Dance Students Selected for Guest Choreographer Residency Program at Barriskill Dance Theatre School

Barriskill Studio Company's professional guest residency program welcomes established choreographers from across the nation. This Spring, choreographic duo Caroline and Katie Pastor '26 joined a roster that includes impressive alumni Christian von Howard, Sean Carmon, and Yaa Samar Dance Theatre, among many others.

Over the course of the weekend, the Pastor sisters auditioned 20 dancers ages 12 to 18, set an original contemporary work, and saw it come to life with a cast of 10 company dancers. For the sisters, who are pursuing a career in choreography together, the experience was a formative professional milestone.

Barriskill's Artistic and Executive Director Mari O'Donnell extended the invite for LMU Dance students to apply, paving a new professional pathway for student artists and the beginning of a meaningful partnership between LMU Communication and Fine Arts and Barriskill Dance Theatre School.

"Caroline and Katie represent an exciting new wave of talent entering the industry whose pedagogy offers a fresh perspective on the teacher-student relationship. Their artistry, combined with a natural ability to connect with students, signals strong professional promise," O'Donnell said.

The sister's philosophy closely mirrors the values upheld by both LMU and Barriskill: that excellence is inseparable from emotional awareness, communication, and mutual respect. "We value the mental and emotional factors of dance just as much as the physical. Our goal is to embody all these characteristics and lead by example in every space we have the privilege of teaching," the sisters explained. "LMU has taught us that we are always students in every space we walk into."

"To us, professionalism in the field means treating everyone, including ourselves, with respect, while striving for greatness," they continued. "We believe there is a healthy balance between pushing yourself to be great while also taking care of yourself, communicating to others, and establishing a level of respect."

Over the past three years at LMU, Caroline and Katie have had the opportunity to explore their choreographic voices individually, studying composition and setting individual works. Their desire to pursue a career in choreography together is rooted in a shared artistic ambition and a deep respect for the collaborative process. Barriskill Dance Theatre School, which offers training in ballet, musical theatre, tap, hip hop, jazz, and contemporary for dancers ages two and a half and up, was the perfect launchpad for the sisters as it shares LMU's emphasis on holistic artist development and community-centered learning.

Artistically, the contemporary work set during the residency reflected the duo's eclectic influences and commitment to stylistic exploration. The sisters cited choreographer Sergio Reis as a major inspiration, particularly his blend of pedestrian, gestural, and innovative movement. "The unique movement vocabulary he has developed is incredibly inspiring as a viewer," they said. "Playing with contemporary, modern, hip hop, and jazz, he takes inspiration from many different styles."

Their openness to cross-genre dialogue aligns with Barriskill's multidisciplinary training model and LMU Dance's emphasis on curricular and co-curricular versatility. "Having come from a diverse dance background, we also tend to push ourselves to take inspiration from as many styles as we can," the Pastors explained. "Our work mostly focuses on the beautiful mix between contemporary, jazz, and hip hop, but we never limit ourselves."

As the first artists to participate in Barriskill's guest residency program, the Pastors set a strong foundation for future student residencies. "We hope to continue to build a relationship with Barriskill Dance Theatre School, rooted in shared values, mutual learning, and the belief that dance education thrives through collaboration across institutions," says LMU Dance Chair Taryn Vander Hoop.