Apprentice

Alison Cook Beatty Dance is honored to collaborate with such talented artists and individuals:

Dave Schroeder
Since 2001, Dave Schroeder’s main musical focus has been leading the eclectic ensemble, Combo Nuvo, (www.combonuvo.com) where he displays his skills on multiple woodwinds and composition. With Combo Nuvo, Schroeder has performed with a variety of international orchestras from the Costa Rica National Symphony to the United Arab Emirates Philharmonic in Abu Dhabi. He has also performed with a wide array of artists including Teo Macero, Larry Coryell, Airto Moreira, Lee Konitz, Don Friedman, Kenny Werner, Gil Goldstein, and Lenny Pickett. Schroeder has produced a variety of arts programs including the NYU Jazz Master Class DVD Series, the Barnes & Noble Jazz Interview Series and he is currently producing a series for television called Jazz From Greenwich Village. As director of Jazz Studies at New York University, Schroeder has developed an inspired and internationally recognized program of study whose students and faculty can be found performing around the globe on any given day.
Allan Greene
Allan Greene was born in 1955, the Year of the Sheep in the Chinese calendar. Some claim that this means he has a special sensitivity to art and beauty, which might explain how he ended up working with dancers. Of course, 1955 was also the year that President Eisenhower suffered a coronary thrombosis and Elvis Presley made his first TV appearance. That might explain his special sensitivity to classical music. But enough about me. What do you think of artist bios, anyway? How many guest appearances in The Nutcracker or on Law and Order do we really need to know about? Here’s something interesting: I worked with Agnes de Mille when was setting Fall River Legend on Dance Theater of Harlem. After she died, I was hired to help some of her legendary dancers and her personal assistants from her Broadway years reconstruct lost choreography from the 40’s and 50’s. It was something of a mess, being that Ms. de Mille’s way of creating dances was, one might say, highly intuitive. And I worked as an architect for a few years, but ended up pigeonholed as a computer maven, which was not where I wanted to be, so I went back to being a musician. Years later after my first son was placed in a New York City schools program for kids with Asperger’s Syndrome, and then my second son was, too, did I suspect that acorn doesn’t fall far from tree. Which is why for my entire life as a composer I’ve been trying to compose music that reflects in sound my jumbled experiences. I hope you enjoy the results.
Peter Cobb
Growing up in a musical family outside of Boston, Peter learned to love classical masterpieces from his mother’s piano and movie musicals from his father’s Betamax machine. On his tenth birthday, shortly after beginning the saxophone, his grandfather introduced him to jazz and he never looked back. Boston’s rich jazz tradition afforded him access to the tutelage of saxophone giants like Joe Viola, Jerry Bergonzi, and Antonio Hart, and also allowed him to come of age with the current generation of jazz leaders who came to study at Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory. After attending Berklee in the mid-1990′s, Peter embarked on a unique path that has melded a career in the nonprofit, government, and legal world with his passion for jazz. Earning a degree in political science from Drew University, Peter then served in Americorps in Paterson, New Jersey, where he founded a community jazz program that emphasized instrumental and improvisation education for young people from low-income households. Peter earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, working as a judicial clerk and freelancing on federal civil rights cases. During this time he continued to work on behalf of the arts and music community, serving as a board member at the Sedgwick Cultural Center and helping to coordinate a “jazz for teens” program in Philadelphia’s Mount Airy neighborhood. He also began a long musical association with Philadelphia guitar legend Steve Giordano, recording three albums as a member of Giordano’s ensemble: Sea Dreams (2004), Utopia (2006), and Timeline (2008). As Peter’s teaching and performing practice grew, he moved to New York City in 2008 where he combined his musicianship with his legal training and fundraising experience, working closely with numerous jazz artists to navigate the world of grant-writing and project management. He now works as a Program Officer at New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), running artist education and grant programs, as well as international exchanges for musicians. In the summer of 2010, he co-led a jazz cultural diplomacy tour to Latvia with trumpet great Brian Lynch. The trip was co-sponsored by the U.S. State Department, NYFA, and NYU Jazz where Peter is earning a Master’s in Jazz Performance. He continues to live, work, and teach jazz in New York City.
