Borealis Dance Theatre

David Grant is a Twin Cities-based writer. As a playwright, he has been commissioned to write new work for the Minnesota Science Museum, the Minnesota Historical Society, Mixed Blood Theater (in conjunction with Bedlam Theater and Voices of Cedar-Riverside), VocalEssence, The Playwrights’ Center, and The History Theatre. As a screenwriter, a sampling of his work includes “The Screenplay Project: Four Shorts” for Twin Cities Public Television (KTCA TV), which was awarded the 1990 Regional Emmy Award for Best Original Drama, the feature film scripts, “Fast Girls” for Russell Simmons’ Def Pictures, “Spirit Dive” for HBO New York, “Black & Blue,” a feature length dramatic series pilot for Davis Entertainment, and the Showtime Network, and “Block by Block,” a web-based dramatic series for children.

He has also written numerous “industrials,” including “Tin iyo Cirib” (Head to Foot), a DVD for Health Partners staff about more effective service to East African immigrant communities, and “Healing the Healers,” for Hazelden Foundation, which was awarded the 2009 Cine Golden Eagle for Best Educational Film.

Grant is a graduate of Antioch College. He is president emeritus of Screenwriters’ Workshop, former member of The Loft board of directors, a core alumnus member of The Playwrights’ Center, and a member of the Writers’ Guild of America, west.

Mari Kline- Kluck began teaching in the dance minor at University of Wisconsin - River Falls in 2004. In addition to teaching numerous dance styles of varying levels, she has taught movement classes for the Early Education Program, Health & Human Performance Department, and Stage & Screen Arts Department.  Mari has greatly enjoyed directing the UWRF Dance Theatre Company, as well as advising both the Tap and Swing Dance Clubs.  She has also had the honor of being the University Theatre Choreographer for numerous projects and musicals. 

Outside of academia, Mari both founded and is the Artistic Director for InKline Dance Company, whose first season successfully premiered in Hudson, Wisconsin, in August of 2006 and has performed locally and internationally.  Mari received a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2004. While attending the University of Minnesota, she had the opportunity to apprentice with the Shapiro and Smith Dance Company, and dance for choreographers Toni Pierce, Maureen Fleming, Zoe Sealy, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Kari Margolis, Uri Sands, among others. Mari then continued her studies receiving an MFA in Dance: Choreography and Performance from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 2008. As part of her Master of Fine Arts program, Mari directed an interdisciplinary arts event called Body Systems in Motion.  In 2013, Mari’s screendance Fluid Time was selected for the top 30 screendances internationally with 60secondsdance.Her recent research has been presented at several universities and dance conferences. Although Mari has always had a passion for teaching and creating dances, she has also enjoyed performing with many projects and companies including Aurora Dance Company, Cathy Wright Dance Company, and Enkindle Dance Company.

John Raasch is a Minnesota based cinematographer, photographer and arts educator.

For the last 25 years Raasch has been working in Minnesota in both commercial and independent arts fields putting together a career through the lens. John is passionate about making unique images and encouraging others to do the same. Photography has fulfilled his need for a creative release, capturing of memories, and challenging himself as he explores the world around him.

Outside of his photography and cinimatography, John has built a media arts program at the Performing Institute of Minnesota Arts High School in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He is privileged to teach truly incredible students who have boldly dedicated themselves to a rigorous arts education.

Danielle Ricci Cheng is an educator, choreographer, director, and dancer. She received her BFA in Dance Performance from University of California, Irvine in 2006 under direction of Donald McKayle. In 2014 she graduated with an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and earned an MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University in 2018. She has studied at The Ailey School in New York City as part of their Certificate in Dance Program studying with Milton Myers, Tracy Inman, Nancy Turano, and Sharon Wong. Danielle has danced professionally in California, Texas, and Minnesota performing with Loretta Livingston and Dancers, Austin Classical Ballet, and Austin City Ballet.

Danielle is the Founding Artistic Director of Borealis Dance Theatre, Dance Camera North- International Dance Film Festival, and Minnesota High School Dance Festival. She has been a professor of dance at Winona State University and has presented work and taught at the American College Dance Festival Association Upper Midwest conference in association with University of Wisconsin, River Falls where she has been a guest choreographer for the past six years. Her choreography has been recognized as "Best of the Festival" at the Frontera Fringe Festival in Austin, TX in 2010 and 2012. Danielle teaches ballet, modern, jazz, tap, composition, social justice through movement, and dance appreciation at the Performing Institute of Minnesota Arts High School in Eden Prairie, MN.

Barbara Wiener first wanted to be an astronaut but discovered that motion sickness would be a hindrance to successful completion of the training. Instead, she found herself drawn to telling the stories of the world around her. That’s where making films comes in.

Barbara’s career in film and television and teaching has spanned 30 years. She was a senior and executive producer for 14 years at Twin Cities Public Television. And has completed several independent feature documentaries since that time. Her arts and cultural documentary and performance work received many awards including 6 Midwest Emmys and a Ciné Golden Eagle for her documentary film, IDA’S STORY.

Her work been seen in broadcast and screenings around the world including, the Walker Art Center’s Women of Vision, the New York International Film Festival, The Chicago Silver Screen Film Festival, Women in the Directors Chair, and the Denver FilmFestival. ‘Curious George goes to Hell’, made with storyteller Kevin Kling and artist Michael Sommers, was screened at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2001, Barbara founded TVbyGIRLS, a non-profit that collaborates with and mentors teen girls using the tools of filmmaking to develop critical thinking,leadership and social justice film work. Films made by collaborations with girls have been seen by audiences around the world and been awarded with four Telly Awards and a nomination for a student Emmy award.

Barbara recently completed WORDS THAT SING, a chamber choir concert film as a tribute to poet, Michael Dennis Browne and is just about to finish a documentary on incarcerated artists with Arts from the Inside.