Backhausdance

Backhausdance Dynamic and entertaining, Southern California’s Backhausdance brings world-class contemporary dance

Recognized by Joyce SoHo in New York as one of seven emerging dance companies to watch, Backhausdance is a powerful and entertaining voice in the dance world. The company’s repertory offers an eclectic and dynamic vocabulary with a wonderful sense of fluidity and strength. Featuring a diverse body of work that is innovative and artistic, Orange County’s critically acclaimed contemporary dance comp

any is the recipient of numerous awards for achievements in choreography, design and performance, helping propel them to the forefront of Southern California contemporary dance. The repertory includes powerful, athletic dances; emotionally charged dramatic pieces; and whimsical, humorous glimpses at the human experience. As a member of the Arts Teach artist roster and part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Education and Community Programs, Backhausdance serves thousands of public and private school children throughout Orange and San Bernardino Counties each year. The company is also part of the Lincoln Center Aesthetic Education Program through McCallum Theatre Institute. A life-changing experience for pre-professional and professional dancers, the company hosts an annual Summer Intensive at Chapman University. Backhausdance is dedicated to making this powerful program accessible to the dance community and provides scholarships for nearly half of the more than 125 participants.

06/20/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Anne Elise Garrison
BD Repertory, Composition, Partnering, BD Technique Assistant

Anne Elise Garrison is a performer and teaching artist based in Long Beach, CA. Originally from South Carolina, Anne Elise moved to California in 2018 to earn her undergraduate degree at Chapman University, completing a BFA in Dance Performance and a Minor in Nutrition. Her time in Southern California has led her to dive deeper into the practice of Gaga and Countertechnique and, before joining Backhausdance, perform for artists such as Ido Tadmor, João Ducci, Kelly McGill, and Mara Hancock. She values the time spent with her students, who keep her curious and eager to spread joy through dance education.

Read more about Anne Elise here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

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06/19/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Mo Goodfellow
BD Repertory, Partnering, Improvisation, Composition, BD Technique Assistant

Mo Goodfellow (she/they) is a lifelong performer and advocate for the arts. She is a graduate of Chapman University’s prestigious College of Performing Arts with a BFA in Dance as well as a BA in English Literature. Her artistic and professional goals work to combine her degrees in a career dedicated to arts innovation through performance, creation, and activism. Throughout her career she has had the privilege of working with Bret Easterling, Jessie Lee Thorne, Alice Klock and Florian Lochner of FLOCK Works, Kybele Dance Theater, Ido Tadmor, and Tommie-Waheed Evans. She also works regularly with The Chance Theater in Anaheim and has produced critically acclaimed choreography for their productions of RENT, Sweeney Todd, and Spring Awakening.

Read more about Mo here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

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06/18/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Kira Bartoli-Lemon
Pilates, BD Repertory, Partnering

Kira Bartoli-Lemon, a Southern California native, began her dance training at the age of four. She furthered her studies at Chapman University where she received a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Business Administration. She returned to Chapman as faculty in 2020 and has helped with various performances as the rehearsal assistant to choreographers such as Mark Morris (staged by Noah Vinson), Ido Tadmor, Erica Klein, and Ching Ching Wong. Kira has performed works by choreographers Dwight Rhoden, FLOCK Works, Mauro Astolfi, Ido Tadmor, Peter Chu, Ching Ching Wong, Bret Easterling, and Tommie-Waheed Evans, among others. 

Read more about Kira here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

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06/17/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Sammi Waugh
Student Liaison, BD Repertory, Composition, Improvisation, BD Technique Assistant

Sammi Waugh (she/her) is a dance artist and educator working in Southern California. Passionate about arts education, Sammi has taught and created curriculum for private studios, community centers, and elementary schools across Southern California. Throughout her performance career, she has had the opportunity to work alongside many notable artists, including Jennifer Backhaus, Amanda Kay White, Dwight Rhoden, Ido Tadmor, Peter Chu, Bret Easterling, Tommie Waheed-Evans, and Nicole Hagen, among others. In addition to assisting with the development of Backhausdance’s educational outreach programs, she currently is a part of the Dance Faculty at The Wooden Floor and a part-time lecturer at Chapman University. 

