Sierra Christine Sanders
Sierra Christine Sanders began dancing at Marie Wildey’s School of Dance in East Orange, NJ. Sierra studied rhythm tap and went on to train in West African & Modern dance in USAAMA, the pre-professional youth company under the direction of Karen Love. She continued her studies in Modern dance at New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Youth Artists Institute with Ronnie D. Carne & Norbert De La Cruz III. She attended Montclair State University and graduated with her B.F.A. in Dance, performing works by Camille A. Brown, Larry Keigwin, Nancy Lushington, and Pat Grainey. Sierra also attended Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts Intensives performing works by Rennie Harris, Nathan Trice, Daniel Moore, Natrea Blake, Kevin Wynn, & Frederick Earl Mosley.
Post college, Sierra danced for Philadanco’s 2nd company, D2, and then went on to receive a full scholarship to the Martha Graham School while dancing for Graham 2. While there, she received the Edward and Sally Van Lier Grant from the New York Community Trust to choreograph for the Graham School where she presented 2 of her first works. She also graduated from the Teacher’s Certificate program in the Graham Technique in June 2020. Sierra has presented works in Dance New Jersey’s Festival 2021 and received the Dance NJ Mini-Grant for funding of her dance film “Triumph of the Black Spirit” which also screened in Acadia Dance Film Festival 2021.
Sierra dances professionally for Christopher Rudd’s RudduR Dance Company, Buglisi Dance Theatre, and Dzul Dance Theatre located in NYC. In 2022, Sierra became the first ever Modern Dance teacher for Fairleigh Dickinson University. She continues teaching the Graham Technique at Ballet Tech Public School for Dance, The Martha Graham School, and NJPAC’s Musical Theatre Program.