Meet Pop-up Project's Directors
Jules Downum is a dancer, teacher, and performer. She has been performing professionally since 2005 and internationally since 2009 when she began touring as a co-choreographer, assistant teacher, and principle dancer in Urban Tribal Dance Company, based in San Diego, CA.
Jules returned to her home town of Chattanooga, TN in 2013. In addition to her local classes and performances, Jules has continued to be sought after internationally as a teacher and performer: Jules held an artist in residence position at the Tribal Dance Center of Atlanta in June, 2016; was a featured teacher and performer at OPA! Fest in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October, 2016; and was a featured teacher and performer in Columbia, South Carolina in February 2017.
Jules holds a master’s degree in applied anthropology from San Diego State University, where her thesis work focused on the effects of dance participation among women in a homeless shelter.
Mattie Waters is a life-long performer. She has studied and performed in the theatre since the age of seven and has worked professionally as a dancer and actor since 2006.
She has settled back into her hometown of Chattanooga, TN after living in Brooklyn, NY. She started working as a professional actor in 2006 at an equity theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre, in Roanoke, VA. She was contracted as an in-house actor for the 2006-07 season. In 2008, She received her BA Honors in Theatre Arts from the University of Manchester London, England. After which, she moved to New York City to continue her studies in performing arts.
While in New York City, she developed her skills as a choreographer, producer, yoga instructor and performer. From 2012-13, she was a touring company member for Chicago City Limit Improv Company. During which she also performed comedy improv at the Chicago City Limits theatre in Manhattan. She co-produced a monthly show, Casino Badia, in the East Village for two years with her dance troupe, Maiden China. As a troupe member, Mattie also tours in the vaudeville show, Stars and Garter Snakes featuring Mardi Love's Voodoo Lilies and the jug band The Crow Quill Night Owls. Since 2016 she has been touring with Zoe Jakes’ House of Tarot traveling belly dance show. Her first film, The Parasol: a silent film written, cast and choreographed by Mattie Waters, was premiered at the Chattanooga Filmed Festival and the Chelsea Film Festival in New York City in 2016