bios

Susan Rieger
(Artistic Director and Choreographer)

Susan Rieger, now in her second year as Artistic Director of the 940 Dance Company, has been a visible force in modern dance in the Midwest since 1987, when she presented her first piece of choreography. In the last 21 years, she has toured throughout the Midwest teaching and performing for all ages; training professional dancers; and developing and presenting innovative choreography. She was one of the founders of aha! dance theatre, which had a 14 year history in Kansas City. Rieger was the Artistic Director from 2002-2007. During that time, she produced concerts at the Folly Theater, in galleries, museums and outdoor spaces, as well as developed dance programs for grade school, high school and adult audiences.

Rieger has choreographed over 40 unique works, many of which have received critical acclaim. In 2004, she was honored with a Kennedy Center Award for Achievement in Choreography (ACTF Region V for the original play “Lost” at Rockhurst University). Rieger’s choreography has been selected to be a part of the Mid-America Dance Network showcase numerous times. Her work has also been reviewed in Dance Magazine, the KC Star and e-KC, an on-line journal.

Collaboration has been a hallmark of Rieger’s work and some of her most successful collaborations have been with lighting designer/technical director John “Moose” Kimball, costume designer Atif Rome, photographer Deanna Dikeman, playwright Frankie Krainz and musicians from newEar Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Rieger holds a Bachelors of Art in Dance from the University of Iowa and a Masters of Social Welfare from the University of Kansas. She currently teaches dance as well as directing the 940 Dance Company, at the Lawrence Arts Center. She is a movement coach for the Speech and Forensics Team at the Kansas State School for the Blind and teaches interdisciplinary arts at the Missouri Fine Arts Academy in the summer. She has been a resident teacher/choreographer at various universities.

R. Vance Baldwin

R. Vance Baldwin began his dance training with the Missouri Western State University Dance Company under the direction of Paul Chambers. At MWSU, he earned a BS in vocal music education. He continued his training at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he earned a BFA in dance. He has performed with Reach…a movement collective inc., Eubank Productions, Robidoux Resident Theater, and Shawnee Mission Theater in the Park. He has taught for Reach and for the Dance Arts Center in St. Joseph, Missouri. His choreographic credits include: Rocky Horror Picture Show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Grease, Beauty and the Beast, Guys and Dolls, A New Brain, Music Man, A My Name is Alice, and Seussical: The Musical. This is Vance’s first season with 940 and he wants you all to “Rock the Body!”

Katie Brennan (Dancer)

Katie Brennan, a native of Independence, MO, began dancing at the age of eight at Ballet Conservatory and continued to focus primarily on classical ballet while studying at the Kansas City Ballet School . She was later introduced to modern dance by her teachers, Susan Rieger and David Ollington. While attending William Jewell College , Katie trained with Kim Shope and Tuesday Faust. This past summer, Katie studied at Frente de Danza Independiente, based in the national theater of Ecuador. Katie was an apprentice with aha! dance theatre in 2003 and is pleased to be joining the 940 Dance Company for her second season.

Candi Baker
(Artistic Director Emeritus & Choreographer)

Candi founded the 940 dance company (originally Prairie Wind Dancers) in 1987 and served as Artistic Director until June, 2003. She holds an MA in dance from Mills College in Oakland, CA. Candi studied dance extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area, notably with Margaret Jenkins before moving to Kansas in 1983. She has directed her own studio and now directs the dance program at the Lawrence Arts Center. Candi has received the City of Lawrence Phoenix Award in the performing arts, as well as numerous other awards and grants.

Bobbi Foudree (Dancer)

Bobbi Foudree started her dance training at the age of 16 at Midtown School of Dance, from there she went on to Stephens College acquiring her BFA in dance, spending summers training at Nashville Ballet and School of Ballet Chicago. Her professional experience began in New Hampshire as a trainee with Northern Ballet Theater and as a company member with Jennie and Company. Missing the Midwest, Ms. Foudree returned to KC and has since danced with Kacico Dance, aha! dance theatre, and is currently a dancer and choreographer with Reach...a movement collective. Ms. Foudree loves teaching and has taught a variety of ages and dance styles. Currently, she has the joy of training baby ballerinas at a Fairytale Ballet. This is Ms. Foudree's second season with 940 and is thrilled to be back and would like to thank her family and friends for all of their love and support.

Non (Shannon) Edwards

Non (Shannon) Edwards graduated from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa in 2007, where she studied technique and composition under the direction of Shawn Womack. In 2008, Non was awarded a scholarship to the Bates Dance Festival in Maine. She spent two summers in Minneapolis, MN participating in a scholarship program at Zenon Dance Company and School. In 2008, she was invited to be a guest choreographer for the Block E Scholarship program at Zenon. Her innovative choreography, Lifeboat and the solo Classic, appeared in the 940 New Works concert in spring of 2008.Non teaches beginning and intermediate modern to youth and adults, as well as youth ballet, at the Lawrence Arts Center. This is her second season with the 940 Dance Company.

Elizabeth Schafer

Elizabeth Schafer graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in dance and theatre in 2008. At K-State, she performed annually in winter and spring productions, and performed in David Ollington’s Student Rite at Modern Night at the Folly. She participated in residencies and master classes with Sean Duus, Paloma Briaggato, Jock Soto, Willie Lenore and Roni Mahler. Prior to that she trained at Barbara’s Conservatory of Dance and Topeka Ballet. She performed many leading roles in Ballet Midwest’s productions including the Dew Drop, the Lead Hungarian and Cousin in The Nutcracker; and Prayer in Coppelia. She was also a soloist in Topeka Ballet’s production of Les Sylphide. Elizabeth has taught ballet, jazz and tap at Barbara’s Conservatory and Bates Dance Studio. This is her first season with the 940 Dance Company.