2520 Harris, Eugene, OR 97405 -- 541-342-2859

Geni Morrow, Director of the EDGE

Geni has a 28 year teaching/dancing background which is as varied as it is extensive.

As a teacher she has coached gymnastics throughout Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii, as well as at the prestigious National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics. She decided to combine her dance and gymnastics experience and founded The EDGE in 1992.

As a performer she has danced with Lifters, Inc., the 5 by 2 Dance Co., University of Alaska, the Jones-Ludin Dance Company, the Eugene Jazz Company, Oregon Coast Ballet Company, San Nicholas and Company, and Mary Seereiter. She was Associate Director for the Newport Performing Arts production of “DANCEFORUM.” She is the producer of “Dance for a Reason”, an annual benefit for local charitable organizations.

Amalia Coxe-Trieger

Amalia fell in love with dance when she first found The EDGE. Later joined the EDGE Performance performance Group in 2000 where she experienced the LCC and Hult Center stage through Dance for a Reason. She continues to dance locally; exploring choreography, modern and jazz.

Having competed for several years as a gymnast, Amalia has a strong background in tumbling and is currently an instructor at Bounce Gymnastics. When she isn’t teaching, Amalia takes circus arts classes (climbing the aerial silks is her favorite) bakes up a storm and plays Super Heroes with her twin boys, Ari & Leo, now four. This is her fourth year on staff, and second year as the Pre EDGE Director

Lindsey Shields

Born and raised in Southern Maine, Lindsey started her dance education and training at the age of two in her mother's dance studio, The Turning Point Dance Center. Growing up only an hour from Boston, Lindsey's training was not limited to her mother's studio; she has trained all over the world (in cities as far as Tokyo, Japan) with masters including Jeannette Neill, Tamsin Kemos, Al Gilbert, Mia Michael, Suzi Taylor, Wendy Gibson, Gil Stroming, Tom Logan, and Joe Lanteri.

Lindsey's background includes a strong knowledge of technique in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, musical theatre, creative movement, lyrical, contemporary, and acrobatics. With over 15-years of teaching experience, she has taught students as young as two and as old as 80. Lindsey has strong performance knowledge on both competitive and recreational levels and has received many national awards for her choreography and talents (including top scores for choreography at regional NYCDA, ADA, and Dancers Inc. competitions). She was first runner-up at the IMTA convention as entertainer-of-the-year in New York City for dance, modeling, and on-screen acting. She has been involved with the training of professional models, performance classes, stage makeup for both dancers and models, on-screen acting, and training young dancers to make the most of their talents.

Lindsey moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2007 hoping to share her knowledge and East Coast style with the many studios in the Eugene area. Since she has been here she has performed and provided choreography for both Dance North West and Kings Krew, taken over the Body and Soul School of Dance when their current owner passed away in a car accident, and has taught for many dance studios in the area including Musical Feet, The Edge, Eugene Ballet Academy, Body and Soul, and the Amazon Community Center.

As the new instructor for the Edge Performance groups, she is very excited for the 2009 season. She is truly passionate about her job and will always provide her students with a loving environment, honesty and a continued and updated education in the arts field.

Julia Gingerich began dancing at the age of three. Ever since, with many thanks to her Grandpa who faithfully took her to dance classes, she has been an avid devotee of the expression, creativity and joy that dance explores. Now Julia is an eager performer, choreographer and teacher. She has trained primarily with Allegro Dance Studio, Willamette Ballet Academy, The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre, and The University of Arizona School of Dance.

Recently Julia graduated from Western Oregon University as a dance major and has performed at the American College Dance Festival and the Dance Coalition of Oregon. Additionally, Julia had been an active freelance artist in the realm of musical theatre, liturgical dance and art outreach programs. Originally from Canby, Oregon, Julia is new to the Eugene/Springfield area and fall 2010 will be her first season with the Edge.

Mara Bateman is a native Oregonian and lifelong dancer. She began her formal dance training at the age of three at the Newport School of Artistic Movement, and continued with Donna Blatt-Ervin at Modern Dance Technique and at the Regional School of Ballet after relocating to Corvallis in 1999.

Mara recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Dance. While at the University she was a member of the University of Oregon Repertory Dance Company for two seasons and performed at the American College Dance Festival, as well as dancing in numerous other projects with faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students. In 2007 she was one of the first three recipients of the Lotta Carll Dance Scholarship.

Last year Mara was a member of Valerie Ifill’s Ifilldance, the resident modern dance company at The Reach Center.

Mara recently attended Bates Dance Festival at Bates College in Maine where she had the opportunity to study with some amazing performers, choreographers, and teachers active in the contemporary modern dance field.

This is Mara’s first season as a member of The Edge community.