JEFFERSON
DANCERS
GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS
KRISTIN BACON-TRAD
Kristin Bacon-Trad began studying ballet at the age of 3. She trained with the Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, and the Houston Ballet Academy. At 17, she was asked to join the Houston Ballet. Under the direction of Ben Stevenson, Kristin enjoyed a fruitful career dancing many Soloist and Principal roles. She also worked with many world-renowned choreographers, such as Jiri Kylian, Margot Fonteyn, Paul Taylor, and Sir Kenneth MacMillan. While enjoying a full performance schedule at home with Houston Ballet, the company also toured throughout Europe and China. Kristin also filmed several works for Danmarks Radio in Aarhus, Denmark. In 1996, Kristin joined Oregon Ballet Theatre. During her tenure with the company, she danced Principal roles in The Nutcracker, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Serenade, and Alice in Wonderland, to name a few. After leaving OBT in 2003, Kristin enjoyed dancing with the multimedia modern dance company Bodyvox. Bacon-Trad is currently part of the faculty at Elite Dance Studio and The Portland Ballet. She joined the Jefferson Dance Program from 2008-2013 and was the founder and co-artistic director of Jefferson Dancers II.
Charlotte Faillard
Charlotte Faillard was raised in Aix-en-Provence, France. She began her training at the Conservatoire d’Aix-en-Provence under Cathrine Tamiser and later at the Conservatoire d'Avignon under the direction of Mme Petracchi. In 2001, as an exchange student, she joined and trained with the Jefferson Dancers. She returned to France in 2002 and continued her training at Les Jeunes Ballets Mediterranees under the direction of Claudine Andreot in Grasse. In 2004, she joined Le jeune Ballet d’Europe under the direction of Jean-Charles Gilles. While there, she performed a piece by George Appaix. She later joined Maurice Bejart’s school for two years. Her second year there, she danced with Bejart’s company Le Sacre du Printemps. In 2007 she moved to Italy where she performed for a dance project directed by Veronica Frisotti. She later integrated into the national Italian company Aterballetto, directed by Mauro Bigonzetti. For seven years she performed works by choreographers Ohad Naharin, Henri Oguike, Eugenio Scigliano and William Forsythe. Roles from different pieces premiered in Baden-Baden dance festival 2011, and Canto per Orfeo, in which she danced the role of Euridice which premiered in the August dance festival in 2012.
In 2011, Charlotte started choreographing for the Aterballetto Dance Company. Some of her choreography includes Effet de Suite, Sballate, Cote Cour, Le Jeu de la Vie et de I’llusion, Tu m’as dit je t’aime, je t’ai dit attends, Pieces, and for the Pitti Event in Florence for a young designer’s home. In 2009, she became a GYROTONIC & GYROKINESIS trainer and is currently teaching methods in France. She has choreographed 5 pieces on the Jefferson Dancers.
Michael Munday
Michael Munday is a Dancer/Choreographer currently in Los Angeles, CA with 14 years of professional experience. He is an alumni of The Jefferson Dancers. Michael attended the EDGE Performing Arts Center Scholarship program and has since danced with such artists as Taylor Swift, Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Kacie Musgraves, as well as performed for such people as Barack and Michelle Obama and the legendary, Chita Rivera. Having been featured in many films and tv programs like La La Land, The Prom, Ted 2, Soundtrack Dancing With The Stars and the 75th Annual Tony Awards with Ariana Debose. He is currently assistant choreographer for the Toni Braxton and Cedric the Entertainer Las Vegas residency.
Victoria Holt
A creative spirit since her childhood, Victoria Holt has always loved dance. She was finally allowed to explore her talent in 2007 when she joined the Jefferson Dancers.
In 2014 she took her first Pole dance class, started teaching in 2015, and has been hooked ever since. She enjoys sharing her passion through teaching, performing, and competing.
Holt competed in the PRO Qualifier Division at NW Pole Championships 2018-2020, winning first place each year.
In 2018, Holt took 3rd place at the Pole Sport Nationals competition, making history with the first podium sweep by a Black woman.
Holt has performed on stage with the Free Nationals band and in Snoop Dogg's I Wanna Thank Me tour. Holt is excited to see where her talents take her next.
Derrell “Sekou Soumah” Walker
A Portland, Oregon, native and a strong presence in the West African Drum and Dance community. He is the perfect blend of drum and dance, Western and West African. He effortlessly inhabits the highest levels of Mandingue drum and dance and blends these skills with his American roots and deep knowledge of the Mandingue culture.
The embodiment of these traits, combined with a natural gift for teaching and mentoring, make Sekou one of a kind. Africans and non-Africans alike respect Sekou. In 2003 he starred as a dancer and percussionist in Moustapha Bangoura's Tinkanyi instructional dance videos. In 2004 Sekou received his teaching certification from Mamady Keita and Tam Tam Mandingue, followed by a teaching diploma in 2008.
Sekou began his dance career in 1998 after several years of training as an athlete. He possesses grace and power in dance, which is rare. Sekou continues to refine these skills through performing and teaching dance all over the United States and internationally.
Sara Martins
Sara Mishler Martins is a choreographer, dance educator, and performer who was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. As a JD alumna, Sara credits her passion for dance and her versatility, in large part, to the many exceptional teachers and choreographers she worked with at Jefferson High School. Martins earned her BA in Dance from UCLA, then worked as a freelance performer and choreographer in L.A., and served as the Associate Director of Dance at the prestigious Buckley School. In the Portland area, Martins’ theatre choreography has garnered critical praise, as well as multiple nominations and awards for Outstanding Choreography. Sara also serves as the choreographer for the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and their dance group, The Locomotions. She has taught numerous dance styles at Northwest Academy, NW Dance Project, Polaris Dance Theatre, and is currently the Director of Dance at da Vinci Arts Middle School. Martins is thrilled to return as a choreographer with the Jefferson Dancers this year; she would like to thank Steve for the invitation, and her husband Fernando, and twins, Ava and Alex, for their love and support.