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Experience

about me

I am a native Phoenician with a strong legacy in the dance community. I was classically trained in ballet, jazz, modern, and tap. I performed professionally with dance companies, toured nationally as a dancer/actor, and am a former NFL cheerleader, captain/choreographer, and assistant director. I have over 30+ years of experience in performing and visual arts programs K-12, collegiate, and professional adults. My body of work and years of passionately serving the arts in the Valley make me an effective contributor to all arts and spirit line programs. My diverse artistic experiences in organizing dance companies, pom/spirit/cheer lines, drama/theatre programs, visual arts classes, camps, festivals, performances, and community outreach programs are extensive. I excel in technical training programs and producing highly desirable results. 

WORK EXPERIENCE

Artistic Director 

Arizona Dance Theatre, 1991-present

DC Dance AZ, Scottsdale, AZ  2013-present

  • Artistic director/producer, choreographer, instructor, dance master, company director

  • Elite, Junior, Apprentice, and Mini Pom Coach

  • Complete creative and artistic control over curriculums, performances, and programs

  • Curriculum development K-12, Adult- Senior

  • Curriculum training for all staff

  • Inclusive arts curriculum development for special needs, gifted and learning-disabled students

  • Interdisciplinary and cultural programs

  • Costume design

  • Set design

  • Scriptwriter

  • Sensory-friendly performances

  • ​​Master Instructor - Ballet level I-V, Pre-Pointe, Pointe Beginning through Advanced, Ballet Variations, Tap Beginning through Advanced, Jazz Beginning through Advanced, Modern, Musical Theatre, Visual Art, Theatre/Drama

Arts Administration

AZ Foundation for the Arts 501(c)3 2018-present

DC Dance AZ, Scottsdale, AZ  2013-present

Arizona Dance Theatre, 1991-2006

  • Hiring, training, and scheduling staff

  • Planning, and developing of performance seasons, festivals, exhibitions, scheduling classes, workshops and camps, and new program development

  • Collaborative development of publicity campaigns to build community interest and involvement

  • Revenue growth, budgeting, fundraising, contract negotiations, class registration

  • Client/student problem resolution

 

Absolute Arte Gallery and Performance Space, Scottsdale, AZ 1999-2003

  • Executive curator, program director

  • Hiring and training staff

  • Exhibition and class scheduling

  • Performance installation, development, and scheduling

  • Publicity and marketing

  • Fundraising

Arts Instruction

DC Dance AZ, Scottsdale, AZ  2013-present

Arizona Dance Theatre, 1991-2006

  • Jazz, lyrical, ballet, tap, musical theatre, drama, improv, and visual art instructor

  • Pom

  • K-12, Adult-Senior instruction

  • Beginning-professional training

  • Special needs, learning disabilities, gifted instruction

 

Bella Vista Private School, Cave Creek, AZ 2004-2008

  • Performing and theatre arts instructor, drama department head, grades 1-12

  • Theatre Arts Drama Curriculum development and instruction

  • Set Design instruction - middle and high school

  • Visual Arts instruction - grades 1-12

  • Dance instruction - grades 5-12

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Phoenix Country Day School, Phoenix, AZ 1998 - 2002

  • Pom/Spiritline - Head Coach 

  • Dance instructor - High School

 

Cactus Shadows, Cave Creek Unified School District, Cave Creek, AZ 1997-1998

  • Pom Line - Creator, Head Coach 1994

  • Drama camp instructor, choreographer - middle school

  • Summer camp instructor grades 1-6

  • Artist in residence - middle school

  • Guest choreographer

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Professional Performance

Professional dancer, actor, and choreographer 1985-2000

AZ Cardinals Cheerleader, captain, choreographer, assistant director

Films, television, and stage performance 

Some artists and companies include:

Orange Crush, Porshe, AT&T, ZZ Top, AZ Cardinals, Ballet West, Houston Ballet, Charlie Daniels, Best Western, Phoenix Suns, Penn Racquets, Universal, Tim Conway, Jose Cuervo, Super Bowl XXX, Atlanta Olympics, 20th Century Fox, NBC, Disney, Broadway touring company of Forever Tango

Achievements

  • Autism Society of Greater Phoenix Shining Star Award in Arts Education, Fundraising 2019, 2020 

  • Autism Society of Greater Phoenix, Autism Champion Award in Fundraising, 2018

  • 2017- National Art Education Association Conference, Presenter NY, NY​

  • 2015- Presenter, Educating Through Integrated Arts Studies, Autism Society of Greater Phoenix Conference, Phoenix, AZ

  • 2014 - National Art Education Association Conference, Presenter, Seattle, WA

  • 2011- National Art Education Association Conference, Presenter, Los Angeles, CA

  • 2004 - National Art Education Association Conference, Presenter, Chicago, IL

  • 1998 - National Art Education Association Conference, Presenter, NY, NY

  • 1998, AriZoni Award, Best Choreographer in musical theatre, Mame.

Affiliations/Memberships​

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  • Royal Academy of Dance - Member, and Instructor, leveled curriculum Pre-Primary - Grade 8

  • Accredited Interscholastic Coach NFHS Spirit

  • Progressing Ballet Technique - Certified Instructor, leveled curriculum

  • National Art Education Association

  • Special Needs in Art Education Association

  • Disability Studies in Art Education

  • United States Society for Education Through Art

  • National Dance Education Organization

  • American Alliance for Theatre and Education

  • AZ Cardinals Alumni Cheerleaders

  • NFL Alumni Association

  • National Football Cheerleaders Organization

former Students

I have instructed thousands of students through the years, many former students who have gone on to work in TV, Film, Theme Parks, Las Vegas, Cruise Lines, Broadway, Professional Cheerleading, Dance Lines, and Professional Dance Companies.

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These are notable former students of mine who have gone on to work professionally as leads, principals, and dance captains. 

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  • Chelsy Kane - Disney, ABC

  • Clifton Brown - Alvin Ailey Principal, Choreographer

  • Kelly Minton - Cirque Du Soleil

  • Bianca La Russo - San Franscisco Ballet

  • Kristin Toole - Houston Ballet

  • Anthony Villarelo - Broadway, Forever Plaid, Cats 

  • Dana Larisson - Paul Taylor

  • Holly Mandville - Rockettes

  • Jenny Voss - Rockettes

  • Kristen and Karry Barber - NFL Cheerleaders

  • LeeAnn Johnston - NFL Cheerleader

  • Nicky Newton - Fredrick Apcar, Las Vegas Dance Captain

  • Kate Godfrey - Nickelodeon

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Formal Training

My training consisted of classical, technique-based training in Vagonova Ballet Level V, Pointe, Tap, Modern Jazz, Modern, Flamenco, Hip-Hop, Tango. I was fortunate to train under the following dance masters. 

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Kelly Brown, ABT

Paul Koverman, California and Houston Ballet

Keith Martin, Royal Ballet

Laura Hurley, Houston Ballet

Franchesca Corkle, Joffrey Ballet

Luigi

Michael Williams

Rhonda Miller

Doug Caldwell

Michael Rooney

K. Tomas

Fabian Irusquibela

Glenda and Don Folk

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EDUCATION

University of Arizona, General Fine Arts Studies

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© 2020 Trisha Folk All Rights Reserved

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