Meet the Directors
*Photo by Luk Creative
Sadie Brown
SADIE BROWN started dance at a young age in her hometown, Evansville, IN. From there she attended training programs at Boston Ballet and Harid Conservatory. Upon graduating high school, Sadie was handpicked by Patricia Barker to join Grand Rapids Ballet where she performed lead roles such as Juliet in a world premiere by Mario Radacovsky. This role took her to Austria where she guested in Ballet Bratislava’s production of Romeo and Juliet. After 3 seasons with Grand Rapids Ballet, Sadie signed a contract with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in January 2013. Here she enjoyed a full career dancing on some of the greatest stages around the globe and performing works by leading choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Jorma Elo, Nicolo Fonte, Alejandro Cerrudo, Cayetano Soto, and Fernando Melo. Upon the dissolution of ASFB, Sadie took on the position of rehearsal assistant at The Boulder Ballet.
Sadie continues to push her own artistry on the stage as a freelance dancer performing with companies such as Cirio Collective, Lemon Sponge Cake, and Aspen Santa Fe Ballet; and off the stage as a stager for choreographers such as Ben Needham-Wood, Jorma Elo, Andrea Schermoly, and Nicolo Fonte.
*Performance photo by Rosalie O’Connor, Headshot by Tyler Stableford
Ben Needham-Wood
BEN NEEDHAM-WOOD is an EMMY Award-winning choreographer, filmmaker, and dance educator. Ben currently serves as Artistic Director for the Boulder Ballet in Boulder, CO. This appointment followed a 12-year performance career dancing primarily with the Louisville Ballet, Smuin Contemporary Ballet, and Amy Seiwert’s Imagery. As a performer Ben was honored to receive two Isadora Duncan Dance Award nominations and recognition from the New York Times. Ben graduated magna cum laude and holds a BFA in Ballet from the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, OH.
Ben’s choreography has been presented nationally by professional companies, TV networks, commercial airlines, film festivals, and galas. In 2018, Ben and his long-time collaborator, Weston Krukow, co-created the dance film BaseBallet: Into the Game, which was awarded 4 Northern-California Area EMMY Awards and recognized by film festivals across the country. This feature was preceded by the short film, BaseBallet, which was also recognized with a regional EMMY Award and was later exhibited at the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Ben was the first appointed Artistic Fellow of Amy Seiwert’s Imagery in 2018. Two years later he founded his own company, Redirecting Dance, in order to produce works that amplify critical social issues and inspire empathy. Through his company Ben has been closely studying the impacts of movement on mental health. This research continues to inform his work as a choreographer and leader in the performing arts.
*Performance photo by Chris Hardy, Headshot by Maximilian Tortoriello