(2020) be the street

Be the Street (BTS) is a community-engaged performance project at The Ohio State University, dedicated to creating collaborative spaces through storytelling with and for community within the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus. In spring of 2020 Michaela served as a co-facilitator at Dedicated Senior Medical Center, offering arts-based workshops for senior citizens.

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(2019) indeterminacy festival

"The hope is by putting the unlikely side by side, we will enter into new yet unknown relationships with the world around us" - Indeterminacy Producer/Director, Stanzi Vaubel

Michaela was selected as head choreographer for PastFuture/FuturePast, Indeterminacy Festival 2019 after multiple years of performing in the annual, site-specific event under the direction of Stanzi Vaubel. Over the course of nine months, three separate dance communities came together in an effort to express the overall theme of the year: Space. Performers included 16 young professionals of Western New York, over 30 refugee children, and 7 dancers with Parkinson's Disease.

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Complete with a live musical ensemble, 24ft parachutes, lighting projections, audience participation, LED wristbands synced to the movement, and a stunning sunset-- This 60 minute long work is Michaela's largest and most collaborative choreographic project to date.

 

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(2018) Arts Bridge

"Using art, music, and dance - the program helps show young people that although they may be from different backgrounds, some things transcend language. Art."

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A three-way collaboration between Neglia Ballet Artists, Burchfield Penney Art Center, and Buffalo String Works. The 2-week interdisciplinary arts program designed to help refugee children become better acclimated to the culture of Buffalo, NY after their relocation.  During her time teaching dance with the program Michaela was able to see first-hand how students used dance and art to embody their experiences, how art encourages intercultural communication, and how art- making builds relationships.

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(2018) City Dance

An annual, one-week program hosted by Neglia Ballet Artists providing ballet and creative movement classes to underserved communities of the Buffalo public school system free of charge. One student from every workshop is chosen to receive a full-year of free tuition at the prestigious ballet school. Michaela served as a guest teaching artist, teaching ballet and creative movement with the program.