Ms. Messenger began dancing at age 8 in Colorado Springs as a compliment to her figure skating with former Ballet Rambert dancer, Patricia Hoffman. Although her early studies were strongly focused on ballet, Sarah fell in love with jazz and Horton modern dance in her teenage years when she started training with Zetta Alderman, a former Broadway performer. While studying with Alderman, Sarah had the opportunity to train and work with industry legends such as Ben Vereen, Chet Walker, Sherry Zunker, Bill Hastings, Sam Watson, and Susan Quinn- Williams. Ms. Messenger earned a B.S. in International Business, B.S. in Marketing, and a minor in Economics from the University of Colorado in 2008, while performing with the High Altitude Dance Ensemble throughout the Denver and Colorado Springs areas. After finishing her undergraduate degrees, Ms. Messenger moved to Jacksonville, Florida where she began teaching and choreographing. During her time in Florida, Sarah taught at the Florida Ballet, St. Augustine Ballet, Perla Ballet, Flagler College, St. Augustine High School, and many private studios throughout Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Many of Ms. Messenger’s students have been invited to join companies, training programs, and attend universities around the world including The Joffery Ballet, Ballet Magnificat!, St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre, Alonzo King’s Lines, The Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Alvin Ailey Trainee Program, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Butler University, Point Park University, The Harid Conservatory, and the Orlando Ballet School. Ms. Messenger was also the choreographer in residence for both the Braided Light Dance Company (2014-2015) and the Perla Ballet (2014-2018) while in Florida. In 2016, Ms. Messenger’s piece, Le Soliel Qui Rit, was chosen to be performed at the RDA South East Regional Ballet Association’s annual festival. Currently, Sarah is finishing her final semester at New York University where she will receive a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Tisch School of the Arts and a Master of Arts in Dance Education from Steinhardt School of Education in spring 2021. Ms. Messenger is incredibly excited to join the FIT community as the Dance Company Director for the 2021-2022 academic year. Sarah will also be an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Temple University this upcoming year as well as continuing her research into healing trauma through somatic practice, de-colonizing the dance classroom, and dismantling white supremacy through art education; in addition to continuing to choreograph and perform.
