ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER

Skyla Schreter is a choreographer, director, and former professional ballet dancer whose work reimagines ballet as a vehicle for contemporary expression, experimentation, and interdisciplinary dialogue. As a former dancer with San Francisco Ballet, she performed works by many of the world’s leading choreographers and was part of the original casts of several new creations—an experience that deeply shaped her choreographic perspective and continues to inform her artistic vision.

As the founder and artistic director of Skyla Schreter Dance, she is recognized for her genre-fusing, collaborative approach to choreography, blending classical technique with improvisation, conceptual frameworks, and multimedia elements. Her work has been commissioned and presented by platforms including the Fire Island Dance Festival, Hudson Valley Dance Festival, and The Hudson Eye. She is a recipient of the New York State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Award for Choreography, the New York State DanceForce Emerging Choreographer’s Initiative Award, and has held residencies at Bethany Arts Community and Chapman Steamer Arts.

Schreter previously served as an adjunct professor at Vassar College, where she taught ballet and choreographic practice. In addition to building Skyla Schreter Dance’s repertoire of original concert works and establishing the company’s voice within the broader dance field, she is deeply committed to bringing high-caliber dance to the Hudson Valley, particularly in Beacon, NY, where she lives and is an active participant in the local arts community. Her work in the region focuses on expanding access to professional performance, fostering local dialogue around contemporary dance, and contributing to a vibrant, inclusive cultural landscape.

RESIDENT CREATIVE COLLABORATOR & ART DIRECTOR

Aaron Sanders, also known as Sovereign, is a multi-disciplinary artist living in NY’s Hudson Valley. His artistic journey began in childhood with illustrations, but it wasn't until he connected with the graffiti underground in the Bay Area and Los Angeles that he fully embraced his passion for art. Immersed in street art, painting, illustration, graphic design, photography, sculpture, installation art, and music, Aaron's art has evolved to reflect the world we live in - as his art is not bound to any single medium. His work encompasses various disciplines and stylistic aesthetics, drawing inspiration from the global street art movement while also reflecting diverse cultural and personal experiences. Aaron co-founded LotusWorks Gallery in Beacon with Skyla Schreter, and serves as art director and creative collaborator for Skyla Schreter Dance’s multi-disciplinary projects and productions.

SSD Projects:

Scenic Design: [loculamentum} - 2021 | Lighting Design: for your consideration - 2022 | Live-Painting Collaboration: Love is an Action 1.0 - 2022 | Light Art Installation: Phase Space - 2023 | Narrative Advisor: The Flock - 2024

RESIDENT COSTUME DESIGNER

Lauren Carmen is as an independent costume designer, and an Adjunct Faculty and Pattern Draper at Pace University. After earning her BFA in Ballet Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, Lauren danced professionally while undertaking various costume projects. Pursuing her passion for costume design, she was invited to earn her MFA in Costume Design at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she graduated in 2022. Lauren has contributed as an Assistant/Associate Designer for Jessica Lang's new works with American Ballet Theatre and Sarasota Ballet, as well as for Amy Seiwart's piece with Ballet-X. Additionally, she has collaborated with notable choreographers such as Gabrielle Lamb and PeiJu Chien-Pott, and contributed to productions at NYU Tisch Dance, including the opera Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice." Her costume designs were recognized with a film premiere at the prestigious 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.

SSD Projects:

Nite of Spring - 2021 | [loculamentum] - 2021 | for your consideration - 2022 | Memento Mori - 2023 | The Flock - 2024 | mind (over) matter - 2024 | Our Wounds, Our Power - in:progress

COMPANY DANCER

Hannah Straney (she/her), born and raised in New York, is a freelance dancer, film maker and arts programmer. She earned a BFA in Dance Performance from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance and has received additional training from TNUA in Taipei, Taiwan. While studying Hannah performed works by Shannon Gillen, Sidra Bell, Tom Weinberger, George Balanchine, Azure Barton, Larry Keigwin and others. Upon graduating Hannah toured nationally with Dirty Dancing, and was then invited to join Company XIV, where she spent four years as a singer, dancer, and actor. Hannah served as the associate choreographer for NYC’s immersive experience, ‘The Stranger’, assisting Tislarm Bouie, and originating a role in the show. She frequently works with the Merce Cunningham trust, and most recently performed in the restaging of XOVER performed at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. Hannah was a swing at Emursive’s Life and Trust and is currently dancing with Skyla Schreter Dance, Kimberly Bartosik, Liz Gerring and Cornfield Dance. 

