Tim Rubel (Artistic Director) is a San Francisco and Texas-based dance artist. He received his M.F.A. in Dance/Experimental Choreography from the University of California, Riverside. He has been on the dance faculties of several institutions including San Francisco State University, Mt. San Jacinto College, Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Dance Center and the Beijing Dance Festival in China. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas. His professional dance performance credits have included work with Fusionworks Dance Company in Providence, Rhode Island, Windhover Dance Company in Rockport, Massachusetts, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon, and in San Francisco with the David Herrera Performance Company, Leonora Lee Dance and Epiphany Dance Theatre to name a few. Additionally, his choreography has received support from the Zellerbach Family Foundation, Texas A&M International University, The Goethe Institut, the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation and has been presented on both U.S. coasts and abroad. In 2013 he became the first ever Artist-in-Residence at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts, where Tim Rubel Human Shakes developed their evening-length work, Here and Then. His 2018 work ALIEN, in collaboration with Elisabeth Kindler-Abali of Germany, premiered in San Francisco and had subsequent performances at the Pfefferberg Theater in Berlin. His latest work with TRHS, The Culture of Love had it's first iteration at Texas A&M International University in February of 2022.
Photo: Luisa Duarte Milani
Lane Lewis (They/Them/Theirs, General Manager) holds an MA in Transnational Feminist Studies from San Francisco State and another MA in Performance Studies from New York University. They are enjoying using their uniquely fitting educational background as well as their strong Virgo energy to support all TRHS logistical needs. When not generally managing the Human Shakes, Lane is a writer, new parent, and burrito enthusiast.
Tor Breen (He/They, Dancer) is a dance artist living in so-called Philadelphia, on Lenni Lenape land. He makes and performs work independently and with others, often playing with pleasure, shame, physical risk, obsession, humor, and aggression. They create physical and emotional landscapes that are precisely current, a way of honoring prolonged global, local, and personal crisis. Tor is learning about dancing at the edges of the world, aiming to build from the work of artists who have been dancing through and out of disaster for centuries.
Johan Casal (He/Him/His, Dancer) is a multidisciplinary artist based in the Bay Area producing work in film, music, theater, and dance through his production company Kuya Johan Productions. Deemed as a “leader in arts in culture” by President Lynn Majoney during the 2023 SF State commencement ceremony, where Casal earned both a degree in Film Production and Dance, Casal’s work aims to uplift underrepresented voices while educating and preserving his culture. He performed as lead male dancer in Netflix’s production of “The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Live Experience in San Francisco,” and directed and produced an original feature film, “Manalo: The Movie Musical,” highlighting the shared struggles of Filipinx-Americans and celebrating the Philippines’ diverse cultures; the film received a certificate of recognition by Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo and California State Treasure, The Honorable Fiona Ma. Casal is a current company member of Kularts, the premiere presenter of tribal and contemporary Pilipino arts. Under the direction of SF Legacy Artist Alleluia Panis, Casal has performed in the following Kularts pieces, Anting Anting at The Asian Art Museum and Nursing These Wounds at ODC.
Quinn Dior (She/Her/Hers, Dancer) studied Theatre and Dance at University of California, Davis where she performed work by Kota Yamazaki and Mina Nishimura. She is a former Streb Extreme Action company member and has presented her own work at Peridance's KNJ Theater and with Arts on Site in New York City. This is her first season with Tim Rubel Human Shakes.
Will Loewen (He/Him/His, Dancer) is an Austin born dancer who has recently moved to San Francisco. Will has performed and trained in Berlin, Dublin, Amsterdam, and Prague. After studying dance at Bennington College and Austin Community College, Will has continued his practice based in improvisation, partnering, and floorwork. With experience in modern dance and athletics, Will is seeking to develop his technical and artistic skills.
Emily Mootz (She/Her/Hers, Dancer) is originally from Santa Cruz, California, and began dancing at the age of 3. She has been able to work with renowned artists and companies including Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Oberlin Dance Collective, and California Summer School of the Arts. She attended Saint Mary’s College of California on a Performing Arts scholarship and trained in Laban and Bartenieff technique, Cunningham technique, jazz, and ballet. During her time at Saint Mary’s College, she performed alongside their Dance Company; here her choreography was awarded many accolades and was chosen to represent the company in multiple dance film festivals across the world, including the “Empower Me Strong” festival in Berkeley, CA. Emily continued her dance education with Saint Mary’s by earning her MFA in Dance and Creative Practice in 2023. During this time Emily acted as a full time dance instructor, where she has had the opportunity to teach both nationally and internationally. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Contra Costa College and continues to teach and perform throughout the Bay Area. Emily is thrilled to be dancing with Tim Rubel Human Shakes this season.
Ki' Shae Qetlah (She/Her/Hers, Dancer) (on leave) was called to express herself with movement in her formative years. She first began traditional African dance and Martial Arts until she was accepted into Classen School of Advanced Studies where she majored in Ballet and Modern Dance. She trained with Derrick Minter of Ailey II, Denise Vale from the Martha Graham Dance Company and Mary Margaret Holt of Houston Ballet at the University of Oklahoma Summer Dance Intensive for many years. She went on to join the University of Oklahoma Ballet Performance and Pedagogy Program, where she danced with the Oklahoma Festival Ballet. Ki' Shae has resided in San Francisco for over a decade and is a Faculty Member for the ODC Youth & Teen Dance Program. She has danced with the Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble, Ramm Dance, and is a company member of Tim Rubel Human Shakes for their 2023 home season. Ki' Shae's focus in her dance practice is inner peace and the advocacy in accessibility, equality, and acceptance.
Previous Media and Production Designers:
Maxx Kurzunski - Lighting and Scenic Design
Vanessa Freeman - Costume Design
Victor Talledos - Photography
Brittany Mellerson - Lighting Design
Lance Huntley - Photography
Ilana Pearlman - Costume Design
sondra J kazama - Media & Production Design
Mark Macbeth-Videography.
