ABOUT US
Our Mission:
Portland Dance Collective is a community dance project — a platform for movement artists to pursue the gift of creative opportunity. We’re here to give dance lovers the chance to be active dance artists. (You’ve heard of community theater, right? Well, we are community dance theater!)
We value diversity in our members and celebrate collaboration between backgrounds and disciplines in dance. We believe that artistic expression is an important element of a full and rich life.
I usually describe our style of dance as “contemporary adjacent” but even that vague descriptor feels limited – in embracing diversity and individuality we have passions for many dance forms and leave ourselves open to explore the movement styles that resonate.
April Iza Fox
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & OPERATOR
April has been dancing through life and among the many joys and accomplishments life has brought her, Portland Dance Collective has always been a dear favorite. She joined Portland Dance Collective (then PDX Dance Collective) upon moving to Portland in 2014. She was invited into the fold by founding member Rachael Singer and became co-director and choreographer in 2015. PDC is coming back now after a 5 year hiatus, and April is on a mission to bring more movement and choreography opportunities to Portland dancers.
Before coming to Portland, April grew up in Detroit, MI and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, with honors, from MaryGrove College. While working on her degree April had a chance to work with world-renowned choreographers and teachers such as Kevin Iega-Jeff and Penny Godboldo, as well as train with Point Park University in Pittsburgh and Steps on Broadway in New York.
April currently teaches yoga and fitness classes with local institutions (The People’s Yoga, NW Womens Fitness and Portland Parks & Rec). “Movement is my greatest joy and I'm just trying to bring more joy into the world.”
sarita persaud
dancer, choreographer, marketing
Sarita Persaud has been dancing since she was 3. She has always loved a high kick and lives for an adagio.
Sarita received her BFA in Dance from California State University Long Beach and has had the privilege of training with Ate9, Robert Moses Kin, Peridance, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Lines Ballet. During her time in California, she danced with ConDanza Repertory Dance and PUSH Dance Company. Since moving to Portland she has danced with Shaun Keylock Company and Muddyfeet Contemporary Dance.
Currently, Sarita works in marketing and is excited to be dancing with Portland Dance Collective. She lives in SW Portland with her husband and dog, enjoys a good glass of wine, and would never say no to a dance party.
Manda "mo" Oliver
dancer, choreographer, Social Media
Manda was born and raised in Oregon, and her love of dance started at a very early age. She was a part of her hometown dance studio recital every year since she can remember. She did lots of ballet, contemporary, jazz, and musical theatre! She was also a part of her studio's competition team for a couple years.
When Mo first entered high school a few years later, she noticed there was no dance team! So, she created a dance team with her friends and helped coach it before covid interrupted the in person school experience.
Once graduated, she continued on to Western Oregon University to pursue a degree in dance, with a minor in psychology. She graduated summa cum laude, and in three years! She taught ballet and creative movement during her studies, choreographed several pieces on her peers for annual college performances, and performed in her professor's/fellow classmates' pieces as well. She hopes to be able to pursue dance therapy in the future!
Since graduating, she has taken onto teaching children of all ages ballet, jazz, contemporary, baby tap, and creative movement! She hopes to be able to teach yoga and pilates in the near future as well.
While she isn't dancing, Mo loves to be creative - from beading, painting, cooking, playing guitar, singing, and pottery, she keeps herself constantly creating new things. You could also find her curled up with a fuzzy blanket, some homemade comfort food, and a scented candle burning in the background.
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claire swanson
dancer, choreographer, costuming
Claire Swanson (they/them) is a professional dancer and choreographer now based in Portland, Oregon but originally from Oklahoma City. They graduated from University of Central Oklahoma in 2022 with a BFA in dance performance and a BA in psychology.
Claire has been dancing for 19 years, and has trained in a wide variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, and aerial. Claire was a member of Kaleidoscope dance company for 3 years, which allowed them to work with a number of choreographers including Mike Esperanza, George Staib, Jesse Zaritt, Tiffanie Carson and 10 hairy legs. Claire danced with Perpetual Motion, a modern dance and aerial company, for three years and was a part of many collaborative projects as a dancer and a choreographer. In addition to dancing in OKC Claire worked as a teacher bringing dance to many Oklahoma City public schools through Prairie Dance Theater, and to adults at various studios.
Claire has also worked as a seamstress for many years and loves creating new sewing projects as well as altering existing pieces. Claire moved to Portland this year with their partner and they both are enjoying getting to know the city.
anna rose deardorff
dancer, choreographeR
Bio under construction
danielle higbee
dancer, choreographeR
Danielle (she/her) is a Pennsylvania native who relocated to Portland, OR three and a half years ago to pursue a Masters in Public Health.
She started dance at the age of 3 and trained in a variety of styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop as well as cheerleading throughout her adolescence and teenage years. She continued her dance education in college with a minor rooted in modern dance, Horton technique. She was involved in a student run dance group, Orchesis, as a member, choreographer, and board member. Additionally she served on the executive board of JaDE, a dance ensemble. She aided in fundraising and coordination of the JaDE annual benefit concert for the Crawford County Special Olympics along with other members. She also was a member of the Allegheny cheer team for one year and the Allegheny dance team for three years.
After a few years off, her return to dance after college was prompted by the discovery of floorwork dance in Portland. She continues to take classes in a variety of styles at Bodyvox and OpenSpace. She is a current resident artist with the From the Ground Up collective. In her free time she enjoys catching up with friends on a coffee walk, cooking, crafting, and petting neighborhood cats.