Photo by Gregg Mizuta
BIOGRAPHY
Biography
Photo by Ren Picco-Freeman
“I want my work to be accessible and engaging to audience members so that even in the face of discomfort, they feel grounded in the subject matter and are motivated by beauty or curiosity to remain open.”
Savannah has a background in ballet, modern, and contemporary forms. Her dance career and training has afforded her the opportunity to work with artists such as Alice Klock and Florian Lochner, Peter Chu, Adam Barruch, Robyn Mineko Williams, Jonathan Alsberry, Rena Butler, Jenna Pollack, Ryan Mason, Nick Pupillo, and Wade Schaaf. Her choreography often touches on feminist themes and integrates sound design, text, and cross-medium collaboration.
Her unique voice has been recognized and funded by numerous institutions and presenting festivals throughout her career. Savannah received funding from the Greater Columbus Arts Council as a Choreography Fellow and funding from the Illinois Arts Council to attend Hubbard Street's Professional Development Program under the direction of Alexandra Wells. Her dance films have been selected for screening by Dancecentric Film Festival, Dance Camera West Film Festival, Greensboro Dance Film Festival, and Take Up Space.
Savannah has also set work in numerous professional and pre-professional settings including Columbus Dance Theater’s Dancers Making Dances, Hubbard Street Professional Development Program’s Mid-Year Showcase, and Butler University’s Dance Program for the Indianapolis Arts Festival. In 2020, she co-founded Little Fire Artist Collective and, as primary administrator, produced the show Don't Tell Me What to Do presenting some of her own choreography alongside her fellow collaborators. She most recently completed a company commission for Deos Contemporary Ballet in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
As a part of her commitment to artistic development and inquiry, Savannah regularly participates in artistic residencies including Surel's Place Artist-In-Residency Program and a residency with Little Fire Artist Collective co-produced by the Margie Gillis Foundation. In 2023, Savannah was one of eight choreographers selected for the Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship at Jacob’s Pillow, and was one of three Choreography Fellows awarded for Carmel Dance Festival’s 2024 Dance & Choreography Fellowship Program.
Savannah graduated from Butler University with Honors in Dance Performance and a minor in Creative Writing. Originally from Boise, Idaho, she lived and created in Chicago for six years and has since handed over leadership of Little Fire to pursue teaching and freelance commissions in Boston, Massachusetts.