CHIMERA Artists in Residence
Amy C. Foley
Amy C. Foley is the co-founder of Augmentation Movement Project. She started dancing at the age of two and a half in Foxboro, MA. In high school, she fell in love with color guard and participated in local competitions. From 2007 to 2010, she competed nationally with Blessed Sacrament Winter Color Guard from Cambridge, MA. From 2011 to 2012, she taught Blessed Sacrament’s “Independent A” color guard, and from 2015-2020, she taught dance to the “Independent World” color guard. Her experience with Blessed Sacrament shaped her contemporary dance training. From 2018-2021 she was a dancer, choreographer, and board member for OnStage Dance Company. In the winter of 2019, she was a choreographer with OnStage’s Residency Program, and in 2020, she participated in Monkeyhouse and Luminarium’s virtual 24-Hour Choreofest. Amy was a member of Pantos Project Dance’s Ensemble for the 2022-2023 season. Outside of dance, Amy holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University.
Stephanie Simpson
Stephanie is an artist, coach, and facilitator based in NYC. She received her BA from Emerson College in Boston, MA, her MFA in Dance Performance/Choreography at Smith College in Northampton, MA, and her MA in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Spirituality, Mind, Body and a focus in Organizational Change from Columbia University, Teachers College. She’s directed and performed globally and has had the honor of working with Chet Walker, Billbob Brown, Mark Knowles, Brad Musgrove, Sonia Plum, and many more! An RYT-200 Hour Certified Yoga Instructor and an ICF Certified Professional Coach, Stephanie’s consulting and coaching work focuses on supporting individuals and businesses in creating more trauma-informed, human centric workplace cultures through leadership development, stress management, and group development programs. You can learn more about Stephanie’s work at www.stephanie-simpson.com and www.StephanieSimpsondance.com.
Stephen Ursprung
Stephen Ursprung holds an MFA in dance from Smith College and an AB in economics and Italian studies from Brown University. He has had the honor of performing works by Paul Taylor, Pilobolus, Monica Bill Barnes, Robert Battle, Danny Buraczeski, David Parsons, Ruth Andrien, and Danny Grossman. In addition to his work in concert dance he dabbles in musical theater, is a lapsed tap dancer, and is a proud member of both Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. He is an Associate Professor of Dance Studies at Dean College and is a member of the teaching and performing ensemble Dancing Legacy. As a choreographer, Stephen is the co-director of two dance collectives: NilsSprung Dance Project and Reject Dance Theatre. Learn more about Stephen’s work as both an artist and an educator at www.stephenursprung.com.
Larissa Douglas Ursprung
Larissa began her dance education in Houston, TX at the High School for Performing and Visual Arts. She holds an A.B. in Psychology from Harvard College, and completed 2 years of an M.D. program at UT Southwestern before realizing returning to Texas was a HUGE mistake. As an undergrad she received The Harvard Council on the Arts’ Suzanne Farrell Award, and an Artist Development Fellowship to attend José Limón Dance Company’s Professional Studies Program. Her works were featured at the American College Dance Festival, Festival du Mois Molière, and Faculty Dance Works at Dean College. She has had the honor of performing works by José Limón, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Trey McIntyre, Julie Adams Strandberg, Stephen Ursprung, and many more! She co-founded Augmentation Movement Project with Amy C. Foley in 2019, and is a founding member of the CHIMERA Art-Co Lab at Stowell Barn. When not cultivating art-making and community gatherings with her business out of the historic barn she restored, Larissa serves on the Rural Resource Commission and Waitsfield Selectboard, performs with the Dancing Legacy Ensemble, and acts as a movement coach for Blessed Sacrament Color Guard.
Katie Bogardus
Katie began her dance journey in 2004 at the Ginny Martin Modern Dance School. She discovered color guard at Shenendehowa CSD, where she performed at venues like the Barclay’s Center and Air Canada Center for the Contemporary Color Documentary/Musical. In her career as a young adult, Katie shared her talents with the Spartans Drum Corps and later the Bluecoats, performing at notable stadiums across the country and renowned parades. As an adult she performed in winter guard organizations, Blessed Sacrament and Fusion Winter Guard. Katie's work with all forementioned ensembles is recognized by numerous achievements from Winter Guard International and Drum Corps International. Notably, she achieved a Gold Medal in 2024 with Fusion. Katie is approaching ten years as a choreographer and technician at the Shen junior varsity, honing students' skills in contemporary movement and equipment. She uses her degrees in English and Library Science professionally as a librarian.