Meet the dancers...
Erin Sanders (Director, Dancer, Teacher) is from North Little Rock, AR. She began taking dance at the age of 2 until she was 16 years old at Ms. Karen’s Dance Studio. She has experience in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, and hip hop and danced competitively for 6 years. She went on after high school to obtain degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Central Arkansas. She joined the New Life Church Dance Company while attending graduate school, and has been a member for 11 years dancing and choreographing for various events.
After college, Erin was blessed with the opportunity to become a part of New Creation Dance Company. Since joining New Creation, she has attended workshops from Ballet Emmanuel in Rogers, AR, DanceMakers Inc. in Branson, MO, and Ballet Magnificat!. She participated in master classes with Petra Ballet Company in Springfield, MO, and performed at Project Dance in Houston, TX hosted by Ad Deum Dance Company. She has also performed in Artists in Resonance, a local dance concert in Little Rock. Erin has been blessed with the opportunity of learning to combine faith using the art of dance for all these years. Erin is starting her 10th season with New Creation, and has had the privilege of directing the company for the past 5 years.
After college, Erin was blessed with the opportunity to become a part of New Creation Dance Company. Since joining New Creation, she has attended workshops from Ballet Emmanuel in Rogers, AR, DanceMakers Inc. in Branson, MO, and Ballet Magnificat!. She participated in master classes with Petra Ballet Company in Springfield, MO, and performed at Project Dance in Houston, TX hosted by Ad Deum Dance Company. She has also performed in Artists in Resonance, a local dance concert in Little Rock. Erin has been blessed with the opportunity of learning to combine faith using the art of dance for all these years. Erin is starting her 10th season with New Creation, and has had the privilege of directing the company for the past 5 years.
Kathleen Marleneanu (Dancer, Teacher) is from Jasper, AR and currently lives in Maumelle, AR with her husband and son. She started dancing at the age of 10 with Deborah Moore Academy of Dance, and continued training at Henderson State University. Kathleen performed with the HSU Dance Company for 4 years and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English and minor in Dance. She did not know exactly how dance would remain a part of her life, but God has continued to grow her passion and open doors that only He can. Kathleen danced briefly in a show in Branson, MO before taking the position of dance teacher at the Benton County School of the Arts in Rogers, AR where she taught and directed the middle school dance program for 3 years. In 2014, Kathleen received her Master of Education in Learning Systems Technology from UALR. Since then, she has been teaching dance residencies in schools around the state as a member of the Arkansas Arts Council's Arts in Education Roster. As a teaching artist, she has had the privilege to work for Arkansas Learning Through the Arts, Wildwood Park for the Arts, the Central Arkansas Library System, and the Museum of Discovery. She also enjoys performing with the New Life Church Dance Company.
Over the years, Kathleen has been blessed with opportunities to attend dance intensives in Chicago, Boulder, Wichita, Austin, Monroe, St. Louis, Laramie, and Houston, as well as to take classes in New York City and Los Angeles. She is trained in jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. Kathleen is beyond blessed to have the opportunity to share her faith through dance with New Creation, and hopes to express the true joy and peace that she has found through God. This is Kathleen's ninth season with the company.
Over the years, Kathleen has been blessed with opportunities to attend dance intensives in Chicago, Boulder, Wichita, Austin, Monroe, St. Louis, Laramie, and Houston, as well as to take classes in New York City and Los Angeles. She is trained in jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and tap. Kathleen is beyond blessed to have the opportunity to share her faith through dance with New Creation, and hopes to express the true joy and peace that she has found through God. This is Kathleen's ninth season with the company.
Saige Wood (Dancer, Teacher) is from Conway, AR. She began taking dance when she was 6 years old at Sonshine Academy of Dance. She has experience in ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, tap, and jazz. In 2014, she participated in the Thea Performing Arts scholarship competition and won a scholarship based on her contemporary solo. In the summer of 2016, she had the opportunity to attend the Ballet Magnificat Summer Dance Intensive in Jackson, Mississippi, where she received intense ballet training. Saige did not anticipate following a career in dance after high school, but God has graciously opened doors for her in the last few years that have allowed her to pursue dance and worship Him through that gift.
Saige graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a double major in political science and French. She is currently teaching French at Conway Christian, and also works at Sonshine Academy teaching dance. Saige is so excited to be in her fifth season with New Creation Dance Company, and looks forward to what God has in store for her future as a dancer.
Saige graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a double major in political science and French. She is currently teaching French at Conway Christian, and also works at Sonshine Academy teaching dance. Saige is so excited to be in her fifth season with New Creation Dance Company, and looks forward to what God has in store for her future as a dancer.
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 and Germany, where she studied dance. 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 a graduate of Hendrix College with a major in German Literature and Language. She studied under Faculty member Stephanie Thibeault at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. before going to Berlin, Germany to do freelance work. She is now teaching at The Studio by Lauren. This is her second 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 a graduate of Hendrix College with a major in German Literature and Language. She studied under Faculty member Stephanie Thibeault at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. before going to Berlin, Germany to do freelance work. She is now teaching at The Studio by Lauren. This is her second season with the company.