SSD Projects:

[loculamentum] - 2021 | for your consideration - 2022 | The Flock - 2024 | Love is an Action 2.0 - 2024 | Our Wounds, Our Power - in:progress | Shadow Boxing - in:progress | Love is an Action 3.0 - forthcoming

COMPANY DANCER

Piper Makenzie Dye is a dancer, yoga instructor, and arts administrator. Originally from San Diego, CA, she trained with Kathryn Irey and holds a BFA in Dance from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase with a minor in Arts Management. Previously a dancer with A-Y Dancers, Ballet Nepantla, Eveoke Dance Theater, Hard/Femme Dances, TORRENT, and ZviDance, Piper was most recently part of new creations with Twyla Tharp Dance, Skyla Schreter Dance and Suzzanne Ponomarenko Dance. She has performed works from inspiring choreographers including Crystal Pite, Doug Varone, Shannon Gillen, Mark Morris, Anna Teresa de Keersmaker, Christopher Huggins, Kelly Ashton Todd, José Limón, and Donald McKayle and has presented her own choreography in NYC & PA. She is constantly seeking new opportunities to expand her artistry and create meaningful connections both within and outside of the dance community. Piper was an original cast member in Skyla Schreter's 'for your consideration,' 'The Flock,' and 'Mind over Matter,' and is excited to continue working with SSD. 

SSD Projects:

for your consideration - 2022 | The Flock - 2024 | mind (over) matter - 2024 | Our Wounds, Our Power - in:progress | Shadow Boxing - in:progress | Love is an Action 3.0 - forthcoming

COMPANY DANCER

Cristina Moya-Palacios is a Venezuelan-born Miami-raised dancer with a BFA from New World School of the Arts College. During her time at New World, she performed works by Robert Battle, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ohad Naharin, and others. Her most recent professional work includes performing and touring with Adele Myers and Dancers as well as performing in Skyla Schreter’s “for your consideration” at The Hudson Valley Dance Festival. Throughout her career, Cristina has had the pleasure of working with Peter London Global Dance Company, Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre, and Jamar Roberts. Through her work in dance, Cristina aspires to shine a light on the immigrant experience as an artist in the United States and to make space for these often overlooked stories.

SSD Projects:

for your consideration - 2022 | The Flock - 2024 | Love is an Action 2.0 - 2024 | Our Wounds, Our Power - in:progress | Shadow Boxing - in:progress | Love is an Action 3.0 - forthcoming

COMPANY DANCER

Kyle Halford is a 2021 BFA graduate from the University of Arizona and received the Undergraduate Creative Achievement Award during his time there. Upon Graduation, Kyle performed featured roles in new works by Maleek Washington, Hope Boykin, Tamisha Guy, and many others as a company member with Eisenhower Dance Detroit. After two seasons, Kyle moved to New York City and has been working with Twyla Tharp Dance since. He appeared in her premiere of “How Long Blues” at Little Island and was apart of the Twyla Tharp 60th Anniversary Tour in 2025. Aside from his work with Tharp,  he has also been a guest artist with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company and Mark Morris Dance Group. Other highlights include appearing on Amazon Prime’s “Etoile” choreographed by Marguerite Derricks, new works by Alexander Anderson and Brandon Coleman, as well as a music video choreographed by Chelsea Thedinga. Kyle has been a company member of Skyla Schreter Dance since 2024.

