Meet the company
Austen Kelly
Austen’s love of dance began at age seven with rhythmic tap and grew into a lifelong journey through many styles, including modern, ballet, Irish, African, flamenco, and jazz. He has studied at School of the Arts, SUNY Brockport, and MCC. Austen has performed and competed throughout the Rochester community and beyond, including at North American and World Irish Dance Championships. As an autistic dancer, Austen has experienced barriers within the dance world firsthand. In 2023, he founded Paradigm Shift Dance Company to create a space where every dancer feels valued, included, and celebrated.
Founder & ChoreographerDiana Kelly
Diana Kelly runs Speakeasy Tango at the Village Gate in Rochester, NY. She enjoys teaching multiple classes per week as well as a monthly practicum and milonga. As a parent of a child with a disability, Diana created Paradigm Shift Dance Company as a way to support serious dancers who do not fit the “traditional” mold. In becoming the Executive CEO of Paradigm Shift Dance Company, Diana continues to invest in the framework for exploring inclusive artistic expression.
Executive Director CEOCo-DirectorJoanna Rodriguez
Joanna Rodriguez is a dancer, choreographer, and educator who brings classical ballet and modern dance training—and the lived experience of parenting four children—to her creative work. She earned a B.A. in Dance Performance & Choreography from Hope College and now teaches, performs, and collaborates with companies and artists across Rochester. Joanna is passionate about using dance as a catalyst for connection, imagination, and transformative change.
Co-DirectorCarrie McVay
Carrie McVay is a 2021 alumnus of SUNY Brockport where she earned her BFA in Dance. Carrie has enjoyed dancing for and with Austen Kelly since 2021, and she has had the privilege of being with PSDC since the beginning. In her personal work and teaching Carrie draws inspiration from human nature, anatomy, physiology, and the natural world. Carrie believes that a compassionate environment cultivated excellence, and she is grateful for every opportunity to share the joy of dance.
Rachel Bast
Rachel Bast is a Rochester local with a passion for movement. She graduated in 2025 from the University of Rochester with majors in Biology and Dance. She's performed at multiple ACDA Northeast festivals, and her piece "Hello! My Name Is…" was selected to perform at the 2025 NYSDEA Conference in NYC. Bast has choreographed and performed in various shows including Wonder and Wander IV. Fringe 2025, and Dances at MuCCC 2026. In 2025 she co-founded GrachelBehalkeeDanceCo with George Mechalke.
Dancer & Choreographer
Samantha Bruno
Sam Bruno started her training at the age of three at a local competitive dance studio in Rochester, NY. She grew to love contemporary and classical ballet technique in working with the late Wayne Blatt at Flower City Ballet. Sam continued her dance and theatrical studies through college at SUNY Geneseo and went on to teach at a few schools in the area, where she has worked to spread her passion for dance. Sam is thrilled to be included in Paradigm Shift for another year!
Dancer
DancerMeaghan Flaherty
Meaghan Flaherty received dual majors in dance and psychology from Hofstra University in 2019. She has been dancing since she was three years old, beginning with ballet and falling in love with modern dance during her undergraduate studies. She dabbles in improvisational dance in her free time. Meaghan also teaches Pilates and Barre at a local gym while working toward her advanced certificate in mental health counseling at the University of Rochester. Meaghan strives to incorporate mind-body connection through somatic strategies in her therapeutic practice.
DancerCarol Garwood
Carol Garwood is excited to be a part of Paradigm Shift for the 4th year! Carol is from Rochester, NY and started dancing when she was four years old. She is a 2020 graduate of SUNY Brockport with a BFA in Dance and a minor in History. Her previous work includes My Odyssey performed at Natalia Lisina’s lunch concert series, “Hush You Bye” by Joanna Rodriguez performed at Dances at MuCCC, and various performances with Ballaro Dance. In her free time she enjoys reading, fashion, and attempting DIY projects that seldom turn out how she imagined.
Joshua Lang
Joshua Lang is a theatre artist with formal training in; Ballet, Costuming, Dance Composition, Lighting, Set Design, Construction, and Acting. Lang has recently had the immense good fortune of receiving several New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) grants, funding the production of the large work of children’s ballet Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star, Lang’s Suite de Ballet, a ballet of four movements, and Anthology of Fantastic Zoology, a ballet involving puppets. Lang has studied and/or performed dance in 9 countries throughout the Americas and Europe.
Dancer & Choreographer
George Mechalke
George Mechalke is a dancer from Trumansburg, NY, who began dancing at an early age. Walking away from the University of Rochester in 2025 with a BA in Dance Studies, Mechalke dove head first into the Rochester dance world, working with Kelly in last year's show, as well as co-producing his own with Rachel Bast. Additionally, Mechalke is a 2026 Awardee of the NYS Choreographers Initiative Grant. He teaches dance at Strike It Up Artistic Studio and serves wine at Living Roots Wine Company. Outside of dance, he has a passion for planted fish tanks, bunny rabbits, and reading.
Dancer & Choreographer
DancerLoo RicH
Loo Rich (he/him), started his ballet training at the age of 3 and hasn’t stopped dancing since. After graduating School of the Arts as a dance major, he moved to NYC to continue training with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. Upon the death of his father he moved back to Rochester and continued creating and performing locally. He has performed and choreographed for Rochester Fringe Festival, Dances at MUCCC, Wander and Wonder and, Dances, Distance, and Dusk, as well as being a company member with Incandescent Dance.
Performer
Brandon Langill
Brandon Langill, or WayOfTheLock on his social media platform, is an up and coming comedian. When not with Paradigm Shift Dance Company he makes nerd related videos/skits in Tiktok, YouTube, and Instagram.
Dylan Kelly
Dylan Kelly brings a wonderful sense of the comedic and the absurd to the stage. He has always loved theatre, humor and wit. He is a lifelong student of period architecture and interior architecture. Currently he is responsible for the repair, restoration, creation or reproduction of, and if needed, the installation of, antique lighting for Historic House Parts. He has attended MCC and RIT.
PerformerMark Malcolm
Stage ManagerMark Andrew Leach Malcolm holds an MFA from SUNY Brockport. He teaches, performs, and runs tech for various companies and studios.