Meet the GEM Ensemble

Harshini Saravanan (she/her) has been trained in Bharatanatyam, a classical South Indian dance form, since the age of five. She completed her formal training under Guru Shoba Raman at Kalalaya School of the Performing Arts and performed her Arangetram in August 2022, marking the culmination of her dance education. Harshini has since expanded her passion for dance into teaching, serving as an instructor in Bharatanatyam, Hip-Hop, and Bharatanatyam-Hip-Hop fusion for the past year. Bieyond her involvement in the arts, Harshini is pursuing a double major in Biology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In her free time, she enjoys practicing taekwondo, spending time with family and friends, and discovering new places around Chapel Hill.

Hello everyone! I'm Sammi Quiboloy (she/her), a dancer and dance teacher from High Point, NC. I'm also a current UNC student majoring in Biology. Most of my dance career was spent at On Stage School of Dance, where I trained and competed in various styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, and contemporary. Some of my instructors include studio owner Lori Fields, Dr. Tamia Cofield, and Julianna Luchau. During high school, I became a dance major at Penn-Griffin School for the Arts and studied under Amelia Renee Byrd. While expanding my knowledge of familiar dance genres, I was also introduced to other modern techniques and cultural styles. Surprisingly, my experience with traditional Filipino dance isn't as extensive as my other areas of training, but it's easily the most empowering. Guided by JOV church members, I learned and performed my first Filipino dance during my senior year of high school. Continuing into my freshman year of college, I joined UNC Kasama (UNC's Filipinx-American Organization) and its dance team. From beloved Tinikling to crowd-pleasing Pinoy Pop, I attribute most of my Filipino dance knowledge to Asia Ar. Now, I continue my love for dance as a teacher/choreographer for On Stage and Kasama.

Hello! I’m KJ (they/them) :) A fat, black, queer, and neuro-expansive dancer. Im a Raleigh-native and both my mother and father’s eldest child. I am passionate about black diasphoric storytelling through movement and dance! Using my lived experience, my passion for dance, and love for community to create access-centered dance experiences. I work to create intentional spaces where all bodies are able to access their divinity through dance. I believe that all bodies deserve to dance and explore movement in a space that accepts their body as holy and infinite.