Courtney Smith
Courtney Smith (Founder, Director, Choreographer, Dancer) has been dancing for years unending, and wouldn’t have it any other way. Her passion and persistence lies in the world of modern dance and she is determined to perpetuate its existence via her 5’2’’ frame through performing, teaching and choreographing. A graduate of Booker High School, she received her BFA in Dance from the University of Florida in 2005. Throughout her career, she has performed the repertory works of Mark Haim, Michael Foley, Pamela Pietro, Paul Matteson, Gerri Houlihan, Bill Doolin, Nicholas Leichter, Elsa Valbuena, and Amy O’Neal, among others, both nationally and internationally. She is a teacher of various dance styles, all of which highlight the technical and efficient movement of the body within the artistry of individualism and self-expression. She had the opportunity to perform at the Bessie Shoenberg Residency at The Yard working with Cheng-Chieh Yu (L.A.) and Peter Sciscioli (NYC) both in Martha’s Vineyard and their respective cities. Since then, she has performed with Moving Current Dance Collective, Michael Foley Dance, Fuzion Dance and Gaudere Danza. In 2006, she decided to put her vision of dance into action and created Moving Ethos and the rest is history. Smith's style has been described as ‘very physical, cool, athletic, 3D movement’ that is 'not only moving in and of itself, but breathtakingly beautiful.' She is currently on faculty at Booker High School, St. Petersburg College, Stage Door Studios, and Revelle Dance Academy. She is delighted to have a footprint within this illustrious art form, even if it is mere a size 7.
Leah Verier-Dunn
Leah Verier-Dunn (Director, Choreographer, Dancer) has been in motion from the beginning. Through dance and yoga, she has focused her efforts on enriching our community with meaningful movement that opens minds and initiates conscious living. A graduate of Booker High School, she then received her BFA in Dance from New World School of the Arts in 2006. Upon graduation Leah moved to New York to work with Keigwin and Company and Adele Myers and Dancers. Throughout her career she has performed the works of Robert Battle, Mark Haim, Bill Doolin, Freddick Bratcher, Mohamed DaCosta and others. Her choreography has been featured in various festivals throughout Florida. Currently, Leah is studying Chinese Medicine and acupuncture with the intent to meld the beauty of movement and medicine to help heal. With Moving Ethos as her vehicle, she plans to ignite the light of dance and offer insight to the importance of it’s existence.
Keely Sullivan Henry
Keely Sullivan-Henry (Dancer), a Sarasota native, began dancing with the Florida Ballet Arts School at the age of five. Her determination to inhale as much dance as possible, brought her to Booker Visual & Performing Arts High School. This experience, as well as attending the American Dance Festival in the summer of 1999, shifted her world of dance from one thing to another. And this pattern continues…In 2004, Keely graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Performance & Choreography from Columbia College. While re-rooting in Sarasota, Keely was blessed to dance with FUZION Dance Artists and serve on faculty at Booker High School and Dance-The Next Generation (as well as a handful of wonderful local dance studios). Currently, Keely is in her fourth season with Moving Ethos. Forever grateful…family, friends, and for the people and experiences that make up Moving Ethos.
Kelley Natella
Kelley Natella (Dancer) attended New World School of the Arts and graduated with a BFA in dance. When living in New York City, she performed with Keigwin + Company, Lynn Barr and danced for two and half years with Anabella Lenzu Dance Drama. While in New York, she also had the chance to teach at New Dance Group and Dance New Amsterdam. She is very excited to now be dancing with Moving Ethos.
Jessica Pope Pinelli
Jessica Pinelli (Dancer) started dancing at the ripe old age of 15 and she has been consumed by movement ever since. She attended Booker High School’s VPA Dance program and though circumstances kept her from further academic studies her focus and innate abilities as a dancer have propelled her nonetheless. “She’s a natural,” says choreographer and instructor, Fernando Di Benedetto. Fernando had a chance to see Jessica dance when she and her husband performed a piece in the streets of Florence, Italy. Jessica was teaching modern dance at the Deborah Vinton Dance Academy when she decided to take some time off from dance to travel the world with the man who would ultimately become her husband and father to her son. And save for a few impromptu performances she was taking an official break. Upon her return Jessica settled in to family life and though nothing could compare to the bliss of her new surroundings she grew restless for dance and determined that the time had come. It was at that time that she was invited to join The Moving Ethos Dance Company and she has been a dedicated member since. When asked how she feels to be a part of the company Jessica says, “I am humbled and honored to have been given opportunities to share the stage with what I feel to be world class dancers.”
Jennifer Maecker
Jennifer Maecker (Dancer), originally from New Jersey, graduated highest honors from the University of Florida with a BFA in dance. As a dancer, choreographer and teacher she loves to explore movement and artistry at its most raw, organic form. She is so thankful to have performed with Capacitor, Printz Dance Project, Vertigo Dance Company, Emily Bass, and Annie Rosenthal Parr (San Francisco, CA), as well as Fuzion Dance Artists (Sarasota, FL.) Jennifer has been on faculty at Booker High School Dance Department, as well as various dance schools in Sarasota and Marin County. This is her 2nd season with Moving Ethos.
Claudia Rightmire
Claudia Rightmire (Dancer - Apprentice) has been completely captivated by movement since her first ‘mini-movers’ class at the age of 2. Just continuing for the sheer joy it brings, she has danced ever since in numerous studios and competitive teams across the state. Realizing that flipping around was also more than a good pastime, she started training in gymnastics and circus competitively at the age of 6, and the trio has played a huge role in her life ever since. She recently dove into the world of modern dance, and it was love at first sight. Claudia participated in the Bates Young Dancers Festival on full scholarship and is a part of the VPA dance program at Booker High School in hopes to learn everything she can about this new art form and share it along the way. Her mom always tells her to reach for her dreams no matter how high, and getting to be a part of the Moving Ethos family is showing that those dreams can become reality. She is very blessed for the opportunity to learn and grow with the Moving Ethos Dance Company, and is excited to see what’s in store.
Bradley Inzalaco
Bradley Inzalaco (Technical Director/Coordinator) has been fascinated by the artistic delicateness of all things technical, for as long as he can remember. From body systems to bolts, Bradley is constantly in pursuit of knowledge while sculpting his Art form with every nuance of technical information. A man of many talents, he has made a career of imagining, creating and fixing things. He has worked on many theatre and dance concerts within the aspects of set design and construction, sound, stage management and technition. In addition to his theatrical work, Bradley has also had a proficient career in deisel mechanics and dry wall as well as pursuing his desire to help people in the field of nursing.
Aaron Muhl
Aaron Muhl (Lighting Designer) is currently the Managing Director of the Historic Asolo Theater at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. He is also the Managing Director of the Ringling International Arts Festival. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatrical Design and Technology from the University of Central Florida. Other companies he has worked with include Syracuse Stage, The Cleveland Playhouse, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Orlando Repertory Theater, Utah Festival Opera, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Asolo Repertory Theater, and Florida Studio Theater.