SHANNON COMERFORD
Shannon Comerford, who grew up in Amelia, VA, got her start dancing at Joy’s School of Dance. She continued her dance education at Radford University and graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance in 2015. While at Radford, she performed in many main stage productions, as well as at the New York Jazz Choreography Project and served as an apprentice for d a n a h b e l l a DanceWorks. Since graduating, Shannon has danced as a guest dancer for local RVA and DMV artists and was a company member with RVA Dance Collective for several years. Through her time with the company she worked with several notable choreographers including Eric Rivera, Miguel Perez, LaWanda Raines, Vicki Fink and Kelly Bartnik. In addition to performing Shannon has a huge passion for choreography and teaching. She loves creating and continuing to help nurture and cultivate other dancers’ journeys. Shannon joined SFD in 2022.
MOLLY HUEY
Molly Huey, originally from Pennsylvania, is a dance artist, videographer, and media artist, among other things. They perform, choreograph, teach, capture, create, and recreate often. Molly has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance, specializing in performance and choreography, and a Bachelor of Arts in communication, graduating from Slippery Rock University in 2019. A few highlights include performing on the Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Stage with ACDA selected works, at the Joyce Theater in New York for the University Partner’s Showcase, the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh for PearlArt’s 3600 Seconds of Solos, at Dixon Place in New York for WhiteWave’s SoloDuo Festival, at Schenley Park for Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s Open Air series, in Brooklyn Bridge Park with Currents (take.6), and in Philadelphia for the Koresh Artist Showcase. They look forward to exploring more stages. Molly is the Media Specialist at Richmond Ballet and joined Starr Foster Dance in 2022.
MADISON ERNSTES
Madison Ernstes, born in China and raised in Richmond, Virginia, began her dance training at Dancers’ Studio and later danced competitively at Dance Destination. She continued her dance journey at the University of Richmond where she served as both a member of and company captain for the Department of Theatre and Dance’s company, University Dancers. She was also a member of the Department’s Electrics Crew. Additionally, she choreographed two original dance works that premiered in University Dancers’ Annual Concerts. After graduating with a BA in Dance and BS in Biology in 2020, Madison attended Radford University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in May 2023. She is currently working with Fox Rehabilitation in Richmond, VA. Madison joined SFD in 2023.
Roya Baker-Vahdani
Roya Baker-Vahdani began her dance training at the age of three with Dance Fremont in Seattle, Washington, under the direction of Artistic Directors Vivian Little and Mary Reardon, where she danced until the age of seventeen. From 2018 to 2020, Roya trained under Artistic Director Megan Philipp at the State Street Ballet Professional Training Program in Santa Barbara, California, and then danced for Columbia Classical Ballet in Columbia, South Carolina, under the direction of Radenko Pavlovich from 2020 to 2021. Roya moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 2021 to join Stavna Ballet, where she danced under the Artistic Direction of Shannon Hunter McConville for two seasons. Roya guested with Starr Foster Dance for two seasons and joined the company in 2025. In addition to dancing, Roya works with Early Autism Services as a behavioral technician while completing her BA in psychology.
Sarah Carrington
Sarah Carrington is a dance artist and educator from Richmond, Virginia. She began her training at the age of five and now holds a BA in dance as well as a pre-K through 12 dance education license from James Madison University. While studying at JMU, Sarah trained under Ryan Corriston, Suzanne Miller-Corso, Matt Pardo, Darla Stanley, Joyce Yagerline and was able to connect with and study under many dance companies. Sarah works full time as a preK teacher and dance teacher. She has a great love of spreading the joy of movement to young folx. Sarah guest danced with SFD in SPITTING IMAGE 3 and joined the company in 2025.
GUEST PERFORMERS For the premiere of MERCY
Cassidy Kinney
Cassidy Kinney (Guest Artist) grew up in Wisconsin, where she trained at North Shore Dance Studio for 15 years. Following a summer at Interlochen Center for the Arts, she pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, graduating from George Mason University in 2016. After graduation, she taught dance while interning at the Kennedy Center, kickstarting her love of managing performances and events. Cassidy then moved to New York where she managed tours of performance companies like Ballet Hispanico, Farruquito, Hong Kong Ballet, and Pilobolus. This work allowed for many adventures on the road, even to Norway and Dubai. In a classic pandemic pivot, Cassidy found an adjacent passion in planning corporate events that give back to local nonprofits. She is loving getting to make a difference, while also finding her way back to the stage with Starr Foster Dance.
