The Company

Éowyn Emerald & Dancers is led by Canadian born choreographer and dancer, Éowyn Emerald. The company was founded in Portland, Oregon in 2011. Employing technical virtuosity and emotionally complex storytelling, her work strives to communicate, challenge, and evoke a clearer picture of the relationships that unite us. 

Éowyn Emerald & Dancers have appeared at On The Boards (Seattle), Risk/Reward (Portland), J.A.W. at Portland Center Stage, DanceStages (Shanghai), ACT (Dundee), FreshEdit (Dundee), Hidden Door (Leith), five times at DanceLive (Aberdeen), and seven times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to critical acclaim. Additionally, the company has presented five performance seasons in Portland. In her 2014 Fringe appearance, Éowyn was hailed by the Times as ‘a talent to watch,’ and her 2016 Fringe included 21 sold out performances. Éowyn has received the RDA Monticello award, a NFAA A.R.T.S. Choreography Award, three first place Weiler Choreography awards and was twice selected as a Critic’s Choice by The Times. She is the creative producer of Pacific Dance Makers, a show developed in Portland, Oregon to highlight work by choreographers from across the Pacific region. Pacific Dance Makers provided a platform for dance makers to showcase their work on a fully produced evening alongside other artists.

Creative Team

Artistic Director / Resident Choreographer / Producer
Éowyn Emerald

Rehearsal Director
Brent Luebbert

Additional Répétiteurs
Sarah Fuhrman and Josh Murry

Technical Manager / Lighting Designer
James Mapes

Marketing Manager
Jonathan J. Krebs

Graphic Designer
Edgar Badua

Web Designer
BigSnit Media

Company Photographer
David Krebs (all photos by David unless otherwise stated)

Company Members

Brent Luebbert photo by Josh Murry

Éowyn Emerald

Éowyn is a Canadian born choreographer, dancer, and teacher; who was hailed by The Times as “a talent to watch.” A classically trained dancer with extensive experience in contemporary and jazz, Éowyn’s work is physical, technically demanding, and places a strong emphasis on partnering and performance.

Éowyn received her BFA in contemporary dance and choreography from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she studied closely with Dianne Markham. She has also received training from The Juilliard School, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Utah Regional Ballet and the RDA Craft of Choreography. She has studied with such artists as: Joan Woodbury, Ruth Barnes, Les Watanabe, Camille Brown, Janice Lancaster, Zachary Carroll, Randee Pauve, Jamie Martinez, and Mary Cochran. Her very early training includes the Goh Ballet, the Academy of Ballet Arts, Columbia Dance Company, and the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. Her teaching experience is diverse in ages and levels as well as dance styles and techniques.

Dance programs/schools include: Dancescape After School Dance Program (Director), Columbia Dance Center, the Junior Artist Generator program, BodyVox Dance Center, Portland Public Schools: da Vinci Arts Middle School Dance Department (Interim Director) and Wilson High School Dance Program (Director), The Portland Ballet, The Sultanov School, Portland Youth Ballet, Citymoves Dance Agency, Scottish Dance Theatre -Early Years Aberdeen Division, and the Dance Base -Dance for Parkinson’s Aberdeen Division. Currently teaching at MOVE Studios, Harbour Dance Centre, and Arts Umbrella in Vancouver, BC.

She has performed with BodyVox, Lauren Edson(LED), Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre/Northwest, Lane Hunter {dance}, Tere Mathern Dance, Frozen Charlotte, as an assistant to Sylvain Émard for his work “Le Grand Continental” on White Bird Dance and 160 of Portland’s dance enthusiasts, TedX-PDX, Carla Mann, Tracey Durbin, Michael Curry, her own company Éowyn Emerald & Dancers (ÉE&D), and her producing festival Pacific Dance Makers.

James Mapes

James Mapes is a lighting designer who’s lived in Portland all his life. Working primarily in dance, he’s toured all over the world with companies like BodyVox, Éowyn Emerald & Dancers, and Mammalian Diving Reflex. At home, he’s the Festival Director for Risk/Reward. He has a family, who is great, and a library, which is secret.

Brent Luebbert

Brent was born in Portland and raised in the area. He attended Point Park University and graduated with a BFA in Dance. Since then he has worked with the Pillow Project, Attack Theatre, Éowyn Emerald & Dancers, skinner|kirk DANCE ENSEMBLE, Washington Dance Creative, and is currently Artistic Associate and dancer for BodyVox. Through these companies he has been lucky enough to tour internationally to France, England, Germany, and China as well as around the US.

