The dancers

Talia Ruetenik has been awesome since...well since forever. Her dancing is known across the Virginias, and has been especially noted lately at the Kennedy Center, as well as to and from the Kennedy Center. Her choreography is fantastically silent, and her teaching skills are so rediculously hands-on that you can't not learn something from her. She is constantly a fabulous hostess and is our most efficient leader.

• Fav warm-up music: 80s (Madonna to be specific)
• Fav warm-up move: Good ol' classic Graham-style contractions
• Fav challenge: Grand battement to second with a contraction, a tilt, a twist AND a high-arch

Shuo Chen brings a certain sense of worldliness to Talu. She runs off to China (or Germany, or Chicago, or Blacksburg oh no!) every chance she can get, generally to improve the world, and if we're lucky, she brings back some dance wisdom to us - or awesome fans! Her energy appears endless, and her willingness to dive herself into crazy new positions, trusting Talia and Emma the whole way, is truly inspirational.

• Fav warm-up music: New-age Chinese
• Fav warm-up move: Ticking clock rotating legs (laying on the floor)
• Fav challenge: Making your hands the strongest and most expressive part of your body

Emma Dozier is the only Talu member who didn't go to Tech - she went to an actual liberal arts school and kinda sorta officially studied dance, complete with costume designers and everything, nbd. Emma loves puppies, dolphins, Web nerdiness and chauffering the rest of the company with the help of Lydia, her GPS. She constantly learns from Talia and Shuo's infintely mature wisdom.

• Fav warm-up music: Radiohead! (no, it's not "depressing")
• Fav warm-up move: Contact improv ("Okay, now let's touch each other!")
• Fav challenge: Developpés