Stephen Brown (director of SB Dance, performer)
Stephen began his training at high school dances. He was too terrified to move, so he would lean against a wall and act hip. Rewarded by this posing technique, he coolly slid into professional ranks, performing with diverse modern companies in New York and the West, including Creach and Koester, Mark Morris Dance Group, Sharir Dance Company, Repertory Dance Theatre and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. Somewhere in there, Stephen graduated from Columbia University with a BS in Biological Sciences, Summa Cum Laude. At Columbia, he had the privilege of studying under professor Marty Chalfie who was hot on the trail of research that would lead to a Nobel prize 17 years later.

In 1997, Stephen formed SB Dance, a nonprofit that has slowly mutated into a loose group of misfits trying to lose their funding. As director, Stephen has a finger in every pot. Besides allowing him to fiddle with their creations, Stephen's collaborators make his own work seem that much better. His managerial philosophy goes like this: if you hire really good people and exhaust them with bad ideas, they'll eventually do great work just to get you out of their hair.

Stephen has received a couple of awards and recently been knighted a pioneer of the Utah alternative scene.

FOR THE VERY BEAST OF SB DANCE...

Juan Aldape (dancer)
Originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, Juan is an interdisciplinary ethno-hybrid-identity-crossing-tech-loving dance artist. Twitter:juanmaldape. Twatter: juan. Twacebook: j. JuanerNet: .

Craig Berman(co-choreographer on "from Strictly from Hunger")
Craig's first pro dance gig was with SB Dance in Ballet Noir (1998). After that, it was all downhill-- Momix, Cirque du Soleil, appearing in the Grammy Awards, doctorate in Physical Therapy. He's glad to finally be back on top.

Dan Larrinaga(actor)
From DREAMTIME! at The Ed Sullivan in New York to NYU Film School to many many local productions, Dan’s rich and acclaimed acting career has landed him in a dance company. Natalie Portman-- eat your heart out.

Jenny Larsen(dancer)
Jenny gets hearts pumpin’ and feet thumpin’, on the stage for SB Dance, as a fitness teacher for over 16 years, and former medal-winning fitness competitor. She can crack a walnut with only one glut while driving her girls to school, texting her husband, and inventing an evil workout for her minions.

Christopher Larson (costumes) designs for commercial fashion, theater and dance. His work can be seen on Repertory Dance Theatre, Ballet West, and, for the past 5 years, SB Dance. Mad about wigs and bicycles and men who can handle both.

Glenn Linder (lighting and technical design)
Glenn is a lighting machine around Salt Lake City. He lights for SB Dance, Sugar Space, and many others. At night, he carries a couple of flashlights to illuminate footpaths, birdbaths, interesting rocks, aliens, and federal agents. Artificial LEDs have changed his life.

Stevan Novakovich(dancer)
Raised in the state ballet system of Tito’s Yugoslavia (ask him about shooting prop rifles in Communist-themed dances), Stevi has performed for Ballet West, Ririe-Woodbury, and many others throughout the world. He served as an arts ambassador for the USIA , has a MFA in dance, teaches both ballet and modern, choreographs in both disciplines, has dance videos in festivals, and is currently out of work. C’mon people.

Corinne Penka(dancer)
Corinne teaches kids to move like molten lava, dances with the likes of Rawmoves and Movement Forum, is trying to change the world one push-up at a time (you know, that whole personal trainer biz), and runs like a fiend.

Nathan Shaw(dancer)
Once again giving his all for SB Dance, Nathan dances for RDT, RawMoves, and has appeared in several theater productions for SLAC and the Egyptian Theater. He promises his mother that it’s all in the name of art and believes that, mostly, it is.

Liberty Valentine(dancer)
Dancing for many year with Ririe-Woodbury, Libby has also been a part of SB Dance since Waltz of the Dog-faced Boy in 2000. She’s a visual artist, videomaker, choreographer, pet-owner, and doesn’t mind kicking up her feet and reading at the beach.

