Connected Movement with ASL Teachers

JilLian Foley

Jillian Foley is from Niskayuna, NY where she trained with Northeast Ballet Company, graduated from The Hartt School with a BFA in Ballet Pedagogy and two minors in Psychology and Performing Arts Management. There, she trained in both contemporary and classical styles and was able to travel to Amsterdam for the Julidans Festival in 2016. Jillian founded the Hartford Dance Collective in 2017, a nonprofit all-female contemporary dance company that’s goal is to bridge the gap between dance and the community. With the Collective, she has curated unique performances all over the Northeast and hosted community classes. In the past three years, the Collective has worked with members of the Limon Company, Doug Varone and Dancers, Merce Cunningham Trust, the Radio City Rockettes, and the NBA Brooklynettes. Jillian is currently a freelance dance artist and performs frequently with Amy Marshall Dance Company. She has also had experience working administratively with Schoen Movement Company, Dance Devise Lab, and Joffrey Ballet School. Jillian is the chief operating officer at Hartford music studio, Parkville Sounds, and recently produced a music tv show, ‘The Parkville Sessions’, which premiered on CPTV/PBS in October 2018. Exploring music and dance collaboration, Jillian has choreographed for Portland Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Hartt Opera. Jillian is currently an adjunct professor, teaching dance at The Hartt School Theatre and Vocal divisions.

Jillian joined CTIA’s Artistic Advisory Committee in 2019 and helped design and teach several featured dance routines with CTIA students during the 2019/2020 season. In February, Jillian hosted the entire cast of CTIA’s Believe program at The Hartford Dance Collective in preparation for the show’s finale - the highlight of CTIA’s season, in light of the pandemic that hit shortly afterwards.

JULIE SHARP

Julie Sharp is a freelance Sign Language Interpreter working in CT and MA. She has over 10 years of experience working in numerous settings, including K-12 and post-secondary education, medical, mental health, corporate, and performance interpreting. Julie was heavily involved in CT Inclusive Art’s pilot program in the spring of 2019 supporting students in classes and in SPARC’s LIVE ART performance in Richmond, VA. Julie currently serves as CTIA’s Director of ASL and was a Lead Teacher for CTIA’s Sign Language Choir in the 2019/2020 program year. In 2019 she completed an intensive performance interpreter training in Nashville, TN and has been one of CTIA’s greatest champion!

In her prior life, Julie was a paramedic in New York City, serving lower Manhattan for 10 years. After treating numerous Deaf patients, she realized it was time to go back to school to become a certified ASL interpreter. She was thrilled to eventually make the move back to CT, where she grew up and her love of sign language and the Deaf Community had begun 25 years prior. When she isn’t working, she can be found spending time with her 3 sons, family and friends, at the gym, or with her dog, Bella.

Robert Reader

Robert is no stranger to the Hartford arts scene. He is currently the Executive Director for the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus which he co-founded in 2012. He held the position of Education Programs Manager at Hartford Stage for 13 years prior to the pandemic. He has had extensive teaching experience in New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. For over 25 years, he has served in the capacity of instructor and choreographer for numerous award-winning high school marching bands and color guard programs. Robert has been a national adjudicator representing Winter Guard International for a variety of programs that incorporate creativity, instruction, and educational values. He served on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Dance Alliance from 2008-2015. He was the recipient of the 2012 Barry Award for outstanding service and dedication to Hartford Stage.

Robert is a champion of inclusive programing also serving as a former Steering Committee Member and Program Partner Liaison to CTIA during their inaugural year. Prior to this time Robert also worked with Unified Theater supporting student leaders in high schools across the state.