About
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Artistic Director, Emily Green, drives the choreographic direction of the company, creating movement that thrives in the tension between control and abandon, the contrast of weight and weightlessness, and the rhythm of effort and ease. Her work is rooted in contemporary dance techniques that are physically grounded but theatrically elevated — where performers hurtle across the stage one moment and land in intimate proximity with the audience the next.
As a queer artist, Emily's connection to the queer dance community has shaped the way she moves, makes, and views the world. It informs her sense of humor, her attention to power dynamics, and her belief in building performance environments where people feel seen. Emily’s work often invites performers to exaggerate — to take up space, lean into character, and subvert expectation.
Five Fifty Dance places collaboration at the heart of the creative process – working closely with collaborators to create choreography that feels like an extension of who they are as people within the landscape that is the movement, direction, and intention of the work. Through character-driven performances and theatricality, Five Fifty Dance creates art about people: their confidence, contradictions, vulnerability, and humor.
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COLLABORATORS
Stories have always held a special place in Eryn Barnes’ heart. At William & Mary, they studied linguistics to fulfill their love of language, and film & media studies so that they could watch movies as homework. Several years and one global pandemic later, Eryn has had the opportunity to perform with theater and dance companies on both coasts including Academy of Villains, the Classical Theater of Harlem, DanceArtTheater, and Pilobolus, and has been in several short films and television shows. They made their debut on Broadway in Chicago in 2022 with the Twenty-Sided Tavern and continue to perform on stage and screen in New York and Washington D.C.
Sarah Coady (she/her) is an educator, dancer, and choreographer. Sarah began her training in ballet (RAD syllabus), modern, and jazz dance at the Dance Workshop of Hanover in Massachusetts. She received her degree from Harvard University, where she performed with and directed the Harvard-Radcliffe Modern Dance Company. In DC, Sarah has performed with Corina Iona Dalzell, Glade Dance Company’s NACHMO, Heart Stück Bernie, the ICONS Choreographic Institute and other local DMV choreographers. Sarah is a co-founder of the Washington, D.C. community based dance collective: The Effervescence Collective.
Annika Dodrill (she/her) is a DC-based dancer and performer. Born and raised in Austin, TX, Annika trained in jazz, ballet, tap, and contemporary styles at Synergy Dance Studio, where she now teaches and choreographs whenever she has the chance. While attending college at Miami University (Oxford, OH) and majoring in Interior Design, she was a dancer, choreographer, and collaborator with the contemporary company Dance Theatre. In DC, Annika has performed with Effervescence Collective, Capitol Movement, Rae Gray Dance Collective, Heart Stück Bernie, and in multiple short works created for NACHMO DC. She also moonlights as a figure skating coach and choreographer in the fall and winter months. In any other free time she is able to find, Annika enjoys cooking, the New York Times puzzle page, spending time with her cat, Toaster, and re-watching the same five movies/TV shows over and over again.
Emma O’Brien is a DC based mover with a degree in Political Science and Dance from American University. With a background in contemporary, modern, and jazz, she has danced in works by Britta Joy Peterson, Tatiana Desardouin, and Ronya Lee Anderson. Emma currently teaches ballroom and Latin dances, and is a member of DanceArtTheater.
Selina Tran is a DC-based dancer and artist born and raised in SLC, Utah. Selina earned her B.A. from the University of Puget Sound. Selina has trained in modern, jazz, and contemporary styles and has performed throughout the DMV area. She is currently a company member of DanceArt Theater and has recently danced with Effervescence Collective. By day, she works at at a legal advocacy and civil rights nonprofit. When not dancing and working, you can find Selina teaching adult ceramics classes at CHAW, sewing, knitting, or on an outdoor adventure.
