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If you are a SOTA Dance alum, please fill out this form to be featured in our alumni section!
Class of 2026
Madelyn Chou
Madelyn Chou is heading to the University of San Francisco to pursue a dual degree in Biology and Dance. By bridging the arts and sciences, Madelyn aims to build a foundation for a future career in medicine and pre-clinical research. Beyond her studies, while staying in her hometown of San Francisco, she remains a dedicated member of her community through her roles as a coach for Lincoln Dragon Boat and an instructor at her local dance studio. Madelyn is incredibly grateful to her family, friends, and mentors for their unwavering support as she begins this exciting new chapter.
Olivia Foster
Olivia Foster is headed off to Philadelphia to study political science at Temple University. She is excited to meet new people, explore Philly, and continue dancing. Olivia is grateful for all of the memories she has made over the past four years in the Conservatory Dance Department, and would like to thank her friends and family for always encouraging, supporting, and believing in her.
Erin Ritchie
Erin Ritchie will be attending University College Cork in the fall to study finance. She is looking forward to exploring Cork, continuing to dance, and meeting new people. Erin is so grateful for all she learned and the friendships she gained during her time in the conservatory dance department!
Cynna Tse
Cynna Tse will be attending Cornell University with a major in Biometry and Statistics this fall. At Cornell, she hopes to join various different clubs and continue dancing. She is most excited to see snow and meet new people. Cynna would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support!
Charlotte Trimble
Charlotte Trimble will be attending Reed College in the fall, and plans to major in Psychology, with a possible double major in Neuroscience. She plans on continuing to dance, and is excited to explore Portland and meet new people. Charlotte is grateful for all the support that her friends and teachers at SOTA, along with her parents have given her.
Siran Woods
Siran Woods will be attending San Diego State University in the fall, where she will be majoring in business with a real estate emphasis as well as pursuing a minor in dance. She's excited to soak up the SoCal sun, meet new people, and continue to dance and choreograph. She would like to thank her friends, family, and instructors for supporting her and making her time at SOTA so special.
Emily Yin
Emily Yin will be attending University of North Carolina School of the Arts to get her BFA in Ballet with a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. She is excited to continue dancing, meet new people, and see snow! Emily is incredibly grateful for the love and support she has received and the friends she has made during her time in the Conservatory Dance Department.
Class of 2025
Eve Axelrod
Eve Axelrod is excited to be attending University of Washington in the fall! She will be majoring in Sociology with a minor in Dance. Eve is looking forward eating good food, meeting new people, and discovering new interests in Seattle, but will miss San Francisco very much. She is very grateful for all the lessons learned and friendships made during her time at SOTA.
Clairemarie Welte
Clairemarie Welte will be attending the University of California, Berkeley this fall. While she is not pursuing dance professionally, she plans to stay involved with the arts. Clairemarie would like to thank her family, the beautiful dance seniors, her dance teachers, and Sunny the Cat for all their love and support.
Grace Virginia Kerscher
Grace Kerscher will be attending University of California, San Diego as an applied mathematics major. She is forever grateful for the community of amazing friends and lovely experiences the dance department gave her! Grace would like to thank her family for the love and laughter as well as Andrea for her constant support. Catch her solving the Riemann Hypothesis in her snoopy shirt!
Maximilienne Pelfrey
Maximilienne Pelfrey is excited to be attending The American University of Paris, where she will be pursuing a major in Art History and a double minor in French and Fashion Marketing. Alongside her academics, Maxi plans on joining the AUP Dance Company and snagging an internship for Paris Fashion Week. In her free time, Maxi will continue to be a dedicated musician, volunteer, and golfer through local organizations in Paris. She is forever grateful and sincerely appreciates all the love and support from her family, Andrea Scheumann, the Conservatory Dance Department, Kevin Tang, and the Hiller Aviation Museum family.
Nathaniel Zubatov
Nathaniel Zubatov is attending San Diego State University’s Fowler School of Business, where he will utilize the important lessons that dance taught him and apply them to his business practices. Spinning through spreadsheets and rolling through business ideas he’ll be dancing—whether it’s on a stage or just in the grocery store aisle when his favorite song comes on. He is endlessly grateful for Andrea and the Conservatory Dance Department for shaping his journey and making these past four years some of the best of his life.
