Sarah Leversee, Artistic Director
HOMETOWN: Edgewater, CO
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Denver, CO
DAY JOB(S): Artistic Director of Art as Action, Dance Teacher and Freelance Web Designer/Marketing Consultant
DREAM JOB(S): Artistic Director of Art as Action and Mom
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Founder, Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dancer, Singer/Songwriter, Graphic Designer, Webmaster, Marketing Director, Administrator, Fundraiser for all shows!
CREDENTIALS: BS in Advertising, BA in Photography, minor in dance from CU Boulder; jazz & hip-hop teacher in the Boulder community since 1999; co-founder, director, choreographer & performer for the fuzion project in September 2001; featured artist at National School of Fine Arts, Mexico City, in March 2003; choreographer & company member for Blue Moon Dance Company in Fall 2003; performer in The Bridge Project, Seattle, WA, in January 2007; company member of oaklanDrive Dance Company, Seattle, WA for 2006-2007 season.
PERSONAL ASIDES: I am privileged enough to work with some of the most creative & generous people on the planet. I have learned so much from these people & our ongoing artistic process, but most of all Art as Action has shown me that one small idea can become a movement, one group of friends can create a community, one organization can give someone a life.

Wayne Gilbert, Poet
HOMETOWN: none
CURRENT RESIDENCE: I spend much of the year in Aurora, CO, and the rest in Spaceways, a new evolutionary project in Sun Ra's Blue Galaxy.
DAY JOB: 3rd-world missionary of Literature and Humanities at Community College of Aurora.
DREAM JOB: full-time coffee-brewing monk and free-jazz poet.
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Wayne has been a creator/performer in every single Art as Action performance.
CREDENTIALS: I perform my poetry often in galleries, bookstores, coffeeshops, theaters, schools, under bridges and in secret caves throughout the Denver area, often with Charles Rourke, musician and video artist (as Magmacoustik). I am an active volunteer and actor w/another collaborator, Annell Weissenbuehler, at Hinkley High School in Aurora, CO.
PERSONAL ASIDES: I'm a proud dad and dad-in-law to four of the most extraordinary young people I know (Samantha and John, Emily and Lacy); uncle to Ms. Director/Dreamer Sarah; brother and colleague to the best sister, Jan; and grateful, adoring husband to Alice, the one-and-only love of my life. I'm proud to be son of E.G. and the late Alice M. Gilbert. These people and my collaborators are my heroes and heroines! Oh, and there's Miles Davis, Sun Ra and Walt Whitman, too.

Marci Wojciechowski, Dancer and Technical Director
HOMETOWN: Satellite Beach, FL - Washington, DC - Boulder, CO
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Westminster, CO
DAY JOB(S): Emergency Medicine PA
DREAM JOB: Getting paid to travel!
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Marci was technical director, choreographer and dancer for Learn/Heal/Act and The Identity Crisis
CREDENTIALS: Marci has been dancing since age 4 with the exception of a hiatus during graduate school in Washington, DC where she received her Master's degrees in both Health Sciences and Public Health. She was trained primarily in ballet, jazz, tap and theater, with later work in modern as well as hip hop. She has preformed with several companies in Florida and Colorado. During college at the University of Colorado, she took part in several student dance performances in addition to The Fuzion Project and Art As Action.
PERSONAL ASIDES: I so very excited to be dancing! My thanks to my friends for their support as well as to the fellow performers for sharing their gifts! It has been quite a year - many many thanks to my mother, father and sister for always standing by me and helping me so much this past year. I love you all so much!

Annie Piatt, Dancer
HOMETOWN: Simi Valley, California
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Boulder, Colorado
DAY JOB(S): Human Resources Consultant at the University of Colorado at Boulder
DREAM JOB: It would be great to combine all of the things I enjoy into a career, so if you hear of a job that requires analytical and organizational skills, plus rock climbing, dancing, and a love for linguistics, please let me know!
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Joined in Summer of 2008
CREDENTIALS: I love to dance and have studied ballet, swing and salsa.
PERSONAL ASIDES: "Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is no mere translation or abstraction from life, it is life itself." --Henry Havelock Ellis

Molly Semanik, Dancer
HOMETOWN: Mill Valley, CA
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Superior, CO
DAY JOB: Mother of 3
DREAM JOB: Livin' it!
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Molly was a dancer in Constructive Interference and in The Identity Crisis.
CREDENTIALS: Molly has been dancing hip hop for 12 years. Before her move to Boulder six years ago she studied hip hop in San Francisco with Micaya and performed in her Soul Force shows. Here in the Boulder area she enjoyed her time dancing with Sarah at the Boulder Rec. Center and is currently taking Hip Hop and Tap at Grace studios.
PERSONAL ASIDES: Life in the Semanik house seems to get more chaotic everyday (always an adventure). To Noel, Jada and McKenna: Thank You. My respect and appreciation for you and your increasing ability to periodically put your own needs and wants aside so that I can continue to dance and be a part of these shows, is overwhelming. And to my wonderful partner, Jen: Thank you for always recognizing my passion for this and for bending over backwards to make sure I have the time to do it, even when there is no time to be had.

