Founder & Artistic Director

DONNA STERNBERG

Ms. Sternberg has professionally premiered over 90 works since 1975 throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico; frequently collaborating with artists of other disciplines including composers, visual artists, poets, actors and digital media as well as scientists. After dancing in the companies of Donald Byrd, Mary Jane Eisenberg, Yen Lu Wong and Dance/LA, she founded Donna Sternberg & Dancers, a contemporary dance company based in Santa Monica, CA, in 1985. Her choreography has been critically acclaimed for its “exceptional ability to communicate through pure movement” (Los Angeles Times). She has choreographed nine full-evening works, most have been inspired by science. Ms. Sternberg has been commissioned to create works for the California Science Center, SIGGRAPH, Dance Moving Forward Festival, California Choreographer’s Festival, Catlin Gabel School in Oregon, Valley College and the Alleluia Dance Theatre.

Alexandria Paige Amstutz

Alexandria Paige Amstutz recently relocated to LA from New York City where she performed with several companies including VISIONS Contemporary Ballet and Bryce Dance Company, and was the Rehearsal Director for both companies. She has performed throughout the United States in live stage performances and also video projects. Alexandria is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Dance. When she isn’t dancing, Alexandria is a fitness teacher and General Manager at Pure Barre Pasadena.

Maddie Gilbert

Maddie Gilbert, originally from Boulder, Colorado, received her BA in dance from Loyola Marymount University where she trained with dancers from Bill T. Jones, WeWolf, Movin’ Out and Bodytraffic. She works as a digital marketing manager for Liberate Artists in addition to dancing.

Hannah 하연 Joo

Hannah 하연 Joo is a second-generation Korean American artist based in Tovaangar (traditional Tongva/Gabrielino lands aka Los Angeles). They began training with the Royal Academy of Dance and American Academy of Ballet syllabi under Eun Hee Lee and Merle Sepel in Southern California. Hannah received her BA in dance and anthropology from Swarthmore College where they studied ballet, Kathak, Umfundalai, Gaga, and Horton techniques, and performed works by Pallabi Chakravorty, Kumudini Lahkia, Kemal Nance, Idan Porges, Hadar Katz, Gregory King, and Olivia Sabee. Hannah has performed throughout Philadelphia, D.C., and New York with Courtyard Dancers and Agora Dance. She is also an experienced arts administrator, researcher, and advocate, having worked and consulted for Dance/NYC, Immigrant Arts Coalition, May 19th Project/SEE US UNITE Campaign, and the National BITOC Coalition/Commons. Hannah holds an MA in Asian American studies from UCLA and is an alumnus of the Diversity in the Arts Leadership program with Americans for the Arts and the Racial Equity in the Arts Innovation Lab with Race Forward.

Gabby Pariseau

Gabby Pariseau was born and raised in Moss Beach, California. Her dance training started at the age of three with the Shely Pack Dancers. Her teachers were Shely Pack Manning and Grace Holmquist, to whom she appreciates all they had done for her in her early years. After graduating high school, she went to the University of California, Irvine where she received her BFA in Dance Performance and a Minor in Public Health. At UCI, she had the privilege of being mentored by Dr. S. Ama Wray, and would like to state how grateful she is to have worked with her. Following graduation, she danced for the Allayo Dance Company located in San Francisco, California where she performed with them at the Herbst theater in November of 2019. Gabrielle became a member of the Diavolo Institute in January of 2020 and has been with the second company ever since. We now welcome Gabby to the DS&D Fam as our newest dancer!

Glenn Rodriguez

Glenn Rodriguez, a native of Los Angeles, spent most of his academic life within the theatre. He performed in numerous youth productions at the Morgan-Wixson including musicals such as, "42nd Street" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie" under the direction of Anne Gesling. He received dance training at Santa Monica College and has performed with a number of Los Angeles based companies including Lula Washington Dance theatre and Los Angeles Choreographers and Dancers. Glenn recently has been highlighted on a dance TV show premiering in the fall and is an up-and-coming queen of drag.