The Repertory
Company

Zita Bidleman-Owens

Company Dancer

Holds a B.A. in Dance from Stockton College, where she taught creative movement at a private preschool and elementary school. She went on to receive a Masters of Arts degree in Choreography and Dance Education from the University of North Carolina, where she taught dance classes at local middle schools. When she moved to Arizona, she continued to hone her teaching skills by finding opportunities to facilitate creative dance classes for children. In 2017 she began studying Mettler-based creative dance and is currently enrolled in Mettler Studios' Apprentice Program. In 2021, she began assisting Dancesequences at Pio Decimo's afterschool Creative Dance classes for children ages 6–11. She also facilitates at Dancesequences' outdoor community outreach program, the Touching Spaces Company Gatherings.

"I'm here, I have arrived!! This improvisational nature of dance allows me to share and teach in a free form to which I feel a strong connection and understanding. Sensing the group moving as one unit feeds my soul and allows me the freedom to be fully present rather than worrying about memorizing counts and choreography."

Michelle Buscemi

Director-at-Large & Repertory Company Dancer

Tucson-based artist working across painting, ceramic sculpture, poetry, and dance. Utilizes Laser Art Technique (L.A.T.) for artists with limited mobility. Completed the Dancesequences Teaching Artist Training in 2023 and began mentored teaching in 2024.

Joanna Carichner

Company Dancer

Loved to dance, move, and perform since she was a child. As an adult, she has taken that love in a variety of directions: the stage, the classroom, the yoga studio, under the sky and stars. Joanna is a multi-passionate healer/performer. She studied Acting, Movement and Voice at The University of Arizona and City College–San Francisco; Massage and Holistic Health Counseling at the World School in San Francisco; the Breema Center in Oakland; The Providence Institute in Tucson; and American Sign Language at Pima College, Tucson. She is trained in performance improvisation with ImprovWorks San Francisco and Unscrewed Theatre Tucson. She has been studying yoga since 1992 in a variety of traditions and has been teaching Kripalu Yoga and Hatha Yoga since 2006. Joanna has always loved movement as a way of expressing and releasing emotion and has trained with Toni Bergins of JourneyDance since 2007. She currently has a healing arts practice in Tucson, teaches yoga at Tucson Yoga, and leads retreats and JourneyDances.

Antonio Childress

Company Dancer & 504 Co-Coordinator

Born in 1995 in Westchester County, New York, Antonio is now a Tucson-based artist working in multiple disciplines, including Laser Art Technique ("LAT") painting, poetry and dance. LAT Painting uses the point-to-point system and was developed as a technique for artists with limited mobility. Many of Antonio's paintings incorporate original poetry as part of the overall theme of the created work, and his paintings have been exhibited in several local art shows, galleries and public spaces in Tucson. Antonio's dance training began with his participation in the Arts for All Adult Dance Ensemble. In January 2020, he joined the Dancesequences Repertory Company. In 2023, Antonio completed the Dancesequences Teaching Artist Intensives and begins practice teaching company classes in 2024. He has also assumed responsibilities as the 504 Co-Coordinator to oversee accessibility and inclusive practices.

"I have to sit in a chair every day of my life because I have a disability, it is not sad or happy, it is part of life. Life has a mind of its own that can build something positive or destroy something in seconds. My chair is not apart from who I am as a person. I am a person who can teach people what it is like to live with a disability. My disability does not affect my abilities to have a voice and be independent as much as I can. My voice is strong. My voice is full of life. My voice is my voice. I love to dance; it helps me to get out my emotions. I think that dancing with people with mixed abilities is wonderful because there are more opportunities to meet all different types of people. I strongly believe this world needs to come together without judgement."

Sabrina Geoffrion

Co-Founder, Vice President & Repertory Company Director

Holds a BS in Psychology and an MS in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Arizona. Teaches online Psychology for Grand Canyon University and is part of Mettler Studio's Teacher Training Apprentice Program. Also a Butoh dancer and childbirth educator.

Jill Newby

Company Dancer

Has always loved to dance — it started with her father teaching her how to jitterbug, then came tap and a little ballet, but mostly free-form choreography. Jill's career path took her to librarianship, with her last stop at the University of Arizona Libraries, where she focused on connecting faculty and students to authoritative information sources and teaching information literacy skills. After retiring, Jill's world opened up to new learning opportunities in movement, writing and humanities courses. Through Zuzi! Dance Company, she met Nanette Robinson, Karenne Koo and Sabrina Geoffrion who inspired and encouraged her to keep dancing. Dancesequences naturally attracted Jill because of its inclusiveness and all-abilities affirming philosophy.

Amanda K. Rohrbach

Company Dancer

A nature and portrait photographer whose work spans all aspects of the natural world — landscapes, skyscapes, animals, insects, and flowers. Her prints have been exhibited at galleries and art shows throughout Tucson, including Tohono Chul Gallery and the University of Arizona. She holds a B.S. in Astronomy and Physics from the University of Arizona, and has worked as a Planetarium educator, a telescope operator and research assistant, and an aerospace engineer, serving as a Mission Operations Engineer at Goddard Space Flight Center for the launch and early orbit of the NASA Fermi Space Telescope. Though she was an avid dancer, singer, and actress throughout her youth, multiple sclerosis and other health conditions began to gradually affect her mobility. A modification in diet in 2015 changed her direction completely; she is now on a journey of recovery, working hard to regain her strength and mobility. She has developed a new appreciation for her body, her health, and the true healing potential of creative movement. Amanda enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring the natural world near her native Tucson with her husband and two young sons.