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.”
