Austin Reynolds
Austin Reynolds is a dancer, choreographer, and educator based in New York City, and works as Director, Strategic Planning and Content Operations at Scholastic Inc., the world’s leading children’s publisher and distributor.
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Austin actively contributes to developing new theatrical work, collaborating with renowned choreographers such as Andy Blankenbuehler, Lorin Latarro, Josh Prince, and Ahmad Simmons. He was previously the dance captain for the 1st National Tour of CATS, and spent several years dancing and touring internationally with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Throughout his career, he has performed works by distinguished choreographers including, JiÅ™í Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Martha Graham, Alexander Ekman, Alexei Ratmansky, Bryan Arias, Cherice Barton, Jorma Elo, and Alejandro Cerrudo, among others. Austin is a graduate of The Juilliard School.
He founded Creative Borders in 2016 to foster an inclusive arts community in Gaborone, Botswana, and offer fellow artists opportunities to inform and distill their work.
Founder & Executive Director, Creative Borders
Lindsay Roberts Greene
Executive Director, Arts Ignite
With the motto “artistry onstage and off!,” Lindsay Roberts Greene is deeply rooted in the arts and arts education. For over ten years, Lindsay partnered with Arts Ignite in a varied capacity, supporting fundraising goals, strategic visioning, and working in the classroom as a teaching artist. Lindsay joined the Arts Ignite team full time in 2021 as the Director of Programs. In this role, she strengthened our program standards and evaluation, led the charge to transition our volunteer model to paid teaching artist positions aligned with equitable professional standards, and expanded our reach to new partnerships. In February 2023, Lindsay’s role was augmented as she was promoted to Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Operations. She now proudly serves as the Executive Director with oversight over Arts Ignite’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations.
Lindsay is a Certified Diversity Professional through the National Diversity Council and specializes in culturally responsive arts education and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the arts sector. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Maryland in Opera/Vocal Performance with a concentration in Music Education and a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Drexel University and holds graduate certificates from both Cornell University and Umass Amherst. Her performance credits include multiple television appearances, recordings, and onstage productions and was recently seen in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.
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Liliana Saplontai
DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, CREATIVE BORDERS
PROGRAM FACILITATOR, Arts Ignite
Raised in Botswana to Romanian parents, Liliana has been deeply immersed in the arts since childhood—playing musical instruments, dancing, acting, drawing, and painting, inspiring her lifelong passion for creativity and community collaboration. Her academic journey includes a double major in Global Studies and Spanish, complemented by postgraduate degrees in Project Management and Early Childhood Education. Her undergraduate thesis explored how creative arts can drive social change through community engagement, increased awareness, and cultural enrichment, reflecting a deep belief in art's transformative power. As a Certified Holistic Health & Integrative Nutrition Coach and Yoga Teacher, she is passionate about functional medicine and holistic well-being. Her approach focuses on empowering individuals to reclaim their health through root cause resolution. A systems enthusiast who thrives on optimizing processes, her diverse interests range from travel and technology to sports, plant-based cooking, yoga, meditation, breathwork, hiking, long walks, farmer's market trips, cooking, and engaging in deep 1:1 conversations—always seeking to create, connect, and make a meaningful impact.
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Celine Matthee
Head of Music, Maru-a-pula School
Artistic EXCHANGE
Creative Borders has been profoundly transformative for everyone involved, including the Teaching Artists. This program transcends conventional conservatory training by exposing artists to the endless possibilities that unfold when one shares their dedication and passion beyond the confines of gilded concert halls and traditional artistic pursuits. As artists, we look for ways to forge connections, reflect the zeitgeist, and, ultimately, instigate change in society. The essence of this program lies in distilling one's art to its purest form—communication.
For all 16 Teaching Artists who have actively engaged in and contributed to this program, it has been a pinnacle moment in their journeys. This experience goes beyond the artistic realm, extending to the profound impact of sharing novel ideas, broadening perspectives, and cultivating a deeper empathic connection with people worldwide. Creative Borders has become a crucible for personal and artistic growth, where the power of communication transcends boundaries and leaves an indelible mark on both artists and participants alike.
Are you interested in becoming a Teaching Artist?
ARTS CONSERVATORY ENRICHMENT
It is vital to reach back and extend these kinds of opportunities to the emerging generation of artists nearing the conclusion of their conservatory training. Our goal is to provide them with a firsthand experience that illuminates the transformative power of their art in nontraditional spaces. This commitment underscores our unwavering dedication to nurturing and empowering the artistic talents of the future.
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Through this effort, we aim to inspire and mold the creative journeys of emerging artists who are now as we once were. This opportunity goes beyond imparting technical skills; it is a chance to instill a profound understanding of the real-world impact their art can wield on individuals and communities. By bridging the gap between traditional training and unconventional spaces, we seek to broaden perspectives and cultivate artists who recognize the potential of their craft to enact positive change in diverse and unexpected contexts.
In 2023, we proudly welcomed an inaugural Teaching Artist fellow, a recent graduate of The Juilliard School. A generous donor made their transformative journey to Gaborone with Creative Borders possible.
We are actively pursuing additional institutional sponsors to pave the way for future fellowship opportunities. By securing support from organizations that share our vision and commitment to fostering artistic growth and cross-cultural exchange, we aim to expand the scope of opportunities for emerging talents and further enhance the transformative impact of our programs.