Lume Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that uses dance to improve the quality of life for patients and individuals at healthcare facilities such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, geriatric care centers, and different types of counseling centers.

Lume Foundation engages and inspires these individuals through performances, dance classes, and personal visits, all of which are volunteered services for the healthcare facilities.

It is Lume’s mission to provide hope and happiness to communities in need of healing, comfort, and support. Lume Foundation brings light into challenging times and situations, illuminating the lives of others through dance.

Lume hires dance companies and independent dance artists to perform at healthcare facilities providing the viewers with the therapeutic benefits of live art: a communal and cathartic experience, intellectual and aesthetic stimulation, and a positive interruption to daily, regimented activities. Lume offers these viewers an uplifting experience they might not have received otherwise due to their present circumstances and isolated environments.

In addition to live performances, Lume offers dance and movement exploration classes to the individuals at these healthcare facilities. This movement instruction aligns with the goals of many physical and mental therapy centers. Through these classes, the participants are encouraged not only to become physically active, increasing a number of health benefits, but also artistically inventive allowing for self-expression and creative thought.

Lume’s classes are taught by professional dance educators and include teaching assistants for one-on-one patient instruction and care. Ms. Mandradjieff’s experience educating students with special needs has taught her that one-on-one instruction, within a larger class setting, is the most successful classroom structure. It allows for efficient classroom management, a more personal and communicative student-teacher relationship, and develops a safe, integrated classroom setting that adheres to the student’s individual needs.

Currently, Lume is collaborating with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, where Mara Mandradjieff, Lume's Executive Director, is officially part of Children's volunteer network.

After the shows, the professional dancers interact with patients and even pass out small dance tokens such as autographed ballet photos and tutus. This adds to the excitement of the show and allows for further personal interaction and involvement.

It is Lume's goal to bring this type of personal connection to the patients unable to attend the larger events due to severe illness or limited mobility. Lume plans on having dancers visit the accessible floors at the hospital to bring joy to the patients on a more regular basis.

Mara Mandradjieff began her ballet training with Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, where she performed principal roles in George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, Serenade, Valse Fantasie, and Garland Waltz. Her summers were spent training at various programs such as the Chautauqua Institute, Miami City Ballet, and four summers at The School of American Ballet. Mara went on to dance professionally with Bodiography, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Columbus Dance Theatre, Opera Columbus, Texture Contemporary Ballet, Dance Canvas, City Gate Dance Theater, and The Georgia Ballet, where she performed principal roles in The Nutcracker and George Balanchine's Who Cares.

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Mara received her bachelors summa cum laude in English Literature with a minor in Dance. She then began her Masters in Education at the University of Pittsburgh. As a graduate student, Mara gained experience working in a public high school, taught students with learning difficulties and behavioral records, and acquired a vast knowledge of educational practices. She applied these skills at numerous dance studios throughout Pittsburgh, PA, Columbus, OH, and Atlanta, GA.

Ms. Mandradjieff eventually became a part-time faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a dance instructor for Point Park University's community classes. She currently teaches part-time at both Emory University and Kennesaw State University and is a Ph.D. candidate in Dance at Texas Woman’s University. Her research has been published in Text and Performance Quarterly and is forthcoming in Dance Chronicle and the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science.

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Jennifer Clark
Rebekah Diaddigo
Brooke Doss
Whitney Edwards
Caroline Fagan
Hanna Fitzgerald
Rebecca Geiger
Amanda George
Emmie Graham
Christopher Hall
Emily Hammond
Madeleine Harris
Ansley Rebekah Head
Haley Ivy
Caroline Laubacher Simpkins

Sicily Ledford
Kim Linenkohl
Andre Lumpkin
Abby McDowell
Katie McMillen Stull
Mandi Mpezo
Victoria Norman Lagorio
Taylor Paige
Leslie Parker
Carrie Petrak
Sarah Pettine
Simon Phillips
Joey Smith
Kelsey Stanhope
Simone Stevens
Will Vanmeter

Richard Calmes, Richard Calmes Photography
David Gant, Gant Services
Katie Ging, Katie Ging Photography
Daniel Gwirtzman, Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company
Angela Harris, Dance Canvas
Ashleyanne Hensley, Ashleyanne Fashion Design and Dancewear
Scott Nilsson, Scott Nilsson Photography
Christen Sewell Weimer, Performing Artist and Choreographer