Jonathan J. Krebs

Jonathan has performed with Éowyn Emerald & Dancers, BodyVox, Josie Moseley Dance, tEEth, Troika Ranch, POV, Polaris Dance Theatre, Rainbow Dance Theatre, Opera Pacific, The Atlanta Opera, Hawaii Opera Theater, The Portland Opera, and The Blue Man Group. He has worked in Marketing and Programming for White Bird, The Portland Ballet, and BodyVox in Portland, and The Joyce Theater in New York City. He is a registered physiotherapist in Canada and the United Kingdom and a graduate of Robert Gordon University and Western Oregon University.

Sarah Fuhrman

Sarah grew up in Portland dancing with The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. She worked as a company member with OBT for many years before exploring an opportunity furthering her training in St. Petersburg, Russia. Sarah continued her professional career with Colorado Ballet, State Street Ballet and Nevada Ballet Theatre. With Nevada Ballet, Sarah worked as rehearsal assistant to the company and the school. Since retiring from ballet, Sarah has performed with Éowyn Emerald & Dancers, a contemporary dance company based in Scotland and the Pacific Northwest.

Guest Performers

Hayate Alexander

Hayate grew up in Portland and began their dance training at The Portland Ballet, where they performed works by George Balanchine, John Clifford, Tom Gold, and TPB artistic staff. They furthered their training through summer programs at The Jillana School, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Ballet West, and Open Space.

In 2024, Hayate joined BodyVox’s junior company, performing with the main company in BloodyVox and Death & Delight, as well as works by Artistic Directors Jamey Hampton and Ashley Roland and choreographers Carlyn Hudson, Vanessa Thiessen, and Elenaluisa Alvarez. Hayate was promoted to BodyVox Main Company in 2025, and has since performed in BloodyVox, Pearl Dive, and Cosmosis.

Andrew Champlin

Originally from Portland, Andrew Champlin is a dancer and arts educator based in Berlin, Germany. He trained in classical ballet at leading programs including Oregon Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and the School of American Ballet, and later earned a BA in Liberal Arts from The New School. He has danced professionally with Oregon Ballet Theatre, Pam Tanowitz Dance, Christopher Williams Dance, Miguel Gutierrez and the Powerful People, the David Gordon Pick Up Company, and the Merce Cunningham Trust. He has also worked extensively in New York City’s experimental dance scene, where he studied with and became an assistant to the late ballet teacher Janet Panetta.

In 2015, he was nominated for a New York Dance and Performance Bessie Award for Outstanding Performer for his work in Jillian Peña’s Polly Pocket. Since moving to Europe in 2017, Champlin has completed an MA in Choreography at Stockholm University of the Arts and is finishing a PhD in Artistic Research at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, focusing on ballet training and sensation-based approaches inherited from Panetta. Alongside his performance practice, he teaches internationally at dance companies and institutions across Europe.

Emerson Donohoe

A Portland native, Emerson Liam Donohoe trained with the city’s nationally acclaimed Jefferson Dancers Company before earning his BFA in Dance Performance from Chapman University. He has performed in numerous dance concerts, festivals, and events across the West Coast with companies including BodyVox Dance, Emergent Dance Company, and SALT² Contemporary Dance. A graduate of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, Emerson has performed original works by acclaimed choreographers such as Dwight Rhoden, Wayne McGregor, Ido Tadmor, Dante Puleio, and Rena Butler. While studying at Perry-Mansfield Conservatory, he had the opportunity to apprentice and perform alongside the Limón Dance Company.

Beyond the concert dance world, Emerson has been a longtime performer with Disney Live Entertainment, dancing in numerous shows and portraying characters across theme parks and cruise ships. He holds immense gratitude for the unwavering support of his family, and is thrilled to return to the Portland dance scene! Instagram: @itsemersonn_

Elise Gonsalves

Elise Gonsalves is an artist originally from Portland Oregon, after she graduated high school, Elise studied dance in LA for 5 years Elise has been dancing with Openspace now since 2021.

When she is not dancing with Openspace she dances with a company LED, performing works like“Kid Lighting” and “Over the Moon” choreographed by Lauren Edson.

Elise she has also worked with choreographers such as Ching Ching Wong, Mike Tyus, Gianna Burright, Keelan Whitemore, Elijah Labay, Noelle Kayser and recently traveled to the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and the Union PDX Festival performing “Confetti Head” choreographed by Franco Nieto. When she isn’t dancing you’ll find her escaping to the mountains!
Elise wants to thank everyone who has made this show possible. As well as a special thank you to her family. Enjoy the show!

Jordan Isadore

Jordan Isadore (he/they) is a dancer, choreographer, and educator from Northern California whose work blends humor, theatricality, and emotional honesty. He received his B.F.A. in Dance from California State University Long Beach in 2009 and has since built a wide-ranging performance career across the U.S. and internationally.
Jordan has performed with Shen Wei Dance Arts, BODYTRAFFIC, Gallim Dance, Christopher Williams, Skybetter & Associates, Barak Marshall, Alex Ketley, and Alexandra Pirici. His touring and performance credits include appearances at the Mariinsky Theater, Park Avenue Armory, and the David H. Koch Theater, as well as engagements throughout China, South America, Europe, and Russia.

