rehearsal director
courtney mazeika
Courtney Mazeika is a dancer, choreographer, and educator who received her BFA in Dance from the University of Texas at Austin. Upon graduation, she moved to train with Summer Lee Rhatigan at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. As a freelance movement artist, Courtney has had the opportunity to perform in works by Tom Weinberger, Bobbi Jene Smith, David Harvey, Christian Burns, Marissa Brown, Crossings SF, Alex Ketley, UNA Productions, and in collaborative independent works with Marlie Couto & Max Judelson. Since 2015, she has worked closely with Tom Weinberger on new work, commissions, and workshops throughout Europe and North America. From 2015-2018, Courtney had the honor of being on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. Through teaching and new choreography commissions, Courtney has had the pleasure of sharing her own work at a number of schools, companies, and festivals including the University of Texas at Austin, the Alonzo King Lines Ballet Training Program, SALT Contemporary Dance I and II, Oquirrh West Project, Chop Shop Contemporary Dance Festival, Austin Dance Festival, Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition (where she was awarded the second place prize), and more. She currently dances with UNA Productions, directs the SALT Pre-Professional Training Company, teaches Dance Church for Studio Kate Wallich, and dances, teaches, and choreographs independently. Her website: courtneymazeika.com
get to know courtney
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Houston, TX, lived for many years in the Bay Area, and just recently relocated to Salt Lake City.
In one sentence, describe your "discovery" of ballet. Or, what was your pathway to ballet?
I discovered ballet when I was a child - it fascinated and challenged me - I was hooked on dance!
Do you remember the first ballet you ever saw? What was it and how did it affect you?
It must have been the Nutcracker! My Grandmother and my Mom took my sister and I to see the ballet all the time - and we were so enamored by the grace, strength, and skill of the dancers.
What do you like to do outside of dance (hobbies, interests, etc.)?
I love to cook and bake, travel, hike/trek mountains, and spend time with my partner and our adorable cats.
What are some of your other talents?
I also coach gymnastics and I am pretty awesome at making vegan baked goods.
What are some of your indulgences?
I can't help it, I love watching The Office.
What is your favorite role that you have performed? Have not performed?
My favorite performance memory is when my collaborator Marlie Couto and I performed in the final evening at the Rotterdam International Duet Choreography Competition.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
I like to eat avocado and cucumber sushi, drink coffee and/or kombucha, and listen to my favorite music!
If you weren’t a dancer, what would you be?
I would be an environmental/climate scientist or work in children's education.
How do you spend your summer breaks?
Mostly dancing, attending farmer's markets, reading, and traveling as much as possible.
If I could visit any country in the world it would be….
I have yet to visit Japan or Spain, and I would really love to go to both.
What does Northwest Arkansas mean to you? Why is it special or different from other places you've danced/trained?
This company is new and special to me because I have the opportunity to work with people I've known for many years as well as people I've just met!
What are three things people might not know about you?
My family is my inspiration, my nicknames are Fred and Rusty, and I follow a plant-based diet.