Avner Finberg
Avner Finberg is an Israeli-American composer and violinist. He had performances of his music by Meitar ensemble, ensemble mise-en, The Mannes Orchestra, Manhattan School of Music Philharmonic, ensemble Platupus Wien, American Opera Projects, and he represented Israel at the ISCM New Music Days 2013 in Vienna, Austria. He is a doctoral candidate at Manhattan School of Music. He studied violin at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and played in the Israel Philharmonic and Shleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Germany. He will present his first opera, “A Spritzer from Hell”, on April 23rd, 2015 at Manhattan School of Music. Website: www.avnerfinbergmusic.com
Marlon Cherry
Marlon Cherry is a multi-instrumentalist/composer who performs and creates for various music projects, dance, film, and theater. He is a staff accompanist at The Paul Taylor School and Barnard College and has worked with choreographers/dancers, Amy Marshall, Caitlin Trainor, Wendy Perron, Gus Solomons Jr., and Bill Irwin, performance artist, Penny Arcade, directors, Jonathan Demme, Abel Ferrara, & Spike Lee. His first two solo releases, “Life After Theatre” and “Pete” were reissued in 2017 on the OSR Tapes label as a single compilation cd and his releases”Elsewhere” and “Ancient Sound, Modern Dance” are available on iTunes, Spotify, and cdbaby.
Dr. Youngmi Ha
Dr. Youngmi Ha is a faculty in Music Theory and Composition program at New York University since 2000. She has served as a composition program advisor, co-founder/music director of NYU’s summer program IMPACT, and president of non-profit organization TheArtsandMore, Inc.where promotes and researches all arts through educational programs. She earned her MA and Ph.D in music composition from New York University and her music has been widely performed in the States as well as Korea and she has three CDs published. Currently, she has been focusing on working with dancers, video artists and literature including children’s books.
Shem Guibbory
Shem Guibbory started to play as a substitute in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at the age of 21, sitting on the last stand of the 1st violin section for a performance of Strauss’ Die Frau Ohne Schattenwith Karl Böhm conducting.  Since then, he has been privileged to be a part of hundreds of amazing performances. Throughout his career, Mr. Guibbory has explored ways in which music combines with other disciplines.  This exploration is influenced by opera, no doubt, as well as by his early training at CalArts where the intrinsic unity between all the arts is viewed as a fundamental. With Director Margaret Booker and playwright Robert Schenkkan he has created a new music/theater work A Night at the Alhambra Café (2010) and is currently developing another work entitled Accidental Heroes. Mr. Guibbory’s personal recording credits include solo and chamber music on ECM, Gramavision, Opus 1, DG, Albany, Bridge, MSR Classics and CRI.  He has performed as a soloist with a number of fine orchestras including the New York Philharmonic.  For over three decades he has served as a faculty member of the Chamber Music Conference and Composers’ Forum of the East, serving as their Music Director for nine consecutive seasons.  Some other credits include a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship to Bellagio and two ASCAP-CMA Adventurous Programming Awards.  He is also proud to serve the professional musicians’ community as a Board member of the Recording Musicians’ Association (RMA), NY Chapter.  During his career at the Met, some outstanding highlights that carved themselves into his ear include Fidelio with John Vickers and Eva Marton, conducted by Klaus Tennstedt; Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen with James Levine (especially the Deutsche Grammophon recording of Götterdämmerung); La Gioconda, Un Ballo in Maschera and Lohengrin conducted by Giuseppe Patané; Cosí fan Tutte and Der Rosenkavalier with Kiri Te Kanawa, Kathleen Battle and James Levine; Neeme Järvi conducting some of his first performances after leaving Estonia – Boris Godunov, Khovanschina and Eugene Onegin; Puccini and Verdi with the amazing Nello Santi; and close to three decades wherein it seemed that either Pavarotti or Domingo astonished everyone at least once a week!  