Elizabeth Chapman is currently in her 8th season with The Georgia Ballet. She has also performed with Dance Canvas for 5 years. Elizabeth began her training with The Springfield Ballet Company in her hometown of Springfield, Illinois, where she has often returned to perform guest roles. She has also studied with American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School, The Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and Nashville Ballet, where she danced for two years prior to joining The Georgia Ballet. Now in her eighth season with The Georgia Ballet, Elizabeth has especially enjoyed dancing the title role in Paquita, as well as the Snow Queen and Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker. In addition, she has loved the challenge of dancing George Balanchine’s Serenade, Concerto Barocco, and Valse-Fantaisie. When not performing, Elizabeth’s passion lies in sharing her knowledge and love of dance through teaching students of all ages.

Whitney received her early training from The Duluth School of Ballet and North Atlanta Dance Academy. After graduation, Ms. Edwards moved to New York City to dance for The Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she received additional training from Arthur Mitchell, Eva Evdokimova, and Raymond Lukens. Whitney performed at the Kennedy Center Protege Project in 2006. Whitney also danced professionally with the Nashville Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, and currently performs with The Georgia Ballet.

Rebecca Geiger was first introduced to the art of ballet in Colombia, South America, where she spent the first fourteen years of her life. Upon returning to the United States, she moved to Pennsylvania and began serious ballet training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Her love of dance led her to pursue an academic dance education after graduating from high school, and Rebecca earned her B.A. in Dance from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi in 2005. She has taught dance at various studios both in Pennsylvania and Georgia and is currently a primary faculty member at the Georgia Ballet. Rebecca also recently completed her Master’s Degree in Community Counseling and she ultimately plans to use her expertise in dance in a mental health setting. Her recent projects include performance and research in Thailand, Cambodia and Australia.

Angela Harris is the Executive Artistic Director of Dance Canvas, Inc., an Atlanta-based career development organization for emerging professional choreographers. Ms. Harris conceived and founded Dance Canvas after witnessing the difficult path and lack of professional opportunities for young choreographers. Additionally, Dance Canvas was envisioned to create relatable professional dance experiences and new dance patrons in the Atlanta area. Ms. Harris has developed youth dance and career development programs for the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs; recording artist, Usher’s New Look Foundation, and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. She is a member of Emerging Arts Leaders of Atlanta, and most recently received the 2011 Emerging Leader Award from Americans for the Arts.

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Ms. Harris is a choreographer, dancer, and a graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts. Ms. Harris received her dance training at Dance Theater of Harlem, School of the Hartford Ballet, and The Eglevsky Ballet. She attended Mercyhurst College and City College of New York, earning a B.A. in Journalism, while on full ballet scholarship at Steps on Broadway. Ms. Harris danced professionally with Georgia Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, and Urban Ballet Theater in NYC. Ms. Harris’ Atlanta theatre performance credits include Sophisticated Ladies and Degas’ Little Dancer (u/s) at the Tony award-winning Alliance Theatre. She also was a principal in Jasmine Guy’s production of “Daughters of Alpha” in New Orleans. Ms. Harris is on faculty of Dekalb School for the Arts, Academy of Ballet and guest instructor/choreographer at colleges and studios across the country.

Ashleyanne, a native of Cleveland, Tennessee received her training from numerous prestigious ballet schools including North Carolina Dance Theatre, Nashville Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and Ballet West, among other prestigious schools. Before joining The Georgia Ballet in 2005, Ashleyanne spent three years pursuing a BFA in Ballet at Belhaven University where she also jumpstarted her costume/dancewear design career. Her work has been recognized nationally at Youth America Grand Prix, featured in Dance Magazine and The Chicago Tribune, and has received awards at national competitions. Ashleyanne has enjoyed working with choreographer Janusz Mazon in costume creations for A Young Dancer’s Guide to the Orchestra, Pinocchio, Enigmatic Tangos, and Prelude Pictures while also creating unique pieces for Swirling Soiree choreographers.

