bios

Susan Rieger
(Artistic Director and Choreographer)

Susan Rieger, now in her second year as Artistic Director of the 940 Dance Company, has been a visible force in modern dance in the Midwest since 1987, when she presented her first piece of choreography. In the last 21 years, she has toured throughout the Midwest teaching and performing for all ages; training professional dancers; and developing and presenting innovative choreography. She was one of the founders of aha! dance theatre, which had a 14 year history in Kansas City. Rieger was the Artistic Director from 2002-2007. During that time, she produced concerts at the Folly Theater, in galleries, museums and outdoor spaces, as well as developed dance programs for grade school, high school and adult audiences.

Rieger has choreographed over 40 unique works, many of which have received critical acclaim. In 2004, she was honored with a Kennedy Center Award for Achievement in Choreography (ACTF Region V for the original play “Lost” at Rockhurst University). Rieger’s choreography has been selected to be a part of the Mid-America Dance Network showcase numerous times. Her work has also been reviewed in Dance Magazine, the KC Star and e-KC, an on-line journal.

Collaboration has been a hallmark of Rieger’s work and some of her most successful collaborations have been with lighting designer/technical director John “Moose” Kimball, costume designer Atif Rome, photographer Deanna Dikeman, playwright Frankie Krainz and musicians from newEar Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Rieger holds a Bachelors of Art in Dance from the University of Iowa and a Masters of Social Welfare from the University of Kansas. She currently teaches dance as well as directing the 940 Dance Company, at the Lawrence Arts Center. She is a movement coach for the Speech and Forensics Team at the Kansas State School for the Blind and teaches interdisciplinary arts at the Missouri Fine Arts Academy in the summer. She has been a resident teacher/choreographer at various universities.

Katie Brennan

Katie Brennan, a native of Independence, MO, began dancing at the age of eight at Ballet Conservatory and continued to focus primarily on classical ballet while studying at the State Ballet of Missouri School. She was later introduced to modern dance by her teachers, Susan Rieger and David Ollington. While attending William Jewell College, Katie trained with Kim Shope and Tuesday Faust. Recently, Katie studied at Frente de Danza Independiente, based in the national theater of Ecuador. Katie was an apprentice with aha! dance theatre in 2003 and is pleased to be joining the 940 Dance Company for her third season.

Bobbi Foudree

Bobbi Foudree started her dance training at the age of 16 at Midtown School of Dance, from there she went on to Stephens College acquiring her B.F.A. in dance, spending summers training at Nashville Ballet and School of Ballet Chicago. Her professional experience began in New Hampshire as a trainee with Northern Ballet Theater and as a company member with Jennie and Company. Missing the Midwest, Ms. Foudree returned to KC and has since danced with Kacico Dance, aha! dance theatre, and is currently a dancer and choreographer with Reach... a movement collective. Ms. Foudree loves teaching and has taught a variety of ages and dance styles. Currently, she has the joy of training baby ballerinas at Fairytale Ballet. This is Ms. Foudree's third season with 940. She is thrilled to be back and would like to thank her family and friends for all of their love and support.

Candi Baker
(Artistic Director Emeritus & Choreographer)

Candi founded the 940 dance company (originally Prairie Wind Dancers) in 1987 and served as Artistic Director until June, 2003. She holds an MA in dance from Mills College in Oakland, CA. Candi studied dance extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area, notably with Margaret Jenkins before moving to Kansas in 1983. She has directed her own studio and now directs the dance program at the Lawrence Arts Center. Candi has received the City of Lawrence Phoenix Award in the performing arts, as well as numerous other awards and grants.

Jennifer Flynn

Jennifer Flynn began her dance training at Allegro School of Dance and Music in Rochester, Minnesota. Upon receiving a dance scholarship, she attended Stephens College (Columbia, MO). She graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance and a minor in Business Administration. While at Stephens, she studied ballet with Jan Miller and Elizabeth Hartwell and modern dance with Deborah Carr. She also studied several world dance forms including Flamenco, Russian, East Indian, Irish, and West African. She performed in numerous pieces at Stephens College, choreographed by both faculty and students. She was fortunate to have her choreography selected to be performed in several concerts, as well. Ms. Flynn is very excited to be joining the 940 Dance Company this year.

Eric Tedder

Eric Tedder is originally from Wichita, Kansas, where he was introduced to dance through Musical Theatre. He studied dance at the University of Kansas and has performed with the University Dance Company. Most recently, he has been seen onstage at Shawnee Mission Theater in the Park, Nick Padgett Productions and the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre. He also models with DKM Agency. He is very grateful and excited to be performing with 940 Dance Company and would like to thank David Ollington and Susan Rieger for this opportunity. Also, he would like to thank his parents for their continued support!

Ashley Trullinger

Ashley Trullinger began dancing at the age of three in Augusta, Georgia. She continued her training under Susanne Day, with the Johnson County Community College Golden Girls and under Mary Pat Henry at the University of Missouri-KC Conservatory of Music and Dance, where she earned her B.F.A. in Dance. She has also studied in Chicago with Deeply Rooted Dance Company, Hubbard Street and Homer Bryant. Ashley has traveled the states, performing in Florida’s Disney Parade, at the 2000 Olympic Tryouts, at the 2001 Fed Ex Orange Bowl Halftime Show and at Times Square. Ashley has taught dance to youth and adults for the past seven years at In the Light Performing Arts Center. She was a member of Unleashed Dance Theatre in Belton, MO for the past two years, and is excited to begin a new chapter with the 940 Dance Company.