Read more about Sammi here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

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06/16/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Kaitlin Regan 
BD Technique, BD Repertory, Partnering, BD Technique Assistant

Kaitlin Regan is an alumni of Chapman University with a BFA in Dance Performance. She has had the opportunity to perform both nationally and internationally with Backhausdance and is in her 14th season with the company. She has performed the works of Jennifer Backhaus, Dwight Rhoden, Ido Tadmor, Walter Matteini, and Yin Yue, among others. As an influential dance educator in Southern California, Kaitlin helped develop an adaptive dance program for students with special needs. 

Read more about Kaitlin here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

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06/15/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Chihiro Sano 
Yoga, BD Technique, BD Technique Assistant

Chihiro Sano (she/her), originally from Japan, joined Backhausdance as an apprentice and has been a full company member since 2010. Since joining the company, Chihiro has performed at venues including McCallum Theater in Palm Desert, at Irvine Barclay Theater, at the American Dance Festival in North Carolina, Carpenter Center in Long Beach and Joyce Theater in New York City. Chihiro currently serves as Education coordinator and is passionate about sharing her love of dance and yoga with people of all ages and abilities. 

Read more about Chi here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

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06/12/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Kim Olmos
Summer Intensive Coordinator, Ballet, Stretch

Ms. Olmos is an Instructor of Ballet at Chapman University and is currently the ballet mistress and company administrator for Backhausdance. She studied with Gloria Newman, Gus Soloman and Rebecca Wright while earning her B.A. in Dance from California State University, Long Beach. Ms. Olmos retired from Ballet Pacifica in 1994, where she had performed ballets by Peter Pucci, Anne Marie DeAngelo, Choo-San Goh, Lynn Taylor-Corbett and Molly Lynch. Kim was on the conservatory faculty for eight years and assumed the position of Ballet Pacifica Conservatory Registrar in 2004.

Read more about Kim here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

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FACULTY FEATURE >>> AccompanistsWe’re delighted to have such wonderful musicians accompanying our 2026 BDSI dance clas...
06/03/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Accompanists

We’re delighted to have such wonderful musicians accompanying our 2026 BDSI dance classes!

We look forward to dancing to music by Brian Wood, Patrick Doran-Sheeran, Satomi, Kanazawa, Bruno Cilloniz, Annie Akung Woo, and Joao Martins!

Read more about these six incredible accompanists here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

06/02/2026

In Countertechnique classes, participants will add tools to their ‘toolbox’ while experiencing and enjoying the difference in moving. Countertechnique classes enable dancers to move bigger, more fluidly, and help them discover more connections throughout their bodies. Find out more about our Summer Intensive programs at Chapman University!

[BACKHAUSDANCE SUMMER INTENSIVE at CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY] July 7 - 24, 2026

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Edit: .bartoli

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Santiago VillarrealContemporary, Improvisation, Composition, Dance ChurchSantiago Villarreal, born...
05/28/2026

FACULTY FEATURE >>> Santiago Villarreal
Contemporary, Improvisation, Composition, Dance Church

Santiago Villarreal, born in Monterrey, Mexico, began dancing at 16 and earned his BFA from Chapman University in 2019. He has worked with notable choreographers and companies such as NW Dance Project, Ate9, Boca Tuya, The TL Collective, Yin Yue, JJTC, Backhausdance and Mike Tyus. His commercial credits include projects with artists like Kali Uchis, Taeyang, Dana, along with national campaigns for brands including Apple and OnStar. Driven by curiosity and physical exploration, he continues to develop his artistry while balancing roles as a dancer, choreographer, and educator.

Read more about Santiago here >>> backhausdance.org/intensive

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P. O. Box 5890
Orange, CA
92863

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