MegLouise Dance is defined by boldness, risk and imagination. Our work draws from a range postmodern dance and movement theater techniques. Experience the beauty of pure movement, the tender uncertainty in human relationships and the excitement of breaking new ground. Our dancers are curious humans, skilled technicians and artful interpreters. Our carefully crafted modern dance works present social commentary with surprising emotional realism. Through dance, we celebrate universal experiences and defining characeristics.

We are a small, Cleveland based modern dance company with a successful and varied production history. The company has grown and matured since its formation in 2002, under the guidence of artistic director, Megan Pitcher. The collaborative group has presented nationally and internationally in the Junction Arts Festival in Canada, DUMBO Dance Festival in New York, Outlet Dance Project in New Jersey and Michigan Dance Festival in Ann Arbor. They present throughout Ohio at Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Cleveland Public Theatre, Ingenuity Festival and Cuyahoga Community College.

Meet Us

Megan Pitcher (artistic director) received her BFA in Dance from Ohio University and supplemented her training in choreography, improvisation, Bartenieff Fundamentals, Varone technique and world dance forms at Bates Dance Festival and DNA studios in NYC. She has performed works by mentors Gabriel Masson, Tere O'Connor and Susan VanPelt Peltry in addition to collaborative creations with Agua Dulce Dance, Sarah Morrison and Lotta Londregen.

Pitcher has worked as a guest artist with Cuyahoga Community College, Beck Center, Ohio Dance Festival, Hathaway Brown School, Shaker Heights High, OSU Mansfield and the UIC Theater Exchange in Moscow, Russia. Her choreography has been presented internationally and throughout the United States.

Sara Whale attended the Julliard School before joining Ram Island Dance and the Maine State Ballet where she performed, taught and choreographed for both Portland, ME based companies. During her career she has performed works by Charles Weidman, George Balanchine, Linda MacArthur Meile, Randy James, Daniel McCusker, Jeff Duncan, Dan Wagoner, Buffy Miller and Doug Varone. She has been the recipient of grants for choreographic and educational development in dance from the Maine Community Foundation, Maine Arts Commission, The Libra Foundation and The King Foundation. She recently received a BFA in Graphic Design from Pacific Northwest College of Art and relocated to Cleveland, OH.

Caroline Kappel holds a BA in Sociology from Saint Mary's College, an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Mills College and a PhD in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University. She has performed nationally and internationally with various modern dance companies, including a 2005 performance in Israel as part of Yitzhak International Arts Gathering in Acco, Israel. She has taught university level lecture courses in the fine arts, dance history, theory and dance technique. She has also taught ballet, jazz, tap, creative and modern dance for various age groups. In addition to her work with MegLouise Dance, she also choreographs, performs and serves on the Board of Directors at The Ananda Center in Massillon, OH.

Leann Benkart delights in a constant exploration of movement. She studied dance at Ohio State University with Norah Zuniga-Shaw, Ming-lung Yang and Tiffany Rhynard. She also studied with Paula Scriva Jersey and Mansur Kameletdinov in Pittsburgh. Leann supports MegLouise Dance as a performer, teacher and collaborator. She has also performed with Natalie Marrone and the Dance Cure in Columbus and was involved with Columbus Movement Movement and OSU's New Ground program exploring technology, the body and the surrounding landscape. Leann enjoys a dual life as a landscape architect and dancer - investigating movement in the landscape and creating spaces for bodies to live, work and play.

Kalindi Stockton has a Bachelors Degree in Education from Kent State University. She studied movement in college, at Ballet Met and with Pilobolus Dance Theatre. She has performed with MegLouise Dance, MorrisonDance and SAFMOD in addition to performing in Two Plays by Gao Xingjian directed by Raymond Bobgan at Cleveland Public Theatre. She has performed at the Yitzhak International Arts Gathering in Israel, New England Dance Project, Dobama Theatre's New Works Festival, Sparx in the City, Ingenuity Festival and Parade the Circle. Her choreography was featured in the 2008 Big Box Series at Cleveland Public Theatre. She has presented additional works through the Sneak Reviews Series and in the MegLouise Dance production of Nearly Nude.

Maree ReMalia earned her BA in Education and Cultural Studies through Prescott College and is currently pursuing an MFA in dance at Ohio State University. She has danced with Southern Ballet Theatre and the Richmond Ballet. Since 2003, she has worked with various Cleveland dance groups, including: MegLouise Dance, MorrisonDance and Siren Dance Company. She has performed at the WPA Free Fest, New England Dance Project and the Yitzhak International Arts Gathering in Acco, Israel. Her original choreography has been presented through MorrisonDance, MegLouise Dance Sneak Reviews and Cleveland Public Theatre's Big Box Series.

Emily Balf (managing associate) is a scholar, administrator and performing artist. She has performed with MegLouise Dance and continues to support the group's touring productions. Balf earned her BA in biology, dance and the Integrated Program for Human Studies from Kenyon College. She is currently pursuing her MA in medical and linguistic anthropology at the University of Cincinnati. Balf has performed for High Jinks, Anatomical Scenario, Kora Radella, Julie Brodie and Sara Mitchell. She is also a board member of cm2 in Columbus, OH.

Laura Swedenborg (artistic associate) uses her wealth of dance experience to support MegLouise Dance in various ways, including as a performer and production assistant for Sneak Reviews (vol 2) and "iNput" in the 2007 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Swedenborg studied Hawkins technique for 15 years and was fortunate to study with Erik Hawkins in New York City. Swedenborg is a graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts. She has been active with improvisational performance art in Pennsylvania and Ohio since 2000 and continues to perform with the Radical Site Specific Music Art Dance Project in Cleveland.

Meet Our Partners

In The Press

Nearly Nude / a different, more honest take on women's culture, body images and clothing – or lack thereof – lies in the foreground of Cleveland-based MegLouise Dance's Nearly Nude...there is a straightforward simplicity about the works that invites the audience into their world of women...the risks often work and feel natural, the way the performers have the guts to put their figures on display / Julie Mullins (City Beat, 2008)

Companions / the most successful collaboration of the evening was Emily Balf's dance to art songs by Poulenc...the core idea of a 'salon' evening mixing dancers with live singers and piano was terrific; more dance companies should consider it / Linda Eisenstein (Cool Cleveland, 2008)

iNput / there were many intriguing beginnings of what appeared as a combination of pre-rehearsed and improvised moves / Kathy Valin (City Beat, 2007)

Running on Empty Fairy Tales / choreographer Megan Pitcher as created a fantasy world of dreamlike adventure that is sometimes frantic, then melancholy, then energized, inquisitive and anticipatory / Paul Kreft, City Beat (Cincinnati, 2005)

Running On Empty Fairy Tales / choreographer Megan Pitcher has worked hard on her themes, knows how to move dancers around a stage and how to use her dancers / Jackie Demaline (Cincinnati Enquirer, 2005)