SSD Projects:

The Flock - 2024 | mind (over) matter - 2024 | Shadow Boxing - in:progress | Love is an Action 3.0 - forthcoming

COMPANY DANCER & CHOREOGRAPHIC ASSISTANT

Craig Wasserman, originally from New York, is a former dancer with the Philadelphia Ballet. With Philadelphia Ballet, he had the opportunity to perform many Principal roles, including in works by Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Wayne McGregor, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and Trey McIntyre. Craig has been the lead Choreographic Assistant to Skyla Schreter on multiple original works, and created an original role in her full-length piece ‘Loculamentum’ in 2021. Throughout his career, Craig has received several prestigious accolades, including being called “A dream of a dancer who is compelling when simply lifting an arm. “ - “Wendy Perron’s Best of 2016”, Dance Magazine

SSD Projects:

[loculamentum] - 2021 | for your consideration - 2022 | Memento Mori - 2023 | Shadow Boxing - in:progress

COMPANY DANCER

Mariah Anton-Arters is a New York based freelance dance artist who graduated in 2019 from UNC School of the Arts with a BFA in contemporary dance. Prior to her attendance there, she trained in formal disciplines under Jo-Ann Hertzman. Mariah has been privileged to perform a wide range of works including pieces by Merce Cunningham, José Limón, Martha Graham, and more. Mariah frequently works with the Merce Cunningham Trust, while also working with Liz Gerring, Cornfield Dance, Dance Heginbotham, Christopher Williams Dance, Helen Simoneau Danse, Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects, Daniel Gwirtzman, The Moving Architects and Skyla Schreter Dance among others. 

SSD Projects:

Our Wounds, Our Power - in:progress | Love is an Action 3.0 - forthcoming

COMPANY DANCER

Ashley Merker (she/her) is a Brooklyn based dance artist, and GYROTONIC® and Pilates instructor. Originally from Denver, Colorado, she began her dance training at an early age. She earned her BFA from The Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase where she performed works by Kimberly Bartosik, Hannah Garner, Aszure Barton, Martha Graham, Trisha Brown, Adam Barruch and Doug Varone. She also studied at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth, Australia where she performed work by Rhianon Newton. Upon graduation, she was invited to join Buglisi Dance Theatre under the direction of Jacqulyn Buglisi, and has since performed with Doug Varone and Dancers, Emma Cianchi, CLaude Johnson, Nicole Fuentes, and Jody Oberfelder. Ashley is a current member of Trisha Brown Dance Company.

SSD Projects:

Our Wounds, Our Power - in:progress | Love is an Action 3.0 - forthcoming

GUEST DANCER

Brandon Taylor Gray, a Maryland native, discovered his passion for dance at 13, propelling him to graduate from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Towson University. A recipient of a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Brandon's artistry extends beyond dance—he's a distinguished brand ambassador and model for prestigious names like GAP, MCM Worldwide, and Vogue. Gray has graced screens on Netflix, CBS, and Showtime, showcasing his versatility in acting. As a voice for racial and gender equality, he passionately engages in podcasts, embodying representation for all young men. Brandon's remarkable journey includes a pivotal role in the first all-black and brown Swan Lake with the Chocolate Ballerina Company. Selected by Taraji P Henson for the B.L. Henson Foundation's "1,000 Men Shoot," Brandon's dance is a healing force, exhibited through global tours with Complexions Contemporary Ballet and performances with R&B artist Serpent with Feet. Brandon’s Instagram: @Yaaaaasbrandon.

SSD Projects: The Flock - 2024

GUEST DANCER

Benjamin Freemantle started his training in his hometown of Vancouver, Canada at the Caulfield School of Dance. At 15 years old he was offered a full scholarship to train at the San Francisco Ballet School, later joining the San Francisco Ballet School Trainee Program. He joined the San Francisco Ballet as a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2015, immediately dancing Principal roles in original works and full length ballet's like Lensky in Onegin. In 2018, Benjamin became a Soloist with the company and was named "25 To Watch" by Dance Magazine. In 2019, he was named Principal Dancer by Helgi Tomasson, after performing work by George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Jerome Robbins, Trey Mcintyre, Dwight Rhoden, John Neumier, William Forsythe and many more.

