artists
Casey Lee Thorne - Founder, Artistic & Executive Director
Casey Lee Thorne is a dance artist, educator and scholar based in San Rafael. Thorne received her early training at American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School in New Jersey, and graduated from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet/Dominican University of CA BFA Program in 2010 as part of the inaugural class. Thorne has danced professionally with Oakland Ballet, James Graham Dance Theatre, Ars Minerva & many freelance projects. She founded Inside Out Contemporary Ballet in 2012 and continues to make work today. Thorne was awarded a 2014-2015 Fulbright Fellowship to Israel and later received an MFA in Dance Studies from Mills College in 2018. She has served as Assistant Professor of Dance at Southern Utah University (2019-2020), Associate Professor of Dance at Cabrillo College (2021-2023) and Adjunct Professor of Dance and Biology at Dominican University of CA and College of Marin (current). Expanding her career into arts administration, Thorne was appointed Development Director at Stapleton School of the Performing Arts in San Anselmo (2022-2023), Individual Giving Manager at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond (2023-2024) and Fundraising Manager for Margaret Jenkins Dance Company (current). Casey serves on the Alumni Board of Directors for Dominican University of CA and enjoys teaching dance to all ages across the Bay Area.
Rossi Walter, Jr. - Associate Director & Dancer
Born to American parents in Dallas, Texas (USA) and currently living in Japan, Rossi Walter, Jr. (he/him) offers diverse experience as a contemporary dancer, classical ballet artist, youth educator, wellness coach, personal trainer and new Les Mills BARRE instructor. A 2014 graduate of Harvard University, Rossi has studied and performed across the globe, including presentations to the Ministry of Culture of Israel and the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, de l’Ordre du Mérite, et des Arts in France. Rossi has shared in professional relationships with Urbanity Dance, Jerusalem Dance Theater, Inside Out Contemporary Ballet, La Manufacture, l’Ecole Professionnelle Supérieure de l’Enseignement de la danse, and Ballet North Texas. Rossi currently lives in Oita, Japan.
Linda Steele II - BELOVED Choreographer & Dancer
Linda Steele II, may she rest in peace, passed away suddenly in 2024. A beloved improvisational dance artist, movement creator, and storyteller Linda was formally trained in various movement languages including Western Classical Dance, Jazz, Tap, Flamenco, and Modern. She received her training from Marin Ballet and Marin School of the Arts before receiving her BFA from Dominican University of CA where she also studied Art History. Linda performed original works by Alonzo King, Drew Jacoby, Maurya Kerr's tinypistol, Sidra Bell, Katie Faulkner, LEVYdance, Inside Out Contemporary Ballet, Capacitor Performance SF, Mathis Reed Dance, dazaun.dance, and Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble, among others.
Linda II presented her movement in various festivals and art events including Ebony Magazine's renowned Ebony Fashion Fair. As a movement creator, she created numerous dance works/offerings, studied and choreographed dance for film and performed internationally with Urban Jazz Dance Company, Quimera Tribe, Corina Kinnear and others. She was always deeply grateful to have met and collaborated with such amazing artists. During the covid-19 pandemic, Linda studied at the University of Puerto Rico where she worked towards a Masters degree in Linguistics. Linda served as Executive Assistant for the Oakland Symphony prior to her passing. Her journey continues…
COLLABORATORS
LISA BOLING HUNTSMAN – Set Designer
BEN JUODVALKIS – Composer/Musician
MARK JANES – Interactive Lighting Designer
JEWEL MATHIESON – Poet/Dancer
RICK DAVIS - Videographer
TED HELMINSKI - Videographer