Eden Woodruff (Apprentice, Assistant Teacher) was born in San Francisco, CA, and after many moves, she currently resides in Little Rock, AR. She begun dancing at the age of 2 in California and hasn’t stopped since. She always had a love for music and the stage as a child. She has performed in multiple church musicals, choirs, and Sign Language for worship at churches throughout the years. She continued her dance education in multiple dance studios in California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Nebraska. She has many God-given talents and puts all of her passion and energy into everything she does. When not dancing, Eden always as a project, whether it’s drawing, painting, crochet, sculpting, making gifts, etc. This year she hopes to publish her first novel.
For three years, she studied at a pre-professional training program under the amazing tutelage from Leslie Doge, Lauren McCarty-Horak, Allison Staloda Wilson, and Hope Wenneker for 25 hours a week. Her studies included: ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and jazz at Shuffles and Ballet II in Little Rock, owned and wonderfully run by Ms. Jana Beard. Most recently, Eden performed at the Youth American Grand Prix with classical and contemporary variations. She performed Bluebird from Sleeping Beauty in 2019. In 2020, she performed Medora from Les Corsaire and Swan Lake Pas de Troix. Her contemporary piece, choreographed by Ms. Lauren McCary-Horak, portrayed some parts of Eden’s life living with multiple invisible disabilities. These rare conditions affect her hearing, vision, and can cause all of her joints to dislocate. It also causes faulty collagen that affects all the connective tissues that provide support in skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones. Her doctors are so pleased she can still dance, as it’s protecting her joints to keep her out of her wheelchair.
After graduating from Heritage High School (homeschool) at the age of 16, Eden was offered a full dance scholarship to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Last year she studied Ballet 3/4 in the college senior level under Professor Steven Stone at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. God has placed a passion for teaching children in Eden’s heart, and she is delighted for the new opportunities this season that New Creation has in store as first year apprentice with the company.
For three years, she studied at a pre-professional training program under the amazing tutelage from Leslie Doge, Lauren McCarty-Horak, Allison Staloda Wilson, and Hope Wenneker for 25 hours a week. Her studies included: ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, hip hop, tap, and jazz at Shuffles and Ballet II in Little Rock, owned and wonderfully run by Ms. Jana Beard. Most recently, Eden performed at the Youth American Grand Prix with classical and contemporary variations. She performed Bluebird from Sleeping Beauty in 2019. In 2020, she performed Medora from Les Corsaire and Swan Lake Pas de Troix. Her contemporary piece, choreographed by Ms. Lauren McCary-Horak, portrayed some parts of Eden’s life living with multiple invisible disabilities. These rare conditions affect her hearing, vision, and can cause all of her joints to dislocate. It also causes faulty collagen that affects all the connective tissues that provide support in skin, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, internal organs and bones. Her doctors are so pleased she can still dance, as it’s protecting her joints to keep her out of her wheelchair.
After graduating from Heritage High School (homeschool) at the age of 16, Eden was offered a full dance scholarship to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Last year she studied Ballet 3/4 in the college senior level under Professor Steven Stone at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. God has placed a passion for teaching children in Eden’s heart, and she is delighted for the new opportunities this season that New Creation has in store as first year apprentice with the company.
Kayla Derrick (Teacher) lives in Maumelle, Arkansas with her husband, Ben. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Performance and a minor in American Sign Language from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Kayla’s passion for dance began in her hometown of Heber Springs, Arkansas, where she performed and taught at local studios, and participated in liturgical dance at her church. During her years at UALR, she displayed her talent and fostered her love for dance through participation in multiple dance concerts, in which she was featured as a performer and choreographer, and attended American College Dance Festival conferences. She has also danced, acted, and sang in two of UALR’s theatre productions. Kayla combined her knowledge of dance and sign language to fulfill her duties as a dance instructor at the Arkansas School for the Deaf.
After graduating UALR, Kayla completed five seasons as a performer/choreographer for New Creation Dance Company and is currently an instructor for the New Creation Dance Kids. The company has given her great opportunity to grow in her love for teaching, while learning how to create a positive environment in showing students how to use dance to glorify God. Recently, in 2015, Kayla found her passion for fitness. Through her experience and years of teaching, she has found joy encouraging and empowering people of all ages to live an active and healthy life. Kayla is a certified Indoor Cycling Instructor through the Schwinn Training Program and holds a teaching license as a Pound Pro Instructor.
After graduating UALR, Kayla completed five seasons as a performer/choreographer for New Creation Dance Company and is currently an instructor for the New Creation Dance Kids. The company has given her great opportunity to grow in her love for teaching, while learning how to create a positive environment in showing students how to use dance to glorify God. Recently, in 2015, Kayla found her passion for fitness. Through her experience and years of teaching, she has found joy encouraging and empowering people of all ages to live an active and healthy life. Kayla is a certified Indoor Cycling Instructor through the Schwinn Training Program and holds a teaching license as a Pound Pro Instructor.
If interested in learning about being a part of New Creation Dance Company, please contact us!
