ABOUT

Rhythmically Speaking is a Twin Cities-based 501(c)3 nonprofit dance organization with a | MISSION | to spark vibrancy and connectedness through jazz and American social dance ideas. Using the rhythm that is at our shared human core to groove together, the | VISION | of our work – since our founding in 2008 – has been cultivating vibrant, embodied human connection in the Twin Cities and beyond. Our creative work emphasizes the concepts of groove, interaction and improvisation – key among  jazz and American social dance forms including hip-hop styles and tap – and is inspired by both social and concert dance movement and driven by classic and contemporary jazz music alike.

We | VALUE |:

• Access: Everyone can groove to a beat, and should have opportunities to do so with others
• Inclusiveness: Grooving together socially builds community
• Diversity: We are committed to engaging people in the ongoing conversation around redefining jazz and American social dance styles, and in this unity in difference, which makes for vibrant art and relationships
• Equity: We prioritize rooted innovation in jazz that centers and celebrates its African diasporic roots, and position this in relationship to equity-building measures
• Resourcefulness: Improvising with the tools at hand
• Playfulness: Not just for kids!
• Joy: An important human emotion we feel is far too underrated in capital A Art

To see more of our work, visit our YouTube Channel!

Touted by Dance Magazine as “revitalizing jazz dance in the Twin Cities area,” we are the only organization in Minnesota and one of few in the nation dedicated to creating, presenting and conducting outreach work inspired by jazz and other American social dance ideas including tap, hip-hop styles, and many others. From our co-founding by Erinn Liebhard and Heather P. Westerlund in 2008 through our 10th anniversary in 2018, our programming focus was an annual production that featured 7-9 dance works by different line-ups of mostly local and some visiting artists each year who each had their own casts, celebrating the breadth of what ‘jazz and American social/ vernacular’ ideas in dance can mean.

After 10 successful years of this model, we decided to innovate around our core mission in 2019 by shifting our programming to include performance and education-based outreach work and regular training and performance opportunities in a company model for local dancers. We produce two evening-length productions per year, one in the Winter featuring the work of Artistic and Executive Director Erinn Liebhard and the other in the Summer, which continues to offer a presenting platform to local and visiting choreographers creating jazz and American social dance-inspired works for the stage, and since 2022, for the screen as well. We also conduct a variety of education-based outreach work for K-12, older adult, professional dance and general populations, and tour performances to other parts of Minnesota and beyond.

We acknowledge that our work occurs on Dakhóta Oyáte lands, and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. We also acknowledge that as a company built around jazz and American social dances, forms with African diasporic roots and branches, anti-racism and intersectional justice efforts must also be central in our work. We view bettering these efforts as an ongoing journey, and welcome you to read more about this at our Anti-Racism page.

| PEOPLE |

LEADERSHIP:

Erinn Liebhard: Artistic and Executive Director | Dancer

Erinn Liebhard (she/ her) is a dance artist making opportunities for people to experience the reflective and connective power of groove through performance and education. Having grown up dancing socially at her dad’s rock band’s gigs, she discovered young the exhilaration of playfully experiencing groove alongside others. Guided by this inspiration and a fondness for jazz and American social dance ideas, she’s worked with creatives as varied as hip-hop dance theater artist Rennie Harris and the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers Appalachian clogging company. In performance, she makes and performs new staged works and presents those of others through Rhythmically Speaking, and performs freelance and as self-created character “Nerdette” for St. Paul Saints Baseball’s Entertainment Team. She also creates new works for high schools, colleges and professional companies. Her creative works emphasize groove, interaction and improvisation and are inspired by both social and concert dance movement while often driven by contemporary jazz music. In education, she is on faculty at Carleton College, St. Olaf College and Winona State University, conducts educational outreach through her company and is an active writer, residency artist and conference presenter. She is driven to help connect people to themselves, one another and the moment through rooted and innovative embodiment of groove. erinnliebhard.com | @erinnliebhard.danceartist

Doug Hooker: Artistic & Administrative Associate | Dancer

Doug graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelors in Dance. He has had a variety of professional performing opportunities both nationally and internationally with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps, the Broadway show Blast! and the Dancing People Company, as well as locally with ARENA DANCES, Collide Theatrical Dance Company, Concerto Dance, José A. Luis, Paula Mann, Rhythmically Speaking, Shapiro and Smith Dance and Threads Dance Project. He has been in Rhythmically Speaking productions since 2017, and has been a company member since 2019. Website | @MisterHookerSir

Advisory Board:

• Tameka Davison: Community Impact Manager @ Women’s Foundation of Minnesota (Programming & Management)
• Brian J. Evans: Assistant Professor of Dance @ Bates College (Programming & IDEA)
• Rae Fox-Charles: Consultant, Scholar, and Dance Artist, Recent Doctoral Dissertation Fellow @ University of Minnesota (Programming & IDEA)
• Doug Hooker: Dancer and Artistic & Administrative Associate @ Rhythmically Speaking (Programming & Marketing)
• Erinn Liebhard: Artistic Director @ Rhythmically Speaking, Dance Artist @ Freelance (Programming & Marketing)
• Kristoffer Olson: Director of Supply Chain Analytics @ Shutterfly, Kristoffer Olson @ Funny Magician (Programming & Marketing)
• Shannon Nemer: Executive Assistant @ St. Paul and Minnesota Foundation (Development & Management)
• Zoe Sealy (Advisory): Professor Emeritus @ U of MN Dance Program, Retired Artistic Director @ MN Jazz Dance Co (Programming & Management)
• Reilly Liebhard (Legal Advisor): Attorney @ Liebhard Law Firm LLC

