Sparks Dance Company

Sparks Dance Company (SDC) was founded in 1989 as Penn’s premiere dance company dedicated to both performing and community service. The company, managed by undergraduate students, maintains a high technical level of many styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, lyrical, and contemporary. In addition to weekly technique classes, each semester culminates with a self-choreographed show. Company members also perform at other popular campus events throughout the year such as the Emily Sachs Dance Benefit and Freshmen Performing Arts Night. Additionally, SDC members have the chance to share their love of dance at various Philadelphia locales, such as the Salvation Army and the Ronald McDonald house, through our philanthropy program each semester.

At the beginning of each semester, Sparks admits dancers to the company through an audition process designed to examine both technical and performance experience. While not all members are required to perform all styles of dance, the audition process consists of a technical section and a combination section during which dancers are taught several short combinations of varying styles and then asked to perform them. Once admitted to SDC, dancers are expected to attend weekly technique classes in addition to rehearsals for the semester-end show. SDC seeks members with a passion for dance and performance, a commitment to our mission, and a desire to be part of a close-knit group of Penn students.

If you are interested in staying up to date on auditions and other Sparks' events, please fill out this form .

Meet the Company

Kristin Chow

Class of 2020 Digital Media Design San Diego, CA
Sierra Mills

Class of 2020 Computer Science Doylestown, PA
Christina Wei

Class of 2020 Economics San Jose, CA
Natalie Koch

Class of 2018 Biological Basis of Behavior Narberth, PA
Sarah Organ

Class of 2018 Computer Science Milwaukee, WI
Natalie Larkin-Gilmore

Class of 2018 Visual Studies Philadelphia, PA
Ashley Warner

Class of 2019 Political Science and Earth Science Basking Ridge, NJ
Andrea Frost

Class of 2019 Economics Westport, CT
Emily Smith

Class of 2021 Economics Hillsboro, OR
Lili Stoesser

Class of 2021 Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics Arlington Heights, IL

Alumni

2017

Danielle Frost

Allison Langer

Rachel Orlinsky

2016
Allie Drabinsky
Isabel Miro

2015
Athena Petrides
Ilaria Caturegli
Elise Minkin

2014
Ariella Freund
Rebecca Rossi (Margolis)
Caroline Quigley
Jessica Warren

2013
Daria Gaut
Allison (Alli) Letica

2012
Brittany Colligen
Brittany Johansen
Anastasia Matijkiw
Callie Taylor
Jamie Wessels

2011
Jamie Acero
Adrienne Adler
Sara Berg (Farber)
Samantha Lexton (Greenblatt)

2010
Karin (Kari) Marton-Rollins
Amanda (Manda) Mundy
Amy Sherman

2009
Jacqueline (Jackie) Candido
Catherine Kane

2008
Juliette Alimena
Kylie Gattinella
Stephanie Lichtinger

Stephanie Majchrzak
Lindsay Menzer (Pordon)
Lindsey Sankin

2007
Lauren Le Vine
Allie Ritter (Schafrann)

2006
Michelle Kaufman (Goldwin)

Laura Holson
Shally Iyer
Renee Pristas

Adria Roode
Rong Rong Colpitts (Xu)
Julie Zhou

2005
Nicole (Nikki) Caprio
Jacqueline Stone

2004
Meredith Jacobetz (Caldwell)
Anca Chung
Angela Irwin
Nicole Nurse
Carrie Pottker-Fishel

2003
Dayna Finkelstein
Kathryn (Kathey) Hague
Katarina Johnson
Alexis Stumm (Marchio)
Clare Arguedas (Wang)

2002
Christina Crawford-Martin
Lori Weiss (Eisner)

Marissa Engel
Denise Pagliarulo
Judith Schapiro

Kristen Wozniak (Sheridan)
Lynn Wu

2001
Jen Nevas (Cohen)
Renee Leta
Tamar (Tammy) Mirensky
Jenn Murphy (Orthmann)

2000
Maria Arbona
Janet Casamento

Charlesetta Redmond

1999
Jessica Alexander

Marlyn Mizrachi (Attie)
Rachel Jablon
Caryn Lazaroff
Rebecca (Becky) Griffith (Perlis)
Leah Shaper

1998
Mary Carol Capbell
Lauren Navas (Feingold)
Rachel Cadan (Kutcher)
Christie Lucier
Meka Shroff (Millstone)
Michelle Mussafi
Bonnie Weisenberg (Siegel)

1997
Tonya Beteet
Sallilyn (Sallie) Schwartz (Brown)
Meghan Burns
Kristen Agami (Chasse)
Amy Kopelman (Richard)
Susan Johnson (Ruszala)
Christine Chorba (Tarr)
Kate Wasserman (Tract)
Crystal Lee (Uyematsu)

1996
Donna Marie Caro
Gabriella Davi
Andrea Scioli (Friedlander)
Christine Roberts

1995
Julie Chow
Deryn Crockett
Lori Sidman (Kessler)
Karen Oberthaler

1994
Jill Abrams
Tatiana Goldstein (Aizenberg)
Gina Bloom
Sherri Cooper
Rachel Koss
Jill Kottner

Marci Love
Sonita Bennitt (Midha)
Karen Swan (Pawlick)
Tessie Topol

1993
Amanda Kent (Dixon)
Robyn Katz (Glassman)
Jill Gallin (Hammer)
Jennifer MacDonald
Andrea Plevan

Melissa Rogal
Jennifer Shulman

1992
Rhonda Schnipper (Ebert)
Patrice Guitreau (Firpo)
Helaina Bardunias (Greenberg)
Adine Frank (Nahum)
Kimberly Pearson (Stone)

1991

Rachel Schwartz (Harrison)

1990
Kimberly Feigin (Steinberg)