2018-19 Company | core

CORE Contemporary and Aerial Dance

Olivia Byers, 2022 UGA Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

Olivia Byers, a Georgia Native, is currently a first year student pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree as a Dance Major at the University of Georgia. She has 11 years of versatile training in all forms of dance that has earned her a level of apprenticeship member in the dance company, Axam Dance Theater Experience, for the past 4 years. Olivia also has a growing passion for the aerial arts in lyra, silks, and trapeze. She has previous training with Matt Gallacher and Akrosphere Aerial and Circus Arts. As an apprentice, she has had performance experience in Atlanta and New York City. She has dance training with Performers Warehouse, Jimmy Locust, Dawn Axam, Ballet Institute of Atlanta, Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, and Douglasville School Of Dance. She completed summer intensives at Kennesaw State University (2017), Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary Intensive in New York City (2016, 2015), Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary South at UGA (2016), and Woodward Academy Dance Ensemble. She has also worked locally in modeling for International designer Portia and Scarlett. Olivia has earned many academic and dance scholarships and received awards for leadership, merit, character, performance, and talent. In 2016, she was proudly inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and honored as a finalist to the Georgia Governor's Honors Program. This is Olivia's second year as a member of CORE Concert Dance Company.

Devyn Hannon, 2022 UGA Bachelor of Arts in Dance and B.S. in Biology (emphasis in Marine Biology)

Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Devyn received training at the Dance Academy of Bartlett with Sergio Masero-Olarte, Anwen David, Danielle Pierce, Kim Jenkins, and more. Devyn is a first year CORE Concert Dance Company member, and she has also performed in the Emerging Choreographers concert (2018) here at UGA. In addition, Devyn was the only recipient of the Southern Association of Dance Masters College Scholarship in 2018. This past summer, Devyn travelled on a cruise ship as a dancer in multiple shows with the Memphis Dance Connection Touring Company. She has been cast as Peter Pan in the Peter Pan Ballet (2016), Annie in the Annie Ballet (2017), and Willy Wonka in the Wonka Ballet (2018). Devyn is very excited to grow as an artist and perform this year with CORE.

Aviva Kasowski, second-year graduate student in the English and Creative Writing PhD program at University of Georgia.

Previously, Aviva lived in New York City where she practiced aerial arts at Om Factory. An accomplished writer and poet, her work has appeared in Ninth Letter, Spillway Magazine, and other publications, and her poem “Five Mutations” was performed as an interpretive dance piece at the UGA Spotlight on the Arts. In her spare time she practices silks at Canopy Studio. This is her second year in CORE and she looks forward to working with new apparatuses and collaborating with talented dancers.

Amira Kuhaneck, 2022 UGA Bachelor of Arts in Dance and B.S. in Psychology

Originally from Long County, Georgia, Amira received prior dance training at the Savannah Ballet Theater under the direction of Sue Braddy. She also received training from Cheryl Brett & Holly Bitzer at Cheryl Brett Dance Studio. Amira is a first year CORE Concert Dance Company member. This is her first year pursuing her AB in dance and her BS in Psychology. She performed in Senior Exit and Emerging Choreographer's Concerts in 2018. She will also perform in Spring Dance Concert 2019. Amira is really grateful for the opportunity to be apart of this company and is looking forward to growing as an artist this year.

Avery Lumsden, 2021 UGA Bachelor of Arts in Ecology, A.B. in Anthropology & Certificate in Sustainability

Originally from Sautee Nacoochee, Ga Avery began her Aerial training at Rabun Gap Nacoochee School when she was 12 years old. She was part of the first group of middle schoolers to train on aerial apparatuses at her school and was one of four students who stuck it through until senior year. Through her career at Rabun Gap, Avery participated in over 40 shows, both as a dancer and aerial artist. She studied under Hannah Grimm, Candace Day, and Waverly Danielle of Empyrean Arts in Asheville, NC. However, after her graduation in 2016, she let go of creative movement when she moved to Germany. It has been two years since she has moved creatively, and she is beyond excited to be part of CORE this year and to be back in the air. Avery is looking forward to grow as an artist and athlete with CORE.

Carey Marr, 2021 Bachelor of Arts in Dance and B.A. in English, Creative Writing

Originally from Damascus, Maryland, Carey spent her first year of college at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City and transferred to UGA in Fall 2018. She has since performed in the YCS/Senior Exit Concert 2018, and is a first year CORE Contemporary and Aerial Dance member. She has previously trained at Commotion Dance Studio and Strathmore CityDance Conservatory in D.C. She was a member of VF Dance Company in Germantown, MD (2015,2017). Carey completed the Mid-Atlantic Summer Dance Intensive at James Madison University (2015,2016) and the Paul Taylor Modern Dance Intensive at the Peabody Institute (2017). She has been in multiple shows with Damascus Theatre Company, and had an internship with Capital Coaching Acting Studios in 2017. Carey is wildly grateful for the opportunity to train in aerial dance and grow as an artist this season.

Alex Ozbilen, 2020 UGA Supply Chain Management & International Business

Originally from Newnan, GA, Alex is a third year student at the University of Georgia. Her major is Supply Chain Management with a co major in international business. This is her third year participating in aerial dance with CORE. She has a background in gymnastics, cheerleading, and pole vaulting. She started gymnastics when she was three years old, and stopped when she was in level nine at the age of sixteen. She then moved on to competitive cheerleading for two different teams, and took up pole vaulting during her senior year. Her previous experience with these sports has been a great aid in participating in CORE, and she is looking forward to another exciting year of performing in an aerial dance production.

Morgan Rossi, 2021 Bachelor and Masters candidate in Dietetics

Morgan Rossi, originally from Atlanta, GA, is a third year student at the University of Georgia and second year CORE Contemporary and Aerial Dance member. She is pursuing a dual bachelors/masters degree in Dietetics and community nutrition but hopes to continue performing as a professional aerial silks artist and contortionist alongside her other careers. She has trained for over 10 years in aerial silks and contortion, receiving coaching from NECCA trained aerial professional LeeAnna Repass as well as New York based studio, The Circus Warehouse. She now works for a variety of Atlanta-based performance companies and has performed at various festivals and events throughout the Southeast including Artesphere Arts Festival in Greenville SC, An Evening In Orange hosted by The University of Tennessee Medical Center, the opening of the Natural Sciences Museum in Raleigh,NC, and on the set of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta". In her spare time, Morgan teaches stretch/mobility fitness classes at UGA's Ramsey Fitness Center and works as an aerial instructor for Circus Camp based in Decatur Georgia, where she aspires to inspire kids through circus arts.

Grace Weigel, 2022 Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Bachelor of Science in Biology

Originally from Suwanee, GA, Grace has been joyfully dancing for 15 years. She received her earliest training at North Atlanta Dance Academy under Michael Garrison and Tatiana Makarova and continued at The Still Pointe Studios under Eleanor Rogers and Rebekah Diaddigo. Concurrently, Grace danced for four years at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School. Grace’s summer intensives have included Atlanta Ballet, DanceCanvas’ DC Next, Joffrey Ballet School Pre-Professional New York, and Staibdance Atlanta Workshop. She has also danced professionally with Atlanta dance collective Bluebird Uncaged. While at The Still Pointe Studios, Grace choreographed and presented original pieces for six consecutive years, and is currently working on a number of pieces that she hopes to choreograph professionally. Still in her first year at UGA, Grace performed in the 2018 Senior Exit Concert, and looks forward to the upcoming CORE season. Grace is incredibly excited for the opportunity to grow and improve her dancing and experience aerial arts for the first time as a member of CORE.