Michelle Tara Lynch (she/her)

INSTRUCTOR

​Michelle Tara Lynch hails from Los Alamos, New Mexico. She earned a BA in Environmental Science and a BFA in Dance from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While at UCSB, she received the Patricia Sparrow Dance Scholarship, the Tonia Shimin Award for Excellence and Promise in the Field of Dance, and began her professional performing career with Nebula Dance Lab.

Michelle then moved to New York City, where she was a company member and instructor for Jennifer Muller/The Works for five seasons, until moving to the Bay Area. While with JMTW, she had the privilege of touring throughout the United States, as well as internationally in China, and Italy. Michelle also worked as an assistant to Jennifer Muller in her teaching, including residencies at the University of California, Irvine, Cal State Fullerton, and Jacksonville University. Michelle taught regular technique classes to JMTW company members, scholarship students, and apprentices. She also coordinated programs for young choreographers, and taught creative workshops for elementary schools. Outside of her work with JMTW, Michelle presented her own choreography in California at the HH11 Festival in Santa Barbara, as well as in New York at such venues as Greenspace, Hatch Series, and Columbia University.

Michelle moved to the Bay Area in 2018, and currently teaches at several studios, including Van der Zwaan Dance, ODC, and Castro Valley Performing Arts.

Ryan Rouland Smith (he/him)

GUEST TEACHER

Ryan Rouland Smith (He/Him) hails from Colorado where he graduated from the Denver School of the Arts. In 2013 Smith graduated Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Dance and Choreography. Smith received additional training at the American Dance Festival, where he had the pleasure of working with John Jasperse, Reggie Wilson and performed in the first reconstruction of Bill T. Jones’ Love Redefined.  In 2014 Smith became a member of Kate Weare Company, performing in and originating roles in such works as Dark Lark, Unstruck, Marksman and Praise.  In 2019 while dancing in New York, Smith had the pleasure of working with Stefanie Batten Bland, Look Who is Coming to Diner and Nicole Vaughn Diaz, A Portrait of Them.  Following the collaborative process between Kate Weare Company and ODC, Decameron/Up For Air; Smith joined ODC in 2021.

Anna Gichan (she/her)

GUEST TEACHER

Anna Gichan (she/her) is a deaf/hard of hearing contemporary dancer who grew up on the farmlands of NJ. She graduated with a BFA in Dance from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts where she completed a study abroad program at Hebrew University in conjunction with the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Upon graduation, Anna has been freelancing for various artists throughout the tri-state area, performing and choreographing extensively her own work with many thanks from grants provided by Brooklyn Arts Exchange and CUNY Dance Initiative. She has completed workshops in Berlin, Greece, Israel and regularly travels to Europe to continue broadening her understanding of contemporary dance. Anna also freelances with Omnium Circus and is actively improving her circus skills, gymnastics, floorwork, flexibility and ASL. Anna currently dances with AXIS Dance company as an apprentice. 

ArVejon Jones (he/him)

GUEST TEACHER

​ArVejon Jones is a Bay Area freelance dance artist and educator. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, he received his B.A. in Dance from San Francisco State University being recognized for his excellence in performance upon graduation. Professionally, ArVejon has performed with Copious Dance Theater, Robert Moses Kin, PUSH Dance, SOULSKIN Dance, ODC Dance/ SF,  RAW Dance SF, Concept o4, Sean Dorsey Dance, Prometheus Dance Theater, Jean Appolon Expressions, Kambara+, and Garrett+Moulton Productions among others. Through which, he has been afforded the opportunity to tour throughout the United States of America and perform internationally in Canada and Sweden. His training is diverse having studied Tap, Jazz, Afro-Hatian Dance, Afro-Brazilian, House dance and other Hip Hop based genres, vogue, Salsa, and formal training in Ballet, Modern Dance languages, as well as contemporary aesthetic. He has taught for multiple institutions including San Francisco State University, BodyVox in Portland, OR, Boston Ballet, LINES/ SF Dance Center, and various private dance studios.