BARE DANCE COMPANY is a collective of multifaceted artists who collaborate to create dimensional, boundary-pushing work while embracing diverse lives that sustain and enrich our artistry. We believe that a thriving creative practice is rooted in a balance of movement, exploration, and lived experience, allowing us to bring depth, authenticity, and innovation to the stage and beyond.

Sam Assemany, of South Lyon, MI, studied her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at Western Michigan University. In 2015 she moved to New York City, NY as a freelance artist. Since residing in NY, she’s had the opportunity to work for various artists including NOW Dance Project, Shawn Bible Dance Co., Jolt Dance Project, Loose Kanon Dance, Chris Ralph, and Alma Collective. Sam is currently dancing for BARE Dance Company, Michelle Ulerich, and Jaclyn Walsh, and has performed in several New York based shows including Bryant Park Presents: Contemporary Dance, hosted by ITE Dance, and the Mr. Abbott Awards. In 2021, Sam attended Dance Italia on scholarship where she worked closely with artists Sandra Garcia, Stefano De Luca, Milan Kampfer, amongst others, and she performed work by Maya Orchin at the Real Collegio in Lucca, Italy.

Tiffanie Carson, MFA, (she/her) is an educator, mentor and performance artist. She is originally from southern California and is a longtime company member of 18 years with BARE Dance Company. She is also in her 13th season as Assistant Director and Company Dancer with contemporary modern company, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists. In addition to her performing career, Tiffanie has been teaching in academia for the past 12 years as an Auxiliary Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance at the Conservatory at Shenandoah University where she was awarded the Transformative Teaching Award in May 2020 and the James R. and Mary B. Wilkins Appreciation Award in May 2024. She is also honored to be adjunct faculty at Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University where she teaches contemporary and commercial styles.

Casey Kitazumi is a New York based dancer, educator and choreographer. She grew up dancing in California where she trained in multiple different styles. Casey has danced with several different companies in the Bay Area including Cabaret San Jose, ArcTangent, PERSpectives Dance Company and Peninsula Ballet Theater. She has guest taught at numerous institutions and judged at competitions statewide. She received her BFA in dance from San Jose State University, where she first met and trained with Mike Esperanza as well as other artists such as Kyle Abraham /AIM, Andrea Miller with Gallim, Sean Dorsey Dance and Doug Varone and Dancers. She is currently a freelance artist who has had the opportunity to work with Alex Mitchell, Alma Collective, BARE Dance Company, Camryn Brothers, and Jaclyn Walsh since moving to New York in 2023. 

Sarah Housepian joined BARE Dance Company in 2011. Originally from Southern California, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from California State University of Fullerton. On the West Coast, Housepian collaborated with Fuse Dance Company, BARE Dance Company (California), and Vision’s Dance Theater. Her repertoire includes works by Colin Connor and José Limón. In New York City, she has engaged with Battery Dance Company, Brian Brooks Moving Company, YY Dance Company (Yin Yue), Michelle Thompson Ulerich, Erica Essner Performance Co-Op, Indelible Dance, 10 Hairy Legs Projects, NOW Dance Project, Robert Mark Dance, Shawn Bible Dance Co, Gabrielle Lamb, Spark Movement Collective, Rutkay Ozpinar, Dolly Sfeir, Ana Maria Lucaciu, Tsai-Hsi Hung, Christopher Núnez, Tadej Brdnik, and Julia Ehrstrand. Housepian has toured, performed, and conducted workshops in Germany, Bulgaria, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Bulgaria, Spain, Israel, Palestinian Territories, India, Honduras, France, Mexico, and Canada. 

Brooklyn based Clinton Edward (he/they) is a choreographer, writer, actor, educator, and creator who has been performing and teaching professionally since he was 16. After receiving a BFA in Dance (choreography concentration) from Marymount Manhattan College, they went on to perform in multiple dance companies nationally and internationally. Original cast and dance captain of Queen of the Night (off Broadway), founder of an immersive events company, and Associate Choreographer on multiple new creations are some of his previous job titles. Most recently he was associate choreographer for the Met Gala (headliner- Ariana Grande), the changeover choreographer for a show on Virgin Voyages, and associate choreographer for Urinetown at City Center Encores. They are on faculty at STEPS on Broadway and currently trying to finish multiple scripts. www.clintonedward.com

Erin Love is a freelance artist in NYC. Originally from Hawaii, she trained at Honolulu Dance Theater and at Mid Pacific Institute School of the Arts in Honolulu. She earned a BA in History from Whittier College before returning to Hawaii to become a dance educator. Since moving to NYC she has danced in and collaborated with many companies and artists including Dalit Ahava & Dancers, Robert Mark Dance, Shawn Bible Dance Co., Bom Diggs, The Wolfe Project, Metaphors & Similes, and TREES collective. Erin has been a company member of BARE Dance Company since 2012. She is grateful to have continued to work with BARE, and many other artists over her career.