Abby began her formal training at the age of twelve with the School of North Carolina Dance Theatre. There, she studied under Patricia McBride, Mark Diamond, and Kathy Moriarty and later was appointed an apprentice, performing in many works with the company. At age eighteen, Abby was awarded a full tuition scholarship for Pacific Northwest Ballet School’s professional division and later a fellowship with the Atlanta Ballet. Abby currently dances with the Georgia Ballet, and her favorite roles include Rhythm Girl in Balanchine’s Who Cares, lead in Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie, and Turquoise Fairy in Janusz Mazon’s Pinocchio.

Katie Stull received her early training at the Academy of Ballet Arts in Marietta. Her training includes programs at Joffrey Ballet School, Orlando Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. She continued dancing at Texas Christian University where she had the opportunity to perform in original works by Fernando Bujones and was able to present several pieces of her own choreography. Katie graduated summa cum laude from TCU with a BFA in Ballet and News-Editorial Journalism. After college, Katie joined The Georgia Ballet where she has danced for seven seasons. She has performed in productions including Giselle, La Sylphide, Sleeping Beauty, The Firebird, and George Balanchine’s Serenade and Valse Fantasie. Katie has created five dances for Georgia Ballet’s “Swirling Soirée,” a performance that features local emerging choreographers. She was also chosen to choreograph original pieces for Dance Canvas’ series “Introducing the Next Generation” and “pARTy For Art.” Katie is on the teaching staffs at Dance Stop Studios and Cartersville School of Ballet.In addition to dancing and choreographing, Katie is an Editorial Assistant at Atlanta PlanIt, Atlanta’s most comprehensive arts and culture online calendar.

Victoria first started training in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She studied with Oklahoma Performing Arts for sixteen years. She focused on many forms including ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatic, singing and acting. Victoria after graduating high school moved to Salt Lake City to attend the University of Utah where she received merit scholarships. Ms. Norman was a member of Utah Ballet and Character Dance Ensemble, both being the campus companies. She had the opportunity there to train in teaching and choreography. In May 2010 Victoria graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts, her main focus being ballet. She has performed with several companies including Tulsa Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, The Georgia Ballet, and for a period of time she was the principal performer at Yakov’s Moscow Circus; in addition, this past summer Victoria was lead dancer in Legacy Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Sarah Pettine is a former competition dancer from Acworth, GA where she studied jazz, tap, ballet, point, lyrical, contemporary, pilates, clogging, and hip hop for 13 years. During her competition time she received many awards for her tap and lyrical solos including the “Fastest Feet” award along with being placed in many top over-all awards. She was given the “Trend Setters” scholarship from Celebrity Dance Competition and was featured in their news letter for standing out in the crowd for her love of dance. She also was given the lead role of Cinderella in 2010 at Centre Stage School of Dance and won the audiences over. Since she started dancing at age 4 she wanted to be a dance teacher. So, after graduating in 2010, she jumped right in to her dream and back in the competition circuit with her own dances. Winning three choreography awards within her first year of teaching. Teaching and sharing her love for dance has been some of Sarah’s proudest moments as she watches her students grow into beautiful dancers.

Christen Weimer began dancing at the age of 16, with an extensive background in rhythmic gymnastics. During high school, she received the majority of her training in the pre-professional division of Atlanta Ballet while spending summers at dance intensives such as the Rock School, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, the Juilliard School, and in France at L’Ecole Superieur de danse de Rosella Hightower. Christen spent her freshman year of college as a ballet major at Indiana University, where she studied under the direction of Violette Verdi, Suzie Pillars, and Jacques and Virginia Cesbron. After a year of intense classical training, Christen transferred to Barnard College, Columbia University in Manhattan. Studying under the direction of Mary Cochran, Allegra Kent, Barbara Sandanato, and Sabrina Pillars, Christen graduated with a Dance minor and Psychology major. Upon college graduation, Christen furthered her training in Chicago at Hubbard Street as well as at Rivernorth. She also spent a year in Atlanta training and teaching at Atlanta Ballet, and at Dance 101.

