SUE CASLAVA tries to balance all aspects of her life -- as a wife, mother of three sons, teacher of the blind, teacher of first grade students, and as a dancer. She started dancing late in life, after completing her college gymnastics career, by training at Palomar with Faith Jensen-Ismay. She furthered her dance education by attending summer dance workshops with Isaacs, McCaleb and Dancers, training with Jean Isaacs and Terry Wilson. She has been dancing with Mojalet, almost from its inception, since 1990. When she's not teaching, dancing or shuttling her kids to their numerous activities, she enjoys ballroom dancing, water-skiing, snow skiing and taking trips with her family.

LYNDSEY GEMMELL has been dancing with Mojalet since 2001.   She has a predominant background in jazz and musical theatre and has been studying contemporary dance since 2000.  Lyndsey has enjoyed performing with Mojalet over the years and would like to thank Faith for affording her the opportunity.  She resides in Oceanside with her husband, Brian, and two healthy boys, Jack and Elliott and her daughter Scarlet. She is happiest when she is dreaming up her next creative endeavor and sharing her artistic passions with her children. She will be sharing her passions with her fourth child  in January.

DAVID HANLON has danced with Mojalet since 2000, thoroughly enjoying his experiences with Faith and the other dancers. He previously studied with Karol Lee, Terry Sprague, Yvonne Hargundiguy and Terry Wilson, and has performed works by Patricia Sandback, Allyson Green, Melissa Nunn, Yolande Snaith, Betzi Roe and Katie Stevenson-Nollet, among others. He has performed in Trolley Dances numerous times, and has had the fortune of dancing with Faith in Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, L.A. and Northern California. David holds a BA in History and Social Science from CSUSM, and an AA in Dance from Mira Costa College. He currently teaches Character Leadership and History/Special Education at Vista High School. When he is not dancing or teaching, David sings with his church choir, hangs out with his precious nephews and niece, takes lots of yoga, and volunteers with social justice/animal welfare organizations. He also loves to try to bake ala Martha Stewart!

ALYSSA KINNEAR is thrilled to be joining the Mojalet family.  She is a native San Diegan who began her dance training with Lorna Diamond and Donna Flournoy studying ballet, tap, jazz, flamenco and regional Spanish dancing.  Alyssa holds a B.A. in Dance from the University of California, San Diego and received the Dance Faculty Performance Award at graduation.  She has had the privilege of studying and working with Allyson Green, Terry Wilson, Jean Issacs, Margaret Marshall, and Judith Sharp.  In 2005, Alyssa took a break from dance to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Southern California.  She has been practicing physical therapy for over 3 years specializing in Pediatrics.  When not in the studio or clinic, Alyssa can be found traveling around the world.  She would like to thank Faith for this incredible opportunity.

MANDY LANGEN graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a BA in Dance where she danced in pieces by Jeff Slayton, Pat Finot, Victor Robles and Elizabeth Morse, and was the recipient of the Dramatic Allied for the Arts Guild scholarship. She has choreographed and taught dance for many schools from San Diego to Los Angeles, and is the dance teacher at El Camino High School in Oceanside. She has danced with Los Angeles Choreographers and Dancers, Notoriety, Inc., as well as with various independent artists. She has been a member of Mojalet since 2002 and she loves being able to continue to both teach and dance.  When not dancing, she enjoys going on adventures and traveling the world with her husband Kenny. Their biggest adventure will be coming in September with the birth of their first child.

KATHRYN MCLEAN began her journey with Mojalet in 2001 and has trained with Faith Jensen-Ismay since 1998. She studied jazz dance throughout her younger years and has had training in ballet, ethnic and tap dance from Palomar College. Over the past several years, Kathryn has taught movement classes to children in local preschools and is active in assembly programs through Mojalet and Young Audiences. She has participated in San Diego Dance Theatre’s summer workshops. She thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to dance, travel, and perform with Mojalet.  Katy and her husband Jakob are proud parents of their baby girl, Juliette and are expecting their second child in February.

Alumni Dancer & Guest Performers

LARA BINDER has extensive experience as a professional dancer, teacher, producer and choreographer in San Diego, California. She has had the opportunity to train and perform with Faith Jensen-Ismay, Michael Mizerany, John Malashock, Allyson Green Dance, Joe Alter Dance, Patricia Rincon Dance Collective, the PGK Project, Patricia Sandback and Dancers and Jean Isaacs' San Diego Dance Theater at events such as Bravo San Diego, Celebrate Dance Festival and Trolley Dances. In 2005 Lara graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance and was named the Outstanding Graduate in Dance for San Diego State University. Since then she has performed nationally and abroad with Malashock Dance Company and Mojalet Dance Collective. Lara is also the co-founder and producer for IGNITE, an annual choreography showcase in San Diego. Lara and her husband are enjoying their new home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida where she is excited to be working with the Braided Light Dance Project and teaching at The Ballet Arts Center.

Core Group Dance Company

SABINE ISMAY , Faith Jensen-Ismay’s daughter has been training with her mother since she was eight years old. She started taking classes annually at a workshop in Ramona, but has been dancing around watching her mother for her whole life. Since then she has been dancing internationally with Mojalet, Core Group and Jamolet.  Currently she is attending Mesa College and is perusing a degree and running hurtles for the Mesa Track Team.  She is also working at Kupiec Orthodontics and the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Her other passion is teaching dance in North County to youth at the Vine and in Escondido. The Bernardo Winery has become a new home for her and her family, she often helps with the many shows and new additions to the space.  

ALIA ISMAY was born in Poway California and has danced basically her whole life, but started official training around the age of 8. She started dancing at the annual summer workshop in Ramona, then in sixth grade started taking classes taught by her mom, Faith Jensen-Ismay. She has been dancing with Mojalet ever since then. Now Alia attends Poway High, she is The President of Grappelletes Club and has been in the ceramics program for 2 years. Alia will be running her third year of varsity hurdles, still trying to be as skilled as her sister, Sabine. She also participates in Varsity Pole Vault at Poway High. Alia loves the Bernardo Winery and is excited to have classes and shows there, including her senior project that will take place in March. Alia enjoys being a part of Jamolet and hopes that the company does well. She dances for her parents and will always love them.