Danelle Helander
Danelle Helander has been praised locally and internationally for her teaching
and artistic direction. Danelle has received a [NOVA Arts Award] for her
cross-cultural humanitarian efforts. In addition, she has collaborated with
[Global Response], a non-profit organization addressing environment issues.
Her professional career began with the [Chicago Moving Company]. She danced with the [New Arts Ensemble] in New York and was founder and artistic director of [Akasha and Company] in Chicago.
After studying with [Byrne Piven] at the [Piven Theatre Workshop] in Chicago, Danelle began teaching improvisational theater and continues teaching today in Boulder, Colorado. Her classes bridge the gap between creative movement and theater, exploring how body-based theater fosters communication across cultural and societal boundaries.
She has been commissioned to create original choreography for [Diane Portman, AirJazz, Chicago Moving Company, Creighton University, David Taylor Dance Theater] and various independent artists.
Danelle is available to teach Theater Basics, Improvisational Theater and Movement-Based Theater, as well as a full range of modern dance classes.
She has taught and performed in Europe, Nicaragua, Japan, India, Africa and Costa Rica.
Visiting Member Bios
Sean Owens has been Helander Dance Theater's resident jack of all trades since 2008. He is constantly growing in his skills as mover,actor, videographer, prop designer, composer and musician. In addition to his work with HDT, he is involved with a number of productions - past, present and future - at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Separate from his artistic work, he is pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Colorado School of Law.
Kelsey Kempfer is a Boulder Native who recently received Bachelor degrees in Dance and Sociology from the University of Colorado. She has danced in over 15 CU dance productions, and has performed in works by David Dorfman, Peekaboo Sole Productions, Susan Marshall, Rennie Harris, Art Bridgman and Myrna Packer, Onye Ozuzu, Erika Randall, Gabriel Masson, Larry Southall, and Nancy Cranbourne. Kelsey has also performed in the gala concerts for the American College Dance Festivals in Montana and Utah. She was awarded the Jamie Kellam Redmond Scholarship and the Talent and Creativity University Dance Award, along with being a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and the National Scholar Honor’s Society. Kelsey also teaches at Grace Studios and is a case worker at Adult Care Management.