In 2022, he stepped away from San Francisco Ballet and now pursues an independent artistic career based in New York City. As a professional performer and creative, Benjamin challenges and re-imagines boundaries and possibilities both on the stage and on the screen.

SSD Projects: The Flock - 2024

GUEST DANCER

Ashley Hod, originally from New York, is a soloist dancer with New York City Ballet. She has performed featured roles in works choreographed ny choreographed by George Balanchine, Peter Martins, Jerome Robbins, Justin Peck, and Christopher Wheeldon, among others. Ashley has originated featured roles in works by Keerati Jinakunwiphat and Justin Peck and has originated roles for choreographers including Kim Brandstrup, Warren Carlyle, JR, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Alexei Ratmansky, Troy Schumacher, and Christopher Wheeldon.

SSD Projects: Memento Mori - 2023

GUEST DANCER

Indiana Woodward, a celebrated principal dancer with New York City Ballet, has showcased her exceptional artistry through a diverse range of roles. With renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Justin Peck, and Christopher Wheeldon.. From Balanchine's iconic works like "Apollo" and "Serenade" to Robbins' masterpieces such as "Fancy Free" and "West Side Story Suite," Indiana has brought depth and emotion to each character she portrays. Additionally, she has originated featured roles in works by choreographers including Warren Carlyle, Edwaard Liang, Lauren Lovette, Andrea Miller, Gianna Reisen, Jamar Roberts, Pam Tanowitz, Peter Walker, and Christopher Wheeldon, to name a few.

SSD Projects: [loculamentum] - 2021

GUEST COLLABORATOR (Music Composition & Dramaturg)

Rasheedat “Ras Bad” Badejo (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and creative midwife based in New York City. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Ras earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theatrical Performance from the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC) in 2015 . They have an extensive background in acting, directing, and playwriting, having collaborated with numerous theater companies including Kansas City Actors Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, the Unicorn Theatre, The Coterie, Fishtank Theatre, and The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City .

Ras has also been deeply involved in arts education, serving as a teaching artist for The Coterie Theatre since 2016, where they empower children and teens through art . In addition to their theater work, Ras is the founder and creative midwife of Bad Banana Productions, a platform dedicated to nurturing new works and fostering creative expression .

Their artistic practice is rooted in care, listening, and energetic exchange, with a focus on process as much as outcome. In one of SSD’s current in-process projects, Shadow Boxing, Ras serves as composer and collaborator, creating the score in real time alongside the dancers and choreographer, using recorded conversations and improvisations to build an emotionally layered and deeply personal sonic landscape.

SSD Project Collaboration: Shadow Boxing - in:progress

GUEST COLLABORATOR (Music)

Penelope Wendtlandt is a multidisciplinary performance artist, vocalist, and composer originally from Germany. A former company member of STOMP, she has performed with the acclaimed tap company Dorrance Dance, including in a site-specific performance at the Guggenheim’s Rotunda. She co-composed and performed the original score for Time Spell—a collaborative work by Tiler Peck, Aaron Marcellus, and Michelle Dorrance—which premiered at New York City Center and later toured to London’s Sadler’s Wells. Her debut EP, inside armour, is available on all major digital platforms and Bandcamp. Through layered sound, movement, and presence, Penelope creates work that invites listeners and viewers into raw, intimate worlds of feeling and transformation. She and Jeremy Wilms are current artists in residence at Beacon’s Lyonshare where they are developing their improvisational soundscapes for their forthcoming collaborative project with SSD, “Love is an Action (3.0)“ 

SSD Project Collaboration: Love is an Action 3.0 - forthcoming

GUEST COLLABORATOR (Music)

Jeremy Wilms is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter whose genre-spanning career includes collaborations with NEA Jazz Master Chico Hamilton, Brazilian icon Bebel Gilberto, Beyoncé, and Patti LaBelle. He has performed in the Tony Award–winning Broadway musical FELA! (directed by Bill T. Jones), in Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music, and with artists such as TV On The Radio and El-P. As an arranger, he has contributed string arrangements for Run the Jewels and others, and appears on numerous recordings across the U.S. and Europe. Wilms’ original music ranges from chamber works to large ensemble improvisation and intimate singer-songwriter projects. In addition to composing for film and media, he remains active as a performer and educator.

