Artists

The company dancers collectively share their unique talent and training with local and national audiences by performing the vast repertoire choreographed by Charles. Threads also shares new works by national and international emerging and established choreographers via its Tapestries Program.

Additionally, company artists work as instructors and facilitators for workshops, classes, and other community events.

To inquire about opportunities with the company,  review our professional dance opportunities, or contact Production/Rehearsal Maddy Harper at mharper@threadsdance.org.

  • Dancer

    Fresh from the farm, Karen Christ Aalgaard hails from Lakota, Iowa. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a BFA in Dance. Prior to college she studied under the direction of Michelle Clegg. Karen has been a company member with Threads Dance Project in 2012. She also does her bionic boogie with Analog Dance Works, Vox Medusa and Ruby Josephine Dance Theater. She is a teaching artist throughout the Twin Cities and founder of 43x94 Movement Research.

  • Dancer

    Hunter Batterson is a dancer and arts administrator from Chicago, IL. She received her pre-professional training from The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) before earning a BFA in Dance and minor in History from the University of Minnesota in 2021. Since then, Hunter has performed with Willmeng Dances, Borealis Dance Theatre, Corpus Dance Works, and Kendall Kramer, appearing at the MN Fringe Festival, CANDY BOX Dance Festival, and Bryant Lake Bowl and Theater. She is currently a company member with Threads Dance Project and Concerto Dance.


    Behind the scenes, Hunter has worked administratively with Zenon Dance School, ARENA DANCES, and Northrop, currently serving as the Marketing Coordinator for Platinum Dance.

  • Dancer

    Malia Craft is originally from Hartwell, Georgia and is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in dance, a minor in exercise and sports science, and a certificate in K-12 dance education. Malia has a strong passion for teaching as well as performing. She teaches at several studios throughout the Twin Cities and is currently a company member with Threads Dance Project and Concerto Dance.

  • Dancer

    Adria Edwards had been dancing since the age of four. She has been trained in numerous styles of dancing throughout the years. She was a competitive dancer for eight years with Art of Dance Studio (Minneapolis,MN) and 4th Street Dance Centre (White Bear Lake, MN). She graduated from Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts (Saint Paul, MN) in May 2021. She attended the Alivn Ailey summer intensive (Newy York, NY) in 2022, and most recently completed the Alvin Ailey Independent Studies Program (New York, NY) 2023-2024.

  • Dancer, Rehearsal/Production Manager

    Maddy Harper grew up in Hampton, Minnesota. She took her first dance class at the age of 3 and has been dancing ever since. She studied at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities where she received a BFA in dance with honors. Since then she has performed with Concerto Dance and Analog Dance Works, and has danced with Threads since 2022. Maddy is also passionate about dance education and teaches youth classes at Creo Art and Dance Conservatory. 

  • Dancer

    Sara Karimi is a Wisconsin native and a graduate of the University of Iowa (BFA in Dance Performance, BA in English). National companies and tours include 10,000 Feet Dance Company, The Architects, and Kayle + Co. Twin Cities based performance credits include Borealis Dance Theatre, Dance & Other Behaviors, Rogue & Rabble Dance, and 43X94 Movement Research. She currently dances with Threads Dance Project, Concerto Dance, Rhythmically Speaking and RJDT.

  • Dancer

    Odessa Rain is a freelance dancer from the east coast. She grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and began dancing at age three in a small local studio. Two years later she attended her first dance competition and fell in love with competitive dance before seeking more rigorous ballet training at the Yocum Institute for The Arts. From there she continued her training at The Lehigh Valley Charter High School For The Arts in Bethlehem, PA as a dance major and spent her summers at the Joffrey Ballet School summer intensive in NYC. Odessa attended the Boston Conservatory on merit scholarship where she earned her BFA in contemporary dance performance. During her time at BoCo she was cast in works choreographed by Gregory Dawson, Otis Salid, Jon Ole Olstad, Yury Yanowsky, Zoe Schoefield and Stephanie Martinez. While in Boston Rain danced with companies such as Tilted, Dance Lab and Dance Currents LLC. Since moving to MN she has performed as Freya in “VANAHEIMR” with Fox and Beggar Theatre, performed in Black Label’s “Movers Make,” and joined Minnesota Ballet Collective as a company dancer. She also danced in De Mí Corazón with Amez Dance, which premiered at the Southern Theatre in June. In addition to performing Odessa spends her time teaching at Minneapolis’ Audubon and Northeast recreational centers as well as coaching a competition team with Dance Unlimited.

  • Dancer

    Arcelia Y. Rivera is from River Falls, Wisconsin. She graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a BFA in Dance and a Minor in Art History. While at MNSU, Arcelia studied a variety of dance styles under the instruction of Julie Kerr-Berry, Daniel Stark, and Allison Doughty Marquesen. She was the first dance major in the Department of Theatre and Dance to receive the Toy Wilson Blethen Fine Arts Award. After graduating, Arcelia performed in Valleyfair's premiere season of their dance show, Neon Nights. Since then, she has been involved in projects with Hatch Dance, HoneyWorks, Flying Foot Forum, Contempo Physical Dance (working with Brazilian choreographer, Mário Nascimento), and 8:20 Dance Company. Arcelia is also an instructor at MOMENTum Dance Project and St. Croix Valley Dance Academy, where she continues to pursue her passion for teaching the next generation of movers.