Jaywalk Dance Team Members 2021-2022
Elisa Herrera, 2022
​
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Miami, FL
​
Dance Experience: contemporary, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, tap
Describe your dance motto.
Dance like its your last time dancing.
​
What is your signature move?
A clean triple pirouette.
​
Why did you join Jaywalk?​
I wanted to keep dancing when I attended college and I was really looking forward to being a part of a team like I had been my whole life.
​
How did you know that jaywalk was right for you?
When I was at auditions, the girls leading the combo had smiles on their faces and seemed to love dancing as much as I do.
Samantha Stiroh, 2022
​
Major: Applied Math and Statistics, Economics
Hometown: Scarsdale, NY
​
Dance Experience: Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet
​
Why did you join Jaywalk?​
I love to dance and I love the people!
​
What is you favorite jaywalk memory?
Everyone laughing at practices or seeing teammates around campus.
What is your favorite style of dance?
Contemporary.
​
How has Jaywalk affected your Hopkins experience?​
Jaywalk has made it 19472920173x better! Love the team and the support and all the love!!
CAPTAIN
Elena Taylor, 2022
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Glen Mills, PA
​
Dance Experience: Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap, Hiphop, Theater
Why did you choose to join jaywalk?
\ When I saw Jaywalk perform at O-show, I was impressed by their technique and innovative student choreography, and I knew I wanted to be a part of something so special. I joined because Jaywalk gives me the opportunity to lead, perform, choreograph, and make so many new friends.
​
What is you favorite jaywalk memory?
My favorite Jaywalk memory has to be karaoke night. It is really a time where we all get to be silly together, grow even closer, and practice our questionable singing skills. I love the opportunity to hang out with the whole team outside of the studio!
What is your favorite style of dance?
My favorite style of dance is contemporary. I love how contemporary dance can be anything you want it to be. I enjoy just moving my body in new ways to see what I can create. Contemporary dance is challenging and technical, but also expressive and it feels great to channel my emotions through dance.
How has jaywalk affected your Hopkins experience?
When I first joined the team, I was shocked at how at home I felt during rehearsals. I immediately had so many people who I knew on campus and who could help me navigate my freshman year. Jaywalk has given me my best friends, four more years to improve my dancing, and an outlet to do what I love. It is so calming to walk into the studio after a long day of classes or exams and see the friendly faces of my team, and to move my body and express my emotions through my art.
Lauren Vera, 2022
​
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Miami, FL
​
What is your favorite Jaywalk memory?​
My favorite Jaywalk memory this year was the sock exchange at the Christmas party.
​
Why did you decide to join Jaywalk?​
I decided to join Jaywalk because I wanted to be in a dance group that prioritizes technique, and I liked Jaywalk's dance in O-show.
​
What is your favorite style of dance?​
My favorite style of dance is lyrical or contemporary.
​
What is your favorite thing about Jaywalk?​
My favorite thing about Jaywalk is having the opportunity to dance with people who have all different dance backgrounds and styles.
Eleanor Franklin, 2023
​
Major: Public Health Studies
Hometown: Chatham, NJ
​
Dance Experience: Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz
Describe your dance motto.
Focus on feeling, not appearance.
What is your signature move?
I love a good contraction.
How has jaywalk affected your Hopkins experience?
It has given me my closest friends and provided a supportive community for me to continue doing the art that I love.
What is your favorite thing about jaywalk?
Having a non-academic outlet to de-stress is so important! Being able to go to rehearsal after a long day of class, and having a built in break from studying, is something that helps me tremendously throughout the school year. Dancing is something I always look forward to doing.
TREASURER
Amanda Mitchell, 2023
​
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology, Psychology (Minor)
Hometown: Orange County, CA
​
Dance Experience: ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and
musical theatre
​
How has Jaywalk affected your Hopkins experience?​
Jaywalk has given me the opportunity to find my niche at Hopkins. This dance group has made my experience at Hopkins exponentially better and has provided me with a creative outlet and community to escape the stresses of college.
​
How did you know Jaywalk was right for you?​
I knew Jaywalk was right for me after watching them perform at the O-Show and auditioning. Since I was part of a technical dance studio prior to Hopkins, I appreciated that Jaywalk places an emphasis on technique and highly values student choreography. I could tell that Jaywalk would be the perfect place for me to pursue my passion for dance and build relationships at Hopkins!
​
What is your favorite style of dance?
While I enjoy all styles of dance, my favorite has to be jazz! I love how there are so many varieties of jazz and how a story can be told within the performance. Jazz focuses on technique, but does not shy away from adding elements of sass and funk.
​
What is your favorite thing about jaywalk?
My favorite thing about jaywalk is my teammates! Everyone brings a unique and different aspect to the group, which is what makes jaywalk so special as a dance team. These girls are so kind-hearted and talented, I consider myself lucky to
dance with them.
​
Teagan Toomre, 2023
​
Major: Public Health
Hometown: Los Altos, CA
​
Dance Experience: mostly ballet but also jazz, contemporary, lyrical
Why did you choose to join jaywalk?
I chose to join to get exercise, make friends, and find a way to integrate dance into my college life. Jaywalk has helped me do all of these things!
What is you favorite jaywalk memory?
My favorite memory is fajita night! After we made the team, everyone made all of us new members feel so welcome by inviting us over to celebrate and get to know each other! That's when I knew I made the right choice joining Jaywalk.
How has jaywalk affected your Hopkins experience?
Jaywalk made my transition to college much easier by providing continuity as I transitioned from the pre-professional environment of my home studio to the relax and unscheduled world of college. It gave me the best friends and a schedule to help structure my days during the transition!
​
How did you know that jaywalk was right for you?
I knew Jaywalk was my best fit because of the high level of performance and technique while still being a relaxed atmosphere. I wanted to be able to continue to refine my skills and be challenged in an encouraging environment.
Esther Wu, 2023
​
Major: Public Health, Neuroscience
Hometown: Torrance, CA
​
Dance Experience: ballet, jazz, and contemporary on my high school dance team
Why did you choose to join jaywalk?
I wanted to continue dance after high school and jaywalk matched my favorite styles.
What is you favorite jaywalk memory?
Karaoke night! it was a super fun bonding experience.
What is your favorite style of dance?
Lyrical or contemporary.
What is your favorite thing about jaywalk?
The people! Everyone is so nice and they’re a joy to be around.
CONCERT COORDINATOR
Julia Zambo, 2023
​
Major: Biophysics
Hometown: Easton, PA
​
Dance Experience: Trained in contemporary, jazz, lyrical, tap, musical theater, hip hop, modern, ballet
​
What is your favorite thing about jaywalk? ​
My favorite thing about jaywalk is definitely my teammates! They are some of the best people I’ve met at Hopkins and I look forward to seeing them every week in class.
What is your favorite jaywalk memory?
My favorite jaywalk memory was when we did a private karaoke night right before leaving for winter break.
​
Why did you join Jaywalk?​
I joined Jaywalk because I was looking for a group that would allow me to continue pursuing my passion for dance.
​
What is your favorite style of dance?​
Contemporary or tap.
SECRETARY
Serena Tang, 2024
​
Major: Public Health Studies
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA