Core Faculty

2008

 
 

                              Mara Schwendiman
Director
Mara was born in Akron, Ohio. She has taught at various dance schools, including Turning Pointe School of Dance, Ohio Youth Ballet (as Artistic Director) and Natalie’s Dance Company. Mara danced for two years in Denver with the Colorado Ballet. During the summer of 2003, she was invited to dance with Artisan Dance Theatre in Montana under the direction of Sallyann Mulcahy and Arnold Spohr. She had the opportunity to dance with Laura Alonso’s company, Central Pro Danza, in Cuba in the summer of 2002.

Mara graduated with a B.A. from The University of Akron in May 2002. Through her major, Interdisciplinary Studies, she focused on Dance, Business, and Classical Studies. She greatly enjoys teaching and is challenged to grow in every area of her life. She is currently the Artistic Director at Living Fountain Dance Company. Mara is thrilled that this position is helping her learn more about managing a dance company and hopes to use this knowledge to advance the company. She truly believes in LFDC’s vision of “dancing from the inside-out.” Having been at many other dance companies, she understands the value of teaching students how to dance from their heart and soul, which builds character and strength. It also prepares students for obstacles they will face in the future. Mara is very enthusiastic and is happy to further LFDC’s vision.
 
 
 
 
Lexi Reiman
 
Lexi is a Communication Arts Major, Spanish Minor at Malone College.  She has been with Living Fountain for 7 years and has been teaching for 5 years.  She is passionate about connecting dance with the people around her, with God, and with everyday life.  She has an amazing talent for both teaching and dancing.

 

 


 
 
Megan Wilson
 
Megan is a communications Major, Dance Minor at University of Akron.  Upon graduating from high school, Megan moved to New York City where she was involved in an eight month performing arts internship with YWAM (Youth with a Mission).  Although Megan has danced for most of her life, she feels that it was during this season that God breathed the vision and maturity into her to be not only a dancer, but an artist and a worshiper as well.  She is passionate about using dance to impact those around her and hopes to continue creating art with excellence.
 
 
 
 
Chelsie Griffith
Outreach Director
“I want to use dance to send people from the Outer Courts to the Holy of Holies,” says Griffith. Her passion is taking dance into the church and using it as a tool to free peoples’ body, mind, and spirit. Griffith is a graduate of home schooling and has been a dancer with Living Fountain for 4 years. She has studied dance since pre-school years and is versed in all dance styles including; Irish, Jazz, Modern, Improvisation, Ballet, Pointe, and Sacred/Liturgical Dance. Griffith’s long term goals include using expanding the outreach programs for Living Fountain.

Sarah Hall
Missons Development Representative   
Sarah Hall graduated in December 2005 from Kent State University with a BS in Human Development and Family Studies. She is a certified Family Life Educator and is currently working towards her adoption assessor’s license.

Sarah has worked for Living Fountain since 2004 teaching dance among other responsibilities although she has been involved with the organization since 2002. While studying and working with this organization she learned how to dance from the inside-out and how to teach and produce art that kids can connect to and grow through. Currently, Sarah is teaching dance through this philosophy as out-reach for the Salvation Army’s Youth Arts Ministry and their Music and More program to children of all ages.

She has been on several arts/dance based cross-cultural trips in the past, and feels particularly connected to Eastern Europe, specifically, Ukraine. While studying in Germany, she got her certificate to Teach English as a Foreign Language, and she feels that skill will aid her in opening doors to live in Ukraine as well as other countries.
 
Sarah’s future goals are to work with children in orphanages and with street children doing out-reach and teaching the arts in Eastern Europe. She wants to work with and teach all ages so that the children will positively grow and experience life and creativity at all levels of their development. She believes that youth-at-risk need to have a constant source of love, affirmation and safety, and has dedicated her life and career to providing people of all ages with that.
    
 
 
   Tosca Rolf                  
 Tosca Rolf was born in Columbus Ohio and has been dancing ever since. She has studied at various studios which include Canton Ballet, The Dance Institute at the University of Akron, and during the summers at South Georgia Ballet, Tallahassee Ballet, The FSU department of dance, and has taken class under the instruction of Susan Farrell. She has assistant taught numerous predance classes, and enjoys teaching all ages of children. She has had the privilege of choreographing dances performed at her church, and enjoys the student choreography opportunities given to her at Living Fountain. Some of her talents include writing, recording and performing her own songs, studying piano, and enjoys painting in her spare time. Tosca is currently dancing in the company with Living Fountain; she is seeking her goal to speak through her art to other artists and hopes to continue touching others through her love of dance.
 
 
Kimberly Payne
Founder
Kimberly has passion for uniting body, mind and soul by educating the whole person. She has studied at The Scandinavian Institute for Physical Education in Denmark, The University of  Akron, Kent State University, Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, Mississippi, and Jacob's Pillow in Massachusetts.  She has danced professionally with Leaven Dance Company, Ohio and Lori Belilove & Company, New York. 
Kimberly has been passionate about the faith and the arts her entire life. She has taught about The Mission of the Arts & Dancing from the Inside-Out for Gymnastikhoskolen in Viborg, Denmark, Kent State University, Muskingum College, Malone College, Numerous Conferences, (including OCEA) and for Living Fountain Dance Company.
As a wife of a professional singer and songwriter, Benjamin Payne, and mother of two, Kimberly enjoys creating lesson plans by watching her children dance & wrestle around the house, and listening to her husband rehearse. The Paynes’ hope is to serve around world with music and dance.