Since starting Zenon in 1983, Linda has earned accolades for developing the company’s unique modern and jazz aesthetic by commissioning repertory works from such choreographers as Bebe Miller, Dwight Rhoden, Bill T. Jones, Bill Young, Llory Wilson, Joe Goode, Stephanie Skura, David Dorfman, Doug Varone, Danny Buraczeski, Daniel Rousseve, Cathy Young, Keely Garfield, Johannes Wieland, Seán Curran, Colleen Thomas and Andrea Miller. She studied at the Martha Graham School, Alvin Ailey Dance Center, the Juilliard School, and with Alvin Nikolais, Lynn Simonson and Merce Cunningham. She holds a degree in dance and drama from Hollins College in Virginia. Linda has taught dance and creative movement since 1972, and has developed Zenon Dance School into a recognized training center for vocational and professional dancers. She is the mother of two amazing daughters, Laura and Lily, and lives in St. Louis Park with her two cats, Ollie and Jack.
Mary Ann Bradley, Company
“lithe and lovely” — Minnpost.com
Mary Ann joined Zenon in September 2005. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, she received her B.A. in Dance from Point Park University in 1997. She was a member of JAZZDANCE! by Danny Buraczeski for four years and a founding member of TU Dance. Mary Ann has also appeared in works by the Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Dance Theater, Dancing People Company, and Shawn McConneloug. A four time SAGE award nominee, Mary Ann is a 2001 and 2008 recipient of the McKnight Fellowship for Dancers. She also received an honorable mention from the Star Tribune for 2005 Artist of the Year and was named City Pages Best Dancer of 2005.
Tamara Ober, Company
“charmingly rambunctious” — Star Tribune
Tamara has been with Zenon since 2002. She received a BFA in Dance and BA in Sociology from the University of Minnesota in 2001. Tamara has consulted in the development of programs for the Northrop Auditorium, ICLA masters program in Austria, and Perpich Center for Arts Education in collaboration with the Walker Art Center’s Out There series. In 2009 she created the critically acclaimed multidisciplinary solo show “Pipa” which toured throughout the United States and Canada, as well as Budapest, and was awarded Montreal Fringe Festival’s Runner up for Best English Language Production. Tamara is also the recipient of a 2009 SAGE Award for outstanding performer, a City Pages 2009 Artist of the Year, and Metro Magazine’s 2011 Keeper Award.
Leslie O’Neill, Company
“the grace and discipline to execute each movement flawlessly” — Howwastheshow.com
Leslie has danced with Zenon since 2006. She began her formal training at the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay in 1998 and received her BFA from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Leslie was a member of Carl Flink’s Black Label Movement from 2005 until 2009. She has also performed the work of Maggie Bergeron and Company, Emilie Plauche-Flink, Rosy Simas, Ray Terrill, Kaori Kenmotsu, Robert Haarman, and Robin Stiehm’s Dancing People Company. Leslie was nominated for a 2009 SAGE Award for Outstanding Performer. Her piece Trigger was named by the Star Tribune as one of the “Top 5 Arts and Entertainment Highlights of 2009.” Leslie was awarded a McKnight Fellowship for Dance in 2010.
Stephen Schroeder, Company
“breathes a softness and vulnerability into his solo that’s utterly beguiling” — Star Tribune
Stephen has performed with Zenon since 2001 and also danced locally with ARENA Dances, Minnesota Dance Theater, TU Dance, Nautilus Music Theater and the Minnesota Opera. In addition, he acts as Technical Coordinator for Zenon and holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Colorado-Boulder. “Hands down the best part of life so far is my wonderful wife.”
Laura Selle Virtucio, Company
“a generous presence, strength she can modulate from explosion to feather with catlike grace” -MNartists.org
Laura Selle Virtucio is in her third year with Zenon Dance Company and has been performing professionally since 1999. She began movement training as an athlete in Sioux Falls, SD and holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota. She also performs with Shapiro and Smith Dance where she teaches Company repertory across the country. She has performed recently with Black Label Movement and was a company member of Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater for a decade. Laura received a 2007 McKnight Fellowship for Dancers, a 2007 SAGE Award for Performance, and recognition as Best Dancer in 2001 by City Pages. Laura has served as adjunct dance faculty at the University of Minnesota, Gustavus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, and the Bates Youth Dance Festival in Maine.
Gregory Waletski, Company
“incomparable style, poise and humor” — Howwastheshow.com
The Minnesota native is in his 20th season with Zenon. Greg has also performed with Wynn Fricke’s Borrowed Bones, Cathy Young Dance and ARENA Dances. In 2000 he was awarded a McKnight Fellowship for Dance and was nominated for 2008 and 2011 SAGE Awards for outstanding performer. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College and also works as a commercial salmon fisherman in Alaska and as a DJ at the soul and funk night Hipshaker.
Patrick Jeffrey, Junior Company
Patrick joined Zenon in 2011. He recently received his B.A. in Dance from Gustavus Adolphus. He is a mover and a choreographer. Pat has had pieces produced in Choreographers Gallery: New Horizons, including: “Crawl”, “Broken Ties” and “Flirting with Fire”. He is influenced by Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner, Melissa Rolnick, Jeffrey Peterson and Laura Selle Virtucio, and is also inspired by his family. He is excited about working with Zenon due to the challenging movement and variety of wonderful choreographers.
Tristan Koepke, Junior Company
"addictive to watch" – mnartists.org
Tristan joined Zenon in 2011. While pursuing his BA in Dance form the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, he danced in works of Trisha Brown, José Limón, Colleen Thomas, and Carl Flink, as well as worked with Time Track Productions and the Southern Theater. Since graduating in 2010, he has performed in the works of Morgan Thorson, Chris Schlichting, and ARENA Dances. His summers are often spent at Bates Dance Festival, and when not rehearsing or performing, he can be found practicing yoga and riding around Minneapolis on his bicycle.
Scott Mettille, Junior Company
In his second season with Zenon, Scott holds a BA in Dance from the University of Minnesota. While at the U, he performed works by artists such as Mathew Janczewski’s ARENA Dances, Shapiro and Smith Dance, José Limón, Uri Sands, Colleen Thomas, Laurie Carlos, and Louis Falco. He is in his second year as a company member with Shapiro and Smith Dance and has performed professionally with other local companies.
“the grace and discipline to execute each movement flawlessly” — Howwastheshow.com
“a generous presence, strength she can modulate from explosion to feather with catlike grace” -MNartists.org
“incomparable style, poise and humor” — Howwastheshow.com