Meet Against the Odds Artist, Mariah Steele!

Mariah Steele graduated Magna Cum Laude from Princeton University with a major in Anthropology and minor in Dance, where she studied dance intensively with Ze’eva Cohen and Rebecca Lazier. She combined these two passions by studying traditional Kandyan dance in Sri Lanka for two months and then writing her anthropology thesis about the experience. She went on to perform professionally in New York City in the companies of James Martin, Beth Soll, and Kelley Donovan. In 2008, she moved to Boston, where she has danced for Sokolow Now!, the Anna Sokolow archival company, Nell Breyer, Sara Smith and currently performs with Rebecca Rice Dance. In December 2011, Mariah graduated with a Masters Degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where she studied non-profit management and conflict resolution.  Her Masters thesis discusses how and why dance can be used in peacebuilding endeavors. Mariah has taught students of all ages, including international master classes and workshops in Sri Lanka, in Ghana and at the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh.  She currently teaches modern dance technique and dance history at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. 

Mariah Steele/Quicksilver Dance is a modern dance company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts with roots in New York City, directed by choreographer Mariah Steele. Using anthropological inquiry and artistic exploration, our dances delve into contemporary and timeless issues to inspire reflection and imagination and to spark new perspectives and cross-cultural dialogue.  The company, named Quicksilver Dance in 2010, grew out of Mariah’s work as an independent choreographer since 2006 and represents the next chapter of her continued journey.  Mariah’s choreography has been presented at numerous venues in both the New York and Boston metropolitan areas including: the Institute for Contemporary Art, MIT, Harvard University, the Boston Center for the Arts, Dance for World Community, The Massachusetts Dance Festival, Green Street Studios, The Dance in Education Foundation at SUNY Purchase, White Wave’s John Ryan Theater in Brooklyn, Dance Theater Workshop and Princeton University.  She has also self-produced three full-evening shows of choreography: one a benefit for the Central Asia Institute at City Center Studios in NYC, and two at MIT’s Simmons Hall.  Recent awards and grants include a Choreographer’s Project Fellowship from Summer Stages Dance at Concord Academy in July 2012 and a five-week residency at the Boston Center for the Arts in Fall 2012.  For more information: www.quicksilverdance.com.