Navia Inclan
Navia Inclan will be continuing her journey at Stanford University, where she will be studying Biology and Earth Systems! At Stanford, she hopes to continue dancing and performing, soaking in the sun, eating good food, and trying new things.
Talise Somme
Talise Somme is attending UCLA in the fall majoring in materials science and engineering. She will continue to find creative outlets and hopefully continue dancing.
Ava Miller-Green
Ava Miller-Green is excited to be attending the University of California, Los Angeles as a Communications and Spanish major. She is incredibly grateful for the amazing friends and supportive community she has been a part of over the past four years. Ava looks forward to exploring the vibrant city of Los Angeles, meeting new people, and discovering new hobbies along the way. She would like to thank her family and friends for all the love and encouragement they have given her.
Paloma Masel
Paloma Masel will be attending McGill University this fall. While she is still deciding on a major, she is excited to explore her options. Paloma looks forward to embracing new opportunities and discovering her passions in the city of Montréal. She is deeply grateful for the endless love and support of her teachers, friends, and family.
Ez Zimman
Ez Zimman (they/them) will be attending UC Santa Cruz after graduation, where they will be pursuing a degree in Robotics Engineering. They plan to apply for a dance minor as well, and hopefully continue dancing and choreographing as much as possible in college. Ez would like to thank their family, for their endless support and unconditional love.
Julia Feferman
Julia Feferman will attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts to get her BFA in Dance and minor in Business this fall. She is looking forward to studying abroad and exploring NYC. She would like to thank her friends and family for their love and support!
Class of 2024
Amali Hart
Amali Hart is set to pursue a degree in astrophysics at the College of San Mateo. Alongside academics, Amali will continue to nurture her love for dance by training recreationally to stay connected to the art. Balancing science and creativity, Amali aims to bring a unique perspective to her studies and beyond. While excited to pursue her academic and artistic passions, more than anything, Amali looks forward to getting a cat.
Lina Erazo-Marenco
Lina Erazo-Marenco is planning to commit UC Davis. She hopes to continue incorporating dance into her life but wants to work with styling. Lina would also like to study abroad and adopt a cat. Lina is thrilled to step into this new chapter of life!!
Aaralyn Johnston
Aaralyn Johnston will be attending University of California, Santa Barbara this fall. She will not be majoring in dance but plans to continue dancing in the future. She thanks her friends and family for their continuous love and support.
Angelika Prackatzsch
Angelika Prackatzsch is planning on pursuing her career in ballet at University of North Carolina School of the Arts while also earning her B.F.A. Her goal for the future is to be in a professional ballet company. She thanks all her friends, family, and teachers for always supporting her on her journey!
Gabriella Pusateri
Gabriella Pusateri will be continuing her education at Western Washington University this fall. She will be studying sociology. In the future, she hopes to use her degree to pursue a career in therapy or social work. With her free time, she is looking forward to exploring the nature in the Pacific Northwest, and visiting friends in Seattle.
María Idaliza Solares-Horsfield
María Idaliza Solares-Horsfield will be majoring in dance at San Diego State University. She would like to thank her family for their constant support, but especially her parents for pushing her to be her absolute best. She would also like to thank Andrea Scheumann for being an inspiring mentor during her four years in the Conservatory Dance Department.
Kiko Tilles
Kiko Tilles will be attending Villanova University in the fall. Though she is not pursuing a career in dance, Kiko remains committed to dancing as often as possible. She would like to express her gratitude and love to her friends and family, with a special thank you to Andrea Scheumann for her unwavering support and guidance.
Annabelle Thugnet
Annabelle Thugnet's next steps are taking her to see the Brits in England! Annabelle plans to attend Oxford Brookes University in the fall. Her major will be in psychology and dance will be a part of her life as a fun activity and use for being active. She plans to continue her love for teaching Zumbas and focusing on her future!
