Sarah “Saza” Dimmick

Sarah “Saza” Dimmick (Artistic Director) received her BFA in dance education from Arizona State University, and has taught on the dance faculties of Arizona State University and Glendale Community College, Dobson High School and Willow Canyon High School. Most recently, Saza served as School Administrator of Experience Arts School, a Christian arts school in Mesa, AZ, and Manager of Creative Arts at City of Grace Church. Currently, Saza is the Marketing Director of Studio 3 Performing Arts Academy, a “triple threat” studio in Gilbert, Arizona.

Saza loves to choreograph, and has been a guest artist/choreographer for University of South Carolina (USC) dance department, and has created pieces for the Seattle Supersonics (NBA), the Golden State Warriors (NBA), the Portland Trailblazers (NBA), the Phoenix Suns (NBA), the Seattle Storm (WNBA), the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), the Miss Teen Arizona Pageant, an episode for MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” and live performances for up and coming R&B artist Renee. Her performance credits also include works by David Dorfman, Cliff Keuter, Yvonne Rainer, FLUX Dance Project, ODC Theater (SF), the NBA Allstar Games, NBA Celebrity Games and live performances for hip hop artist Queen Yonasda. She also 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. In the media, Saza was a featured dancer in a national commercial for On-Demand television, including one for local Cox Communications, and has spoken and performed on the news many times.

One of Saza’s passions is teaching. Along with residencies at local schools through the Arizona Commission on the Arts, ArtSpace and Ear Candy, Saza has taught and presented curriculum throughout the US, including the Dance and the Child International (DACI) conference and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) national conferences four times. She has lectured and taught at universities in South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, as well as Arizona. Saza has received many awards for her teaching ability, including the prestigious Artsbridge America Scholarship, the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) 2004 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.

No matter where she goes or what she does, EPIK is where Saza calls home. She is madly in love with EPIK and feels blessed every day to have such amazing people in her life.