Meet our Graduate Students
Department of Dance
The M.F.A. in Dance at UC Irvine is an intensive two-year program that integrates advanced studio practice, academic study, and individualized research. Students train with fifteen full-time faculty in six professional studios and present original choreography in campus theaters and innovative spaces such as the Experimental Media Performance Lab (xMPL). The curriculum fosters creativity, expands dance literacy, and strengthens the connection between mind and body, culminating in a second-year thesis that may focus on choreography, dance education, history, or science. Most students receive funding through fellowships and teaching or research appointments, and graduates pursue diverse careers in higher education, private studios, professional companies, and advanced doctoral study.
Learn more about our current cohorts of M.F.A. candidates below.
Meet our graduate students
David Cha, ’27
David Cha is a choreographer, educator and teaching artist specializing in hip-hop, street dance and cross-cultural forms. A UC Berkeley graduate, he has taught extensively in K–12 settings and with organizations including San Francisco Ballet, with a focus on pedagogy and community engagement.
Haihua Chiang, ’27
Haihua Chiang is a professional dancer, choreographer and educator whose work bridges Chinese folk dance and contemporary practice. A B.F.A. graduate of CSU Long Beach, she has performed and collaborated with multiple companies and explores the relationship between breath and movement.
Ashley Cook, ’27
Ashley Cook is a Bay Area-based dancer, choreographer and educator, and former company member of TwoPoint4 Dance Theater. A graduate of Santa Clara University, her work investigates the intersection of dance and film, with an emphasis on Asian American perspectives.
Sabrina Huang, ’26
A versatile dancer, choreographer and educator, Sabrina Huang trained across multiple styles from a young age. She teaches and creates work throughout Los Angeles and serves as a traveling adjudicator for national dance competitions. She is committed to continued growth in performance and creative practice.
Kaylee Kollins, ’26
Kaylee Kollins is a company dancer with Nickerson-Rossi Dance and an active teacher and choreographer. Her work centers on performance and creation, complemented by a strong commitment to training dancers of all ages. She brings a multidisciplinary and lifestyle-driven approach to her artistic practice.
Tyra Logan, ’27
Tyra Logan is a choreographer and dancer from San Diego whose work centers on collaboration and interdisciplinary performance. A UC Riverside graduate, her research explores African dance histories and their influence on contemporary movement practices.
Alexis Morris, ’26
Alexis “Lexy” Morris is a lifelong dancer and educator who works with students across age groups. Her practice is rooted in teaching, creative exploration and personal growth, with interests that extend into collaborative and community-based dance experiences.
Cierra Torres, ’26
Cierra Torres is a contemporary dance educator and choreographer whose work explores movement sensation and embodiment. Her research engages gender and sexuality studies, challenging traditional frameworks in dance while teaching throughout Orange County.
Ramin Zamani, M.F.A. ’26
Ramin Zamani is a movement artist focused on personal growth, community engagement and exploratory practice. Their interests include yoga, travel and interdisciplinary creativity, with an emphasis on pushing boundaries and embracing new experiences in dance.
