C
O
M
P
A
N
Y

M
E
M
B
E
R
S
Lauren Ehnebuske grew up in northern California as a gymnast then ballerina. Though overly devoted to academic studies, an intensive summer program at Julliard in 1999 showed Lauren that dance is too important to overlook. Since coming to Seattle five years ago to attend Cornish, she has performed in works by, among others, Pat Hon, Gerard Theoret, Alianna Jaqua (Artsy Fartsy Theater), Rain Ross (Lehua Dance Theater, Wade Madsen, Martha Graham (with Chamber Dance Co.), Jana Kincl (Walrus), and Pablo Cornejo. Lauren joined Phffft! in October 2005. Currently a construction worker remodeling artistic houses in the University District, she has a BA in architecture with a minor in dance from the University of Washington. In 2007 Lauren hopes to be moving on to graduate studies in architecture, but also to be dancing forever however she might.
Liz Erber moved from Brazil to Seattle in order to focus on dance and theater, and in 2005 earned a double degree in dance and drama from the University of Washington. Since then, she has worked and performed with Mark Haim, Jürg Koch, Sarah Michelson, Akropolis Performance Lab, ACT Theater, Walrus Dance Company and most recently, Phffft! Dance Theater Company. Liz has focused much of her time on creating interdisciplinary works receiving grants and/or commissions from 4Culture, the Duvall Cultural Commission, Book-It Repertory Theatre, Open Flight (summer residency), Studio Current (ongoing residency), the Washington State Arts Commission for Professional Development, and the Asia-Finegold Fellowship. Her original performance work has been presented at Velocity Dance Center, On the Boards, Open Flight, Annex Theater, Studio Current, Hillel, The Arts in Nature Festival, and most recently, in conjunction with fellow artist, Vanessa DeWolf, at a working motel along Seattle’s Aurora Avenue (as part of the endurance art project, MotelMotelMotel.) Currently she is working on a dance number for Book-It Repertory Theater’s adaptation of the book Peter Pan, and is on faculty at Momentum Dance and Music Academy in Burien. Liz has also been a long-time member of The Field Seattle and is currently one of the organization’s Steering Committee members. You can visit Liz’s blog at www.lerber.com.

Chris McCallister was born in Sacramento, California. There, at age seven, he began his training in tap dance with a desire to “dance like the man in the rain.” After teaching children at local dance studios and church organizations, in 2003, Chris moved to Seattle to attend Cornish College of the Arts, where he studied for two years. During his stay at CCA, he danced for choreographers Deborah Wolf and KT Niehoff, and since coming to Seattle, he has performed with several choreographers in various festivals and shows. Chris has been performing and traveling with the Phffft! Company since February of 2006. His choreography has been performed through CCA, and he is planning to produce more of his own work in the future.
Morgan Nutt moved to Seattle in pursuit of dance and has happily found it. Since moving here last summer, she has danced with the Weaving Dance Company, invaded many private homes with the oh-so-infamous Stimulate Dance Collective, has performed the works of Rachel Barker and Sarah Parton, has done two stints at 12 Minutes Max, and is now preparing for Danny Herter's presentation at Northwest New Works. All of this leading up to the opportunity to dance with Cyrus Khambatta and the wonderful dancers of Phffft! Her life before Seattle included working as the dance director for a performing arts academy in Arizona, performing with multiple dance companies in New York CIty, Philadelphia, Texas and Arizona, and earning a BFA in dance from The Ohio State University. She is a heart and soul Montanan, and her ultimate goal is to someday return and open an arts center for youth in her rural home county.

Rachel Randall recently graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in dance and anthropology. There she danced with the Chamber Dance Company and choreograped Living Shadows for the Dance Majors Concert receiving the 2007 award for outstanding achievement in choreography. She holds a Professional Diploma in Dance Studies from Laban in London, and an Associate of Arts from Yakima Valley Community College. While attending YVCC, Rachel collaborated with composer Dr. Isidore Rudnick, in “Collages,” choreographing her first full length performance, in just six weeks, with a cast of eleven dancers to original live music that inspired seven canvas paintings by artist Candice Kite. Before college Rachel spent many years as a competitive gymnast, figure skater, and quite a few summers doing circus training and performing with Professor Bud’s Mini Circus in Yakima. To date, Rachel has danced professionally in Yakima and Seattle, WA, and as a guest artist with NOYAM and the National Theatre of Ghana Dance Ensemble in Ghana, West Africa. Rachel loves living in Seattle, teaching dance, circus and gymnastics classes, and is excited to be dancing with Phiffft!
Aliza Rudavsky (understudy/apprentice) was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA where she studied dance at the High School for Creative and Performing Arts. She later attended the George Washington University in DC and graduated with a degree in modern dance and a concentration in pre-physical therapy. At GWU she worked with choreographers Maida Withers, Juliette Mapp, and Jenn Clark-Stone. After college she worked as an internship for the Vertigo Dance Company in Jerusalem, Israel. She recently moved out to the Seattle area where she enjoys dancing with Cyrus and the Phffft! Dance Theater Company. She plans on attending graduate school for physical therapy in the next few years.
Ying Zhou came to US from China in 1998. She discovered Modern dance as graduate student of geography at University of Washington. A couple of years later, she graduated with a BA in dance from UW. She is really grateful to be a member of The Phffft! Dance Company. She has had the honor to work with Carla Barragan, Mark Haim, Ali Jaqua, Karl Frost, and other Seattle choreographers. Her choreographic works have been seen at OTB's 12 MM and Velocity's Under-Construction Series. She has been invited to present her next work in Japan in October, 2005. Outside Seattle, she has performed in France and China. She recently taught improvisation workshops at Beijing's North Theater and Beijing University. Ying also earned a BS in geography from Beijing University and MA (geography) from Miami University.