Carolyn "Winnie" Wood (director)
Winnie has had a long and complicated career in the performing arts. Atfer graduating in 1976 with a BA in Theatre and Dance, she began a long association with the Repertory Dance Theatre in Salt Lake City. In 1980 she was a founding member of Dance Theatre Coalition. Winnie wrote and performed radio comedy for DesertAire, heard on KRCL once a month for ten years. She has acted and danced in, directed, choreographed and produced theatrical producions in the Salt Lake area for almost 30 years. In 2001 she received one of the Mayor's Artist of theYear Awards. She served as President of the Performing Arts Coalition and was instrumental in the completion of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. Now on the faculty of the Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant, Utah.

IN RECENT HISTORY

Tracie Merrill (actor YOGA CONFIDENTIAL)
Tracie has practiced and studied acting for over the last two decades.  She has performed nationally as well as internationally and has achieved the highest degree possible in performance, an MFA.  If you do not believe any of that after seeing her in this performance, she is willing to provide documentation as proof.  Photos and diplomas will be available upon request.

Daniel Beecher (actor)
1) I've tried. I've really given it a fair shot. I'm even pretty decent at it. Nevertheless, I just don't enjoy yoga. Get over it.
2) I can’t catch fish. What’s more, when I am present, even experienced and skilled fishermen can’t catch fish. The fish… they sense me.
3) Though I put no stock in astrology whatsoever, I am a Leo through and through. 16
4) I’m not admitting to any illegal activity, but if you ever get the chance to do mushrooms in Goblin Valley… I HIGHLY recommend it!
5) I can move things using only the power of my mind. Not anything, mind you. All I do is think about moving my finger, and it moves.

Kate Crews (dancer DROSSELMEYER INC) is a redhead, 6' tall on pointe, who has played the most famous witches and bitches in the ballet world since her teens. A soloist with Ballet West and active teacher of both ballet and yoga.

Paul Mulder (actor DROSSELMEYER INC, REVENGE OF YOGA) was playing a 7 year old boy when he first worked with Stephen. In fact, he was a 7 year old boy. His professional credits include tv, movies and stage productions both national and local.

Kim Côté (actor DROSSELMEYER INC, REVENGE OF YOGA) is a bonafide triple threat pounding the boards in everything from Tommy to Les Mis. Lead singer for local band Swamp Boogie who loves to get dirt in her fingernails.

Stefanie Slade (lighting and production design)
A devoted believer in theater, Stefanie Slade finds herself seeking a balance between blur and precision. She keeps involving herself in projects that push her every direction. She considers her involvement with SB Dance to be part of her pilgrimage. She wants to start a cult but can't think of a good name yet.

Mattson McFarland (set and object designer)
When Mattson first joined SBDance in 2003, Stephen asked him “Would you mind hanging a thousand ping-pong balls from the ceiling individually with fishing line?” He said “No problem.” “Now would you take it down and could you do that again, again, and again?” Mattson said “That’s fine.” Stephen was pleased and has ruthlessly exploited this shamelessly naïve attitude of Mattson’s every year since then. There have been illustrations of dissected rats, Calder-esque mobiles, life-size cut-out figures, art salons, illustrated Bible stories and latex fetish monsters. . . With SB Dance, Mattson rarely knows what he’ll be saying yes to next. But the answer is still yes.

Jimmy Fassler (composer, arranger, sound design) has worked in almost every part of the commercial music industry since age 10. He has been a member of many bands, most notoriously the touring dance act, Perfect Tommy. Traveling throughout the 80s with Perfect Tommy and a clunky Apple II computer, Jimmy began honing his skill for creating digital music. Recording and mixing all genres of live bands and artists, he now works as a producer and sound engineer for several music labels including his own.(composer, arranger, sound design) has worked in almost every part of the commercial music industry since age 10. He has been a member of many bands, most notoriously the touring dance act, Perfect Tommy. Traveling throughout the 80s with Perfect Tommy and a clunky Apple II computer, Jimmy began honing his skill for creating digital music. Recording and mixing all genres of live bands and artists, he now works as a producer and sound engineer for several music labels including his own.