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Recently, Christen performed with Brooks and Company dance as a company member, was featured in Outkast’s music video Trans DF Express in 2002, & assisted Dennis Rodman as a rhythmic gymnastics coach in 2005 in a Golden Palace Casino Commercial. Christen is a certified yoga teacher through the Mind Body Dancer^TM Teacher Training directed by TaraMarie Perri, & is honored to have recently completed her MFA in Dance Performance at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University. At NYU, she had the pleasure of performing works by Deborah Jowitt, Gus Solomons Jr., & Lucinda Childs, while studying under Cherylyn Lavagnino, Phyllis Lamhut, Kay Cummings, James Martin, Patricia Beaman, James Sutton, Lynn Martin, Joy Kellman, Pamelo Pietro, & Renee Redding-Jones. Upon graduating from Tisch, Christen moved to Pittsburgh to perform with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet, & work as a dance instructor and choreographer at Act One Theatre School. While in Pittsburgh, she was also honored to work as an adjunct professor of dance at La Roche College & set a new work on the dance majors for the 2012 La Roche College Spring Gala. Christen is excited to come back to Atlanta, & her roots, as she joins the Kennesaw State University Dance Department as a Professor of Contemporary Dance beginning in August of 2012.

Caroline Laubacher Simpkins trained for 13 years at The Georgia Ballet School and joined their professional company upon high school graduation. During her seven seasons at The Georgia Ballet, Caroline worked closely with choreographer Janusz Mazon and created lead roles in several of his ballets: A Young Dancer’s Guide to the Orchestra, Firebird, and A Sleepy Hollow Story. She also danced featured roles in Giselle, Balanchine's Serenade, Paquita, and The Sleeping Beauty. Caroline taught at The Georgia Ballet School for four years and is currently in her third year teaching for the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. Academically, Caroline graduated summa cum laude from Kennesaw State University with a degree in Exercise & Health Science and recently completed a year of graduate studies at Georgia Tech’s School of Applied Physiology. Now a freelance artist, Caroline has enjoyed performing with Dance Canvas for the past two years as well as working as a ballet dancer for other projects in the Atlanta area.

Jennifer grew up in Richardson, Texas and developed a love of dancing, teaching, and choreographing during her training at the Tuzer Ballet. She has performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, Texture Contemporary Ballet in Pittsburgh, and the Colorado Ballet where she is currently a member of the studio company. She has also studied voice and theatre and is a student at Collin College in Texas. Jennifer teaches ballet locally in Denver and is the founding director of Dancescape Designs.

Lindsey Archer is from Charlotte, NC, where she received her dance training in jazz, tap, modern, and Cecchetti Ballet. She graduated with her Masters of Art in Dance Theories and Practice from the Univeristy of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelors of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Currently, Lindsey lives in Atlanta, GA and is an Instructor of Dance at Kennesaw State University.

Kristin began her dance training with Praise in Motion, a non-profit Christian ministry in Lilburn, GA. She also studied at the Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts under Kathy Thibodeaux and at The Georgia Ballet School under Iris Hensley and Gina Hyatt-Mazon. She went on to perform as a member of the Georgia Ballet’s professional company for 5 seasons, while simultaneously earning a B.S. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. She also enjoyed a semester abroad at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, where she studied Mexican history, culture, and folk dance. Kristin now works as a guest teacher and performer in the Metro Atlanta, while she devotes most of her time to her husband, son, and two cats.

As the founder of Bluebird: uncaged (www.bluebirduncaged.com), Rebekah's passion is to bring hope and dignity through dance. She received her BA in communications from Thomas Edison State College and is currently an independent artist. Rebekah began her training at Sawnee School of Ballet under Joan Kall Stewart and continued with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. She has been a guest artist with Telluride Dance Academy (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Gotta Dance Contemporary in the premiere of Remove the Ego and The Naked Truth. With Atlanta Ballet, Rebekah has performed in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Pinocchio. Rebekah's choreographic work includes Roses, a collaboration with composer William Hunt. Her piece, Beautiful Things, inspired the Beautiful Things Project and was performed in Atlanta Ballet's pre-professional division's spring concert. She is currently working on the second installment of this project.

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As a teacher, Rebekah seeks to instill the life skills of confidence and excellence in the next generation through a mentoring a coaching approach. She teaches for the West End Performing Arts Center as part of Atlanta Ballet's community programs as well as Still Pointe Studios, East Side School of Ballet, and AB's enrollment division. This summer, Rebekah will be traveling to Panama with Bluebird to serve the local community through workshops and performances. In her spare time, Rebekah enjoys blogging (www.rebekah.diaddigo.com), hand-embroidery, and spending time with her family.