Chloe DiVita, Dancer
HOMETOWN: Irondequoit, NY
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Erie, CO
DAY JOB(S): Accountant and Dance Teacher
DREAM JOB(S): Working with animals
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Chloe began dancing with Art As Action in May 2009. Holding Pattern will be her first Production.
CREDENTIALS: Chloe is a former competitive gymnast who began dancing at age 14. She has taken dance classes on and off since High School, danced on a poms team for a semi-pro football league in Rochester, NY and has been teaching Jazz and Contemporary for last 4 years at Louisville Dance Centre.
PERSONAL ASIDES: I spend my spare time raising my 12 year old daughter, who is also a dancer, hiking and camping in the summer and snow boarding in the winter. I thank Joy for introducing me to Art as Action and it's been great working with such talented Artivists!

Jill Leversee, Dancer
HOMETOWN: Edgewater, CO
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Seattle, WA
DAY JOB/DREAM JOB: Founding Director, Choreographer & Performer with oaklanDrive Dance Company. Passionate faculty member at Bainbridge Dance Center & eXit SPACE School of Dance.
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Artistic consultant, choreographer & performer for Art as Action in two prior shows
CREDENTIALS: BA in dance from the University of Colorado. Co-founder of the fuzion project, an organization focused on exploring the power of collaboration between different art forms, producing shows in Boulder & Chicago. In Chicago worked with a number of artists both in the role of dancer & choreographer & trained intensively at Joel Hall Dance Studio in Horton & Graham modern, ballet & jazz. In Seattle danced with choreographers Pablo Cornejo & Aliana Jaqua, & was a member of Northwest Dance Syndrome for 3 years. Presented works at Seattle University with The Three Yells, Velocity Dance Center, The Firehouse in Bellingham & the Juan de Fuca Festival with Northwest Dance Syndrome, eXit SPACE's takePAUSE. Was the musical choreographer at Bainbridge Performing Arts.
PERSONAL ASIDES: I am thrilled to be here to be a part of my sister's inspiring endeavor.

Jan Leversee, Poet
HOMETOWN/CURRENT HOME: Lakewood, CO
DAY JOB: COO of Arapahoe Early Childhood Council, Therapist, Parent Educator, Teacher
DREAM JOB: Mom of two babies that grew up into amazing women.
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Supporter, ticket seller, usher, sometimes performer since the beginning.
CREDENTIALS: Love of dance & dancers, amateur poet, sometime performer of poems, drama & classroom creativity.
PERSONAL ASIDES: Deep gratitude for two little girls who became creative leaders & loving, kind women. Deep gratitude for a loyal, supportive husband. Deep gratitude for a dear brother & fellow creator. Deep gratitude for family & friends who offer support tonight & always.

Lorraine Larocque, Actor
HOMETOWN: Charlotte, NC
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Boulder, CO
DAY JOB(S): Senior HR Consultant - University of Colorado at Boulder
DREAM JOB(S): A founding company member of my own theatre company or a lottery winner with a big heart
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: First performance August 2010!
CREDENTIALS: Lorraine studied theatre at North Carolina School of the Arts, English/ Theatre at Western Carolina University and continued with an independent study in acting, with a minor in empathy from the world at large. Her work in improv, theatre and film spans over fifteen years throughout North Carolina, Florida and Colorado. Roles she wishes she had never done, but was grateful at the time for the work include: Actor in Who's on First, Telephone Repair(Wo)man in Barefoot in the Park and Vaughn in Farewell Party. Co-founder of the improv comedy troupe The OxyMorons in Asheville, North Carolina, she is fond of both politically incorrect jokes and well-written scripts (the former not necessarily included in the latter).
PERSONAL ASIDES: I would like to thank my friends in Boulder, Longmont and Denver who have made Colorado home and my Mom for making sure I had everything I ever needed. Art will always be informed by the lives that we create and I'm (hopefully) creating a beautiful mess.