Sara Yoffie
Sara Yoffie will enter the School of Dance at University of the Arts in Philadelphia this fall, as a recipient of the Trustee’s Scholarship for Creative Leadership. She aims to join a top contemporary dance company and create ground-breaking choreography. Sara is grateful for the unconditional love and support of her family, friends, dance teachers and dentists.
Class of 2023
Ainsely Dellinger
Ainsely Dellinger is planning to continue her dance training in college while earning her BFA in dance with a choreography concentration. While in New York, she hopes to continue working with choreography as well as dancing for as long as possible, potentially pursuing it as a career in the near future.
Jillian Dummel
Jillian plans to study public health and psychology, and hopes to attend medical school in the future. She will continue dance throughout college. Jillian wants to thank her sota dance family, all of her friends, and her parents for giving her continuous love and support.
Jackie Yang
Jackie is planning to study to human development in college. She’s been dancing since 5 years old and is hoping to continue it. Since she’s had such a rigorous dance, academic, work and volunteer schedule, she hopes to be able to join some fun and different clubs in college.
Vitesse Disney
Vitesse Disney is studying Global Supply Chain Management at Clarkson University. Quite different from dance, Vitesse is excited to explore logistics while continuing to dance on the side. Vitesse would like to thank her family and the dance seniors for all their love and support through high school.
Ani Marie Claudio
Ani Marie Claudio will be attending the University of California, Davis this fall. She is undecided on a major but is excited to explore her options! She would like to thank her family, friends, teachers, and her two dogs Buddy and Maui.
Chris Chun
Chris is planning on attending the University of Southern California to study at the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. He would like to thank his friends, family, and teachers who have supported him on his journey to where he is today.
Class of 2022
Lily Din will be attending the University of California, Berkeley in the fall. She plans to pursue chemistry and dance will always be a part of her life. She would like to thank her family for their love and support.
Ariana Hart will be pursuing a BFA at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee commercial dance program in the fall, where she will study for the next 3 years. She can’t wait to continue dancing and hopes to become a professional and eventually a choreographer for other artists. She would like to thank her family, Sota, Westlake, and everyone who has provided her with endless amounts of support and guidance these past 4 years. She has so much love and appreciation for everyone in her life!
Angelina O’Connor will be attending Barnard College at Columbia University where she will be pursuing her BFA in dance while double majoring in Sociology. She is beyond excited to start her life in New York City and to make life-long friends at college. Angelina will miss her mom more than anything…. but she knows she’ll call everyday.
Naomi Manuel will be attending the University of California, Berkeley this fall where she will be majoring in Sustainable Environmental Design. She would like to thank her dance teachers, family, and friends for their support and guidance over the past four years.
Sofia Teran will be attending San Diego State University as a Political Science major and Food Studies minor. She hopes to continue dancing beyond SOTA Dance. She would like to thank her friends and family for their support, as well as her teachers at SOTA.
Class of 2021
Evelyn Acri
Evy Acri is pursuing a BFA degree at the California Institute of the Arts this fall. She is excited to continue studying dance for the next 4 years!
Max Berenshteyn
Max Berenshteyn will be attending SF state. He decided to go to SF state because it would give him a little bit more time to decide what he wants to pursue. he will continue to study and teach dance during his time in college.
Dalilah Buffalo
Dalilah Buffalo plans to attend Occidental College in the fall with a major in politics and a minor in education! She plans to continue dancing for the Occidental Dance team as well as utilize Los Angeles’ flourishing dance community. She wants to give a huge thank you to SOTA Dance, specifically Andrea Hinman for her perpetual support and belief in Dalilah to achieve her goals.
Melody Cheng
Melody Cheng's next steps will be going to college in Santa Monica college. Her major would be pre-nursing and would transfer to University Of California Irvine.
Corinne Dummel
Corinne Dummel has loved her four years at SOTA. Next year, she will attend the University of California, Santa Barbara as a dance major. She is so excited to continue her dance education in college and is forever grateful for her SOTA dance family.
Natascha Leddy
Natascha Leddy is continuing to pursue high level training in ballet at a trainee program in the hopes of becoming a professional ballerina and joining a ballet company. Natascha is planning to enroll simultaneously in college to start working towards her library science degrees.
