Dissonance Dance Theatre


Megan Shankwitz - Rehearsal Director & Company Member
A native Californian, Megan attended college at Shenandoah University where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. There she had the privilege of working with faculty choreographers Ting-Yu Chen, Alan Arnett, Erica Helm, and Kim Gibilisco, as well as guest artists Maurice Fraga, Diane McCarthy, Rebecca Lazier, and many more. In 2007, Alberto Del Saz selected her for the reconstruction of Murray Louisa Bach Suite. With the Shenandoah Dance Touring Ensemble, Megan has performed overseas in Spain, and in many regional performances throughout in the northeastern United States.  In May 2008, she made her professional debut as a company member of KimGibiliscoDances in New York City and in August performed with Flying Lions Dance Company.  Megan is excited for her new promotion with the company and her return to the stage.



Justin Bellamy - Company Member
Born in Washington, DC Justin began dancing at a very young age, in conjunction with his early training as a gymnast. In 2003, he received a scholarship to dance at the Ohio State University-Columbus where he studied intensively in classical ballet, modern, and African techniques. To supplement his university studies, Mr. Bellamy taught on faculty at BalletMet Columbus. He has performed works by notable choreographers, including Robert Moses, Bebe Miller, and Larry Keigwin. Justin has trained on scholarship with Alonzo King's LINES Ballet in San Francisco, CA, and also in France where he performed works by Christopher Huggins.


Caitlin Granville - Company Member
Caitlin Granville is originally from Lawrenceville, Georgia, she began her dance training the Susan Chambers School of Theater Dance. She was a Georgia Governor's Honors alumnus. She continued her education at Shenandoah Conservatory,  receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts in dance performance in 2008. While in school she was chosen as a member of the Shenandoah Touring Ensemble under Kim Gibilisco and the international touring troupe Shenandoah Dance Ensemble. Caitlin performed as a soloist in Erica Helm's and Ting Yu Chen's works in Ireland and Spain in 2007. While in Spain she participated in the Estada de Danza summer workshop and InterTOURdanza. In Washington, D.C. she has performed with Momentum Dance Theater and is a returning company member.  Caitlin is very excited to be joining DDT for another season!



 Tisa D. Herbert - Company Member
A native Washingtonian,  she began dancing at the age of three years of age. Her professional training did not start until she was accepted at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a pre-professional arts training program in Washington, DC.  For four years she trained under the direction of Charles Augins, Sandra- Fortune Green, Katherine Smith, Treanna Alexander, and Nikki Sutton.  While there she studied the ballet technique of Vagonova and the modern technique of Horton. Ms. Herbert also had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Louis Johnson , Christopher Huggins, and Kevin Malone while there. Tisa also studied at the prestigious New World School of the Arts under the direction of Daniel Lewis. While at New World, she studied with Bambi Anderson, Gerard Ebitz, Peter London, Tina Santos-Wahl, Arnold Quintane, Rebecca Cannon, Elaine Wright-Rourke, Dale Andree, and Laura Murphy. Tisa also had the opportunity to work with world known choreographers such as Bill Evans and Garth Fagan. Ms. Herbert is now a graduate of New World School of the Arts (NWSA) with a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts.



Nicolette Jackson - Company Member

Nicolette Jenkins grew up dancing throughout Northern Virginia. She has studied with many teachers and attended the Virginia Governor's School Summer Residency Program for the Performing Arts.  Nicolette graduated with honors from Towson University, where she received her B.S. in Business Marketing  was a member of the eleven time National Championship Dance Team; winning college nationals all four years she was a member.  Nicolette has performed in various venues up and down the East Coast and has had the opportunity to perform at the Women's Soccer World Cup and in the moive Step Up 2.  She has also performed in DC's Capitol Fringe Festival and DC Dance Collective's Annual Showcase.



Kathryn Tuebner - Company Member

Katie Tuebner recieved her undergraduate degree in 2009 at Old Dominion University with a BA in Dance and a BFA in Print and Photo Media. She has performed with the Old Dominion University dance department for the past five years and has worked with such choreogrpahers as Amanda Kinzer, Marilyn Marloff, Beverly Duane,Todd Rosenlieb, and Mina Estrada. She has also worked and performed with DAME since 2007. This is Katie's first season with Dissonance Dance Theatre.