Sarah “Saza” Dimmick (Founder/Co-Artistic Director)
Saza is a proud Phoenix native. She received her BFA in dance education from Arizona State University and is currently pursuing her MFA in Dance at ASU. She teaches on the dance faculty of Arizona State University, and has also taught at Mesa Community College, Glendale Community College, Dobson High School and Willow Canyon High School. She has served as School Administrator of Experience Arts School, Manager of Creative Arts at City of Grace Church, and Marketing Director of Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy. Currently, she represents the Be Kind People Project, a non-profit organization that serves teachers and students nationwide, as Spokesperson and the Artistic Director of the “Be Kind Crew.”
Saza loves to choreograph and has been a guest artist/choreographer for University of South Carolina’s dance department. She also created pieces for many NBA and WNBA teams, including the Seattle Supersonics, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trailblazers, Phoenix Suns, Seattle Storm, and the Phoenix Mercury. Other projects include the Miss Teen Arizona Pageant, an episode for MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” and live performances for R&B artist Renee. She currently choreographs floor routines for the Desert Devils national gymnastics team.
Saza’s performance credits also include works by David Dorfman, Cliff Keuter, Yvonne Rainer, FLUX Dance Project, ODC Theater (SF), the NBA Allstar Games, and NBA Celebrity Games. She toured as a dancer and co-choreographer for the drum and dance group, Street Jam, and was a member and co-choreographer for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad for seven years.
One of Saza’s passions is teaching. Along with residencies at Arizona schools through the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Free Arts AZ, ArtSpace and Ear Candy, she has taught and presented curriculum throughout the U.S., including the Dance and the Child International (DACI) conference and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) national conference. Saza has been awarded the Artsbridge America Scholarship, the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) Student Scholarship, and the Arizona State University Intercollegiate Athletics Board’s Award for Most Inspirational Faculty Member. She has been featured in Dance Teacher, Dance Spirit and Dance magazines.
In 2007, Saza and Luis “Weezy” Egurrola formed EPIK Dance Company. By bringing together classically trained and street dancers, they helped shape Arizona’s premier street-fusion dance company. Within their first year, they were winning battles and performing for large audiences, including MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew Tour. Soon after, they decided to turn their focus to creating full theatre works, and went on to produce, “Common Ground,” which has been showcased at the Herberger Center for the Performing Arts, Tempe Center for the Arts, as well as stages all over Arizona. EPIK has become a key player in the community, offering performances and residencies for schools, community and charitable organizations. No matter where Saza goes, EPIK is home to her. She loves that she is able to work with a group of such talented and dedicated dancers.