Karina Halevy

Image Description: Black and white photo of Karina (white skin, brown hair, red button-down, black leggings, white socks, blue mask) doing an attitude to the back on stage. Picture credits: Titus Jahng, 2022.
Interests
- ballet, contemporary, modern, lyrical, character/folk, jazz, musical theater, (basic) tap
- directing and/or choreographing performances that reconstruct (or deconstruct (?)) fairytales/sci-fi or tell stories about broader things like health (mental & physical), neurodivergence, and social/cultural/gendered experiences
- lighting design/programming/board operations, technical production, stage management, data/operations/finance management, publicity, front-of-house, sound design/engineering/board operations, video/media design/engineering/operation
- if necessary I can also sing at like, a mezzo-soprano range, either operatically or not operatically whatever
Background
- 2023 - present: ballet with En Pointe
- 2023 - present: contemporary, jazz, & jazz funk with Dancers’ Symposium (DS)
- 2024 - present: Chinese dance with Awareness of Roots in Chinese Culture Chinese Dance Club (ACDC)
- 2024 - present: ballet, contemporary, & jazz with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School
- 2024: ballet & tap with Bodiography
- 2019 - 2023: modern & contemporary with Harvard-Radcliffe Modern Dance Company
- 2022: ballet with VAM Studios
- 2016 - 2019: jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, & character with Los Altos High School Advanced Jazz Dance
- 2016 - 2019: ballet with Bay Area Dance School
- 2011 - 2016: ballet, contemporary, & character with Bayer Ballet Academy
- 2009 - 2011: ballet with Pacific Ballet Academy
- 2007 - 2009: Chinese dance with Jun Lu Performing Arts Academy
- 2004 - 2007: ballet with Pacific Ballet Academy
Selected Stage Experience
Choreography
- “Symphony”: jazz group dance, performed in DS: Rogue, spring 2025
- “Where Do I Start”: ballet small-group dance, performed in Rêve by En Pointe, spring 2025
- “siegfried”: ballet solo, performed in CMU Spring Carnival Dance Show, spring 2025
- “Habanera”: ballet-based Spanish character solo, performed in Tartans Got Talent, spring 2025
- “don’t let go”: contemporary/lyrical solo, performed in National Choreography Month Pittsburgh, winter 2025
- “Five More Minutes”: contemporary group dance, performed in DS: Ember, fall 2024
- “Chinese Tea”: pointe duet, performed in En Pointe’s second annual Nutcracker, fall 2024, co-choreographed with Olivia McCracken
- “Adagio”: contemporary ballet small-group dance, performed in Prelude by En Pointe, spring 2024
- “full bloom: a folk fusion”: mixed European character dance solo, performed in SCS Day Talent Show by CMU, winter 2024
- “Mazurka”: mixed European character dance solo, performed in ARTS FIRST DanceFest by Harvard Office for the Arts (OFA), spring 2023
- “shapeshifting”: ballet-based modern trio, performed in [intervals] by Harvard-Radcliffe Modern Dance Company (HRMDC), spring 2023
- “The Interval Closes / Company Piece (93)”: modern large-group dance, performed in [intervals] by HRMDC, spring 2023, co-choreographed with Mira Becker & Jess Hung
- “stirring in the stillness of the night”: modern/lyrical solo, guest-performed in Vignettes by Harvard Ballroom Dance Team, winter 2023
- “asymmetry”: ballet-based modern solo, performed in metamorphosis by HRMDC, fall 2022
- “i’ll see you again”: ballet-based modern trio, performed in metamorphosis by HRMDC, fall 2022
- “core memories/company piece 92”, modern large-group dance, performed in metamorphosis by HRMDC, fall 2022, co-choreographed with Mira Becker
- “taking the power”: ballet-based modern solo, performed in translations by HRMDC, spring 2022
- “company piece 91 (?)”: jazz-based modern large-group dance, performed in translations by HRMDC, spring 2022, with small-group and solo snippets choreographed by other company members
- “simple things”: ballet-based modern quartet, performed in archive by HRMDC, fall 2021
- “dreaming”: ballet-based modern solo, performed in daybreak by HRMDC, spring 2021
- “f l y i n g”: ballet-based modern duet, performed in surreal by HRMDC, fall 2020, co-choreographed with Veronica Tang
- “the flow of time”: modern small-group work-in-progress (cancelled because of COVID), planned for performance in ca\dence by HRMDC, spring 2020
- “Hungarian Dance No. 4”: Hungarian character-based solo, performed in Dancing Around the Clock by Los Altos High School Advanced Jazz Dance, spring 2019
- “Czardas”: Hungarian character-based solo, performed in City of Dance by Los Altos High School Advanced Jazz Dance, spring 2018
Dance (choreographed by other people)
Carnegie Mellon University
- “La Donna”: pointe group dance in DS: Rogue, spring 2025
- “The door”: contemporary/jazz group dance in DS: Rogue, spring 2025
- “Sweet Disposition”: contemporary group dance in DS: Rogue, spring 2025
- “Dulcinea” from the Don Quixote Dream Scene: pointe solo role in Rêve by En Pointe, spring 2025
- “Serenade for Strings”: pointe small-group role in Rêve by En Pointe, spring 2025
- “Training For The Sword”: traditional Chinese group dance, performed in Legend of the White Snake by CMU Awareness of Roots in Chinese Culture (ARCC)
- Opening Act (Chinese Dance) of Greater Pittsburgh Lunar New Year Gala, winter 2025
- “Hungarian Rhapsody”, pointe group dance in DS: Ember, fall 2024
- “Worn Thin”: contemporary group dance in DS: Ember, fall 2024
- “Uncle Drosselmeyer”: theatricalized ballet solo role in En Pointe’s second annual Nutcracker, fall 2024
- “The Other Side”: traditional Chinese group dance, performed in Fantasy by CMU Taiwanese Student Association, fall 2024
- “Rain on Me”: jazz group dance in DS: Reverie, spring 2024
- “Glass Pieces”: contemporary ballet group role in Prelude by En Pointe, spring 2024
- “Disappear”: contemporary ballet group role in Prelude by En Pointe, spring 2024
- “Incanto”: contemporary ballet & pointe group roles in Prelude by En Pointe, spring 2024
- “to love’s end”: traditional Chinese group dance, performed in The Legend of Nezha by CMU ARCC
- “Flying”: contemporary group dance, performed in Liminal by Lunar Gala, spring 2024
- “Dance of the Snowflakes”: ballet group role in The Nutcracker by En Pointe, fall 2023
- “Russian Trepak”: character duet in The Nutcracker by En Pointe, fall 2023
- “Waltz of the Flowers”: pointe small-group role in The Nutcracker by En Pointe, fall 2023
- “Narcissist”: contemporary group dance, performed in DS: RIFT by DS, fall 2023
- “Pas Des Trois Des Odalisques” from Le Corsaire: ballet group dance, performed in DS: RIFT, fall 2023
-
“baby C’Est La Vie!”: jazz funk group dance, performed in DS: RIFT, fall 2023
Harvard University
- “learn to let go”: modern quartet, performed in [intervals] by HRMDC, spring 2023
- Margot (1 of 6 Grisettes): jazz small-group dance + singing role, performed in The Merry Widow by Harvard College Opera, winter 2023
- Pontevedran Dancer: ballet small-group dance + singing role, performed in The Merry Widow by Harvard College Opera, winter 2023
- “hast thou slain the jabberwock?”: ballet-based modern trio, performed in ARTS FIRST DanceFest by OFA, spring 2022
- “my mother told me”: modern small-group dance, performed in archive by HRMDC, fall 2021
- “this is…45”: modern large-group dance, performed in archive by HRMDC, fall 2021
- “bird set free”: modern small-group dance, performed in an escape by HRMDC, fall 2019
-
“The Ones Who Had Loved Her the Most”: modern trio, performed in an escape by HRMDC, fall 2019
Bayer Ballet Academy
- “Snow Queen”: ballet solo role, performed in The Snow Queen by Bayer Ballet, fall 2015
- “Garden Enchantress”: pointe solo role, performed in The Snow Queen by Bayer Ballet, fall 2014 & 2015
- “Bells” from Fountain of Bakhchisarai: lead role in pointe trio, performed in summer intensive showcase by Bayer Ballet, summer 2015
- Lead Chinese: pointe role, performed in Winter Fairy Tale by Bayer Ballet, fall 2013
Pointe small-group roles:
- “Nymphs” from Walpurgisnacht: performed in Springtime Novelettes, spring 2016
- “Little Sheep”: performed in A Winter Fairy Tale, fall 2012)
- “Coral” from The Little Humpbacked Horse: performed in Springtime Novelettes, spring 2012
Corps de Ballet pointe roles:
- “Medora’s Friends” from Le Corsaire: performed in Springtime Novelettes, spring 2015