More recent memorable performances include Pélleas et Mélisande with Simon Rattle, Die Walküre with Donald Runnicles, Rodelinda with Harry Bicket, Tristan und Isolde with Daniel Barenboim and Parsifal with Daniele Gatti. Shem Guibbory started to play as a substitute in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at the age of 21, sitting on the last stand of the 1st violin section for a performance of Strauss’ Die Frau Ohne Schattenwith Karl Böhm conducting.  Since then, he has been privileged to be a part of hundreds of amazing performances. Throughout his career, Mr. Guibbory has explored ways in which music combines with other disciplines.  This exploration is influenced by opera, no doubt, as well as by his early training at CalArts where the intrinsic unity between all the arts is viewed as a fundamental. With Director Margaret Booker and playwright Robert Schenkkan he has created a new music/theater work A Night at the Alhambra Café (2010) and is currently developing another work entitled Accidental Heroes. Mr. Guibbory’s personal recording credits include solo and chamber music on ECM, Gramavision, Opus 1, DG, Albany, Bridge, MSR Classics and CRI.  He has performed as a soloist with a number of fine orchestras including the New York Philharmonic.  For over three decades he has served as a faculty member of the Chamber Music Conference and Composers’ Forum of the East, serving as their Music Director for nine consecutive seasons.  Some other credits include a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship to Bellagio and two ASCAP-CMA Adventurous Programming Awards.  He is also proud to serve the professional musicians’ community as a Board member of the Recording Musicians’ Association (RMA), NY Chapter.  During his career at the Met, some outstanding highlights that carved themselves into his ear include Fidelio with John Vickers and Eva Marton, conducted by Klaus Tennstedt; Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen with James Levine (especially the Deutsche Grammophon recording of Götterdämmerung); La Gioconda, Un Ballo in Maschera and Lohengrin conducted by Giuseppe Patané; Cosí fan Tutte and Der Rosenkavalier with Kiri Te Kanawa, Kathleen Battle and James Levine; Neeme Järvi conducting some of his first performances after leaving Estonia – Boris Godunov, Khovanschina and Eugene Onegin; Puccini and Verdi with the amazing Nello Santi; and close to three decades wherein it seemed that either Pavarotti or Domingo astonished everyone at least once a week!  More recent memorable performances include Pélleas et Mélisande with Simon Rattle, Die Walküre with Donald Runnicles, Rodelinda with Harry Bicket, Tristan und Isolde with Daniel Barenboim and Parsifal with Daniele Gatti.
Stanislav Fridman (composer)
Stanislav Fridman was born in Kiev, Ukraine, where he began his piano and music composition studies. In 2000, Stanislav immigrated to Israel where he graduated with honors from The Conservatory of Petah Tikwa. During his studies in Israel, Stanislav was a recipient of The Cultural Foundation America-Israel scholarship for eight years in a row. Stanislav has appeared in many solo recitals, chamber music performances and presented his own works in many cities in Israel, such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Raanana and Petah Tikva. Stanislav has received his Bachelor degree from Mannes College of Music in New York, where he is also currently pursuing his Masters degree. Stanislav is very active in the New York City music scene, and has appeared in many concerts as a chamber musician, as well as the principle orchestral pianist of the Mannes Orchestra in major venues such as Stern Auditorium and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Skirball Center at NYU, Center for Jewish History and Mannes College Concert Hall. Stanislav’s latest composition “Nostalgia and Forthcoming” for solo piano was recorded at Patrych Recording Studios and is now a part of the CD Musical Journeys – Through the Jewish Diaspora (2015). Stanislav has maintained a private studio for many years in Israel and New York and is now currently on the faculty of the 92nd Street Y School of Music.