He has collaborated with artists across disciplines, directing movement for Solange Knowles, performing on Conan O’Brien with Devonté Hynes (Blood Orange), and appearing in photographs by Lois Greenfield.

As a choreographer, Jordan’s work has been presented at The Museum of Arts & Design, the 92nd Street Y, Joe’s Pub, and the American Dance Festival. His practice also extends into visual art, creating mobiles and sculptural works inspired by Labanotation, and co-creating the satirical dance blog SARA DU JOUR.
Recently, he completed a residency at New Expressive Works in Portland, where he premiered his solo you look good, bud, an intimate and playful excavation of queer identity, family, and personal memory. The work was featured at Portland’s Risk/Reward Festival and will expand into a full-length evening with support from Open Space and the Regional Arts & Culture Council.

As a teacher, Jordan has worked across high school programs, professional workshops, and community classes. He previously served as Co-Director of Nevada Union High School’s Theatrical Dance Program, has taught at the American Dance Festival, and is currently a teacher with Dance Church. His classes emphasize full-bodied movement, musicality, theatricality, and individual artistic expression, drawing influence from mentors including Shen Wei, Keith Johnson, and Christopher Williams.
Now based in Portland, Jordan continues to create work that moves between dance, theater, visual art, and queer storytelling.

Annabel Kaplan

Annabel Kaplan (she/her) is a Portland, Oregon-based dance artist and educator. She grew up in Portland, and began her dance training at Classical Ballet Academy under the direction of Sarah Rigles. In 2023, she graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia earning her BFA in Dance. Since returning to the Pacific Northwest, Kaplan has performed with Shaun Keylock Company/Conduit Dance, ProLab Dance, Pathways Dance Company, and Karin Stevens Dance. Additionally, she works as an instructor at Classical Ballet Academy and an Education and Community Engagement Teaching Artist at Oregon Ballet Theater. In her spare time, Annabel enjoys spending time with her cat, knitting, and exploring the outdoors. She is thrilled to be performing with Éowyn Emerald & Dancers this winter!

Nick Le-Jurica

Nick Le-Jurica grew up in Beaverton, Oregon, where he first discovered his love for dance at Arts and Communications Magnet Academy under the direction of Julane Stites. In high school, he would add to his training at The Portland Ballet under the direction of Nancy Davis. After graduating, Nick headed to New York to study at The Juilliard School, where he earned his BFA in Dance.

Nick feels lucky to have worked with and performed pieces by incredible artists like Roy Assaf, Bobbi Jene Smith, Sharon Eyal, Ann Carlson, and many others who shaped his early career and artistic voice. His passion for education and outreach led him to join Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, where he had the chance to teach across the country while continuing to perform, a time that gave him a deep appreciation for dance education.

While living in Salt Lake City, Nick met his wife, and eventually they made their way back to Portland. For three years, he served as Director of Community Engagement at The Portland Ballet, where he staged works, choreographed, performed, and taught. These days, Nick works as a project manager at NIS Consulting, serves on the board of trustees at The Portland Ballet, and spends his free time connecting with creative people like the amazing folks involved in this show.

Claire Swanson

Claire Swanson (they/them) has been dancing since before they can remember and has trained in a wide variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, and aerial. They graduated from University of Central Oklahoma in 2022 with a BFA in dance performance and a BA in psychology. Claire was a member of Kaleidoscope dance company at UCO where they had the privilege of working with a number of choreographers including Mike Esperanza, George Staib, Jesse Zaritt, Tiffanie Carson and 10 Hairy Legs. After graduating, Claire danced with Perpetual Motion, a modern dance and aerial company and was a part of many exciting and collaborative projects as a dancer and a choreographer. Since moving to Oregon this past year, they have been dancing and choreographing with Portland Dance Collective. Outside of dance, Claire works as seamstress creating new sewing projects as well as altering existing pieces.

Tanner Wuethrich

Tanner Wuethrich has grown up in Vancouver, WA and is a Senior at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics. He trains with The School at Open Space, where he has performed works by Franco Nieto, Charlene Hannibal, Audrey Wells, Sara Parker, Maeve Ethridge, and Tony Carnell. Additionally, he has guested with Columbia Dance as the Sugar Plumeria’s Cavalier, with choreography by Becky Moore and performed at TEDxPortland 2024. Most recently, he has attended the Arts Umbrella International Summer Dance Intensive, learning repertoire by Lukas Timulak, Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber, and Johan Inger, as well as attending Open Space’s Space Camp Pro and Point Park University’s Choreography Collective.