PHOTO GALLERY
PHOTO GALLERY
PHOTO GALLERY
MARY SIGWARD
COLLABORATORS: PAST + PRESENT
CHARLES RUDIG often composes for limited sonic and material resources, pairing new music ensembles with obsolete consumer technologies such as the Game Boy and the SK-1 sampler. He has written for new music powerhouses such as the Mivos Quartet, Hypercube, Contemporaneous, and the JACK Quartet.
MS+A is thrilled to work with Charles on two collaborations: In Translation (2024), a pensive duet set to Charles' "Speaker for the Dead"; and an arrangement in a system to pointing (2024), a tender work with new music composed by Charles.
photo: Renata Dabdoub
photo: Jim Coleman
DESHAWN MORTON’s dance journey began at the age of 16 at Tacoma’s School of The Arts, where he delved into the world of modern dance. He attained a BFA in dance from the University of Arizona, where he specialized in Ballet, Modern, and Jazz disciplines. From teaching at his alma mater, Tacoma’s School of The Arts, and Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center (T.U.P.A.C.), to leading Master Classes across the country, his influence knows no bounds. Deshawn's performance resume includes dancing notable works by choreographers such as Kabby Mitchell III, Donald Byrd, Tammy Dyke-Compton and Cyrus Khambatta.
Past MS+A performances include Spectacle (2023) and Alternative Future (2025).
EMILY WALTER is a versatile dancer specializing in modern and contemporary dance. She was born in Olympia, WA, where she trained with Ballet Northwest and Johansen Olympia Dance Center. She received her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance from Point Park University where she performed works by Yin Yue, Kyle Abraham, Pearlann Porter and Martha Graham. Emily is starting her second season with international touring company, Khambatta Dance Company. Off the stage you can find Emily teaching, creating, and adventuring.
Past MS+A performances include Nebeneffekt (2024) and Alternative Future (2025).
photo: Trisha French
photo: Rowan Wernham
“Jarring, compelling” (Washington Post) HYPERCUBE embraces the boundaries of chamber music, featuring cutting-edge works for saxophone, guitar, piano/accordion and percussion, while spanning electric and acoustic worlds. The NYC-based quartet has appeared as featured guest performer on The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage (Washington DC), LPR presents (NYC), Ritornello Chamber Music Festival (Saskatoon) and the 40th International Festival of New Music “Manuel Enríquez” (Mexico City).
MS+A is thrilled to work with Hypercube on In Translation (2024), a pensive work set to "Speaker for the Dead" by Charles Rudig.
IVANA LIN began her dance training at the age of six at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. Later, she received a BA in Dance and BS in Physiology from the University of Washington. Ivana went on to work and perform with the UW Chamber Dance Company, Bandaloop, N.E.W., The Gray, Khambatta Dance Company, Kyrin Grey, and Eva Stone. She received a Seattle Dance Crush award for artistry and performance in 2019. In 2023 Ivana became a mother to Emet and is excited to be performing for the first time with MS+A.
Past MS+A performances include Alternative Future (2025).
photo: Stefano Altamura
KAITLYN NGUYEN trained at The Ailey School and received a BFA at the University of California, Irvine in Dance Performance and a minor in Business Management, where she worked with the late Donald McKayle. She danced with NYC-area companies Nimbus Dance Works, iKada Contemporary Dance, Armitage Gone! Dance, and in Southern California, with Re:borN Dance Interactive. Kaitlyn became a mother to Lucile in 2018, and moved to Seattle to dance with Spectrum Dance Theater and Seattle Opera under Donald Byrd, joining Khambatta Dance Company in 2023.
Past MS+A performances include Spectacle (2023), Nebeneffekt (2024), In Translation (2024), and Alternative Future (2025).
photo: Jean-Paul Builes
photo courtesy of Lady Zade
LADY ZADE is a graduate of Tuacahn High School for the Performing Arts, where she performed in the Titan Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Jason Bonham. After graduating, Lady decided to pursue a career as a cellist in Seattle, Washington, where she studied under her wonderfully impactful teacher and the Principal Northwest Sinfonietta, cellist Mara Finkelstein. In 2018, Lady auditioned and was accepted to the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, where she continued her studies with Viviane Spanoghe, and performed as an orchestral and chamber musician in Belgium, France, Germany and Bulgaria. After graduating from the program, Lady returned to Seattle to continue giving private lessons and performing in the city. She is now a part of Kaley Lane Eaton’s Ineffable String Band, and enjoys a freelance career as a recording artist, wedding performer, and avant-garde musician.
Past MS+A performances include Alternative Future (2025).
LAEL BATTISTE, originally from New Orleans, grew up in Dallas, Texas. She moved to Seattle in 2020 to attend Cornish College of the Arts, from which she graduated in December 2023. Lael has co-produced, choreographed, and performed in two evening-length performances in 2023 and 2024, alongside Margaux Gex. Lael has worked with renowned choreographers such as Madison Hicks, Alicia Mullikin, Alfonso Cervera, and Hannah Victoria. Past MS+A performances include
Past MS+A performances include an arrangement in a system to pointing (2024), and Nebeneffekt (2024).
photo: Jennifer James-Long
NATHAN COOK is originally from Tacoma, WA, and received his training from Washington Contemporary Ballet, Spectrum Dance Theater, & Pacific Northwest Ballet. He has had the pleasure of working with esteemed choreographers such as Adam Miller, Julie Tobiason, Jennifer Porter, Sayoko Knode, Jessie Jeanne Stinnett, and Cyrus Khambatta. Nathan currently dances with Khambatta Dance Company and serves as the School Principal of Evergreen City Ballet.
Past MS+A performances include Spectacle (2023) and Alternative Future (2025).
photo: Jim Coleman
photo: Trisha French
NIA-AMINA MINOR is a movement artist, choreographer, curator, and educator originally from Los Angeles. Her work focuses on the body and what it carries using physical and archival research to explore memory and history. She approaches her practice as an imaginative space grounded in rhythm where improvisation, Black vernacular movement, and choreography meet. As a performer Nia-Amina has worked with artists such as dani tirrell, Zoe Juniper, Will Rawls, Alice Gosti, Keyes Wiley, and Amy O’Neal. From 2016-2021 she was a Company Artist at Spectrum Dance Theater under the direction of Donald Byrd and in 2021 she was recognized as Dance Magazine's 25 Artists to Watch.
Past MS+A performances include Interlude (2024).
OLIVIA LINK began her training at the Boston Arts Academy High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. There she found her passion for dance, continuing the pursuit at George Mason University’s School of Dance. After performing in Boston professionally for five years for Urbanity Dance and a number of freelance projects, Olivia currently is a member of Seattle's Khambatta Dance Company.
Past MS+A performances include Alternative Future (2025).
photo: Peter Hinsdale
photo: Eric Hovermale
RHEA KELLER is an independent dance artist in Seattle, Washington. Since moving to Seattle, she has worked with Beth Terwilleger, Alana Rogers, Kyrin Grey, Cameo Lethem, Bennyroyce Royon, Nikki Cardona, Emily Schoen Branch, and Mary Sigward. She has previously danced for Newport Contemporary Ballet, Central Illinois Ballet, and Rochester City Ballet. Her work created in collaboration with Leah Russell has been performed at the Seattle International Dance Festival and Newport Dance Festival. Her own work has been featured at the Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project, Sunset Hill Walking Arts Fair, and Fuselage Dance Film Festival.
Past MS+A performances include Spectacle (2023) and an arrangement in a system to pointing (2024).