Meet our first class of dance residents!

Alana Rae Stubbs

Alana Rae Stubbs grew up in Salt Lake City, UT and after the first viewing of The Nutcracker set off on their dance journey with Ballet West Academy. Under the direction of Jennie Creer-King they began their ballet technique training, including pointe, while also taking ballroom classes through their public school in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2016 they attended the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts where they were introduced to modern dance and choreographing. Upon graduation Alana traveled cross country to attend the Boston Conservatory at Berklee where they received their BFA in Contemporary Dance in 2023. While in school they created five separate works performed in the Boston area along with a duet and a dance film presented in Utah. During her time at school Alana performed with Stoneworks Dance Production based in Boston MA and Chrysalis Ballet Theater based in Salt Lake City UT. They also have created three independent works while living in Boston. 

Alana moved out to Portland OR and joined push/FOLD as a company member in 2023 When Alana isn’t in a studio or on the stage they enjoy canyoneering, climbing, and backpacking in the outdoors with their dog. 

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claire barrera

Bio: claire barrera is an artist, educator and organizer based in Portland, Oregon.  Current projects include and but with or on in to with Maya Dalinsky and performing in Allie Hankins’ By My Own Hand: Part 5.  They co-edit When Language Runs Dry with Meredith Butner and recently publish an essay in Cindy Milstein’s Constellations of Care. In their spare time, they play RPGs and organize with Brown Girl Rise.

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Jess Zoller

Jess Zoller is a dance educator, choreographer and performer. Jess received an MFA in dance from the University of Oregon, where she was also a graduate teaching fellow from 2012-2015. She earned her BFA in dance performance and choreography from Western Washington University in 2007. She has performed and collaborated with Pam Kuntz, Bellingham Repertory Dance Company, Portland Opera, Lane Hunter Dance, Lauren Edson, Wanderlust Circus, Pelu Theatre, Shannon Mockli, AWOL Dance Collective, Polaris Dance Theatre, Katie Scherman, Emily Running, Meredith Wilde, Ela Fala Collective, and B. PDX. Jess has choreographed for Sojourn Theatre’s “How to End Poverty in 90 Minutes”, Relay Dance Collective, Cirque Love Love, Polaris Dance Theatre, a residency with Pacific Lutheran University, In the Rough and Bellingham Repertory Dance Company. Jess was selected to choreograph and perform for Ten Tiny Dances in 2018 as well as 2022. Jess is a certified 200-hour yoga instructor and teaches vinyasa and restorative yoga. She is also the director of Saint Mary’s Academy dance and performance program. When not teaching or performing, Jess stays busy with her daughter and two dogs.