VESSEL

CHOREOGRAPHER | PRODUCER

Olivia Emert (she/her) is an intentional choreographer, creator, and mover. As a graduate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography. Recently, she has entered her first year in the Charlotte Street Studio Residency. As a movement artist, Emert is in her third season with Geometry’s second company: an LA based contemporary and movement research company directed by Mackenzie Martin. Throughout Kansas City, she has worked with Tristan Griffin Dance Company, Mortal Coil, Kansas City Open Pro Class, Charlotte Street Foundation, and Creative Intersections. Notably, her pieces “LEECHES” and “Intangible…” were commissioned for Creative Intersections founded by Cameron Thomas, supported by Kansas City Ballet and Owen Cox Dance Group. As well as, Emert was a featured artist with the Making Moves series at Charlotte Street Foundation, producing her own evening length work, WOMB.DIRT.SKY. Emert’s work currently emphasizes emotional awareness, tactile partner work/relationships, and intentional creation of tangible environments.

MOVEMENT ARTISTS

  • ANNA BOEHM

    Anna Boehm (she/her) is a movement artist currently based in Kansas City. Her recent performance work settings include: Making Moves Festival (Kansas City), Creative Intersections (Kansas City), City in Motion (Kansas City), Waterperry Opera Festival (Oxford, UK), The Glitch Project (London), Fubunation (London). Anna attended the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London, England earning a BA in contemporary dance and has trained at GagaLab NYC, BalletMet, and Joffrey. She has taught with the Kansas City Ballet, Take the Stage (Owen/Cox Dance Co), and various other training programs across the United States. Additionally, she has participated in NDI’s Dream Project teacher training, a dance program for children with disabilities in New York. Anna is passionate about dance education being accessible and inclusive, and works to break down hierarchical roles within dance practice, allowing for more voices to be heard and movers to be seen.

  • TROY GARDNER

    Troy Gardner (he/him) is a movement artist originally from Tucson, AZ. He is currently a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Dance Conservatory where he will graduate with a BFA in the Spring of 2025. He has furthered his training with Alonzo King Lines Ballet and the Martha Graham Dance Company. Troy has performed works by Gregory Dawson, Gary Abbott, Jae Man Joo, and Caroline Dahm to name a few. Troy is grateful for the opportunity to work with Olivia Emert again and looks toward to sharing his art with audiences.

  • TESSA MCNEIL

    Tessa McNeil (she/they) is a native to Kansas City, MO and a recent 2023 graduate of Kansas City Ballet School. She began her training at the age of 3, where she was introduced to a wide range of dance styles and techniques. She spent 12 years in the school, dancing a variety of student roles in company productions such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and more. In February 2021, she competed in YAGP, with a contemporary solo. She spent 3 weeks studying in Boston, MA at Boston Conservatory at Berklee's Summer Dance Intensive in July of 2022. In December of 2022, she was offered the opportunity to travel to New York City and work with Sidra Bell as an artist through SBDNY Winter Module. She has spent 3 seasons dancing with Ryanstrati Dance Co. as a cast member in Dancing Word, and traveled to Boston, MA, in August 2023, to work with Boston Dance Theatre for their SIP Company Rep intensive