Joy Jackson, Dancer and Poet
HOMETOWN: Hawesville, KY
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Boulder, CO
DAY JOB(S): Stay-at-home Mom
DREAM JOB(S): Stay-at-home Mom with staff
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: This is Joy's 4th show with AaA. Having participated in 3 previous shows as a choreographer, dancer, performer, and sound technician, this is her debut as a writer.
CREDENTIALS: Joy started taking dance classes while attending Murray State University in Kentucky, where she received a BA in English Education and Health Education in 1998. After moving to CO, she continued taking dance classes with the City of Boulder Recreation Centers where she met instructors Jill and Sarah Leversee. Several years of classes, rehearsals, and performances later, she's proud to be a friend of the beautiful Leversee sisters as well as a veteran Art as Action cast member. This is Joy's 4th show with AaA. Having participated in 3 previous shows as a choreographer, dancer, performer, and sound technician, this is her debut as a writer.
PERSONAL ASIDES: I am a Stay-at-Home-Mom. It is gratifying and beautiful work, but glamorous or innovative it is not. So being able to leave my suburban home to attend rehearsals and dance, choreograph and perform, and to write and create, is a fulfilling and rejuvenating experience. It makes me a more creative, dynamic, and patient human being and therefore a better wife and mom. I am a lucky woman to have the support and love of my husband at home to give me the encouragement to undertake these projects and am lucky to have the friendship of a leader like Sarah to motivate me to sustain these projects. Thank you both!

Clay Claasen, Musician
HOMETOWN: Orinda, CA
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Boulder, CO
DAY JOB(S): Western States Accounts Manager for Peak Pilates, freelance musician and lead guitarist/singer for rock trio Mixed Breed.
DREAM JOB(S): Recording and Live Music Artist with Mixed Breed.
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: This will be my first performance with and first exposure to Art As Action.
CREDENTIALS: BA in English with Theater Minor from University of Colorado, Boulder. My band Mixed Breed has had our songs picked up by radio stations 93.3 KTCL, KRFC Ft. Collins, ALICE 105.9, Green Light Radio in Boulder and Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Radio.
PERSONAL ASIDES: Thanks to anyone who supports innovative live music and performance and to anyone who has shown a talented artist some love. Down with the haters!

Felicia Ohnmacht, Photographer
HOMETOWN: Burlington, CO
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Boulder, CO
DAY JOB(S): New Product Introduction Manager at Xilinx, Inc in Longmont
DREAM JOB: A job where I can help women feel proud of their bodies and that provides plenty of time to take and sell photography.
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: I have been involved in all the Art as Action shows in some way from postering to shooting the pieces to being in the pieces...
CREDENTIALS: Felicia has photographed dancers, weddings, fashion shows and plenty of gorgeous Colorado days. In 2007 she collaborated with Mackenzie Carignan for "&persona", a chap book which married her images with Mackenzie's words. Her work was also featured at the grand opening of the Carbon Valley Branch Library. Felicia has been Art as Action's photographer since 2005.

Jose-Maria (Joe) L. Ramas, Guitarist, Dancer, Circus Performer and Music Editor
HOMETOWN: Beckley, West Virginia
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Fantasy, NeverNever Land
DAY JOB: Mostly fixing problems with the stuff i build (mostly on websites)
DREAM JOB: Getting it right the first time
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Joe was artistic director/creator/performer for Learn/Heal/Act, Citizen of the Earth and FAMILY: re-eVALUated, technical director/creator/performer for art is why I get up in the morning and creator/performer for Constructive Interference. Joe was instrumental in the creation of Art as Action and has offered much expertise and support to the organization since its inception.
CREDENTIALS: In addition to being incredibly helpful, Joe is also very nice. He also works very very hard. That should be enough for just about anything.
PERSONAL ASIDES: The art of business is understanding how valuable your work is to someone else. The business of art is understanding how valuable your work is to yourself. One will allow the continuation of life, the other makes life worth continuing.

Dave Crotser, Bassist and Music Editor
HOMETOWN: San Luis Obispo, CA
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Longmont, CO
DAY JOB: Rocket scientists / bass player
DREAM JOB: See 'day job'
HISTORY WITH ART AS ACTION: Creator/tech director/performer/audience member for every AaA production to date
CREDENTIALS: B.A. of Physics from University of Colorado, Boulder; Co-founder of Red Penguin Records, a local co-op music label; Bass player for The Flash Mob from Denver, Colorado
PERSONAL ASIDES: 'Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time' - Steven Wright