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| Photo Credit: Beth Skabar |
The Dancer
Stephanie Pia Wonchala may have hit the big time first as Miss Alaska 2006, but you can check the pageant-girl stereotypes at the door. While she certainly knows how to rock an updo and evening gown, Wonchala is better known these days for founding PULSE, Anchorage's new modern dance company that just wrapped up a successful second season.
Wonchala started studying ballet at Balletschule Röhrig in Germany at age four, eventually minoring in modern dance at UAA. Feeling the Anchorage dance scene needed something new-something modern, visceral and volcanic-she decided to make that something happen.
Wonchala is a woman who likes to stay busy, which is good because she has a schedule that would challenge that of a heart surgeon moonlighting as an air traffic controller. In addition to working full time at an investment firm, Wonchala handles all the administrative work, outreach and event coordination for the dance company, and that's not including the time she spends in rehearsal and performing. Wonchala is definitely a woman who goes for what she wants-now just try to keep up.
Occupation: Executive assistant at an investment firm by day. The rest of the time, company and artistic director of PULSE modern dance company.
Sign: Virgo
Eye color: Hazel
Languages: Fluent in English and German (echt geil!)
Favorite joke: I'm kind of a "that's what she said" fanatic.
What gets Stephanie out on the dance floor: Songs that get my creative juices flowing include: "Cracks" (Flux Pavillion Remix) by Freestylers, "Lights" (Bassnectar Remix) by Ellie Goulding. And anything with creepy sounds and a driving beat.
On running a dance company: It's invigorating and all encompassing; it's a full time job on top of a full time job. I get off work and go to work-but that's when I come to life.
Stephanie's ideal date: I just want to laugh. I really appreciate a good beer and a clever boy. And if they can appreciate the arts-they don't need to love dance, or love going to the museum, they mostly just need to have an open mind and make whatever we're doing fun.
To learn more about Stephanie and PULSE dance company visit http://www.stephaniewonchala.com/ and http://www.pulsedancecompany.com/
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