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Carrie is originally from Augusta, Georgia, and began her formal dance training under Ron and Kathleen Jones. Throughout her childhood, she was invited to attend many different summer intensives including, The Atlanta Ballet, The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Kaatsbaan, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. When Carrie was fifteen she decided to leave home to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts as a full time high school student ballet student. While at UNCSA, she had the privilege of studying under Ethan Stiefel, Nigel Burley, and Warren Conover. Upon graduation, Carrie became a trainee for Nashville Ballet, but found herself wanting to pursue a college education. Carrie is currently a double majoring in Dance and Exercise and Health Science at Kennesaw State University, and is a proud member of the Kennesaw State University Dance Company.

Amanda George joined the Department of Dance at Kennesaw State University as their office manager/advisor in September 2012. She is a 2002 magna cum laude graduate of Converse College with a B.F.A. in Creative/Professional Writing and a minor in Dance. This fall, she will defend her thesis titled "Poetry as Therapy" to successfully complete her M.F.A. in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Poetry from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Amanda is an active performer with credits including roles as "Sarah" in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, "Jellylorum/Griddlebone" in CATS, "Sammy Porter Wallace" in First Baptist of Ivy Gap, and "Featured Dancer" in Footloose, where she met her husband, Kyle.

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She choreographs productions for local middle and high schools, including Annie, Jr. and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. With her writing, she is the 2008 Hub City Writers Project Poetry winner, has had several poems published in Concept – A Literary Journal, and had a poem commissioned by the Etowah High School Chorus in 2009. In her free time, Amanda and her husband enjoy running, shag dancing, and spending time with family.

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Jennifer Clark
Brooke Doss
Caroline Fagan
Hanna Fitzgerald
Emmie Graham
Christopher Hall
Madeleine Harris
Mandi Mpezo
Leslie Parker
Joshua Schadl
Will Vanmeter

Joey Smith
Andre Lumpkin

Dancescape Designs is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing the arts and nature into the lives of children. We work to help communities create natural spaces for children to express themselves through music and dance. We believe that a happy child is one with dirt on her knees, paint on her hands, and leaves in her hair. The people at Dancescape Designs help to ensure that every child has this experience and strive to instill a deep appreciation for the arts and for the natural world in all children.

Katie Ging Photography

Scott Nilsson Photography

Richard Calmes Photography

Ashleyanne Fashion Design and Dancewear

Ashleyanne, a native of Cleveland, Tennessee received her training from numerous prestigious ballet schools including North Carolina Dance Theatre, Nashville Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and Ballet West, among other prestigious schools. Before joining The Georgia Ballet in 2005, Ashleyanne spent three years pursuing a BFA in Ballet at Belhaven University where she also jumpstarted her costume/dancewear design career. Her work has been recognized nationally at Youth America Grand Prix, featured in Dance Magazine and The Chicago Tribune, and has received awards at national competitions. Ashleyanne has enjoyed working with choreographer Janusz Mazon in costume creations for A Young Dancer’s Guide to the Orchestra, Pinocchio, Enigmatic Tangos, and Prelude Pictures while also creating unique pieces for Swirling Soiree choreographers.

Gant Services is a metro-Atlanta based consulting firm founded in 2011 by David Gant. Our aim is to draw on real-world experience and proven solutions in a variety of areas, including website design, non-profit operations, Salesforce.com administration, and business processes, to meet the needs of small to medium businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals. We accomplish this goal by following a simple process of Listen | Design | Build.

Lume is looking for professional dance companies and independent performing artists to participate in upcoming project-based shows. All genres of dance are welcome to join!

Performers should take into account space limitations and various flooring. Choreography, costumes, and music all must be appropriate for the audience of that particular location.

If you are interested in performing or having your company or students perform, please contact us for more information.

Lume is looking for dance instructors with experience in teaching special needs students, preschool-age students, or adult and senior students.

Lume is also interested in passionate teachers or teaching interns who wish to gain more experience in instructing physically diverse dance classes.

If you are interested in teaching or co-teaching our unique student community, please contact us for more information.

Do you know of a community or healthcare facility that would benefit from Lume’s services?

If so, please contact us, and we can collaborate on available performance/teaching space and scheduling.