Lisa Orig, creative director
Creative Director, Upside-Down Dance, BA Dance with an emphasis in Performance/Choreography from The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, MFA Dance from The University of Hawaii Manoa with an emphasis in biomechanics. Dynamic Dancer: Kinesthetic Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Spine and Trunk, Dynamic Dancer: Kinesthetic Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Limbs with Irene Dowd. Owner of Upside-Down Pilates, LLC located in Chinatown Honolulu. upside-down pilates hawaii (www.upsidedownpilates.com
Christina Comfort, dancer
Christina began her dance training at 11 at the Diane Medeiros Academy of Dance in Pennsylvania. She earned a minor in dance at Connecticut College, where she had the opportunity to study with CC’s renowned faculty and to participate in many workshops with the Paul Taylor Company, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and David Dorfman Dance, and others. She moved to Hawaii in 2009 to pursue her graduate degree and career in oceanography, and currently dances with Upside-Down Dance and Convergence Dance Theater in Honolulu. When she’s not dancing, she’s usually found surfing and diving in the beautiful Pacific. Christina is thrilled to perform with Upside Down Dance for the first time!
Nicole Young, dancer
In addition to being a part of Upside-Down Dance, Nicole Young performs aerial work with Samadhi Hawai’i, modern dance with Iona Contemporary Dance Theater, and hula on the Navatek. She attended the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, earning a a BFA in Dance and a BA in Psychology. Nicole also teaches jazz, tumbling, cheerleading, and creative movement at The Movement Center. Her other creative outlet is watercolor painting; so if you are interested…send her an e-mail at nicoley@hawaii.rr.com.
Malia Yamamoto, dancer
Malia is another starving artist. She received her BFA in dance from UH Manoa. In addition to Upside-Down Dance, she has performed in shows with Tau Dance Theater, Honolulu Dance Theatre, Convergence Dance, Kumu Kahua Theater, and the Hawaii Opera Theater. Support the arts!
Shannon Yamamoto, dancer
Shannon Yamamoto has been dancing since the age of three and has studied under the School of the Honolulu Dance Theatre, Queen Emma Ballet, the Mid-Pacific School of the Arts (MPSA), and the University of Hawai’i at Manoa (UHM). She graduated from the MPSA Dance Certificate Program, with IB Diploma honors, in the spring of 2005. Ms. Yamamoto is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theater and Dance at UHM. Most recently Shannon has had the honor of being a pre/beginning ballet teacher for Premiere Steps and the Mid-Pacific Institute, and also working as rehearsal director for the UHM Dance Ensemble.
Adealani Gerkewicz, dancer
Marisol Garcia, dancer
Jeff Orig, filmmaker, photographer
He is currently producing and directing 2 TV shows on OC16: www.HawaiiRealEstateReport.com and www.UpsideDownPilates.com He is also working on a couple more TV and web projects that are coming soon. Check out his website at www.OrigMedia.com