Darby Schmidt (Teacher), an Open Championship Level Irish Dancer, has been dancing Irish Dance for nine years. She has trained with the Dwyer School of Irish Dance in Dayton, Ohio, competing in the North American Championships and the Regional Championships as both a soloist and ceili team member. She was an assistant teacher at the Dwyer School of Irish Dance and has taught workshops and an Irish Dance camp to students in Central Arkansas. This is Darby's first year to teach for the New Creation Dance Kids!
Emily Harris (Dancer) is from Conway, AR. She began taking dance at the age of 3 at Shuffles and Ballet II in Little Rock until 12 years old, where she then began dancing at Sonshine Academy and Central Arkansas Ballet in the Conway area. She eventually returned to Little Rock Studios in high school and danced with Next Level Dance Company under Director Angel Hairston while also being featured as the dance soloist for Conway High School band performances. She won a Thea Scholarship in 2015 with her contemporary solo as well as a dance scholarship with a jazz solo from Hendrix College.God has further blessed her in college with many opportunities to study dance. She performed with the Hendrix Dance ensemble for a year and a half before embarking for Italy, where she studied Mediterranean, Butoh, and African styles of dance at the Accademia dell´Arte while also collaborating with the Slovenian En Knap dance company. Last year, she received the opportunity to study dance under German faculty during her study abroad year in Dortmund. She has experience in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop.
Emily is very thankful that these experiences abroad have opened her eyes further to God´s beautiful creation and to his followers from other parts of the world. She wishes to continue to grow in her relationship with him and felt called to continue with His gift after she returned home. Emily is currently a senior at Hendrix College working towards a major in German Literature and Language. She plans to study under Faculty member Stephanie Thibeault at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and return to her original studio Shuffles and Ballet II. This is her first season with the company.
Emily is very thankful that these experiences abroad have opened her eyes further to God´s beautiful creation and to his followers from other parts of the world. She wishes to continue to grow in her relationship with him and felt called to continue with His gift after she returned home. Emily is currently a senior at Hendrix College working towards a major in German Literature and Language. She plans to study under Faculty member Stephanie Thibeault at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and return to her original studio Shuffles and Ballet II. This is her first season with the company.
specific contact emails:
Erin Sanders, Director
erin.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Kayla Derrick
kayla.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Kathleen Marleneanu
kathleen.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Saige Wood
saige.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Erin Sanders, Director
erin.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Kayla Derrick
kayla.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Kathleen Marleneanu
kathleen.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Saige Wood
saige.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Jessica Borden (Dancer, Teacher) is from Vilonia, AR. She began dancing at the age of 3 and has experience in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, modern, and acrobatics. Most of her studio training comes from Sonshine Academy and Blackbird Academy of Arts. In 2014, she had the opportunity to take dance classes from Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and Peridance in New York City.
Jessica is currently a sophomore at Central Baptist College where she studies Elementary Education. She teaches hip hop, tap, ballet, worship, and jazz through New Creation every week, and works at Sonshine Academy, where she teaches classes in ballet, tap, and jazz. She also teaches classes and gives private lessons from home. Jessica loves worshiping the Lord through dance and is excited to be dancing with New Creation.
Jessica is currently a sophomore at Central Baptist College where she studies Elementary Education. She teaches hip hop, tap, ballet, worship, and jazz through New Creation every week, and works at Sonshine Academy, where she teaches classes in ballet, tap, and jazz. She also teaches classes and gives private lessons from home. Jessica loves worshiping the Lord through dance and is excited to be dancing with New Creation.
