Christine McMillan is currently an Associate Professor, Lecturer at the University of Utah.  She danced professionally with The Metropolitan Opera for 19 years performing in over 45 productions in addition to dancing with Richmond Ballet, Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance, Ben Munisteri Dance Projects, Trebien Pollard, Poppo & the GoGo Boys, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, and White Wave Dance.  Christine was awarded a Bessie for Performance in 2004, and her performance of Lavagnino’s work was singled out by the NY critic Eva Yaa Asantewaa in her list of “most memorable arts experiences of 2014.”  Her choreography has been presented at CPR in Brooklyn, artÉmotion, Dancemakers, ACDA, The University of Utah, Sugar Space Arts Warehouse, and the Somatic Dance Conference.  Christine received a B.S. from Indiana University in Ballet & Psychology and an MFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Certified in yoga, the Ellové Technique, and in FA®ME, she continues to research somatic practices focusing on their application to dance technique and as a means to promote wellness in dance and in life. Christine first danced with CLD in 2000 and is thrilled to be part of this 25th anniversary season.

Joshua Palmer is a performing artist, arts educator, and HR professional residing in Brooklyn, NY. He holds a BFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He has performed domestically and internationally with NYC-based companies/choreographers including Doug Elkins, Douglas Dunn, Hilary Easton, Cherylyn Lavagnino, Ani Taj / The Dance Cartel, T. Lang, and Edisa Weeks. Though he still performs occasionally, he transitioned out of the full-time performer life to pursue a career in nonprofit arts administration about a decade ago.  He has since served on the senior leadership team of Ballet Hispanico (and as a faculty member in their pre-professional studies program), as a curriculum specialist for The Juilliard School’s Global K-12 Programs, and is currently the Director of People & Culture for Ballet Tech, New York City's Public School for Dance.

TaraMarie Perri is an interdisciplinary artist-performer and teacher. She earned her MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and a BA in Visual Arts History from College of the Holy Cross. Three decades ago, she began the lifelong study path of classical Yoga traditions which led to a vocation alongside a career in the arts and education. In 2006, TaraMarie joined the faculty of NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is also a long-time faculty member at Steps on Broadway. Past faculty engagements include American Dance Festival, Joffrey Ballet School, and Dance New Amsterdam. She has been guest artist/lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education in collaboration with Silkroad Project, University of Iowa, DeSales University, College of the Holy Cross, Goldsmiths UK, and Queen Mary University of London. Guided by the principles of improvisation and the dharma of contemplative art practices, TaraMarie makes dances, paints, draws and writes. She seeks out projects and experiential learning environments which foster introspection and communing with nature. Her art practice is open to the alchemy of the collaborative process with others in-studio, onstage and outdoors. As a classically trained dancer, TaraMarie has performed with ballet, contemporary and dance theater companies in NY, PA and MA. Having danced with CLD during several seasons including the very first in 2000, she is beyond thrilled to be returning to celebrate the 25th Anniversary Season with Cherylyn and company.

Jesse began his career in the arts in Santa Fe, NM. He earned his BFA magna cum laude from The University of Arizona and graduated with his MS from the University of New Mexico. Jesse’s dance career highlights include dancing in the corps de ballet of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, in Alessandra Ferri’s “The Piano Upstairs", guest performance engagements in New Zealand, and featured dance roles at The Metropolitan Opera where he’s performed since 2018. He joined Cherlylyn Lavagnino Dance in 2018 and has danced in "Camila", "Drive", "Ru" and other works. He is a lighting designer for dance with recent work for Baryshnikov Arts Center and New Jersey Ballet, and is the director of production for the Vail Dance Festival. Outside of the arts, Jesse is passionate about environmental sustainability and has participated in initiatives using computer science to forecast water scarcity and future water patterns of mountainous watersheds.

Katie Rolph is a freelance dance artist based in New York City. She began her dance training at the Anna Marie Dance Studio in Wilmington, Delaware, and continued her studies at the Philadelphia Ballet, BalletX, Delaware Arts Conservatory, and JAM Youth Tap Project. Katie graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Honors College at Florida State University, where she trained with professors Kara Wilkes, Ilana Goldman, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Donna Uchizono, and Gwen Welliver. She performed in restagings of Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15 and Serenade as a featured soloist under the direction of Suzanne Farrell, as well as in several faculty works. During her time at FSU, she also danced with The Tallahassee Ballet in works by Christopher Huggins, Kathryn Karrh Cashin, and Tyrone Brooks. As a freelance artist, Katie has performed with Amanda Treiber, Katy Cashin, and io Ermoli. She has also premiered two collaborative dance films at the Digital Graffiti Festival in Alys Beach, Florida, and has a passion for dance photography. Katie works administratively for Smashworks Dance, under the direction of Ashley McQueen, and serves as an Education Programming Assistant and Teaching Artist for Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre/Notes in Motion. She is grateful for the opportunity to perform with Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance in their upcoming season.