Deanna Woodman (they/she) is a queer, nonbinary dancer who grew up training in California. At sixteen, Deanna joined the Bay Area's Teen Dance Company and performed in Mark Foehringer's Dance Project in San Francisco. Deanna was also a dancer for Radio Disney, performing at promotional events throughout California. While attending college, Deanna served as a company member of ArtistEDGE and the Natasha Cartlitz Dance Ensemble. Since relocating to DC, they've choreographed for NACHMO DC and the Dance Canvas Festival, performed with Rae Gray Dance Collective, and served as a guest soloist for Gallaudet's Dance Company. In 2024, Deanna co-instructed "Contact Improv for Disabled & Non-Disabled Dancers" as part of the Dance Canvas Festival. Deanna’s artistic practice is deeply informed by their activism for justice and inclusion.
Stories have always held a special place in Eryn Barnes’ heart. At William & Mary, they studied linguistics to fulfill their love of language, and film & media studies so that they could watch movies as homework. Several years and one global pandemic later, Eryn has had the opportunity to perform with theater and dance companies on both coasts including Academy of Villains, the Classical Theater of Harlem, DanceArtTheater, and Pilobolus, and has been in several short films and television shows. They made their debut on Broadway in Chicago in 2022 with the Twenty-Sided Tavern and continue to perform on stage and screen in New York and Washington D.C.
Sarah Coady (she/her) is an educator, dancer, and choreographer. Sarah began her training in ballet (RAD syllabus), modern, and jazz dance at the Dance Workshop of Hanover in Massachusetts. She received her degree from Harvard University, where she performed with and directed the Harvard-Radcliffe Modern Dance Company. In DC, Sarah has performed with Corina Iona Dalzell, Glade Dance Company’s NACHMO, Heart Stück Bernie, the ICONS Choreographic Institute and other local DMV choreographers. Sarah is a co-founder of the Washington, D.C. community based dance collective: The Effervescence Collective.
Annika Dodrill (she/her) is a DC-based dancer and performer. Born and raised in Austin, TX, Annika trained in jazz, ballet, tap, and contemporary styles at Synergy Dance Studio, where she now teaches and choreographs whenever she has the chance. While attending college at Miami University (Oxford, OH) and majoring in Interior Design, she was a dancer, choreographer, and collaborator with the contemporary company Dance Theatre. In DC, Annika has performed with Effervescence Collective, Capitol Movement, Rae Gray Dance Collective, Heart Stück Bernie, and in multiple short works created for NACHMO DC. She also moonlights as a figure skating coach and choreographer in the fall and winter months. In any other free time she is able to find, Annika enjoys cooking, the New York Times puzzle page, spending time with her cat, Toaster, and re-watching the same five movies/TV shows over and over again.
Emma O’Brien is a DC based mover with a degree in Political Science and Dance from American University. With a background in contemporary, modern, and jazz, she has danced in works by Britta Joy Peterson, Tatiana Desardouin, and Ronya Lee Anderson. Emma currently teaches ballroom and Latin dances, and is a member of DanceArtTheater.
Selina Tran is a DC-based dancer and artist born and raised in SLC, Utah. Selina earned her B.A. from the University of Puget Sound. Selina has trained in modern, jazz, and contemporary styles and has performed throughout the DMV area. She is currently a company member of DanceArt Theater and has recently danced with Effervescence Collective. By day, she works at at a legal advocacy and civil rights nonprofit. When not dancing and working, you can find Selina teaching adult ceramics classes at CHAW, sewing, knitting, or on an outdoor adventure.
Deanna Woodman (they/she) is a queer, nonbinary dancer who grew up training in California. At sixteen, Deanna joined the Bay Area's Teen Dance Company and performed in Mark Foehringer's Dance Project in San Francisco. Deanna was also a dancer for Radio Disney, performing at promotional events throughout California. While attending college, Deanna served as a company member of ArtistEDGE and the Natasha Cartlitz Dance Ensemble. Since relocating to DC, they've choreographed for NACHMO DC and the Dance Canvas Festival, performed with Rae Gray Dance Collective, and served as a guest soloist for Gallaudet's Dance Company. In 2024, Deanna co-instructed "Contact Improv for Disabled & Non-Disabled Dancers" as part of the Dance Canvas Festival. Deanna’s artistic practice is deeply informed by their activism for justice and inclusion.