Erica Magaru began her dance training at the age of three in the Chicago suburbs. She is currently studying at Western Michigan University earning a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor's of Science in Exercise Science. She has had the privilege of performing notable works by Christa Smutek, Mike Esperanza, Jae Man Joo, Teri Lewis, Kia Smith, Kelsey Paschich, and Jeremy Blair during her time at WMU. She was also a member, and later on choreographer, of the touring company, Western Dance Project. She is actively involved in student dance organizations, serving as President of Orchesis Dance Society and co-creator/co-director of Move ‘n’ Groove improvisation organization. Erica has attended several summer intensives including Visceral Dance Summer Intensive, Northwest Dance Project Summer Platform, and Vim Vigor Summer Intensive. Erica is grateful and excited for the opportunity to perform with BARE Company in New York this summer.

Graziella Murdocca is a freelance artist, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She graduated from Hunter College with her Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Dance. While at Hunter, Graziella trained with Jana Feinman, Gerald Otte, Alberto Del Saz, Maura Nguyen Donohue, David Capps, Wendell Cooper, Vicky Shick and more. After college, she went on to work with Amirov Dance Theater, Nicholas Andre Dance, The Next Stage Project, Shawn Bible Dance Company, Depth Dance and Urban | Tribe. Aside from concert work, she has also marched as a costume character for several years in The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 2016, she received her Comprehensive Pilates Certification to help further her understanding of the body as a mover and jumpstart her career as an Instructor. Currently, she’s dancing for BARE Dance Company and teaching pilates all over NYC. 

MARC NUÑEZ (he/him) is a queer Filipinx-American, NYC-based choreographer and dancer. Professionally, Marc has danced for Rihanna, Todrick Hall, Donald McKayle's Etude Ensemble, Mike Esperanza's BARE Dance Company, Entity Contemporary Dance, and played roles in musicals including Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan (international tour), Disney's Newsies, and Cabaret. Marc has choreographed for the 2024 Paris Olympics (Nymphia Wind Cultural Olympiad), Lysistrata Jones (Marymount Manhattan College), The Wizard of Oz and Sweeney Todd (Media Theatre). Marc is founder and director of Gotham Dance Theater (est. 2015), adjunct faculty at Marymount Manhattan College, and also a popular dance and fitness instructor at Mark Morris Dance Center and multiple Crunch Fitness locations throughout New York City. Marc holds a BFA in Dance Performance with Excellence in Choreography from the University of California, Irvine. Marc is a member of Actors Equity and represented by CESD Talent Agency. MarcNunez.com IG @_MarcNunez

Natalie Parker (she/her) began her formal training at Accent On Dance Studios in Waukesha, WI, where she continued throughout high school. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance at Western Michigan University. Under the WMU Department of Dance, she studies ballet, jazz, and modern technique. Natalie was selected for the department’s 2025–2026 touring ensemble, Western Dance Project. She has had the opportunity to perform works by faculty members Kelsey Paschich, Jeremy Blair, guest professor Mike Esperanza, and a duet by Carolyn Pavlik and Yacov Sharir, as well as guest artists Kimberly Cooper of Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and Christa Smutek. In August 2024, she danced as a guest artist with Nova Linea Contemporary Dance in The Grind, choreographed by Jared Baker. Entering her senior year at WMU, Natalie is excited to continue growing as an artist and step into the next chapter of her journey.

KATRINA QUAGLIANO was born in Imperial Beach, California, and received her classical ballet training at the Ballet Conservatory of Chula Vista under the direction of Paz Soriano. In 2012, she graduated with Magna Cum Laude, Latin Honors, and the Claire Trevor School of the Arts Honors Award from the University of California, Irvine obtaining a BFA in Dance (specializing in Performance) and a BA in Psychology and Social Behavior. Since moving to NYC in the fall of 2012, she has had the privilege of dancing for Mike Esperanza & BARE Dance Company, Ashely King, Awakening Movement Dance Company and Philadelphia based choreographer, Megan Flynn. Katrina feels truly blessed to have a loving family who support, motivate, and inspire her life's endeavors.

Katelyn Yeskie is a current BFA Dance Major at Western Michigan University, planning to graduate in the spring of 2026. Originally from Southeast Michigan, Katelyn grew up training at local dance studios until she decided to further her training at WMU. Throughout the past three years, she has been fortunate to work with and perform in works by Christa Smutek, Mike Esperanza, Jae Man Joo, Kia Smith, Seyong Kim, Jeremy Blair, Kaitlin Pullock, and more. Yeskie has performed at various venues, notably including the Detroit Opera House and Georgetown University’s GondaTheater. During the 2023-24 academic year, Katelyn danced as a member of Western Dance Project, WMU Dance’s very own pre-professional dance company. Yeskie had her first professional debut in August 2024 alongside the company members of Nova LineaContemporary Dance under the direction of Jared Baker. Upon graduation, Katelyn dreams of moving to New York City to further develop her career as a professional dancer and performer.