MDance

Amelia Golembiewski is an arts professional based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a classically trained ballet dancer in the Vaganova Method and with more than twenty years of experience, she danced numerous soloist and principal roles with the Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre. Amelia received pre-professional training at CAS Ballet Theatre School under the direction of Carol Radovic and attended American Ballet Theater and Bossov Ballet summer intensives. After returning to dance after the birth of her son, she taught dancers of all ages and abilities at the Russian Ballet Theatre School in Ypsilanti and continued her own training under the direction of Kathy Scharp. Amelia is deeply committed to fostering community through the arts, serving as a board member and backstage producer of Thurston Community Players, and is a certified K-12 Visual Arts educator. Previously, she developed and coordinated educational visual arts programming and taught art classes at a non-profit art center where her love of community arts initiatives grew. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and being creative.

Leah’s choreography, often playful, haunting, and surreal, has been seen at American Dance Festival, Global Women Performing Arts Festival (Korea), Inspired Dance Festival (Australia), Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, ACDA, and Michigan Museum of Natural History, among others. She won Best Choreography at the 2022 Detroit Dance City Festival, and was a 2020 Maggie Alessee Choreography Award Finalist. Leah was an artist-in-residence at Greywood Arts in Ireland where she also studied Body Weather with Frank van de Ven.

She has taught courses and workshops in and around New York City, as well as at Wayne State University, University of Michigan, and Detroit Opera Theater. Most recently, she choreographed a performance for the Museum of Contemporary Detroit’s Annual Gala and was a guest artist at Wayne State University.

Leah holds an MFA from the University of Michigan. ​

Julia Discenza is an Ann Arbor-based dance artist and filmmaker. She holds a B.A. in Biology and Dance from Barnard College, Columbia University. She received additional training at Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, Dance Italia, b12, and Springboard Danse Montreal, where she collaborated on a new work with Shannon Gillen of VIM|VIGOR. She has performed with Gibney Dance Company, Colleen Thomas, NobleMotion Dance (Houston, TX), nathantrice/RITUALS Dance Theater, Pilobolus Dance Theater, Bryan Arias’ ARIAS Company, Soluq Dance Theater, Gregory Dolbashian’s DASH Ensemble, Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup, Nicole Von Arx/NVA & Guests, MICHIYAYA, Mary John Frank and Trainor Dance. As a choreographer and movement director, she has created movement for dance films and music videos, and is currently the choreographer for the forthcoming feature-length film VESTIBULE. As a filmmaker, Julia specializes in cinematography that uses movement as its main language, working in the magical worlds of dance films, music videos, and creative documentaries. Among her video clients are Gallim Dance Company, New York City Ballet, Raja Feather Kelly, Sleep No More, and Baryshnikov Arts Center. Her work can be found at juliadiscenza.com.

Tamara Tucker-Ibarisha is an artist and instructor who has a passion for movement, rhythm, and cultural tradition. With over two decades of dedicated study and performance, she has immersed herself in the vibrant traditions of Congolese dance, music, and drumming under the masterful direction of Biza Sompa as a core member of the Bichini Bia Congo Dance Theater Company and the co-founder of the Bala Ba Congo Children’s Company. Her training also includes West and East (Kenyan) African dance styles, which she brings to bear in her creative work as one of the founders and artistic directors for the Rhythm Reclaimed Collective’s Kinkulu, a dance company that explores various styles of the African Diaspora from the foundation of Congolese dance.

Kiana “KC” Cook is an artist and cultural producer rooted in Hip Hop and several street dances such as Krump, Breaking, House, and Footwork. She received an MFA in Dance from the University of Michigan in 2026. KC has presented, curated events, performed as an emcee and dancer, taught, choreographed, and participated in street dance battles in over ten countries. She is a member of the Chicago-based street dance collective, BraveSoul Movement.

Ms. Serita Ibarra-Leonard is a dynamic dancer, drummer, and rhythm facilitator with more than 20 years of performance experience, bringing energy, joy, and cultural connection to every stage she graces. A longtime performer with Bichini Bia Congo Dance Theater Company, a Congolese-African dance and drum ensemble based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she has dedicated her career to celebrating the rich traditions and vibrant spirit of African dance and music.

As the founder of DrummaSphere LLC, Ms. Serita creates interactive rhythm experiences that inspire community, wellness, and self-expression through drumming. She is also the co-founder of Rhythm Reclaimed Collective, a woman-owned collective that cultivates connection through dance, culture, and shared creative experiences. She also performs as a dancer and drummer with Kinkulu Performing Arts, continuing to share the power of movement and rhythm with audiences of all ages.