Danielle Cecile
Danielle Cecile (Guest Artist) grew up dancing. She had the opportunity to train at a multitude of places, including Joffrey Ballet School in NYC. While she was attending Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts, with a focus on dance, she was given the opportunity to intern with MalayaWorks and Johnnie Cruise Mercer/TheREDproject. During her undergrad years, she was a member of Virginia Tech’s Fusion Dance Team and was previously a guest with Starr Foster Dance in 2018. Most recently, Danielle was a part of RVA Dance Collective through Dogtown Dance Theater.
Kayla Xavier
Kayla Xavier (Guest Artist), LMT, received her BFA in Dance + Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her professional career began in Denver, CO, with Louder Than Words Dance. Under the direction of Chris Harris, Breathe, she performed at the Newman Center for the Arts and then danced with 3rd Law Dance Theater, which resided at The Dairy Performing Arts Center. She has also performed with DNR: Bloodlust, Between the Bones, Whiteny Waugh Dance Company, and Maedee Dupre Dance. Once she returned to Richmond, she danced with RVA Dance Collective at Dogtown Dance Theatre, where she created Twitterpation: A Dance Film, Toilet Humor, and Midnight Margaritas, which appeared in the Richmond Dance Festival. Her musical theater credits include Mamma Mia (Virginia Rep), The Great Gatsby (Quill Theatre), and tick, tick...BOOM! and Alter Boys (Swift Creek Mill). She is the recipient of the 2024 RTCC Award for her choreography with 5th Wall Theatre’s H*tler’s Tasters.
Meredith Rainhart
Meredith Rainhart (Guest Artist) began dancing at the age of 3 in Colorado Springs where she was born and raised until the age of 11. She continued her training, focusing on ballet, at the Fairfax Ballet Company after moving to Fairfax VA. There she also studied modern, including rehearsing and performing Airs and Icarus excerpts, choreographed by Paul Taylor and set by Constance Dinapoli. Meredith has since moved to Richmond and is earning her Bachelor’s in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as minors in Chemistry and Dance + Choreography. In addition to dancing with the VCU dance department where she met Starr, she dances with the Fan Dance Company at VCU and has choreographed works for their spring dance showcase two years in a row. Meredith also works as a patient transport tech at VCU Health and leads a sustainability group at VCU.
Sophia Smith
Sophia Smith (Guest Artist/SFD Intern) is a modern dancer based in Richmond, Virginia. She trained worldwide, from Japan to Bahrain, before earning a degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Dance + Choreography at Virginia Commonwealth University. Sophia has performed with the Richmond Shakes in their production of Dr. Faustus and is in her 2nd year interning with Starr Foster Dance.
Adria Applebee
Adria Applebee (Guest Artist/SFD Intern), is a dancer and artist originally from Baltimore, Maryland. She moved to Richmond to purse graphic design and dance at Virgina Commonwealth University. She has a background in aerial silks and later transitioned to training in dance at the Community College of Baltimore County. There, she was given the chance to both perform and choreograph a variety of works that were included in annual performances. She graduated with an AFA in dance and was the recipient of the “Great Achievement In Dance” award. Throughout her studies she has had the opportunity to work with many notable artists including Carolyn Dorfman, Runqiao Du, and Natalie Desch in a reconstruction of José Limón’s “Chaconne.”
photo coming soon
Jayden Bidle
Jayden Bidle (Guest Artist) is a Richmond-based dance artist, educator, and visual creator with a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. Rooted in a deep passion for movement, anatomy, and community, she teaches a wide range of styles including modern, ballet, jazz, musical theatre and contact improvisation, working with students of all ages. Jayden is also a certified barre instructor and a certified Elemental Body Alignment System level 1 instructor with multiple years of practice. She is also a visual artist with a growing portfolio of paintings and multimedia work, and a mentor to young dancers. Through residencies, scholarships, and volunteer service, she continues to build a creative life grounded in intuition, curiosity, and care for others.
