The Artists of Kanopy Dance Company are highly gifted dancers with richly diverse backgrounds from around the country.
Miye Bishop, Company Dancer
Miye Bishop, on sabbatical, began her dance journey in her hometown of Hiroshima, Japan, and continued her training in the United States under the guidance of her father, John Bishop, at Northwest Ballet Academy. She furthered her studies at Ballet Bellevue with Victoria Titova, International Ballet Academy under Vera Altunina, summers at American Ballet Theatre, and Dance Open in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In her 7 years with Kanopy Dance Company, Bishop has performed leading roles in a wide range of contemporary and classical works. Her repertoire includes Moonlight in Views of the Fleeting World by Pascal Rioult, the Bride in Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring, and Weather in the Room by Colin Connor. She has also been featured as a soloist in several premieres, including Lloyd Knight’s Commune, Blakeley White-McGuire’s These Worlds in Us, Daniel Fetecua Soto’s Rejoice, and Tadej Brdnik’s The Moment.
Her performance career also includes work with Northwest Ballet Theatre, Ballet Bellevue, Bellingham Repertory Dance, and appearances with Pacific Northwest Opera, Seattle Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Madison Opera, Dance Wisconsin, and Dance at Delafield.
She is a faculty member at Kanopy Dance Academy, teaching in both the youth and adult programs. In addition to her dance instruction, she is a certified yoga and fitness instructor, bringing a well-rounded approach to movement, strength, and wellness.
Carolyn Fitzgibbons, Company Dancer
Carolyn Fitzgibbons (Ozark, Missouri) fell in love with dance growing up backstage at the Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes®. At the age of three, she began training at Ozark Dance Academy under Julia Alderman. She performed alongside the Russian Moscow Ballet, appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and was recognized as an All-American by the Universal Dance Association. Carolyn continued her training at Kansas State University, earning degrees in Theatre and Kinesiology.
After completing a master’s degree in Eastern Medicine, Carolyn joined Kanopy Dance in 2021. She has performed with Madison Opera, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and been featured as the Pioneer Woman in Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring Suite. Outside the studio, she has worked as a Color Guard Instructor and Visual Effects Specialist, presenting at the Wisconsin Music Educators Association Conference. Currently, Carolyn owns a medical practice specializing in acupuncture, bodywork, and herbal medicine.
Stormy Gaylord, Company Dancer
Stormy Gaylord began her dance training at Laguna Dance Theatre in Mission Viejo,
California. She graduated magna cum laude from California State University, Fullerton
with a B.A. in Dance in 2018. While at CSUF, she studied Ballet, Horton, Graham, and
Limón techniques. As a dancer in CSUF’s repertory company, Stormy worked with
guest choreographers Bryn Cohn, Jessica Kondrath, and Colin Connor. Post-
graduation, Stormy danced in Southern California as a freelance artist, company
member in Re:borN Dance Interactive and FUSE Dance Company, cast member in
numerous Disneyland parades, and performer in the Teatro Martini Dinner Theatre.
In 2021, she had the honor of joining the dance faculty at California State University,
Fullerton teaching ballet. Continuing her education, Stormy earned her 200-Hour Power
Yoga Certification, a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication, and certificate in Web Design from University of Florida. In 2022, Stormy became a company dancer with
Kanopy Dance Company.
Hannah King, Company Dancer
Hannah King is originally from Seattle, WA, where she started her early dance training under the guidance of Anne Green Gilbert with Kaleidoscope Dance Company and Marie Chong with Arc School of Ballet. In 2015, she received her B.F.A. in Dance from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. After college, she taught dance for Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland and performed with the Metropolitan Ballet Ensemble. When she is not dancing, Hannah works as the Senior Program Manager of Risk Adjustment at Quartz Health Benefits. She enjoys cooking, playing card games, and being out and about in Madison. Hannah has been performing with Kanopy Dance Company since 2017.
Edward Salas, Company Dancer
Edward Salas (Covina, CA), began dancing at the age of 19 while earning his AA in Theater Arts from Mt. San Antonio College. He later earned his B.A. in Dance from California State University, Fullerton (2018). He trained in classical ballet and modern techniques such as Horton, Graham, and Limón under Muriel Joyce, Alvin Rangel-Alvarado, Lisa D. Long, and Debra Noble. He was part of CSUF’s Repertory Company and performed works by Mike Esperanza, Bryn Cohn, and Daniel Jaber. While at university, he also danced down Main Street USA in various parades at the Disneyland Resort. Edward has worked as a company member with Re:borN Dance Interactive, FUSE Dance Company, and Contemporary West Dance Theatre. In 2022, he joined Kanopy Dance Company, where his repertoire includes featured roles such as “The Husbandman” in Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring and soloist in Daniel Fetecua Soto’s Rejoice: Returning Home, as well as works by Pascal Rioult, Lloyd Knight, Tadej Brdnik, Colin Connor, and Blakeley White-McGuire.
Alex Trofka, Company Dancer
Alex Trofka graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a B.A. in Dance and a minor in Professional Communication in 2021. At UWSP, Alex trained with Joan Karlen, Michael Estanich, Jeannie Hill, Pamela Luedtke, and Sarah Olson. Additionally, Alex studied abroad at the University of Limerick in Ireland training at the Irish World Academy. Additionally, Alex studied abroad at the University of Limerick in Ireland training at the Irish World Academy. In addition, Alex has worked with esteemed choreographers such as Nick Pupillo, Pascal Rioult, Lloyd Knight, Tadej Brdnik, Colin Connor, and much more. While at Kanopy, Alex has had the wonderful opportunity to dance in Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring Suite, perform with Madison Opera, and train at the Martha Graham Center Summer Intensive in New York City. Recently, Alex has had the privilege of dancing the role of “Drosselmeyer” with Madison Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker.
