Anna Bracewell - ImmerseATL EDUCATOR

Anna Bracewell is an Atlanta-based dance artist whose work bridges performance, collaboration, and pedagogy. Born and raised in Atlanta, she began her formal training at an early age at Decatur School of Ballet, where a foundation in classical technique shaped her early artistic voice. She continued her studies at DeKalb School of the Arts under the mentorship of the great Pamala Jones-Malavé, before earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Georgia.

Since 2012, Bracewell has been a dedicated member of staibdance, where she continues to contribute as a performer, collaborator, and educator, now in her 12th season with the company. She was also a member of Core Dance from 2012 to 2020 under the artistic direction of Sue Schroeder. Through her work with Core Dance, she performed extensively in theaters, museums, public spaces, and festivals across the United States, France, Spain, and Israel, engaging diverse audiences through site-responsive and interdisciplinary performance.

Her collaborative practice has led her to create and perform original works with internationally recognized artists, including Niv Sheinfeld and Oren Laor (Tel Aviv), Germana Civera (France/Spain), Frank van de Ven (Amsterdam), Amanda K. Miller, and Isabelle Saulle and Adolfo Vargas (France), among others. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to embodied research and cross-cultural exchange.

Within Atlanta’s vibrant arts community, Bracewell has also cultivated rich creative partnerships with artists such as Blake Beckham, Joshua Rackliffe, Erik Thurmond, and Catellier Dance Projects, contributing to the city’s evolving contemporary dance landscape.

Bracewell’s artistry has been recognized with the “Best Dancer” award by ArtsATL in 2018. Her international collaborations include work with Association Manifeste, performing in public spaces throughout France and the United States, as well as performances in Tel Aviv with Sheinfeld and Laor.

IG: @annavbracewell

George Staib - ImmerseATL EDUCATOR

George Staib is a Professor of Practice in the Emory University Department of Theater and Dance, and is the artistic director of staibdance, a dance company dedicated to the intersections of movement, community and culture.

Staib began his dance training at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in conjunction with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, then went on to earn an MFA in dance and choreography from Temple University.

Further movement research led him to Israel, Sweden, and Italy to deepen his understanding of Gaga and release technique as well as the unbridled physicality of movement pioneers such as Iris Enez, Yasmeen Godder and Noa Wortheim. Currently his movement interests reside in blurring the line between process and performance, and he is interested in the notion of spontaneity as it relates to established material vs. improvised ideas. 

 As a choreographer, Staib’s primary vehicle for dance-making is through staibdance, now in its 18th year. Staib’s work is often founded upon autobiographical stories, while being dedicated to unearthing their relatability among diverse populations. Staib’s work has been commissioned across the US and abroad, and has been awarded funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Emory University Research Committee, The Latham Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The New England Foundation for the Arts, South Arts and The Vail Family Foundation.

staibdance curated and produced the first-ever Atlanta Multicultural Dance Festival, now in its third season, created a summer intensive in Sorrento, Italy, now in its 13th year and hosted a10-part podcast series titled Secret Architecture: the process of process, that features culturally based artists from across the country. staibdance is currently developing their new work “between dog and wolf” set to premiere in October 2025.

staibdance.com

Sarah Hillmer  -  ImmerseATL Founder & Director

Sarah Hillmer has more than 20 years of experience in the professional dance field as a dancer, rehearsal director, assistant to choreographers, stager, educator, creator and arts administrator. Her company credits include the Atlanta Ballet, glo - as a founding member, and staibdance.

Sarah served as a Rehearsal Director at the Atlanta Ballet from 2013-2019 where artistic relationships with choreographers Twyla Tharp and Helen Pickett were forged. She has staged Twyla Tharp’s work at Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Atlanta Ballet, and her work as a stager and assistant to Helen Pickett has taken her to Alberta Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Scottish Ballet, Smuin Ballet, UArts and UNCSA.

Sarah is the Founder & Director of ImmerseATL, a training and mentorship program supporting dancers at pivotal stages in their ever-evolving journey as artists through its Artist Program and ImmerseATL Collective.

As a choreographer, Sarah has been commissioned to create work for Atlanta Ballet’s Wabi Sabi, Backside of the Tent Productions, Emory Dance Company and Admix Project. She has also collaborated with George Staib on fence (2019), funded in part by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, and Dido & Aeneas (2023), a collaboration with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra.

As an arts administrator, Sarah serves as Executive Director of staibdance, where she has spent the past seven years leading and managing the company’s artistic, educational, and touring activities. During her tenure, she has overseen seven national tours, three world premieres, annual workshops, the company’s two-week summer intensive in Sorrento, Italy, and (MC)², Atlanta’s first multicultural dance festival. She has also guided the development of a docuseries and podcast series, Secret Architecture: The Process of Process.

From 2024–2026, Sarah also served as Business Operations Manager for Windmill Arts, an organization dedicated to the advancement and presentation of new work in the arts.

sarahjhillmer.com