ABOUT

Dancer. Actress. Creative Artist.

Hi, I’m Tori — a North Carolina–based creative artist and performer whose work lives at the intersection of visual design, performance, accessibility, and community impact. I graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a degree in Graphic Design and an immersion in Theatre Arts, shaping the way I approach storytelling, movement, and human-centered creative work.

With 25 years of dance experience, I trained at Sara’s Studio of Dance, performing with its Dance Company and Competition Team and serving as Squad Leader for the Jacksonville High School Varsity Dance Team. I became the first Deaf soloist from my school to compete in the IHSA Drill Dance Competition, placing 11th in the state. My performance career includes top placements at competitions such as Revolution Nationals, and appearances in The Nutcracker with the Springfield Ballet Company, as well as events including the Morgan County and Illinois State Fairs, the Statue of Liberty, the Harlem Globetrotters, and Disneyland. My senior solo, I Am, earned a platinum score and qualified for nationals, and in 2018 I won first place in Dr. Munson’s Performing Arts Challenge at Imagine RIT. As my YouTube video continues to be shared worldwide, I hope it shows that Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals can fully experience—and thrive in—music and dance.

These experiences led to theatre opportunities, including my first role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, four years with RIT/NTID Performing Arts, four Irene Ryan nominations (with a top-15 finalist placement), and KCACTF recognition, including the selection of I and You for regional performance. In 2023, I appeared as Layla in the short film Moonlight on Water.

As a designer, I blend visuals with strategy to help brands, organizations, and communities show up with intention. With 3+ years of freelance experience across graphic design, art direction, UX/UI, and marketing, I have collaborated with organizations such as VisualDx, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Blumenthal Performing Arts, creating digital and social content that resonates.

Whether onstage or behind a screen, I create to shift perspectives — transforming stories into moments that resonate, empower, and leave a lasting mark.

Also: traveler, dog mom x2, and proud advocate for women’s sports, 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, and Deaf representation.