Our Mission

Epiphany Dance Theater creates thought-provoking, accessible dance performances and educational programs, building understanding across cultures and ages. On the stage and in the street, we illuminate the ordinary and the extraordinary, inspiring social change using art as a vehicle.

Artistic Focus

Our programs include annual performance and educational programming; the highly acclaimed San Francisco Trolley Dances (SFTD), now in its 19th year; and community education and outreach activities for youth and adults in the Bay Area and around the world.

Staff

Kim Epifano

Artistic Director & Exec Team (Founder)

Enter Kim Epifano, who for more than 20 years has been making work in this city that’s grounded us in a social center while stretching towards San Francisco’s physical limits. She has managed to make defined communities the successful end rather than the procedural means of her aesthetic vision. Her work models a vision for community development and documentary at the intersection of deft, provocative artistic expression.

— MARC BAMUTHI JOSEPHThe Kennedy Center

Kayla May Paz Suarez

Education & Communications Dir.

Kayla May Paz Suarez is a 1st generation Pilipinx American, born and raised in the Bay Area. An actor and youth educator, she is passionate about igniting the imaginations of audiences everywhere through theatre, dance and song. Kayla May studied acting at the Pacific Conservatory Theater where she received her professional acting training in 2015. In 2019 Kayla May was the first Artist in Residence for Awesome Theatre where they wrote and performed their 1 person show “The Kayla May Project: Laughing at my Trauma” a multimedia and live performance hosted at the Kearney Street Workshop.

Kayla May has served as Communications and Education at EDT since 2019, where she is responsible for donation and volunteer coordination, social media, outreach/educational programming, newsletter and content creation and facilitation of Kids on Track student programming. Previous arts administration experience includes Red Ladder Theater, Berkeley Playhouse, and New Conservatory Theater.

Cindy Bruneman Michael

Bookkeeper, Advisory Executive Team

With 20+ years of experience in finance and accounting, Cindy brings a unique blend of the corporate mind-set into the nonprofit sector. She believes that having the proper framework and systems will best support the organizational mission, and that trustworthy financial statements are critical to stability and growth. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana specializing in Entrepreneurship. Her greatest loves are her family, dance and travel.

Serena Pickett

Administrative Assistant

Serena Pickett, born and raised in New York City, is a dancer, choreographer, and yoga practitioner. She received her 200 hr yoga teacher training certification at YogaWorks in Manhattan in 2018. She moved to San francisco where she received a BA degree in Performing Arts and Social Justice in a concentration of dance with an Environmental Studies minor at the University of San Francisco in 2022. Serena has practiced different forms of movement with experience in learning from dance companies; Pilobolus Dance Company, Battery Dance Company, American Ballet Theater, and Robert Moses Kin. She is currently teaching yoga classes in the Bay Area. Her work is inspired by the human relationship with nature, because of this, she has found a love for site specific dance. As a teacher and movement artist, Serena is most interested in reimagining spaces, creating new rooms for awareness, healing, compassion, and play.

Board

James Hunter

Board President, CEO

James has served on Epiphany’s Board since the organization was founded in 1997, and is currently the President of the Board and CEO. James is a Design Principal with The Wiseman Group in San Francisco. James received a Masters of Science in Art Education (magna cum laude) from the State University College of Buffalo, New York.

Arleen Vatuvei

Board Treasurer

Arleen joined Epiphany’s Board in 2017. Arlene is a Wealth Management Client Associate at US Bank and holds several licenses and professional memberships. Arlene graduated from San Francisco State University with a BS in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance.

Richard Kittle

Board Member

Richard is an aerial design artist and rigger, who has worked in the Bay Area Dance world for 25 years, with many outstanding choreographers including Kim Epifano, Amelia Rudolph, Suzanne Gallow, Jo Krieter, Jody Lomask and companies like Bandaloop and UpSwing. Richard has 45 years of experience in the building trades—from bridges to boats, cars, homes and art pieces.

Todd Laby

Board Member

Todd joined Epiphany’s Board in 2016. He is a visual artist and has a background in art direction, product, set, furniture and digital design. He holds a BS in Business Economics, BA in Advertising Design and a BFA in Furniture, Sculpture and Product Design.

Dylan Rodolf

Board Member

Dylan has worked in higher education development, cultivating donor relationships to raise money for university initiatives. Currently a third-year law student at UC Berkeley, studying legal frameworks that shape the built environment, including property law, urban planning, housing policy, and sustainable real estate development.

Annual Reports

Click items below to read our annual reports.

2019

2020

2021

2022