Divya Sharma
Talk Title: The Next Chapter for Kathak:
Incorporating Modern Ideas While Recognizing the Past
Divya Sharma is a senior in high school from Loudoun County and a Diploma student at the Nrityanaad Academy of Kathak. In addition to dancing for over 11 years, she enjoys teaching and is also an accomplished soloist and group performer. Additionally, Divya has done extensive work to spread awareness about Kathak on an international stage, as well as to create opportunities related to dance in her community. She is co-founder of The Dance Utopia, a 501c3 registered nonprofit, working towards making the arts more accessible through fundraising and workshops. Divya is also a member of UNESCO’s International Dance Council and has been invited to perform at global congresses. As a young person who started dancing from an early age, she has been able to apply lessons she has learned from dance to her life and development. Learning Kathak as a student in the United States, her mission is to build awareness of the dance form and share her culture all over the world. "
LinkedIn: divyaasharmaaa Instagram: @divyasharma0784 Instagram: @divyakathak
Colleen Marie Olinski
Talk Title: How to Create a
Safe World for Kids
Colleen Marie Olinski is an educator, author, and mother who has worked with children of all ages in various settings for the past two decades. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and is a former commercial radio On-Air Personality. Her passion for education and touching the lives of children began while working as a Residential
Counselor for at-risk adolescents.
Colleen earned her Master’s Degree in Education while simultaneously
earning her 1st-degree black belt in Taekwondo. As an elementary
educator, she worked in urban and suburban school districts. She spent 12 years teaching preschool at a play-based Yale University affiliated early learning center. A former board member for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, Colleen, is an advocate for all children and has a deep respect for childhood.
Linktree: ColleenMarieOlinski Linkedin: colleenmarieolinski
Lora Cheadle
Talk Title: Uncovering Bias in
Gender & Sexuality
Lora Cheadle is a corporate attorney turned author, speaker, women’s
advocate, and burlesque dancer. Her mission is to helps women overcome the devastation of betrayal – whether by their body, life, or someone that they love – so they can reclaim their power, own their worth, and confidently engage in life again. Named a Top Influencer by Success Women’s Conference, she has spoken on numerous stages, including the Women Economic Forum in New Deli, India. Her work has been published in Thrive Global, Yoga Magazine, and Om Yoga Magazine, among others.
As a lawyer turned burlesque dancer, she has been discriminated against based on her perceived sexuality. After winning her first case ever, the judge saw fit to call her into his chambers and berate her for being too sexy and bold enough to win a case against an experienced, white, male attorney.
It’s time for women to be bad asses about female sexuality, and to stop
equating intellect, virtue, and worth with perceived chastity.
Facebook: lora.cheadle Instagram: loracheadle
Twitter: LifeChoreo Linkedin: lora-cheadle-lifechoreographer