Kendyll Hazzard, Company Dancer
Kendyll Hazzard is thrilled to return to Kanopy Dance as a company artist, where she trained and performed as an apprentice (2021-2024). Here she discovered her love for modern and contemporary dance, and was given the opportunity to perform in masterworks and repertory from artists such as Pascal Rioult, Lloyd Knight, and Martha Graham herself.
As a graduate of the Martha Graham School Pedagogy program (2026), she studied under the mentorship of Virgine Mecene and Lone Larson, with an additional Teaching Artist certification for K-12 students. She is also an alumna of the CLI Conservatory (2025), where she trained under Teddy Forance, Riley Watts, and more.
Beyond performing, Kendyll is a passionate educator and choreographer. She haspresented work for film and stage, choreographing for Danceworks Chicago, Bucknell University, Unincorporated Dance Lab, Isthmus Dance Collective, and Kanopy’s own second company, Kanopy2. She has also served as guest faculty at the CLI Conservatory.
Nathan Castro Llanos, Apprentice
Nathan J Castro Llanos is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned a degree in Dance as a recipient of the Buff Brennan Impact Scholars in Dance award. He is currently dancing under the mentorship of Kanopy Dance, a contemporary modern dance company based in Madison, WI. Beyond dance, Nathan also practices as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist in the healthcare field.
Sophronia Brooks, Apprentice
Sophronia Brooks (Madison, WI) was first introduced to dance at the age of three to help her with balance and walking. She found her passion for dance in high school, training in a variety of styles. In 2023, she graduated with a B.A in dance and certification in Pilates from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point, where she trained under Michael Estanich, Sarah Olson,
Jeannie Hill, Pamela Luedtke, Amy Beversdorf, and Joan Karlen. In the summer of 2023, she participated in COMMON’s Creative & Performing session, working with Terence Marling and Braeden Barens. She spent two years in Kanopy’s second company Kanopy 2, redefining her Graham technique, training under Lisa Thurrell and Robert E. Cleary. A lover of movement on and off the dance floor, when she is not dancing, she is teaching Pilates. Sophronia is ecstatic to be returning this season as an apprentice.
Madison Dabalos, Apprentice
Madison Dabalos has been immersed in dance and various performing arts since she was eight years old. She has training in commercial dance styles, competition dance, high school and community musical theatre, and modern dance. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a B.A. in Dance and a minor in Kinesiology in 2024, where she worked with guest choreographers Yoshito Sarkuraba, Jamila Glass, Bradley Beakes, Sadie Weinberg, and Boroka Nagy. Post-graduation, she achieved her Comprehensive Pilates and Mat Pilates Instructor certificates at Orange Coast College, following her mentor, Amelie Hunter, under the Kathy Grant lineage. When she isn’t dancing, you can find Madison teaching Pilates in the Downtown, Fitchburg, and Monona areas. She is excited to perform with Kanopy Dance for her second season!
Charlotte Gularson, Apprentice
Charlotte Gularson, originally from Maryland, is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher excited to be joining Kanopy Dance for her first season. She began dancing at Hope Garden Ballet Academy and grew up performing in musicals, ballets, plays, and anything else she could. Charlotte began her professional career as a trainee with Cincinnati Ballet in 2022, where she performed with the main company in Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker and Don Quixote. She later joined the Studio Training Company at Texas Ballet Theater, performing in iconic productions including Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake, Trey McIntyre’s Peter Pan, and Tim O’Keefe’s Giselle. Most recently, Charlotte founded Riverworks Dance Collective in Poolesville, Maryland, a choreographic workshop and showcase created in collaboration with Hope Garden Children’s Ballet Theater, focused on supporting emerging voices and new work.
Emma Potter, Apprentice
Emma Potter (Columbus, Ohio) grew up dancing ballet and contemporary. She continued dancing at Reed College (BA chemistry 2023), where she studied improvisation techniques and composition under Carla Mann and performed in several student works and theses. In 2025 she completed her master’s degree in chemistry at UW Madison where she trained in Cunningham technique with Anna Peretz-Rogovoy. In addition to dancing, Emma teaches Pilates and is finishing her comprehensive Pilates teaching certificate. This is Emma’s second season with Kanopy Dance and her first as an apprentice.
Kendall Schumacher, Apprentice
Kendall Schumacher is an artistically driven dancer with a strong foundation in modern dance, ballet, and jazz. She completed a BFA in Dance Performance at Southern Methodist University, with minors in Chinese and Statistical Science, and is currently pursue an MA in Arts & Creative Enterprise Leadership at UW. Kendall received classical ballet training with Vaganova coach Olesya Minton, and at the Kirov Academy of Ballet and Interlochen Arts Academy.
Her modern training is deeply rooted in Martha Graham technique, shaped by former Graham company members Myra Woodruff, Anne Westwick, and Chris Dolder. She further developed her contemporary artistry through summer intensives with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. She has performed works by Gregory Dawson, Crystal Frazier, Carlos R.A. Jones, and Alvon Reed. As an apprentice with Kanopy Dance Company, she is excited to continue refining her artistry and contributing to the company’s dynamic repertory.
Jakari Walker, Apprentice
Jakari Walker, a Minneapolis MN native, began his dance journey at the age of 16 at North Community High School under the mentorship of Tamiko French. Following the pandemic, he deepened his understanding of movement and technique training at Zenon Dance School and self-guided study at the “University of YouTube.” Last season, a Kanopy 2 dancer, he premiered in Puppet Master and performed throughout the Kanopy Season. This makes his first season as an Apprentice Dancer with Kanopy Dance Company.
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