Jonathan Howard Katz (composer)
Composer and pianist Jonathan Howard Katz is gaining increasing recognition for the unique immediacy and expressive depth of his music, which speaks to audiences and performers alike. Harnessing this intuitive grasp of communication, combined with a rigorous technical command, he has developed a strong artistic voice that is recognizable through a diverse body of work. Current projects include a commission from pianists Ursula Oppens and Jerome Lowenthal for a new four-hand work, plus new works with Periapsis Music and Dance. The spring of 2018 saw the premiere of his first string quartet, commissioned by choreographer Sarah Berges, with Sarah Berges Dance and the Mivos Quartet, and the premiere of Epoch, with choreographer Erin Dillon and Periapsis Music and Dance, supported by a commissioning grant from the O’Donnell-Green Music and Dance Foundation. Recent seasons featured premiere performances of Europa, a solo piano work commissioned by Winston Choi with a grant from New Music USA, in Chicago, New York, Orléans (France), Tallahassee, and Bloomington (Indiana); a debut performance at Jacob’s Pillow Dance; and numerous performances in New York. Additional commissions have included the Charles and Joan Gross Family Foundation, Concert Artists Guild, and others. Dr. Katz’s music has been performed by the Da Capo Chamber Players, Cygnus Ensemble, Ensemble Pi, Alia Musica Pittsburgh, pianist Daria Rabotkina, violinists Ari Streisfeld and Caroline Chin, flutist Linda Wetherill, tenors Chris Lysack and Nils Neubert, soprano Mary Mackenzie, and others. In February 2014, he conducted the premiere of his chamber ballet Laid upon the children on the Music of Now Marathon at Symphony Space, and in January 2015 he presented Trace at the Festival of New Music at Florida State University. One of Dr. Katz’s major artistic interests has been developing collaborations with choreographers and dancers in which the music is equal to the movement in importance and intricacy, and to date he has composed over a dozen works for dance in collaboration with nine choreographers. Recent collaborators include Seán Curran, Manuel Vignoulle, Katarzyna Skarpetowska, and Periapsis Music and Dance’s residents Erin Dillon and Hannah Weber. He is the artistic director and cofounder of Periapsis Music and Dance, curates the Periapsis Open Series in New York City, has taught music workshops and classes at the Peridance Capezio Center, and served as an adjunct teacher in the dance department at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Dr. Katz holds degrees in piano performance from Indiana University, New England Conservatory, and Northwestern University. It was during his time in the Doctor of Music program at Northwestern that he returned to composition after a hiatus of over a decade, and recognition came immediately. He advanced in multiple international competitions, winning the Robert Helps Prize in 2010 for his song cycle Talking of Michelangelo. In 2011, he became one of the last people to receive the coveted Jacob K. Javits Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Education, which funded his composition studies in New York for four years and was worth over $150,000. Dr. Katz studied composition primarily with Jason Eckardt and Tania León at the CUNY Graduate Center. His principal piano teachers were Ursula Oppens, Gabriel Chodos, and Edward Auer. For more information, please visit jonathanhowardkatz.com.
 
Eunbi Kim
Pianist Eunbi Kim (pronounced OOn-bee, like book) is creating new ways of experiencing concert music as a performer, speaker, and arts advocate. Through these avenues, Kim shapes the concert experience on and off the stage by seeking interdisciplinary collaborations, commissioning new works, and mentoring the next generation. Her adventurous performances are characterized by their vividly personal themes ranging from dreams to mental illness to familial memories to finding meaning within life. For her efforts, Kim has received international recognition on television and in print, including from the BBC, I Care If You Listen, the Houston Chronicle, The Japan Times, and NHK Television. In 2017, she released her debut album, A House of Many Rooms: New Concert Music by Fred Hersch on Albany Records. The album features a collection of premiere recordings of relatively unknown contemporary classical works by the luminary jazz composer. The album was celebrated as “superb” by textura Magazine and by Mainly Piano as “an impressive debut [of] skill, heart, and technique”. Always looking to create innovative new work, Kim collaborates regularly with some of today’s leading composers. She has subsequently become one of contemporary music’s most sought after performers, having performed Daniel Bernard Roumain’s (DBR) dedicated work “It Feels Like a Mountain, Chasing Me,” over 50 times across the United States, including its premiere at The Kennedy Center. Other performances of her unconventional and immersive performance concepts have been presented at The Kennedy Center, 92nd Street Y, Asia Society Texas Center, le poisson rouge, Korean Cultural Center NY, the PianoForte Foundation, Georgetown University, Bennington College, and many more. Kim is most known as the creator, performer, and producer of Murakami Music, a music-theater work inspired by the novels of Haruki Murakami. Murakami Music enjoyed multiple sold-out performances, garnering national and international press, and enjoyed a featured appearance within an official NHK documentary on the acclaimed author. As a result of the critical and commercial success of the production, Kim