Lydia Patselas

Lydia Patselas, from Jacksonville, NC, received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from East Carolina University and her MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University. Lydia was a performance artist with Atlanta Dance Collective (ADC) in Atlanta, GA from 2018-2020 (tel:2018-2020). She performed in Dance Canvas 2019 Performance Series, FEMMEfest, The Distaff Series, and Imprint with ADC. She has also performed in Fringe Festival in Asheville, NC, and Atlanta, GA. She has performed in the Charlotte Dance Festival in Charlotte, NC, and the Modern Dance Festival in Atlanta, GA. Lydia choreographed a piece titled “Emulate” for Atlanta Dance Collective’s 5th season performance titled “Raw” in February of 2020. Lydia began working with BF and Artists in 2019. She has had the opportunity to tour with the company locally and internationally, including performances at the Fringe Arts Festival in Philadelphia, PA, the Florence Biennale in 2022, Moulin/Belle Residency in Perigord, France and performances with Danse Theatre Surreality in Paris, France. Lydia is also a dance instructor at Upbeat Dance Center in Narberth, PA. Lydia loves creating and bringing her artistry to the collaborative process. 

Lydia resides in Philadelphia, PA and is a therapist at Belmont Behavioral Health Systems. Lydia is a Dementia Professional (DP-NC), certified through the National Institute for Dementia Education. Lydia is passionate about bringing movement-based approaches into the therapeutic space and continues to collaborate in the professional field through guest teaching and continued education. 

Cailin Sweeney

Em Godfrey

Em Godfrey is a korean nonbinary performing artist, educator, and choreographer in the Mid-Atlantic region. Their dance training began in Maryland, where they obtained a B.A. in Dance and Psychology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Em has performed at various establishments, including the John F. Kennedy Center, Baltimore Light Festival, the Kimmel Center, and World of Dance stages. They continued their training with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, and Philadelphia School for Circus Arts. Currently, Em performs with various companies and artists, while educating dancers of all ages within the Philadelphia school system and community.

Kayla Ricketts

Kayla Ricketts (she/her) is a Black-American dancer born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts where her dance training began. She obtained her BFA in Dance under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield as well as a minor in Business. Expansion, liveliness, and history are ideas that remain present both within her process of creation and execution. Her work has mainly been performance based at Boston Arts Academy and University of the Arts where they have helped her to grow and expand on these ideas. While in attendance at UArts she has performed in works by Katie Swords Thurman, Mark Caserta, Netta Yerushalmy, and Jesse Zaritt as well as student choreographed works. She has recently finished working in process with Shannon Murphy and is currently in process with Emily Wexler. 

Ali Lodise

Ali Lodise (she/they) is a queer movement artist in Philadelphia, PA. Ali is a graduate from the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Temple University since May, 2024. Prior to her DPT studies, she received her BS in Health Sciences and minored in Dance and Somatics at Drexel University. Ali was a member of the Drexel Dance ensemble from 2016-2020 and choreographed several group works as a student. They have also created two dance films including one which was presented in Drexel University's FreshDance production in 2021. Ali has worked with choreographers such as KC Chun Manning, Lindsay Browning, Caroling O’brien, Shannon Murphy, Kyle and Danita Clark, Dara J Stevens Meredith, Antonello Tudisco, Brendan Fernandes, and Olive Prince.

While at Temple they have developed and administered a functional dance screen, delivered Dance Injury Awareness and Injury Prevention presentations to members of the dance department and conducted a research study evaluating the injury prevention educational initiative for first year dance students. She is also a Pilates instructor and enjoys teaching at the Drexel Pilates Studio and Everybody Movement and Wellness. In addition, Ali is the acting President for Woman Within Eastern USA, a global community dedicated to amplifying the power & wisdom within every woman. They look forward to creating space for continued embodiment and empowerment in all of the communities they exist in.

Jennifer Morley

Jennifer Morley is an embodied artist and educator who has presented and performed

her work in New York at the Brooklyn Lyceum, the Evolving Arts Theatre, St.

Mark’s Church, Dancespace Center, and Peridance Center, as well as Chi Movement

Arts Center, the Adrienne Theatre, the Conwell Dance Theatre, and the Mandell

Theater in Philadelphia. She has produced concerts at both the Painted Bride and

Christ Church Neighborhood House. She has been commissioned to create work for

the Figments Youth Dance Ensemble in Hartford, Connecticut, the Community Dance

Project in Lansing, Michigan and Ryedance in Rye, New York. She sets work

annually on the Drexel Dance Ensemble. She was the recipient of two New Stages for

Dance grants through Dance USA/Philadelphia and a mini-grant from the Westphal

College of Media Art and Design.

She has performed with Leah Stein, Keith Thompson /DanceTactics, David Parker

and the Bang Group, Willie Dorner, Phil Grosser, Olive Prince, KC Chun-Manning

/FreshBlood Productions, Deborah Goffe/Scapegoat Garden, and Tanya Calamoneri.

She has taught master classes at Bates Dance Festival, the American Dance Festival,

and the American College Dance Festival.

Jennifer is the Program Director of the Drexel University dance program and the

Director of the Drexel Pilates studio and teacher training program. She is grateful to

be dancing alongside such a kind and present group of humans, including her partner.