Sarah Tillman (Apprentice Dancer) is native to Central AR. She studies classical ballet with former Ballet Arkansas dancer Lauren Horak. She also has spent time in Oklahoma City taking class directed by OKC Ballet company members, as well as private study with former company dancer Callye Crespo. Sarah studied music in college at the University of Central Arkansas, and graduated with a degree in classical guitar performance. She is currently teaching music in the Central AR area. Sarah is very excited to be starting this new journey with the New Creation Dance Company!
specific contact emails:
Erin Sanders, Director, Booking, Fundraising
erin.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Kayla Derrick, Tour, Class Finance
kayla.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Kathleen Marleneanu, Class Admin, Website/Social Media, Print Design
kathleen.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Laurel Simon, Press Releases, Mailing List, Prayer Updates
laurel.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Saige Wood, Product Sales
saige.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Erin Sanders, Director, Booking, Fundraising
erin.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Kayla Derrick, Tour, Class Finance
kayla.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Kathleen Marleneanu, Class Admin, Website/Social Media, Print Design
kathleen.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Laurel Simon, Press Releases, Mailing List, Prayer Updates
laurel.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Saige Wood, Product Sales
saige.newcreationdance@gmail.com
Laurel Simon (Dancer, Teacher) is originally from Seattle, WA, where she studied at Pacific Northwest Ballet School under the instruction of Elaine Bauer, Bruce Wells, and Victoria Pulkkinen. Prior to that she began her ballet training in Williamsburg, VA at the Eastern Virginia School of the Performing Arts with Sandra Balestracci. Laurel graduated from the University of Oklahoma’s School of Dance with a BFA in Ballet Performance and a BS in Multidisciplinary Studies: Technical and Critical Theatre.
After graduation, she spent two seasons with Ballet Arkansas under the leadership of Michael Bearden. She was privileged to dance in a variety of classical and contemporary works, including world premieres by Kiyon Gaines and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Laurel is very excited to share the joy of dance and worship with others through New Creation! This is her third season with the company.
After graduation, she spent two seasons with Ballet Arkansas under the leadership of Michael Bearden. She was privileged to dance in a variety of classical and contemporary works, including world premieres by Kiyon Gaines and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Laurel is very excited to share the joy of dance and worship with others through New Creation! This is her third season with the company.
Greta Smith lives in Jacksonville, Arkansas with her husband Greg and their two children, William and Caroline. Greta has been dancing for 22 years. Her training includes 3 years in the Arkansas Youth Ballet under the instruction of Antonio Mesa, where she performed solos in “Don Quixote” and “Coppelia”, and was one of Swan Lake’s “Four Swans”. She has danced roles such as “Chinese”, “Waltz of The Flowers” and “Snow” in The Nutcracker, while later dancing with Ballet Arkansas.
At nineteen, Greta moved to Jackson, Mississippi to train with Ballet Magnificat! II, and toured with them for two years, performing and teaching workshops with the other company members. After moving back home to Arkansas, Greta started teaching ballet and pointe, and continued to teach and choreograph at various studios for over eight years. In 2011, she had the opportunity to perform at “Project Dance New York” in Times Square. In 2010 and 2013 she attended Ad Deum Dance Company’s Summer Dance Intensive in Houston, TX, taking classes from Randall Flynn, Steve Rooks, Bill Wade, and other talented instructors from around the world. Greta has had a vision for directing a professional dance ministry for over ten years, and is so excited for New Creation's fifth season as a company. Greta’s ultimate desire is, and has always been, that God will continue to use her passion for dance to minister to others, and that He alone will be glorified through her movement and her life.
At nineteen, Greta moved to Jackson, Mississippi to train with Ballet Magnificat! II, and toured with them for two years, performing and teaching workshops with the other company members. After moving back home to Arkansas, Greta started teaching ballet and pointe, and continued to teach and choreograph at various studios for over eight years. In 2011, she had the opportunity to perform at “Project Dance New York” in Times Square. In 2010 and 2013 she attended Ad Deum Dance Company’s Summer Dance Intensive in Houston, TX, taking classes from Randall Flynn, Steve Rooks, Bill Wade, and other talented instructors from around the world. Greta has had a vision for directing a professional dance ministry for over ten years, and is so excited for New Creation's fifth season as a company. Greta’s ultimate desire is, and has always been, that God will continue to use her passion for dance to minister to others, and that He alone will be glorified through her movement and her life.