is recognized as an expert on Murakami’s use of music in his novels, regularly receiving invitations to speak at numerous media outlets, universities, and academic journals, including Pace University, NHK, Hazlitt, TV Tokyo, and many more. After being one of only 50 artists selected for the New York Foundation for the Arts’ 2012 “Artist as Entrepreneur” program, Kim has developed equal focus to creating impact off the stage. In 2018, Kim launched bespoken alongside co-founder Gina Izzo. bespoken is a music mentorship program providing mentorship, workshops, and strategies to elevate the visibility of women in the classical, contemporary, and jazz industries. The program provides female musicians with the necessary tools and leadership skills to create rewarding careers, develop their creative and artistic visions, while helping them navigate challenges they may face in the industry. Outside bespoken, Kim is often recognized for her advocacy and entrepreneurial leadership. She is invited to be a speaker, mentor, and coach at organizations and institutions, including the Chamber Music America National Conference, the Asian-American Arts Alliance, the Manhattan School of Music, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and New Music Gathering. Her 2017 TEDx talk, “Performing Through Fear,” discusses conquering performance anxiety through learning to trust. Originally from Maryland, Eunbi Kim is based in New York City. She holds a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where she also held a coveted fellowship in the institution’s Center for Music Entrepreneurship. She is grateful to her former and current teachers, Elena Arseniev and Anthony de Mare respectively
Kate Amrine
A passionate and creative performer, Kate Amrine is a prominent trumpet player balancing a multifaceted career from developing new repertoire and curating concerts to freelancing with many different groups in the New York City area. Recent performances include Vivaldi’s Double Trumpet concerto, a 10 week off broadway run of Alice by Heart, and premiering new pieces for trumpet and clarinet with her newest group Spark Duo. She is extremely dedicated to commissioning and performing new music, premiering over 30 pieces both as a soloist and a chamber musician. Kate also frequently performs on Broadway and in other regional musical theater productions both in and outside of the NYC area. As an educator, Kate enjoys teaching private trumpet lessons in her own studio and serves as an Adjunct Instructor at New York University.
Jessica Wang
Cellist Jessica Wang is an active performer with a wide array of musical interests and experience, spanning classical orchestras to rock & jazz bands to Broadway pits. With various ensembles, she has performed at many distinguished venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, NJPAC, the Santa Barbara Bowl, the Naumburg Bandshell, Feinstein’s/54 Below and NBC Studios. In 2017-2018, Jessica toured the country on the first national Broadway tour of An American in Paris, performing in 24 different cities. She has also performed in the Off-Broadway productions of We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time at the Public Theater and Pericles at the Theatre for a New Audience. TV appearances include Mozart in the Jungle and Saturday Night Live with musical guest, Shawn Mendes. Jessica holds a B.A. in psychology from Harvard College and an M.M. in cello performance from The Juilliard School.
 
Tenth Intervention
TENTH INTERVENTION, under the direction of Dorian Wallace and Hajnal Pivnick, is a troupe of traditional and contemporary musicians based in New York City committed to presenting established repertoire alongside new compositions in alternative settings, employing unique delivery, and challenging the standard expectation of the classical music concert. The primary goal of TENTH INTERVENTION is to expand and stretch the concept of the classical concert. We bring together genres of music within the classical realm and present them to familiar and new audiences. Dorian Wallace is a composer, pianist, internet personality, writer, and teacher. He has a broad musical palette, composing for traditional small and large ensembles, free improvisation, jazz, electronic and rock. He is Co-Artistic Director/Founder of TENTH INTERVENTION and Trystero as well as Artistic Director of Dorian Wallace and His Big Band. Wallace plays piano and keyboard in jam band, Ammo Cake. Wallace is currently Host/Creator/Writer for Impulse Control, a web series/blog that introduces a world of artists, entertainers, and interesting folks famous in their niche. Hajnal Karman Pivnick, violinist from Memphis, Tennessee, graduated with university honors from Carnegie Mellon University School of Music with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music, studying with Andrés Cárdenes, and received her Master’s in Music from the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary, with Eszter Perényi. She has participated in festivals in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as throughout the United States. She has performed under the batons of Zoltan Kocsis, Jeanne Lamon, Michael Stern, Sir Andrew Davis, Michael Gilbert and Peter Oundjian with numerous ensembles, including the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, IRIS Orchestra, Liszt Academy of Music Orchestra, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon Baroque Ensemble, and the Hungarian New Music Chamber Ensemble. Hajnal is a member of the violin faculty at the Interlochen Arts Camp, where she teaches privately and coaches chamber ensembles.