DANCERS:

Nieya Amezquita:

Nieya Amezquita is a Minnesota-based artist currently working with Rhythmically Speaking, Arena Dances, eMartin Dance and Corpus Dance Works. She has also performed with Threads Dance Project, Elayna Waxse Movement Projects, Concerto Dance, Off-Leash Area, and Doma Dance Theater. In 2019, Nieya earned a Bachelors in Dance and Psychology from the University of Georgia, during which she performed nationally and internationally with CADE:NCE before studying in Portugal with the Addo Platform, where her passion for choreography was ignited. Now Nieya’s work has been presented in the Blackness Is Arts festival produced by the Guthrie Theater, the CandyBox festival produced by Arena Dances, commissioned by Threads Dance Project, Alternative Motion Project and Ballet Co’Laboratory. In 2023, Nieya furthered her professional development by founding and leading Amez Dance, a project-based dance company created to push the boundaries of art and how it can develop our community. She has been a Rhythmically Speaking company member since 2020. Website | @Ni_Amez

Malia Craft:

Malia Craft is from Hartwell, Georgia and began her training at Hot Shots Dance Company, where she trained in ballet, modern, contemporary, hip hop, and jazz and found her love for performing, as well as teaching. Malia attended the University of Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, with a minor in exercise and sports science, and a certificate in K-12 dance education. Malia was also a part of the Georgette’s Dance Team for three years. She is currently an artist with Threads Dance Project and Concerto Dance. Aside from training and performing, Malia has a love of working with dancers and has taught, as well as choreographed, for several studios and dance teams throughout Georgia and Minnesota. She has been a Rhythmically Speaking company member since 2025. | @MaliaDances_

Jayde Grass:

Jayde Grass is a Minnesota-based multidisciplinary dance artist. She attended Winona State University and graduated with a BS in Elementary Education and a Dance Minor, and has been training and performing ever since. Most recently, she has danced in the Amez Dance, Analog Dance Works, and Ruby Josephine Dance Theatre in the collaboration show Converge, and Rhythmically Speaking. | @Jayde_Grass

Amy Jones:

Amy performs, teaches and generates concert, commercial, interdisciplinary and experimental work. She graduated from Luther College with a double-major in Theatre/Dance and Management and studied on scholarship with Jennifer Muller/The Works, Susan Marshall & Company, Eva Dean Dance and Broadway Dance Center. In NYC, she performed for Noemie LaFrance; a mindfulness, arts and activism group; and freelance. Locally, she has worked for The Mystic Dancers, Emily Johnson, St. Paul City Ballet, Stuart Pimsler, Morgan Thorsen, Alternative Motion Project, Laurie Van Wieren, Zhauna Franks and Enticing Entertainment. She loves sharing her joy of movement and community as a pilates instructor and bungee dance and Cirque-It Fitness teacher-trainer. She has been in Rhythmically Speaking productions since 2016, and has been a company member since 2020. | @dancerunspirit

Sara Karimi:

Sara is a native of Wisconsin and a graduate of University of Iowa (BFA in Dance Performance, BA in English). She performed and toured with 10,000 Feet Dance Company, The Architects and Kayle + Co. before relocating to Minneapolis. She is a company member with Rhythmically Speaking, Threads Dance Project, Ruby Josephine Dance Theater (RJDT) and 43X94 Movement Research. Additional performance credits include Concerto Dance, Borealis Dance Theatre, Dance & Other Behaviors, Rogue & Rabble Dance, and MN Opera. Sara is a Mat Pilates instructor and a 500 E-RYT Yoga Instructor, leading classes and workshops locally and nationally. She has been in Rhythmically Speaking productions since 2016, and has been a company member since 2019. | @Karimi__Sara__

Kelli Miles:

A Midwest native, Kelli is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy and the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Leadership. Kelli has trained and danced across the globe, from New York City and San Francisco to Barcelona and Israel. Locally, she has had the pleasure of dancing with several companies in addition to Rhythmically Speaking, including HoneyWorks, Hatch Dance, ARENA DANCES, Black Label Movement, and Threads Dance Project. She has held teaching positions at Zenon Dance School and Westmet Classical Training, further fueling her passion for this art form and love of connecting with people through movement. Beyond the studio, Kelli is a part of the Consulting team at Artspace – a national organization creating, fostering, and preserving affordable and sustainable space for artists and cultural organizations. She has been a Rhythmically Speaking company member since 2019. Website | @KelliBelliii

Julie Marie Muskat:

Bio coming soon 🙂

Jake Nehrbass:

