CoMotion Dance Project: Who's Who

	Project Director Karen Kaufmann is a professor of dance at The University of Montana and her work is performed in schools throughout the Northwest. Professor Kaufmann was awarded the 2009 Distinguished Faculty Award as recognition of her work developing MoDE. She received an Individual Fellowship Award from the Montana Arts Council and the University of Montana Service Award for her service and outreach in dance education. She published Inclusive Creative Movement and Dance (© 2006 Human Kinetics), and numerous articles about dance education. As a choreographer Karen Kaufmann links her choreography to the academic curriculum. Her 50-minute piece A CoMotion in Motion (linking dance with Newton’s laws of Motion) was performed in June 2007 at the NDA conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. Karen was the keynote speaker for the Montana Alliance for Arts Education at the 2007 and 2008 Montana Educators Conference and the NDA Conference. Karen has launched a new project to provide qualified dance teachers for Montana public schools.
	Assessment Specialist Dr Tammy Elser has an EdD from the University of Montana with an emphasis in assessment and has conducted over 30 formative and summative program evaluations in areas including teacher effectiveness, technology integration literacy education, bilingual education and innovative programs integrating the arts. Beyond education, her statistical expertise has been sought by the Dept of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Forest Service (among others) to frame program evaluation connected to professional development.
	Dance Educators Anya Cloud has a BA in Dance and a BA in Liberal Studies, where she graduated with high honors. She studies at the Seattle Festival of Alternative Dance and Improvisation since 2005. She served as Adjunct Faculty at The University of Montana as a teacher of the Children’s Dance Internship and as a teaching assistant for Advanced Modern Dance. Anya has taught choreography and improvisation for high school drama students and co-taught in the Math Movers project at Arlee School.
	Jordan Dehline graduated from the University of Montana in 2008 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with emphases in Dance Education and Choreography/Performance. While at UM, Jordan received the Theatre/Dance Talent Scholarship, the 2008 Outstanding Senior in Dance Award, and an Undergraduate Research Award for her work organizing Making Connections: Dance and Learning Festival. Ms. Dehline has taught elementary and middle school classes throughout Missoula, and studio dance in western Washington. She also has experience teaching individuals with disabilities, adult non-dancers, and creative movement integrated in the elementary curriculum. Jordan has been a company member of the CoMotion Dance Project since its founding.
	Cassy Johnson has been a company member of The CoMotion Dance Project since its founding. She is a recent graduate from The University of Montana with a B.F.A. in Dance and an emphasis in Studio Teaching and Choreography. Cassy was hired as a MoDe Dance Teaching Artist and teaches at Arlee Elementary School and CS Porter Middle School. Cassy has studied all styles of dance since the age of three. Her favorite style is tap which she likes performing with her dad and sister. Her favorite style to teach is salsa which she offers to all ages along with creative movement to young children. Cassy has been teaching adults and children in Missoula for the past three years. Cassy's personal mission is to provide our community with quality instruction in a variety of dance forms. She provides the tools necessary for students to reach their personal goals and to instill self-expression, strength, and a love for dance.
	Jess Mullette has extensive training in contemporary dance and ballet and performed with the Headwaters Dance Company from 2006-2008 and as a member of the Artisan Dance Theatre. Jess was a Teaching Assistant under Professor Karen Kaufmann in spring 2008, Dance in Elementary Education. She co-taught in the Math Movers pilot project at Arlee School (spring 2008) and taught high school drama students through the Making Connections: Dance and Learning Festival. She recently completed Leonard Hotel Suite, a dance and film project under the direction of media Arts Professor Michael Murphy. She has a BFA in Choreography/Performance.
	Jennifer Walker-Wyatt is the Co-Director of AzureVision Dance Collective. Jen grew up in Satellite Beach, Florida and trained under Erika Rappa and Deborah Crisafulli. She attended The University of Montana and served as Adjunct Professor for one year. Her work Gestalt was performed at the American College Dance Festival in 2003. Jen graduated receiving her BFA in Dance with a Teaching Concentration from The University of Montana. Jen has danced with East Coast Dance Theater and Montana Transport Company and teaches at the Northwest Ballet School In Kalispell. Jen lives in Columbia Falls with her husband Matt and her beloved furry children, Fred and Simon.