- “Icicles”: performed in The Snow Queen, fall 2014
- Wedding Scene from La Esmeralda: performed in summer intensive showcase, summer 2014
- “Waltz of the Flowers”: performed in A Winter Fairy Tale, fall 2012 & 2013
- “Dance of the Snowflakes”: performed in A Winter Fairy Tale, fall 2012 & 2013
- “Le Jardin Animé” from Le Corsaire: performed in Springtime Novelettes, spring 2014
Corps de Ballet roles:
- “Trolls”: performed in The Snow Queen, fall 2014
- “Robbers”: performed in The Snow Queen, fall 2014
- “Hershey Kisses”: performed in A Winter Fairy Tale, fall 2011
- “Chinese Tea”: performed in A Winter Fairy Tale, fall 2011
- “Waltz of the Flowers”: performed in A Winter Fairy Tale, fall 2011
Character group dances in Springtime Novelettes and summer intensive showcases:
- “Neapolitan Dance” from Swan Lake (Italian, spring 2016)
- “Seguidilla” from Don Quixote (Spanish, spring 2015)
- “Mazurka” from Swan Lake (Polish, spring 2014)
- “Moldavian Dance” (Moldavian, spring 2012 & 2013, also performed in International School of the Peninsula Gala)
- “Tarantella” from Napoli (Italian, summer 2012)
- “Russian Dance” (Russian, spring 2012)
- “Tarantella Napoletana” (Italian, spring 2012)
Pacific Ballet Academy (ballet group roles)
- “Danse Espagnole” from Swan Lake: performed in spring showcase, spring 2011
- “Party Scene Boy”: performed in The Nutcracker, fall 2010
- “Soldier”: performed in The Nutcracker, fall 2009)
Lighting
Skills I have so far: creating cues (pre-programmed and live-mixing), magic sheets, & basic VectorWorks plots, programming & running cues on ETC Ion, ETC ColorSource 20AV, & grandMA2 consoles, training new board operators, syncing cues with QLab sound files, hanging/focusing/cabling/patching/addressing fixtures (mainly conventional Source 4s, Esprites, & D40s), inserting gels/barrels/replacement lamps, researching & communicating equipment needs.
- Lighting Designer for “Symphony” in DS: Rogue, spring 2025
- Lighting Designer for Rêve by En Pointe, spring 2025
- Spotlight Operator for “Chinese New Year Extravaganza” by CMU Chinese Students & Scholars Association, winter 2025
- Lighting Designer for “Five More Minutes” and “Worn Thin” in DS: Ember, fall 2024
- Lighting Designer & Co-Board-Operator for Omni by Soulstylz, fall 2024
- Lighting Designer for CMU’s second-ever, slightly-less-mini-than-its-first-ever Nutcracker, fall 2024
- Lighting Designer for CMU First-Year Showcase, summer 2024
- Lighting Board Operator for The Mentalist magic show at CMU First-Year Orientation, summer 2024
- Lighting Designer & Board Operator for CMU Master of Integrated Innovation for Products & Services & Electrical & Computer Engineering PhD graduation ceremonies, spring 2024
- Lighting Designer & Board Operator for inaugural CMU LLM Agent Workshop, spring 2024
- Assistant Lighting Designer & Board Operator for Almost Midnight A Cappella by CMU Treblemakers, spring 2024
- Lighting Designer for “Rain on Me” and “Incanto” in DS: Reverie, spring 2024
- Lighting Designer for Prelude by En Pointe, spring 2024
- Lighting Designer & Board Operator for Meet Cute Loop by CMU Filmmakers, spring 2024
- Lighting Designer for Liminal by Lunar Gala, spring 2024
- Lighting Designer & Board Operator for CMU Independent Musicians’ Organization Concert, winter 2024
- Lighting Designer for Train Show by New Works Coffeehouse, winter 2024
- Lighting Designer for CMU’s first-ever mini-Nutcracker by En Pointe, fall 2023
- Lighting Designer for “XO” in DS: RIFT, fall 2023
- Lighting Designer for [intervals] by HRMDC, spring 2023 (sample)
- Lighting Board Operator for Falling Together by Laura Coe, spring 2023
- Lighting Designer for metamorphosis by HRMDC, fall 2022 (sample)
- Lighting Board Operator for “Un Viaje Por El Mundo” by Harvard Candela Latin Dance Troupe, spring 2022
Directing
Skills so far: creating show themes, storyboards, & idea docs, acquiring & setting up props & costumes, recruiting photographers, videographers, choreographers, & board members, organizing photoshoots, creating publicity materials, leading board meetings, creating cast lists, teaching technique & repertoire classes, handling (certain) emergencies, managing costume closets.