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Jake has been studying and performing dance since the age of three and teaching since age 12. He received his BFA in Dance and Kinesiology from St. Olaf College, has an interest in physical therapy and yoga, and works as a performing artist, choreographer, and dance teacher (Prairie School of Dance and Ballare Teatro) in the Twin Cities area. Currently, Jake is a company member of ARENA Dances, Black Label Movement, RDJT and Rhythmically Speaking, and has guested with Contempo Physical Dance, Concerto Dance, Arena Dances, Mixtape, Threads Dance Project, Flying Foot Forum, Katha Dance Theatre, Eau Claire Dance, STRONGmovement and Hatch Dance/ Honey Works, and performed in Stephan Koplowitz’s Northfield Experience. He has been a Rhythmically Speaking company member since 2022. Website | @Jake_Nehrbass

Kathleen Pender:

Kathleen Pender is a performer, dance educator, arts administrator, and massage therapist with a B.A. in Dance from St. Olaf College and an A.A.S. in Therapeutic Massage from Northwestern Health Sciences University. She has performed in works by choreographers Erinn Liebhard, Suzanne Costello, Kathleen Doherty, Cara Hagan, Laura Osterhaus Rosenstone, Gretchen Pick, Julie Warder, Taja Will, Laura Ann Smyth, and Pat Taylor/JazzAntiqua, among others. She teaches with Young Dance, where she also works as Program Manager, and practices massage with TC Fit at Motion St. Paul, a physical therapy clinic. Kathleen is passionate about community and relationships cultivated through movement exploration, education, and performance. She has performed in Rhythmically Speaking productions since 2013, and has been a company member since 2019. Photo by Bill Cameron. | @KatDewPen

Betsy Schaefer Roob:

Betsy was born and raised in Elm Grove, WI. Now based in Minneapolis for over a decade, she has worked with ARENA DANCES, Rhythmically Speaking, Threads Dance Project, Dance & Other Behaviors, as well as nationally and internationally based choreographers Sasha Kleinplatz, A.T. Moffett, Salia Sanou, and Pat Taylor among others. Her own work with faux pas, a duo with Julie Marie Muskat, has been presented as part of CANDY BOX Dance Festival at the Southern Theater. Prior to landing in Minnesota, Betsy lived and studied in Michigan, Oregon, and El Salvador. She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a self-designed Bachelor of Individualized Studies in English, Dance, and Sustainability Studies. Alongside her dance career, she is a certified practitioner of The Roll Model® Method and manages the Children’s Literacy Program for Hennepin Healthcare System. She also enjoys many moments dancing around her living room with her toddler daughter.

Previous Artists: Company Dancers – Nora Anderson (2019), Erik Hunder (2019), Javan Mngrezzo (2022-2024) and Cheng ‘Technica’ Xiong (2019), and Stage Manager Sarah Salisbury (2008-2024). We’d also like to give a shout to all the visiting choreographers, musicians and designers with whom we’ve worked since 2019, as well as the movers, makers and designers who were a part of our first ten years – having presented over 40 choreographers and their respective casts over that time, we were fortunate to interact and build community with hundreds of wonderful people, and we’re grateful for all of them sharing their artistic energy!

Headshots by Bill Cameron

| WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING | :

• “What a truly amazing show you have put together! It brings all the parts about jazz dance that make it so unique – it’s sense of community, the essence of cool, the communicative use of call and response, the improvisational elements, and of course it’s connection to the music! You and the roster of guest choreographers have put together something so magical, it had me moving and grooving in my seat, not to mention wishing I was on that dance floor!” – Crystal Secor, Audience Member for The Cohort (2019)
• “I am so glad that I got to know you this summer/work with you. Seriously, keep doing what you are doing. You have a great mission, amazing work ethic, and you are creating some amazing opportunities for artists out there. I feel lucky to be a part of the Minnesota family.” – Rohan Bhargava, Choreographer for The Cohort (2019)
• “Saw this last night… it was fantastic! There’s so much diversity with the various dances and music. I loved how some dancers shared insights into their creative process/motivation using spotlight/ voiceovers. I also loved the live JAZZ. It all flowed effortlessly! Thanks performers for a great evening.” – Colleen Schaefer, Audience Member
• “Congrats on a wonderful performance! It was lush, polished and generous. It was clear from the opening curtain speech the love, care and passion that was poured into the evening.” – Carl Flink, Dept. of Theater Arts and Dance, University of Minnesota
• “Thank you Rhythmically Speaking for your support of rhythm-based choreographers and your work to bring this diverse community of unique and passionate artists together.” – Karla Grotting, Past RS Choreographer
• “Erinn was very interactive and had great questions that made our residents think about how to engage with jazz music and dance. I think residents would benefit from more of this kind of interactive programming! We hope to have Rhythmically Speaking back again soon.” – Molly Stoltz, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Sholom Home West Senior Care
• “Thank you so very much for the great experience this past week. From start to finish, the show was run impeccably. You have a truly fantastic thing going here. The show is eclectic, professional, and currently provides a vital foray into otherwise uncharted territory in this community. Bravo. You’ve allowed me to continue a crucial aspect of my personal technical and creative journey, and present that to an audience. Thank you again for a fantastic experience.” – Jeffrey Peterson, Past RS Choreographer