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Orchesis Dance Company
| Orchesis Dance Company is a modern based group of talented dancers and performers. Orchesis is committed to providing dancers and movers with a home and a place in which to challenge their creativity and broaden their view of art. Not only does Orchesis allow a place to dance but it also gives students a creative outlet. The company has an annual spring performance, Dancers in Flight, which all company members are invited to share their choreography. In the off-season, the organization brings in guest artists to teach master classes which range from musical theatre, ballet, hip-hop, flamenco, yoga, and the always highly anticipated, African drum classes. Orchesis Dance Company also takes part in the continuing growth of Texas State University and the San Marcos community. Volunteering, donating, and sponsoring scholarships are among the company’s activities. Auditions for Orchesis Dance Company are held in the fall. For more information about Orchesis Dance Company email orchesisdancecompany@yahoo.com or contact Artistic Director, Samantha Furry at sf1104@txstate.edu. |  |
Orchesis Officers
Historian
Amanda Wilsterman started dance at the age of two. She was involved in competitive companies at her studio for 11 years and won numerous awards. She also participated in drill team for four years. Amanda has taught dance classes to age groups 3-4 and 5-6 and was an assistant choreographer for children’s portion of the Nutcracker hosted by Moscow Ballet Company in 2003. At Texas State University Amanda has been a devoted member of Orchesis Dance Company for two years and performed with them in dancers in Flight (2006 and 2007). She was also the Stage Manager for Choreographers Showcase in the spring of 2007 and was in three pieces during the Choreographers Showcase summer show 2007. Amanda will receive her teaching certification in dance and go on to pursue a career in Movement Therapy.Company Manager
Like most little girls, Nina Guerra dreamed of being a dancer but unlike most dancers, didn’t start her training until she was seventeen years old. She began her training learning how to dance salsa and merengue and it wasn’t long before she auditioned and became a part of a Latin dance company at Fiesta Texas called Ronnie and the Latin Combo. At the request of her boss, Nina began technical training in ballet, jazz and modern and loved it so much that after two grueling years of dancing in the hot sun, she left the combo and continued her training full time. At 20, she began dancing with the San Antonio College Dance Expressions club and after a few months, auditioned and began dancing for the San Antonio Talons Semi-professional dance team in 2002. Shortly after, the team folded but Nina continued dancing and after a few months of extensive training under Annette Flores at the Theresa Champion Dance Academy, auditioned for the San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancers. In the 2003-2004 season, Nina was picked out of the 160 plus girls to join the team that year. After her season with the Spurs, Nina danced with one more Latin company called Con Sabor (with flavor) and continued dancing with Dance Expressions until she transferred to Texas State University and began her career with the Orchesis Dance Company and the Texas State Dance Department in 2006. This year, she was asked to come on board as the Company Manager for Orchesis and continues to dance for the department as well. Financial Director
Amanda Langan is the Financial Director of Orchesis Dance Company. She began dancing when she was four years old at D’Ette and Company Dancers in Austin, learning ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and pointe. Amanda became a member of her studio’s dance company, Rhythm Force when she was seven. In the performing company Amanda attended many dance conventions and competitions. She has competed in group dances, trio, duets and solos. Amanda became a member of the James Bowie High School Silver Stars dance team. After high school she continued to take dance classes at D’Ette and Company Dancers, Tapestry Dance Company and at Texas State University. Amanda joined Orchesis Dance Company in 2006. In summer 2007 Amanda took a Hawkins Intensive and became a member of Texas Association of Teachers of Dance by passing her test in jazz.Assistant Artistic Director
Brenda Porta was born in Houston and raised in Florida and Honduras. She moved to Austin 4 years ago to pursue a degree in Dance and Education at Texas State University. She was a member of Orchesis in 2006- 2007. She received a scholarship from Texas State in May of 2007. Brenda has been part of Blue Lapis Light Ariel Dance Company for Requiem (2006), Constellations (2007), where nothing falls (2007) and Illumination (2007). She has taken her work to different dance festivals such as Dance Umbrella’s 10 Min. Max. Now she is currently collaborating with various artists on taking the visual arts to Central America summer 2008. Artistic Director
Samantha Furry grew up watching her mother dance and move and her budding interest soon bloomed into a deep passion. With experience in jazz, hip hop, and modern, Samantha considered a profession in dance after her time spent on her high school’s drill team. There, she was able to work with such talents as Lori Murillo and Alison Weglehoft. Samantha felt further encouragement after placing as a solo semi-finalist in the 2004 American Dance Team Contest with her own choreography. Currently, Samantha is finishing a degree in dance at Texas State University where she has developed a love of the Hawkins technique and has had the chance to study under and dance with LeAnne Smith-Stedman, Kaysie Seitz-Brown, Michelle Nance, and Tammy Fife. She is also a member of the Shay Ishii Dance Company in Austin, Texas. Recently, she was named the Artistic Director of Orchesis Dance Company at Texas State where she will spearhead many choreographic projects and community works. Samantha’s hope is to move on to receive her master’s degree in dance to someday teach at the university level and direct a professional company.