- Co-Répétiteur for “La Donna”, performed in DS: Rogue, spring 2025
- Co-Répétiteur for “Dream Scene” from Don Quixote, performed in Rêve, spring 2025
- Co-Director for Rêve, spring 2025
- Co-Répétiteur for “Hungarian Rhapsody”, performed in DS: Ember, fall 2024
- Co-Director for CMU’s second annual Nutcracker, fall 2024
- Co-Director for metamorphosis, fall 2022
- Co-Director for translations, spring 2022
- Director for Bilingual Bridges benefit concert, spring 2018
Producing
Skills: talking to choreographers, group leaders, tech staff, & external vendors to collect equipment needs & stage diagrams, setting up & striking basic sound systems (e.g. Mackies with Honey, some Shure SM58 wireless mic + elementary LS9 setups), creating show orders & equipment lists, recruiting & training runcrew, leading technical & choreographic research, facilitating production, budget & design meetings, giving feedback to designers, creating budgets, writing grants, organizing donation matches, leading load-ins & strikes.
- Producer for Rêve by En Pointe, spring 2025
- Techie in Charge (Production Manager) for Omni by Soulstylz, fall 2024
- Producer for CMU’s second annual Nutcracker, fall 2024
- Producer for Prelude by En Pointe, spring 2024
- Assistant Techie in Charge for CMU LTI’s Welcome Back Party & Talent Show, winter 2024
- Student Producer for ARTS FIRST DanceFest, spring 2023
- Producer for Falling Together, Laura Coe’s senior thesis performance, winter 2023
- Treasurer for archive, fall 2021
- Treasurer for daybreak, spring 2021
Stage-Managing
Skills: scheduling auditions & rehearsals, calling performer/light/sound cues, executing projection/backing track cues, removing body mics from performers, assisting with stage transitions, using ClearCom, answering cast questions.
- Co-Stage Manager for Rêve by En Pointe, spring 2025
- Stage Manager for Taalam by CMU Abhinaya, winter 2025
- Assistant Stage Manager for Almost Midnight A Cappella by CMU Soundbytes, fall 2024
- Co-Stage Manager for CMU’s second annual Nutcracker, fall 2024
- Stage Manager for Benefit Cabaret: Legacy by S’n’S, fall 2024
- Stage Manager for Tartans Got Talent by CMU Spring Carnival Committee, spring 2024
- Backdoor Stage Manager for CMU Greek Sing, spring 2024
- Stage Manager for Benefit Cabaret: Decades by S’n’S, fall 2023
- Co-Stage Manager for translations, spring 2022
House-Managing
Skills: coordinating publicity tabling, managing ticket sales, distributing programs & PPE, talking to patrons, ripping & counting ticket stubs, transporting instruments, chairs, stools, & music stands, placing chains for lift runs during set changeovers, communicating on radio.
- House Manager for Beyond Us by Scotch’n’Soda (S’n’S), winter 2024
- Usher & set changeover crew for 20 choral & orchestral concerts, speaker events, dance installations, & movie screenings at Sanders Theater, fall 2022 - winter 2023
- Usher for The Merry Widow, winter 2023
Sound
Skills: mixing soundtracks in iMovie, creating & operating QLab showfiles, training board operators, setting up & maintaining speakers, music, & mics.
- Sound + Projections Engineer for Rêve by En Pointe, spring 2025
- Sound Engineer & Narrator for CMU’s second annual Nutcracker, fall 2024
- Sound Engineer & Co-Emcee for CMU LLM Agent Workshop, spring 2024
- Sound + Projections Engineer for Prelude by En Pointe, spring 2024
- Sound load-in crew for Carrie by S’n’S, fall 2023
- Sound designer for [intervals], spring 2023