Dance Arts Collaborative - The Artistic Directors

Reina Faith

Reina received her early dance training from Irene Fokine where she was a jazz scholarship recipient and a member of Ms. Fokine's company. Her background was furthered with concentrated study in Boston at Emerson College where she was a member of the contemporary dance company Off-Balance and Moving West. She then moved to New York City where she was a graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is an Equity performer whose many credits include the Off-Broadway production and national tour of The Secret Garden, as well as regional, dance and television work. She has been on faculty at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Summer 2000, where she also choreographed the main stage production of Kiss Me Kate. Her contemporary piece "A Cello Romp" (created for the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS) was performed at the Palm Desert Choreography Festival Under the Stars. Reina was the choreographer and director of the full length dance theatre piece called Fortune Cookie Fortunes based on the book by author Grace Lin for the non profit organization Families With Children From China. She was also proud to have her piece "Kindertransport" based on the Kindertransport of World War II commissioned by the Kindertransport Survivor Society and shown at their annual conference in New Jersey; it was a recipient of a Pennsylvania Humanities Grant through the Children's Cultural Center. Reina has been the Associate Director of Dance at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA where she was one of the choreographers involved in Collaboration, the premiere of a new Jazz Ballet produced by Moravian College at Foy Hall. She was a finalist in the Leo's Jazz Dance Choreography Event at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago Summer 2009, and she is the Artistic Director of the non-profit dance and theatre company Artists in Rhythm, along with her husband Chris.

Photo: James J. Kriegsmann Jr.

Chris Faith

Chris Faith received his Masters Degree in Acting from Brandeis University where he also taught acting in the undergraduate program. Some of his performing credits include the following: New York City, The Secret Garden, Off-Broadway, Like It Is, York Theatre... Regionally, Professional Skepticism, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre (name and play published in Best New Plays of 2002 by Smith & Kraus), "Finch" in How to Succeed in Business..., Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre, "Hero" in A Funny Thing..., American Stage Festival, and numerous productions for the University of Missouri Summer Rep. program... Philadelphia and surrounding area, Mr. Faith has received critical acclaim over the years for his performances at such theatres as the Wilma Theater, the Arden Theatre Company, the People's Light and Theatre Company, and the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. The Philadelphia Weekly has named Faith the "Next Theatrical Star," and he has appeared in American Theatre magazine. In addition to being nominated for three Barrymore Awards, given for outstanding achievement in theatre, Mr. Faith has served as co-host of the annual Barrymore Award ceremony. Recently, he performed opposite Broadway star Linda Eder in a production of a new, Broadway bound musical, The Seduction of Sheila Valentine. "Chris Faith brought down the house with every side-splitting action and well-delivered line." — BroadwayWorld.com Chris has shared his love for theater with children for the past 17 years. He has taught acting and musical theater classes and directed children's shows for the award-winning program at SUNY Purchase in New York, the New Arts Center in Newton, MA, and ACTPAC, located in Jefferson City, MO, where he has also directed young performers in community theater productions. Chris proudly serves as co-artistic director of Dance Arts Collaborative.