SSD Project Collaboration: Love is an Action 3.0 - forthcoming

GUEST COLLABORATOR (Music)

Uyanga Bold is an internationally acclaimed Mongolian vocalist and composer, celebrated for her dynamic voice that bridges ancient traditions and contemporary soundscapes. She has contributed to major film, television, and video game soundtracks, including Disney's Mulan (2020), Marvel's Spider-Man: Maximum Venom, and the video game Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. Bold’s versatile vocal style encompasses Mongolian throat singing, operatic bel canto, and global folk traditions, earning her recognition from Forbes, which noted her voice "harkens back to ancient civilizations." She is also known for her work with the cinematic music group Two Steps from Hell, and for her ongoing collaboration with flutist Joshua Geisler in the cross-cultural project Anima Arcana, which explores the intersection of voice, bamboo flute, and ambient improvisation. https://inanalurose.wixsite.com/inanalurose

SSD Project Collaboration: Love is an Action 2.0 - 2024

GUEST COLLABORATOR (Music)

Joshua Geisler is a Beacon, NY-based flutist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his genre-blending work with the Indian bansuri flute. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he has performed internationally, including over 2,600 shows with Cirque du Soleil’s TOTEM. Geisler’s sound fuses Indian classical music with jazz, ambient, and electronic influences, and his long-standing collaboration with vocalist Uyanga Bold has led to a range of dynamic, cross-cultural performance works. He is also the author of The Chromatic Bansuri and designs custom flutes to support his innovative playing style. https://joshuageisler.com/music

SSD Project Collaboration: Love is an Action 2.0 - 2024

GUEST COLLABORATOR (Painting)

Michelle Silver grew up on the edge of the Catskill mountains in New York and spent her early adulthood in a vibrant art community in Boston, where she graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in 2009. She then moved to Brooklyn, where she surrounded herself with inspiration, had her first solo exhibition, joined a band, and developed her voice in graphic design. Desiring a peaceful place to create and raise her family, she moved to a woodsy home on the side of a mountain in the lower Hudson Valley, NY in 2019. Silver is currently the Co-Founder and Gallery Director of a combined art gallery and tattoo studio in Beacon, NY called Distortion Society, in addition to a freelance branding and web designer and studio artist. Silver’s most recent body of work “Between Facing Mirrors” will be featured as part of the set design and costume design in SSD’s forthcoming piece “wounds: (Power.)” - michellesilverart.com

SSD Project Collaboration: Our Wounds, Our Power - in:progress

GUEST COLLABORATOR (Video Art)

Rooster is a multi-media artist based in Beacon, NY who repurposes scrap materials, found objects, and old tech. His work explores the relationship between humanity and machinery, offering a peek into the post-digital future. Rooster is collaborating with Skyla Schreter Dance on ‘Phase Space,’ which features his analog video installation and projection design.

SSD Project Collaboration: Phase Space - 2023

GUEST COLLABORATOR (Literature/Spoken Word)

Kyra Auffermann is a writer, editor and digital designer based in Beacon, NY. A graduate of Boston College with a BA in creative writing and philosophy, Kyra also works as a yoga instructor. In her spare time, she enjoys perusing used bookstores, eating good pizza, and appreciating petrichor. Kyra is collaborating with Skyla Schreter Dance on ‘Phase Space,’ which features her original writing, spoken live by the artist during the performance.

SSD Project Collaboration: Phase Space - 2023