Freelance Professional Dancer
Interdisciplinary Artist and Researcher
C Macko
About
C Macko is a freelance professional dancer, interdisciplinary artist, and environmental geoscientist based in Washington, D.C. An analytical and creative thinker, Macko often begins her work with a hypothesis and uses movement as a form of evidence for her musings on art, society, history, policy, and science. She is interested in creating work that challenges the beliefs of her audience and encourages them to think deeper about the world that they are a part of. She executes these visions through athletic movement, comedy, film, fashion, academic research, and properties design. Macko has danced professionally with Adriane Fang, Angel Ramirez, Tabata Vara, daniel miramontes, and Angie Smith. Currently, she rehearsing with Kyoko Fujimoto, Milo Longnecker, and Beatriz Moreira Leite and is developing a dance-theatre work using “playing in dad’s clothes” as a metaphor for transitioning into adulthood.Macko was raised in Raleigh, NC and received her initial training in modern and ballet technique Graceful Expressions Dance Education in Cary, North Carolina under Willie Hinton and Kathryn Daniel. She graduated cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maryland in May 2025 where she trained extensively in modern dance technique with Adriane Fang, Kendra Portier, and Alvin Mayes and studied contact improvisation with Brit Falcon. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy, Concentration in Environmental Geosciences and Restoration with High Honors. At graduation, Macko was presented with the Erika Thimey Award for her outstanding service to dance production. The award recognized her as the very best student of her graduating class.At the University of Maryland, Macko was a favorite collaborator of faculty, graduate students, and guest artists. During her four years of study, she performed in 20 works at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, including pieces by Abby Zbikowski, Momar Ndiaye, Kendra Portier, Sara Pearson, Patrik Widrig, Javi Padilla, Tristan Koepke, Carlo Antonio Villanueva, Kevin Clark, Daniel Miramontes, Peter Pattengill, and Alvin Mayes. In the summer of 2023, she performed at the European Capital of Culture Festival in Elefsina, Greece with PEARSONWIDRIG DANCETHEATRE.Macko spent four summers training at the American Dance Festival with instructors such as Jessie Young, Jordan Lloyd, Verena Pircher, Joy Davis, Matt Del Rosario, Monique Haley, Rodney Hill, Robbie Cook, and Matt Pardo. She performed repertory by George Staib and ARCOS Dance, and during the 2024 Festival, she participated in the development of a new work by Beatrice Panero for the International Choreographers Residency (ICR). She has gained additional training from workshops in New York City with David Dorfman Dance and the Trisha Brown Dance Company.
Performance
2026 Dance Reel
Choreography
Cradle to Grave
Macko premiered her environmental dance theatre work Cradle to Grave at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in December 2024. Cradle to Grave is a satirical lecture about environmental dance set in a climate future, no less dystopian than popular depictions, but far more mundane. The work uses a live lecturer, comedic faux interviews, and three original dance pieces to explore themes of hypocrisy, anxiety, regret, and guilt and investigate the impact of our environmental advocacy and art making practices.
158Z
158Z explored how choreography and music inspire and manipulate one another. Using a framework of alternating composition and improvision for both a dancer and live musician, the work seeks to achieve an equilibrium where both artists contribute equally to the vision. 158Z premiered in April 2022 at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Design
Macko began her design practice with carpentry and fabric crafts as a child. She was taught to work with her hands by her father at the kitchen table and in the garage. At the University of Maryland, her craftsmanship stood out in her introductory technical theatre class and she was invited to work as a Student Properties Artisan. She was mentored by Timothy J. Jones and applied her background in sewing, woodworking, and electronics to upholstery, cabinetry, and crafts. In addition, she was instructed in welding and properties database management. Her organization and creativity shone in the props shop, and she was offered a leadership position as the props warehouse manager during her senior year.In her design practice, Macko is inspired by found materials as she sees opportunity within their constraint. She enjoys turning objects like fabric scraps from the props shop and photo strips dropped in crosswalks into wearable garments and jewelry and crafts her own properties and scenery for her dance-theatre performances.