The Company 2007-2008 SEASON

Sara Anderson CoDirector/Principal Dancer …originally from Minnesota, Sara received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Fine Art from Luther College in Decorah, IA. Trained in Ballet, Modern, Jazz as well as Musical Theatre and Hip Hop, her dance career spans over 20 years and has led her to dance with companies including Bodyvox, Portland Opera, Opera Pacific, Minnesota Opera, Utah Opera, American Dance Theatre, Portand Musical Theatre Company, Broadway Rose Theatre Company, St. Claire & Company, Lakewood Musical Theatre Company and Dance CO-Motion. Aside from stage performances, she has appeared in several fitness videos, print advertisements, television commercials and a 32 episode season of the Body Shoppe television series. Sara Co-Directs and has been the General Manager for Polaris Dance Theatre since its inception in 2002. Additionally, she owns and operates SAgraphics, teaches classes, and resides in Portland with her longtime partner Robert Guitron and their 9 year old daughter, Xena.

M'Liss Stephenson Rehearsal Director/Principal Dancer… was born to two beautiful dancing parents in Indianapolis, Indiana. She began training at a young age and performed many a Nutcracker with Indianapolis Ballet Theatre. She graduated from a performing arts high school and then leapt across the country to attend the University of Utah as a modern dance major. Following school, M’Liss had the great opportunity to live and study in New York City as a full time student with Alvin Ailey. That led to performances with Milton Meyers and Jolie Maffie. Her unusual job of coaching synchronized swimming then moved her back across the US. She would like to thank her loved ones for giving her the sense to move out here, and an extra special thank you to Robert, Sara and Kristin and all the dancers of Polaris! M’Liss has been with Polaris since it’s beginning in 2002.

Jennifer Camp Principal Dancer …originally from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Jennifer has been with Polaris since 2004. She completed her MFA at the University of California, Irvine on a fellowship and received her BA at Arizona State University with an emphasis on dance education. Jennifer’s diversity as a dancer has lead her to perform both classical and contemporary works, some of which include, American in Paris, Snow Queen, Hamlet and Light. Company credits include Center Dance Ensemble, InPresent Co. and Eastside Ballet. Jennifer has had the fortunate opportunity to train with some of the most passionate and dedicated artists such as Donald McKayle, Cliff Keuter, Israel ?El? Gabrielle, TJ Maheras, Constance Stine, Anne Stein-Heemskerk, Lila Zali and Portland based artist Tracey Durbin. Additionally, Jennifer enjoys directing the Dance Minor at Pacific University in Forest Grove and she teaches at Lake Oswego Academy of Dance.

Mike Dawson Principal Dancer … began dancing nine years ago while attending the University of Washington. He took hip-hop classes from Herbbie Moore and danced with Herbbie’s Street Level in Seattle. Mike added to his education in dance after moving to the Portland area, taking courses in jazz, modern, ballet and hip-hop, from local artists such as Tracey Durbin and Mariecella Devine. He’s performed with local hip-hop group The Detail and has also a part of A-Wol, a local aerial/contemporary dance company. Mike started rehearsing with Polaris in May of 2005 and has been an integral part oft the company since then.

Sarah Lakey Principal Dancer… is originally from Northern New Hampshire, but comes to Portland from Salt Lake City, where she recieved her BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah. Over her career, Sarah enjoyed performing with the Utah Ballet, City Ballet of San Diego, Utah Contemporary Ballet and Stephen Brown dance company. Sarah doubles as a yoga instructor, which balances out the intensity required for a career in dance. Sarah is thrilled to be dancing with Polaris, and looks forward to expanding herself as an artist and human as the company continues to grow.

Margo Yohner Principal Dancer…a founding member of Polaris Dance Theatre in 2002, Margo began her dance training in Centerville, OH where she was a 10 year performing member of the South Dayton Dance Theatre (SDDT) before attending Ohio University on a dance scholarship. Margo’s awards include scholarships from Tremaine Dance Center, Daniel Jamison and the Alvin Ailey summer dance program. Margo is an accomplished Ballet, Modern, Jazz, and Gymnastics instructor. She has had the opportunity to work with master teachers and choreographers including, Jeraldyne Blunden, Debbie Blunden-Diggs, Terence Greene, Cecil Slaughter, Savion Glover, Doug Elkins, Mauguerite Derricks, Terry Lindholm, and Doug Caldwell. In addition to Margo’s commitment to Polaris, she is also a member of A-Wol Dance Collective- a Portland aerial & modern dance company.

Heather Unruh Principal Dancer… joined Polaris in 2008. Heather Unruh started her dance training at a local recreation park in El Segundo, and later continued her training with Yvonne Mounsey and Rosemary Valaire at the Westside School of Ballet in Santa Monica, CA. Heather attended and performed with the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre, as well as their company. Her roles have included Giselle, Dew Drop, Sugar Plum, the Waltz Girl in Balanchine’s Serenede, and more. She has been invited to and has attended summer programs at schools such as the Jillana School, American Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet School, and Oregon Ballet Theatre. Heather Unruh has taught at Westside Academy of Dance, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Portland Dance Academy. She currently teaches pre-ballet through intermediate/advanced to children and adults.

Amber Davis Dancer … is a graduate of Western Oregon University, where her accolades includes a Bachelor Degree in Dance and Business, the University Dance Scholarship, the Outstanding Student Choreography Award for her piece Trapped, and the Outstanding Dancer Award. Along with working with Polaris Dance Theatre she is currently a company member with Agnieszka Laska Dancers, with whom she recently performed in Mexico at Entre Fronteras and Cuerpos en transito International Dance Festivals. In addition to performing Amber teaches at Pacific Dance Academy in Milwaukie and is a founding faculty member of the Corvallis Dance Intensive. Amber is grateful for the opportunity to grow as a dancer with Polaris Dance Theatre and is deeply appreciative to all of her family and friends who support her in all her artistic endeavors.

Dora Papay Dancer… was born and raised in Hungary where she begun dancing with renowned choreographers Gyula Berger and Eszter Gal. She also studied with Budapest Musical Theatre Company and was a member of the Rimtus dance company. She also danced as a revue dancer in the famous Maxim Cabaret in Budapest. Through her modeling carrier she appeared in several commercials, movies and magazines throughout Europe and the States. While living in Hawaii she worked with Honolulu based fitness guru, Gilad Janklowicz, and performed as a Hula and Polysesian dancer with the Windjammer dance group. After moving to Portland, she danced with Kinetic images modern dance company while getting her BS form Portland State University. When not dancing with Polaris, Dora is a freelance graphic designer and glass artist.

Alexis Mutchler Dancer... started training in her home town, Portland, at Oregon Ballet Theatre where she danced for three years. She then studied at Northwest Academy and continued on to dance at Jefferson High School. There she performed with Modern Dance Lab and spent the next year as a Jefferson Dancer, focusing on Modern, Jazz, Ballet and African Dance. After graduation she attended North Carolina School of the Arts, where she studied Modern Dance. She danced two seasons with Polaris Dance Theatre after relocating to Portland. Alexis took some time off to concentrate on getting her liscense in Massage Therapy, and is now back working again with the company.

Rachael Nielsen Apprentice