Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Choreographers
Laura Ann Smyth
Laura Ann Smyth began her journey as an artist at the age of four, attending the Edmonton School of Ballet in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her training focused on R.A.D. and Cecchetti ballet, as well as theatrical jazz and classical modern techniques. Laura obtained her BA in Sociology from The University of Calgary and holds a Journalism Certificate from Mount Royal University. After performing and teaching for many years in Canada, Laura migrated South to pursue a graduate education. After receiving her MFA in Dance from The University of California, Irvine, Laura performed professionally in modern, contemporary, and jazz genres with a variety of highly-acclaimed companies including: Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, Donna Sternberg and Dancers, JazzAntiqua Dance and Music Ensemble, and Brockus:RED.
In addition to performing, Laura has extensive and diverse experience in choreography. She’s crafted work for faculty dance concerts at Cornish College of the Arts, Santa Monica College, Long Beach City College, Golden West College and Loyola Marymount University. And she’s found particular joy choreographing theatre productions at Pepperdine University and Loyola Marymount University.
Laura is currently a PhD Candidate in Dance Studies at Texas Woman’s University. She’s deeply proud of her Canadian heritage, joyous spirit, and technical precision, and she’s committed to creating art that promotes the beauty of cultures and experiences through dance.
Darrel “Friidom” Dunn
Darrel “Friidom” Dunn is a Dallas native, graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with a degree in Arts and Technology in 2014. He is referred to as the Willy Wonka of Movement; curating worlds of movement that bridge divides amongst people through philosophy & storytelling. Friidom lives in Los Angeles, CA working for a plethora of art and commercial work as a director, choreographer, actor, and movement artist in front and behind the camera. His resume is but not limited to; Universal Music Enterprises, Freeform Tv, DaBaby, Tyler The Creator, The Geffen Playhouse, his multiple Theatrical Movement Installations, plus many more curations for the curious. His life’s crowning work is the growth of "The Epiic" movement philosophy merging Krump, Street Styles, & the raw expressive movements of the philharmonic conductor. The style was born through Friidom’s struggle with anxiety, depression, & consistent medical issues throughout his childhood. “Epiic” is performed primarily with orchestral progressions, cinematic scores, ambient music, and soundscapes. Friidom’s work transports us into various worlds & cinematic perspectives challenging people to find the true artist found inside of us all. His work is on its way to revolutionizing the world of movement, visual arts, technology, and entertainment. Where anyone can...“Live Frii, Be Epiic.”
Albertossy Espinoza
Albertossy Espinoza an internationally known actor, dancer, choreographer, producer and director was born in Ecuador and raised in Chicago. He has toured nationally and internationally with numerous, prestigious dance companies from Chicago and LA. His other credits include teaching abroad, being a guest choreographer for various dance companies, performances in musicals, and TV appearances. His choreographic works have been presented in Chicago, Spain, France, Guatemala, Australia, Dominican Republic and California. He also choreographs for movies, tv and music videos. In 2004 he founded Los Angeles FUSION Dance Theater which has been presented in various dance festivals. As an actor, he landed lead roles in films, “The Price of the American Dream” and “East LA King” as well as a short film and three more features.
Currently he is preparing to start work on a feature film as, choreographer, dancer and actor. In 2008 he founded FUSION Performing Dance Academy (www.fpdacademy.org), a 501(c)3 non-profit dance facility to share the art of dance with the underserved East LA community. His highlights have been sharing the stage with Alvin Ailey dancers in New York, working with Placido Domingo, choreographing for Dick Van Dyke and performing as guest artist with Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater in Chicago. Albertossy is proud to represent New York’s Ballet Hispanico as teaching artist for their LA Community Outreach Program.
Donna Sternberg
Donna Sternberg, Artistic Director for Donna Sternberg & Dancers, and founder of AWE & WONDER, has professionally premiered over 100 works since 1975 throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico; frequently collaborating with artists of other disciplines as well as scientists. Her work has been commissioned by institutions such as the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, California Science Center, festivals, schools and dance companies. She participated in the 2016 Venice Biennale, was chosen for the first artist/science residency at Djerassi, received the Artist-in-Community award from the Santa Monica Arts Foundation, is featured in the documentary LA Woman, published in the journal Leonardo (MIT Press), featured on KCET’s Life and Times program and is the recipient of numerous grants. She has been a guest artist for many years at Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico and served on the Santa Monica Arts Commission.
Scientists
Dr. Moogega Cooper
Dr. Moogega (pronounced Moo-ji-gae) Cooper received her B.A. in Physics from Hampton University in 2006. She then enrolled in Drexel University where she received her Masters and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in thermal fluid sciences. She has been at JPL for 13 years, working on spacecraft to include Mars Science Laboratory, InSight, Mars 2020 as the Lead of Planetary Protection, and the Europa Lander concept. She is currently the Group Supervisor of the Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Her passion includes education and outreach, as well as developing sterilization capabilities for extreme microorganisms.
Dr. Ashwin Vasavada
Dr. Ashwin Vasavada is a planetary scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Currently he is the Project Scientist for NASA's Curiosity rover that began development in 2003 and successfully reached Mars in August, 2012. He now leads the international team of scientists as they explore Gale Crater on the martian surface. He also has participated in the operation and analysis of data from several other NASA spacecraft missions, including the Galileo mission to Jupiter, the Cassini mission to Saturn, and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. He holds a B.S. in Geophysics and Space Physics from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Planetary Science from Caltech.
Gerard Fasel
Gerard Fasel has had a great interest in the arts and the universe since childhood. He spent many evenings looking at the stars through a telescope his grandfather brought back from Germany when he was a boy. In high school and college he participated in plays and took courses in modern dance and ballet. Gerard obtained his Doctorate degree in physics from the University of Oslo, Norway. His research is centered on the Solar-Terrestrial interactions, with the Earth and its global magnetic field providing a close astrophysical laboratory to examine. Gerard has a close working relationship with NASA which provides interesting research opportunities. After obtaining his doctorate, Gerard began teaching physics and continuing his research at Pepperdine University. During this time he began taking acting classes. He studied under Joan Linville, one of the founders of the Stella Adler Studio in Los Angeles. Gerard completed a 2 year program using the original Meisner technique, graduating from The Baron Brown Studio in Santa Monica, Gerard is an active member of SAG-AFTRA and has been in several national commercials, including being the spokesperson for SHARP electronics. Gerard has also been featured in the TV series, The District.
Kris Pardo
Kris Pardo is an Assistant Professor of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Southern California. He is a theoretical cosmologist and his work focuses on how we can use astrophysical data to detect gravitational waves and test theories of dark matter. Kris is originally from South Florida, and received his PhD in Astrophysical Sciences from Princeton University. He lives in Pasadena and is often found catering to the every whim of his Australian Shepherd puppy.