Maiya Caldwell was a gymnast and soccer player before discovering her interest in dance and theatre. In college, she trained with and later became a teaching assistant for Jeaunitta Olôwe in African Dance Forms and Teresa VanDenend-Sorge in modern dance. In 2022, after graduating from Northern Kentucky University with a BFA in Dance, she completed a summer semester at Yonsei University (연세 대학교) in Seoul, South Korea, where she had the opportunity to train in Hip-hop and Jazz/contemporary and commercial styles. In addition to DCDC2, Maiya choreographs and dances in the Greater Cincinnati Area, contributing to local theatrical productions and modern dance projects. 

Taylor Knighton, a native of Dallas, Texas, began her formal dance training at Dallas Black Dance Academy and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts under the direction of Kate Walker. After her high school training, Taylor received her BFA in Dance from Johns Hopkins University. She has also studied at the Ate9 Dance Intensive, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the Dash Academy, MODULE|21, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and at the University of South Florida’s Semester in Paris Program. Taylor has performed works by Sidra Bell, Darrell Moultrie, Meghan Lou, Aszure Barton, Kevin Iega Jeff, Dolly Sfier, and Bernard Brown.   

Taylor explores movement in all its forms, seeking to discover an understanding of the world through her artistry. Strong faith and the experiences of life influence the work she creates and performs. She is inspired by the freedom that dance can bring and aims to impact all communities in a positive way by sharing the joy and peace that dance can offer.   

Macy Perry is a recent graduate from Wright State University, where she received her BFA in dance. She is currently an apprentice with CPR Dance; Inhale Movement and toured around Michigan with the company. Macy’s choreography, “What Comes From Within,” has been performed through Dayton Dance Initiative at Art in the City. Her piece was also adjudicated to be performed at Wright State University’s Spring Dance Concert alongside works by Ray Mercer, Jennifer Sydor, and Gina Walther. During her time at Wright State, she was able to work with choreographers, Hannah Williamson, Kiki Lucas, Teresa Wylie-McWilliams, Jennifer Sydor, and Gina Walther. She is also a 200 hour certified yoga teacher through Eternal Yoga. She is so excited to be joining DCDC as a second company member.

Ansley Seiffert is from Alexandria, Virginia where she grew up training at the Washington School of Ballet under Septime Webre and Metropolitan School of the Arts under Jacqueline Doherty, Sara Hart and Roger Jeffrey. She is a 2020 graduate of The Academy at Metropolitan School of the Arts where she trained in dance, theater, and voice. In 2024, she graduated cum laude and high distinction from Butler University with her BFA in Dance Performance and minor in Creative Media and Entertainment. As a member of Butler Ballet, she performed many notable roles in classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker. She also performed in a variety of soloist roles in contemporary works choreographed by David Ingram, Derek Reid, and Ramón Flowers including Atomikós, Swingin, and Noir et Blanc. In addition, she has performed in various Musical Theater Productions such as Pippin with Butler Theater. Ansley received distinction certifications from the Royal Academy of Dance and has trained at various summer programs including American Ballet Theater in NYC, The Donald Byrd Workshop, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Kennedy Center Dance Lab, The Washington Ballet, Water Street Dance Festival, and BOUNCE! She has performed in Pictures at an Exhibition as a featured dancer for The Reach at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra choreographed by Hope Boykin. While Ansley loves to perform, her passions to create and collaborate with other artists have led to new aspirations for teaching and choreographing. Her most recent work, At A Loss, premiered at Butler University in 2024. If you can’t find Ansley in the studio, you can catch her at the movie theater, taking a stroll along the water, or spending time with her family and friends. Ansley is very excited to start her new journey with DCDC2 this season!

Bella Schwartz (she/her) joined DCDC2 in 2024. She is from Santa Rosa, California, where she received her foundational dance training in ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, and tap dance styles. In high school, she focused on her ballet technique under the direction of Tamara Grose at Classical and Contemporary Dance Academy. She has spent summers enhancing her dance training at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Ballet West, and American Ballet Theater. She then moved to Indianapolis to study at Butler University, where she recently graduated Cum Laude in May 2024 with a BFA in Dance Performance. At Butler, Bella was honored to perform soloist and ensemble roles in modern and contemporary dance works by notable faculty members, including Idyllwild by Susan McGuire, Vróchos, Gnostós and Chaménos by David Ingram, and Duality Derivatives by Derek Reid. Her involvement in several collaborative choreographic projects led by David Ingram, her professor and mentor, shaped the development of Bella's artistic voice and challenged her understanding of the creative process.

Bella also performed demi-soloist and corps de ballet roles in classical ballets presented by Butler Ballet, including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Giselle, and The Firebird. She received a Performance Award in her final year at Butler University for her versatility and depth of character development. As an artist, Bella values the exploration of genuine human connection and emotion through movement, which inspired the creation of her own work, Factors of Self, as a senior choreographic capstone performance. When she is not in the studio, the enjoys dancing on the wall as a rock climber and exploring national parks. She is very excited to be embarking upon her first season with the company.

Brittni Van Dine (she/her) began dancing at the age of three at Central Texas Ballet Conservatory. She graduated summa cum laude from The Ohio State University in 2022 with a BS in health sciences and again in 2024 with a BFA in dance. Throughout her years, she has attended several intensives with American Ballet Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, Doug Varone, Carmel Dance Festival, and Visceral Dance Chicago. Her artistic emphasis is in exploring movement playfully and honestly with empathy and child-like abandon, as well as considering what it means to be human as an artist in various communities. Guided by love and compassion, and with tremendous support from friends and family, Brittni feels blessed and eager to see where her journey takes her as a young scholar, artist, and empathetic being.