Guest Choreographers for Expressions of the Stage

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Caroline MacDonald received her early dance training from The Portland Ballet and Arts and Communication Magnet Academy, where she also discovered her love for choreography, later returning as a professional to choreograph new works for both programs. After high school, she attended the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Graduate Program. In addition to regularly performing with PBT, MacDonald choreographed multiple original works for the graduate and pre-professional divisions, including a collaboration with composer, pianist, and dancer, Jack Hawn, which was performed as part of the graduate and pre-professional division showcases. After her time in Pittsburgh, Caroline performed with Nevada Ballet Theatre for five seasons as a company artist under the direction of James Canfield and Roy Kaiser. She also choreographed 10 original works for the company, including five works for NBT’s collaboration with Cirque Du Soleil, A Choreographer’s Showcase. As a choreographer, Caroline was a finalist in Ballet Arkansas’ Visions Choreographic Competition. MacDonald left Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2019, and has since performed in multiple freelance benefits and projects and has worked as an actor in atmospheric events on the Las Vegas Strip. Caroline is an RYT200 hr certified yoga teacher and group fitness instructor, and is pursuing her BA in Fashion Design from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.  

Growing up in Utah, Tristen Sosa began his training at Center Stage Performing Arts with teachers such as Shirley Ballas, Francisco Gella, Derek Hough, Mark Ballas, Hefa and Randy and Ashley Costa.  He continued his training at Dance Town under Manny Castro.  Tristen is a 4 time Youth Latin Champion.  He has done commercial and print work as a dancer and model, worked in industrials such as Ebay, Nu Skin, Doterra, Lifevantage, and Vivant.  On stage Tristen was part of the Donny and Marie show in Las Vegas from 2015 to 2017.  He has performed for the NBA Halftime show for the Utah Jazz as well as at Ribbon of Life and Dancing Under the Stars.  He has danced in music videos for Alex Boyle and Childlike Sound.  His TV credits include So You Think You Can Dance and Paula Abdul's "Live to Dance", Dear Dumb Diary, America's Got Talent, Love at First Glance, Dance Rivals, CCTV China, Life of a Dancer, and Good Things Utah.  Currently Tristen heads the Summerlin Dance Academy Ballroom Program where he trains the next generation of ballroom dancers. 

Phaedra began her professional career with Sacramento Ballet where she danced for six years. She relocated to San Francisco in 2000 where she joined Oakland Ballet as a soloist and rose to the rank of principal. After joining her husband in Spokane WA, she accepted a position with Ballet Spokane as Associate Director and then moved to Artistic Director. With the birth of her beautiful daughter, she shifted gears and began choreographing for Spokane Youth Ballet and is currently the Resident Choreographer.