| DON FLORES Don is on his second year with Moveo as a member and beginning his role as a Featured Choreographer. Self taught for three years, Don’s background in dance lies heavily in freestyle forms of hip hop including popping and locking. He appreciates lyrical and contemporary forms of dance, but his passion lies in hip hop styles. He says “I enjoy smooth moves, isolation, and all the old school hip hop styles.” Don’s other passions include animation and photography. He earned his undergrad from the Art Institute of Portland and currently works at Laika, an animation studio in Northwest Portland. Don enjoys recreational sports such as dodge ball and ultimate Frisbee; “you know, the real sports . . . oh, and I like giving high fives!” |
| LAUREN FLORES Lauren is part of Moveo’s full-time repertoire company. Though this is Lauren’s second year with the company, she has been training since the age of seventeen. She was able to take back her teaching career after putting it on hold to more seriously concentrate on establishing herself as a dancer. Lauren loves lyrical and hip hop because “I feel they most accurately represent my personality.” Lauren continues to strive to reach her fullest potential as a dancer. She wants to “learn to dance for myself first, and hopefully move some people with my dancing along the way.” Lauren is also the owner of two businesses; a traveling dance program for young children as well as a photography business with her husband Don. She loves sports and traveling and says she is open to try anything at least once. |
| BRIAN BAKER Brian – aka, Mighty – is on his second year with the Moveo Performing Company as a hip hop company member. As a b-boy, Brian brings with him over ten years of free style and performing experience. He is most passionate about b-boying, but has also recently developed an interest for other styles such as popping, locking, house, and other forms of hip hop. He says he is also developing an interest in free movement and lyrical variations of hip hop styles. Brian wishes to expand his repertoire of styles and “become comfortable in dancing in styles that I am not used to.” Brian is a double major in Marketing and Advertising at Portland State University and spends his spare time developing his skills as a DJ. He looks forward to creating “friendships and bonds with the company members” and hopes to get everyone into a cipher “and go until we drop.” |
| MINDY KOBATA Mindy – aka, Koala – is beginning her first year with Moveo as a member of the part-time hip hop company. Mindy has been doing hip hop for the past year and also has many years of experience in tap and ballroom. Mindy is excited to gain more experience in hip hop with the company and wishes to improve overall as a performer. Mindy attends Portland State University and enjoys cooking, playing tennis, and riding her dirt bike in her spare time. |
| VALERIE DITCHFIELD Valerie Ditchfield is entering her first year with Moveo as a part-time hip hop company member. Valerie, who has been dancing since the age of five, enjoys lyrical, jazz, and hip hop the most. She says, “There is a breadth of knowledge and experience between the directors and company members. My goal is to take full advantage of this and absorb as much as I can, and dance as much as I can!” Valerie works from home as an executive child maintenance engineer and in her free time enjoys sewing and spending time with her family. |
More bios coming soon!
- Sadie Knights
- Kacey Hristov
- Kayla Picket
- Whitley Hamilton
- Gabriela Portuguez
