Who We Are
Meet The Team
Anna Valdman
Co-President
​Anna Valdman is an emerging choreographer and performer in her fourth year at the University of Texas pursuing a B.F.A. in Dance and is co-president of Dance Action. She is a current member of UT Austin’s Dance Repertory Theatre and has performed with companies such as Bombshell Dance Project and SoulEscape. She’s worked with choreographers Charles O. Anderson, Jesse Zaritt, and Erica Gionfriddo. Anna is excited to lead Dance Action this upcoming year alongside Ellie Newton!
Ellie Newton
Co-President
Ellie Newton is a B.F.A Dance Major and B.A Psychology Major at The University of Texas at Austin with a minor in Women and Gender studies. She has been dancing since the age of eight and has an extensive background in dance. She has trained under various instructors including Kristin Nicolaisen, Cheryl Copeland, and David Bagley. Recent Credits are with Texas Theatre and Dance, which include the works of Charles Anderson, Gesel Mason, Jesse Zarritt, and Leah Cox.
Angela Cox
Co-Production Coordinator and Photographer
Angela Cox is a third year BFA dance and Social Work double major from Austin, TX! She has been dancing since she was 3 and is so excited to serve on the DA board this year.
Laura Anawaty
Co-Production Coordinator and Treasurer
Laura Anawaty is a 2nd year dance major from Houston, Texas and is so excited to serve on the DA board for a second year! Her favorite style of dance is contemporary.
Sheila Jackson
Co-Social Events Coordinator
Sheila Jackson is a fourth year BFA dance major who has trained with Ballet Austin and Oregon Ballet Theatre. She has been on the DA board since 2020!
Farah-Ray Shukur
Co-Social Events Coordinator
Farah-Ray Shukur is entering her second year as a Plan II Honors-Psych major on a pre-med track at The University of Texas at Austin. She began dancing at the age of three and has trained with TDDC, The Edge Dance Company, and Millennium Dance Complex in Denver. She competitively danced for 12 years in the contemporary, modern, hip-hop, and jazz dance categories.
Faith Davis
Secretary
Faith Davis is a B.F.A. in Dance major at The University of Texas at Austin. She has spent summers dancing with Houston Ballet, Ballet West and Texas Ballet Theater. Recent credits with Texas Theatre and Dance include Fall For Dance (2021) and PIVOT (2022).
Lauren Jershin
Internal Director
Lauren Jershin is a 3rd year BFA Dance major, who is minoring in Educational Psychology and pursuing a certificate in Children and Society through the Bridging Disciplines Program program here at UT. She began dancing at the age of 3 and was on the competition team at The Dance Movement in Plano, Texas before coming to UT. Recent Credits are with Texas Theatre and Dance, which include the works of Charles Anderson, and Leah Cox.
Lorna Luciano
Dance Outreach Coordinator
Lorna Luciano is a 2nd year BFA Dance major from San Antonio, Texas! She’s been dancing since she was 3 and has trained at Quenedit Ballet School and New Braunfels Dance. She has also participated in statewide dance team competitions and intensives across the country. Also, she has been a member of dance action since Fall 2021 and has performed in both SEED shows!
Will Tuomey
Media Coordinator
Will Tuomey is a rising junior Public Relations major at UT and is so excited to serve on the DA board! He trained in high school with Carrie and Li Chou Cheng at the Gayle Corkery School of Ballet and competed with and trained under Debbi Jo Thibeau and Leslie Senevey at Dance Concept in Fort Worth, TX.
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