Sarah studied the sociology of culture at Barnard College of Columbia University. Her thesis argued that artists are essential to a democratic society in a study of Lincoln Center’s public programming and education through the arts programs. Arts institutions, she claimed, are responsible for making space for and amplifying voices of the public they assume to serve. Sarah’s conviction and love for the performing arts brought her into the inner workings of major arts institutions including Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Vail Dance Festival and Aspen Institute Arts Program.
Sarah served as public programming intern, artist representative, special project associative, festival coordinator, writer, and editor, all while pursuing her own artistic research. She worked as assistant to Damian Woetzel on numerous projects that were guided by the principle of collaboration across disparate fields and identities. Her many different responsibilities have always been in support of artists and the role art has for catalysing change and provoking reflection.
Directed by Damian Woetzel from 2008 - 2018, the Aspen Institute Arts Program, based in NYC, is a branch of the Aspen Institute, a non-partisan policy think tank whose foundation is in the Socratic method of question and text based dialogue. The Arts Program insists upon the positive social, economic and cultural implications of the arts in society.
Sarah worked as Special Project Associate for the Arts Program. She contributed to the conception and organization of large and small scale events, including conferences, debates and performances in collaboration with The Cooper Union, The Public Theater, the Park Avenue Armory and other major New York City cultural institutions. Sarah also assisted the Arts Program in convening 18 youth poets for an Aspen Institute Seminar at the Aspen IDEAS Festival in 2016 and 2017.
The Brooklyn Academy Music is New York’s premier contemporary performing arts institution, known for presenting the highest-caliber of progressive and avant-garde performances. Sarah served two years as Artist Services Representative, acting as point person for all artists performing in the Fisher Theater during the iconic Next Wave Festivals of 2015 and 2016. She coordinated between world class local and international companies and key Brooklyn Academy of Music artistic leaders.
One such international artist was Yoann Bourgeois, who after inviting her to learn his choreographic work in between performances, subsequently invited her to France to audition for and eventually join his company.
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts was envisioned as a major performing arts center in New York City that would develop and present the finest and brightest in all types of performing arts to a diverse audience drawn from all walks of life.
Sarah served as a Programming Intern and Special Program Associate at the David Rubenstein Atrium, one of Lincoln Center’s key public spaces directed by Jordana Leigh. She supported a wide variety of free programming, ranging from salsa nights with local musicians to watch and learn events in collaboration with VICE media.
Sarah returned to Lincoln Center as interning assistant to Producer Emily Rasmussen during the national launch of Lincoln Center at the Movies: Great American Dance, which brought world class performances to cinemas throughout the country.
Directed by Damian Woetzel, Vail Dance Festival is a performing arts incubator. Each summer, some of the world’s most highly respected artists in dance and music are assembled including Misty Copeland, Michelle Dorrance, Lil Buck, Tiler Peck, Caroline Shaw and more to embark upon unprecedented creative collaborations.
Sarah began the summer of 2015 immediately out of Barnard as one of nine administrative interns. She was asked to return the following year as the Festival Coordinator, managing and developing the intern program while simultaneously serving as the key point person for all 150 visiting artists and assisting the Festival Manager. She has since returned each summer to continue developing management aspects of the Festival, as well as served as editor of the 2017 VDF Magazine. She continues to write for both the VDF Magazine and the Vail Daily, covering the dance festival.