivals like New Work Series, Falling into Dance Festival, and 8 in Show to name a few. While in STL she has worked with Jakki Kalogridis for the piece I'm Thoreau Waiting SpaceStation Residency (2023) and was a guest dancer for Ballaro dance for their debut in St. Louis (2024). Outside of performing she is a certified personal trainer, stretch specialist and Barre instructor at Lifetime Fitness. She is also currently pursuing her M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Logan University. She is excited to continue to explore her artistry and other professional interests in this 4th year with Resilience.

Ashlynn Woelbling (she/her) moved to Saint Louis in 2010 where she trained under the direction of Nicole Kropatsch, Elizabeth Brauss, and Marissa Thayer. After graduating high school, she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to attend Point Park University. In the spring of 2020, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance and a minor in Business Management. While at Point Park, Ashlynn had the pleasure of working with faculty members Jason McDole, Garfield Lemonius, Judith Leifer-Bentz, Matthew Powell, and Colleen Hooper among many others. After graduation, she moved back to Saint Louis to pursue her career in dance by working as a trainee for The Big Muddy Dance Company as well as freelancing in the Saint Louis area. She is passionate about spreading her knowledge and love for dance to the future generation of dancers and currently teaches at two dance studios in the Saint Louis/Illinois area. Ashlynn is so excited to back for her fourth season at Resilience and cannot wait for the 2025-2026 season!