Symposium 2024 Artists

Noble Blades

Session – Stage Combat

https://www.nobleblades.org/

The D.C. area’s premier professionally trained and community-based stage combat troupe.

We promote the education and production of safe, historically accurate and compelling storytelling through dramatic conflict, consent and stage combat throughout the community and the arts.

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Colin Ruffer

Session – Singing with Mr. Ruffer

https://www.colinruffer.com/

Colin Ruffer, Assistant Professor of Theater at CNU, specializes in Musical Theatre singing. Performance highlights include Into the Woods, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Falsettos, Cinderella, Fiddler On the Roof, Oklahoma!, Lil’ Abner, Anything Goes, Once Upon a Mattress and many more. Ruffer has also performed as a soloist with the Toledo Symphony, Troy Symphony, and at Boston’s Symphony Hall. Most recently, Ruffer wrote, directed and performed a solo cabaret that explored the trope of “Heroes and Villains” as portrayed in traditional American Musical Theatre. Portraying well-known characters ranging from Princes & Princesses to evil dentists and sassy sea witches, the material showcased Ruffer’s work with vocal cross-training and defied the norms of voice type, gender and musical limitations.

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Richmond Urban Dance

Session – Hip Hop

https://www.richmondurbandance.com/

RUD started in 2015 with nothing more than a boombox, a few 8 counts of choreo, an open street corner and a desire to spark a new passion for dance in the city. Holding weekly street sessions in any open space available it quickly caught wind and sparked a fire that is still burning today. Currently located at The House. in Carver, right outside of VCU, RUD functions both as a top notch training facility as well as a ministry with a heavy focus on outreach. Their mission is To bring street style into the studio and showcase the raw talent and passion found in our community. To reflect our core values and create a positive and safe space for our dancers to grow their talents and become contributing members of our community.

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Jim Morgan

Session – Monologue and How 2B a RVA Actor

Appearing on various Richmond stages for the last 35 years, Jim Morgan has pursued his passion for performing since high school. He has appeared in plays and musicals, as well as provided voiceovers and appeared in a few small film projects. Some of his favorite roles in Richmond have included: FrankNFurter in The Rocky Horror Show, Gomez Addams in The Addams Family, Leading Player in Pippin, Ned Weeks in The Normal Heart, Nathan Detriot in Guys and Dolls, and Jimmy Rae in Bright Star. He graduated from the University of Richmond and recently finished his 18 years teaching students from grades 2-12. He works part-time for StoryCorps where he collects conversations and stories that bring out the humanity in us all while he is building a personal wellness business.

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V Cangelosi

Session – Tap

V Cangelosi (she/they) is a dance artist from Centreville, Virginia. She trained with
Centreville Dance Academy under the guidance of Heidi Stafford, locally renowned
rhythm tap artist. V continued their dance education with Shenandoah University,
graduating in 2022 with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography. At SU, she
performed works with Matt Pardo, Tiffanie Carson, and Daniel Padierna, as well as
guest artists Sidra Bell and Contra Tiempo.
V has been choreographing works and instructing dance classes since 2018, including
with Universal Dance Association. She now leads classes with 804 Dance Place and
performs with Conflux Dance Theater, Dogwood Dance Project, and Polymath
Performance Project alongside Charlie Maybee.

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Kasey Brown

Session – Costume Props / Cuts and Bruises

kccostumedesign.com

Kasey Brown – Costume Designer: Kasey Brown is currently in her final year as a MFA Candidate for costume design. Her recent work includes designing Something Rotten! at Dogwood Dell and the brand new production of Snow Maiden at Synetic Theater in Arlington Virginia. Other credits include working as the costume design assistant on Once on this Island at Constellation Theater and Kinky Boots at Onley Theater. She is currently designing Fireflies at LiveArts and assisting on The Nance at 1st Stage!

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Bridge 9 Theatre

Session – Improv

https://www.bridge9theater.com/

Rachel Garmon-Williams – Founder

Rachel has been performing Improv since 2004. Working with troupes in Richmond and DC from ComedySportz, to Music team, duo, and more. 

They are the founder and creator of the first Sensory Friendly Improv show and work to make improv accessible to all. Recently they were named a Top 40 under 40 in Style Weekly Magazine