Tai Lum
Tai Lum is going to New York University with a BFA in Dance, in order to pursue his dream of becoming a choreographer. He wants to thank all of his teachers and classmates at SOTA, for providing such an amazing experience he will never forget! He can't wait to see what the class of 21 will accomplish, as they are all such talented, incredible people.
Arianna Tillman
Arianna Tillman is going to major in dance at Chapman University. Over the summer, she will train at the LA Contemporary Dance Company summer intensive as well as the Dance Training Center S.F. summer intensive.
Beatrice White
Beatrice White is attending UC Irvine as a dance major, with plans on double majoring in education as well. This summer she is attending the NW Dance Project in Portland, Oregon. She would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for their constant support, and the wonderful memories made.
Neve Wilcox
Neve Wilcox would like to thank Andrea, the dance department, and her family for their support and love on this journey. She will continue her dance training in addition to attending UC Berkeley.
Class of 2020
Orla Ayton
Orla Ayton is attending UC Santa Barbara to study Economics and Political Science.
Drina María Canjura-Kaufmann
Drina Canjura-Kaufmann is attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a BFA dance major with minors in Spanish and Anthropology.
Estelle McGuinness
Estelle McGuiness is attending UC Santa Barbara studying a BFA degree in dance. She is planning on auditioning for trainee and company programs and having a professional career in dance. She is passionate about teaching and plans on teaching at a dance studio in Santa Barbara this coming summer.
Katherine Shagalov
Katherine Shagalov is attending Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, and is majoring in Computer Science. She is currently not dancing due to COVID closures, but is very excited to be able to take classes back home over the summer and in the many dance studios in NYC when they open back up!
Class of 2019
Madison Noelle Chang
Madison Noelle Chang is currently pursuing a Dance Management degree to help meet her life goal of becoming a stage/company/tour manager in the entertainment business while also continuing her technical dance training. After college graduation, she hopes to perform on cruise ships, Broadway, or anywhere else that’ll have her :) After performing, her biggest dream is to manage the tour of a Broadway show or an arena tour for a band/musical artist. She will never forget the department bonding that happened at "our spot" while waiting for Friday to pick them up with the bus! She sends all her love to SOTA dance <3.
Taylor Matsu
Taylor Matsu is currently attending at The College of San Mateo. She had danced in London before moving home because of covid. She currently goes to community college but is hoping to transfer and major in Kinesiology and minor in Dance. She is unsure of what her future goals are but has hopes of being an athletic trainer. Her favorite SOTA Dance memory was the down time of tech week that would allow her to bond with her peers and performing her senior piece for the last time.
Odette Navin
Odette is attending University of California, Santa Cruz studying Psychology (focus in Cognitive Science), and continues to dance recreationally. She has been focused on multiple writing publications, along with other collaborative projects. She works as an aide for elementary school students.
Hanna Persky
Since graduation from SOTA Dance Hanna Persky has completed two years at the University of Southern California on a full ride scholarship through the NROTC program. She has been a Dean's List student for four semesters, a member of the Tri-Delta sorority, and works over 25 hours a week. She plans on commissioning as an officer in the United States Marine Corps to pursue an aviation career. SOTA dance pushed her beliefs of what she thought she could do time and time again. Hanna learned resilience, how hard she could work, and her values throughout my time at SOTA dance. She wouldn't be where she is today without the support and training from the program.
Jalina Semien
Since graduation, Jalina Semien has moved to Santa Barbara where she is continuing to pursue dance (Bachelors in Fine Arts) as well as a Bachelors degree in Sociology. Some future goals she has are continuing to make connections in the dance community and starting to work on going back into the audition world. Something she remembers about SOTA Dance, is her favorite week of the whole year school year ... Tech Week! She misses being on stage and being able to work with the tech crew.
Tristan Toy
Tristan Toy is currently dancing at the Post Graduate Program at Boston Ballet and next year he will be apart of BalletMet’s second company. He misses dance concert and helping everyone get ready for the big show.
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