The Company:

Mandala Danceworks is the result of collaborative efforts between Artistic Director Karin Lynge Jensen and her dancers. Whether creating intricate and athletic modern dance performances, or in its current manifestation as a Tribal Fusion troupe, Mandala Danceworks remains committed to producing and performing works of beauty, intricacy, power and passion. Mandala Danceworks draws its influences, movement and imagery from an extensive palette of historical, artistic and spiritual sources, striving to fuse mind, body and spirit for both audience and participant.

 

About Us:

Karin Lynge Jensen Artistic Director
	Karin Lynge Jensen is an award winning choreographer and the recipient of a BA in teaching and an MFA in Modern Choreography from UC Irvine. She has worked as an independent choreographer for the past two decades and her works have been performed throughout California for universities, festivals, cable television and museums. She has taught at numerous schools and universities, and currently teaches at LA City College, Long Beach City College, El Camino College and East LA Community College.
Brandy Britton
	Brandy Britton started dancing Ballet and Jazz under the direction of Arline Faucher in Phoenix, AZ. Dance was her place to escape and work. She has performed internationally with Norwegian Cruise lines as a professional dancer. After settling in Southern California. Brandy's first meeting with Karin was an audition for the El Camino College dance department. Brandy was cast in Karin's modern/contemporary ballet piece. She was automatically drawn to the choreography. After some persuading to try something new, and explore diversities in the dance world, Brandy is now very proud and happy to be learning and experiencing things she never imagined, under the wing of Karin and the Mandala sisterhood!
Angela Christiano
	Angela has been dancing with Mandala since Summer of 2008. She is trained in classical ballet under the supervision of Sabrina J.A. Vaz and Massachusetts State Ballet, and danced with MSB for 8 years. Angela recently received her A.S. in Human Services and is continuing her college studies to include a degree in Nursing. After taking Karin's class, she found a new love. Angela is ecstatic to be a part of the company and to have the opportunity to work with Karin and her tribe of sisters!
Ashley Ferguson
	Ashley Ferguson has been dancing since age 3. She has danced with the San Pedro City Ballet and studied ballroom dance with Bobby Burgess. She received her BA in Theatre Arts (with a minor in dance) from CSU Dominguez Hills in 2008, and was the recipient of numerous awards for outstanding acheivement in acting and technical theatre. She was a national UDA semifinalist with her college Hip Hop dance team and an assistant costume designer. She has been with Mandala since 2006 and loves finding new fabrics, making patterns, and helping to create costumes for the company. Ashley is also proficient in Tap, Jazz, Modern, African, and is currently learning the discipline of Fire Dance. A born artist, Ashley says, "I have always been a dancer and will always be a dancer. I live my life eight counts at a time."
Mi-Ri Harris
	Mi-Ri began dancing informally during her 9th grade year to get out of taking the usual P.E. classes! She soon became a part of the High School's small 9-person dance team, Reseda High Regent Body Express. At the end of Senior year, the team had built up a good reputation and was performing at basketball games, football games, and dance competitions.  Later, at Los Angeles City College, Mi-Ri enrolled in Karin Jensen's class. With Karin's eclectic mix of hip hop, jazz dance and afro-Haitian dance styles, she found herself excited again. She soon found herself at El Camino College where Karin had developed a more solid bellydance-structured class. Since 2006, Mi-Ri has been with Karin and her Mandala dancers from the very beginning.
Audrey LaBenz
	Audrey became enchanted with Le Danse du Ventre upon taking Karin's bellydance class as a student at El Camino College. She took to the art of bellydance with passion and zeal, shimmying her way through most of every day- brushing her teeth, doing her laundry, and even engaging in occasional public undulation. She has been known to design costumes using armor plating, gears, and chains. Audrey is a college student majoring in Journalism who loves to write and hopes to edit a publication focused on one of her other two passions: electronic music and SCUBA diving.
Sara Melish
	Sara Melish was born and raised in Kailua, Hawaii. She studies modern dance with Diana Cummins at Los Angeles City College, finding inspiration in movement and a deeper connection to her intellect and subconcious through creative expression. After taking classes with Karin Jensen, Sara became hooked on Bellydance, which has infused her life with color and vibrance. Sara is an original member of Mandala DanceWorks and has been with the company since 2006. She lives and bikes in Los Angeles.
Jennifer Molina
	Jennifer Molina graduated from Bishop Montgomery High School in 2007 and is currently a junior in college, majoring in History and minoring in French. Jennifer previously danced for Borka, a cabaret instructor in Westchester, California. She began studying with Karin at El Camino College in 2008 and has since become fanatical with the choreography and teaching skills she has so far experienced in her foray into tribal fusion. She first began belly dancing for Karin in spring of 2008, and is currently an understudy for Mandala.
Sarah Rothe
	Born and raised in San Pedro, California, Sarah Rothe has always been drawn to the art of movement. Sarah studied yoga and martial arts as a teenager and maintains an avid yoga practice. Currently working toward a postgraduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, she hopes someday to be a yoga therapy practitioner for children with special needs. She discovered tribal bellydance three years ago and has been obsessed ever since, learning as much as possible about the captivating art form. Sarah feels thrilled and blessed to dance with the beautiful ladies of Mandala!
Autumn Rubio
	Autumn Rubio was born and raised in Redondo Beach, California and graduated from Redondo Union High school in 2007. Currently in her second year at El Camino College, Autumn dances for two companies - Mandala DanceWorks and eFunk Dance Company, a Hip Hop troupe. She is currently employed by Hype Dance Studio in Torrance, Californina. She enjoys learning new things and spending time with friends and family. Autumn says, "I plan on being successful in anything I do and will always keep dance as part of my life."
Tracy Stanbury
	Tracy Stanbury has been dancing with Mandala Danceworks since Winter of 2008, and began learning belly dance the previous Fall. Dance was never an integral part of her life until she took yoga with Karin Jensen, where Karin suggested that with training, she could be up to snuff for the company. Ever since she has been catapulted in to the world of belly dance, Tracy has taken on choreographing solos, modeling for belly dance clothing designers, creating custom dance belts and hair pieces for herself and others, and performing whenever she gets the opportunity. Tracy has graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor's in English with the intention of teaching and writing, and aspires to continue her journey through the alluring world of belly dance.
Ronica Villegas
	Ronica Villegas has been dancing since she was in high school, and soon found a love for the stage, movement and dance. With emphasis and focus on musical theatre jazz, Ronica has also explored modern and ballet forms. In her second year at El Camino college, she decided to take Karin's bellydancing class, just for fun and to explore something new. She fell in love with everything about it! Ronica has been with Mandala since October 2009 and has never looked back. She says, "It has really been such an honor and a dream to be able to dance with such a beautiful company."

Photo contributors: Chris Ramirez, Mathew Caine, Chris Canestaro.
Image processing by Paradigm. Please see our contact page for links.