Dorian Wallace
DORIAN WALLACE is a composer, pianist, teacher, and activist whose work often explores socio-political issues such as class consciousness, the unconscious experience, and is highly critical of authoritarianism, capitalism, dogmatism, censorship, and oppression. He is the co-founding artistic director of progressive and socially conscious new music collective TENTH INTERVENTION and bandleader of the improvisational septendectet The Free Sound Ahn-somble, both based in New York City. He has collaborated with artists such as Nicholas Finch, NouLou Chamber Players, Paul Pinto, Charlotte Mundy, Pamela Z, Frank London, Experiments In Opera, Ensemble Interactivo de La Habana – EIH, Composers Concordance, Periapsis Music and Dance, Robert Ashley, Seneca Black, Matt Marks, RIOULT Dance, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, Kensaku Shinohara, and John Sanborn. Mr. Wallace’s work (individually and collectively) has been presented as a featured artist at National Sawdust, NPR’s Science Friday, Rubin Museum of Art, The Greene Space at WNYC & WQXR, Pompidou Centre, Palais Jacques Coeur, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Casa de las Américas La Habana, Cuba, Americas Society, New Music USA, Lower Manhattan Community Council, the Earle Brown Music Foundation, the Johnstone Fund for New Music, the Puffin Foundation, Caveat, New Music Gathering, Universidad de Costa Rica, Interlochen Public Radio, New York University’s Precarious Sounds // Sounding Sanctuary conference, and the 2018-19 Composer-in-residence with Exploring the Metropolis. He works extensively as a dance accompanist at Martha Graham Dance Company, Barnard College of Columbia University, Juilliard, Doug Varone and Dancers, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. He is a teaching artist with The Mark Morris Dance Accompaniment Training Program. Having recently completed his studies in music therapy at Montclair State University, Mr. Wallace will begin an internship at Mount Sinai Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine this fall. www.dorianwallace.com
Hajnal Pivnick (co director of tenth intervention) - violin
Hajnal Pivnick is a member of TENTH INTERVENTION. Hajnal has performed in MAHWAY: Spring Eternal 2019 with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Lynn Bechtold - violin
Lynn Bechtold is a member of TENTH INTERVENTION. Lynn has performed in MAHWAY: Spring Eternal 2019 with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Carrie Frey - viola
Carrie Frey is a member of TENTH INTERVENTION. Carrie has performed in MAHWAY: Spring Eternal 2019 with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Sam Bae - cello
Sam Bae is a member of TENTH INTERVENTION. Sam has performed in MAHWAY: Spring Eternal 2019 and TOUCHED BY FIRE with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Borah Hahn - piano
Borah Hahn is a member of TENTH INTERVENTION. Borah has performed in MAHWAY: Spring Eternal 2019 with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Mioi Takeda - violin 2
Mioi Takeda is a member of TENTH INTERVENTION. Mioi has performed in MAHWAY: Spring Eternal 2019 with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Ellery Traford - Percussionist
Ellery Traford is a member of TENTH INTERVENTION. Ellery has performed in MAHWAY: Spring Eternal 2019 with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Nicolle Bennet
Nicolle Bennett is a photographer, educator and arts administrator specializing in dance, event and documentary photography. A trained modern dancer, her images seek to capture authentic moments and movement, revolving around interactions between people and their environments. She holds an M.A. from New York University, and is a National Art Strategies fellow interested in the intersections between art and social change. Her photographs have been shown in Soho Photo Gallery, Cornell University, See.Me gallery and Times Square.
Lucas Chilczuk
Lucas Chilczuk was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and immigrated to the United States shortly after high school. He attended Pasadena City College and California State University, Los Angeles, where he ultimately received a degree in art history. Although Lucas was introduced to photography by his grandfather, an amateur Ukrainian photographer living in Argentina, it was during college that Lucas really honed his skills. Under the direction of Esteban Ignatczyk—a photographer for the Latin Music Industry—Lucas learned the ways of the studio. Lucas’ first independent series, entitled “Beautiful Junk,” celebrates the Mojave desert, ghost towns, and abandoned modes of transportation. This series, which uses the technique known as “painting with light,” harks back to Lucas’ longtime fascination with aviation. In Argentina, Lucas’ family lived near an airbase, and family friends working on the base would often allow him to join them on short flights. “Beautiful Junk” was exhibited at three galleries in Los Angeles, California. More recently, Lucas’ work focuses on dancers, a subject he took interest in while his wife, an art historian, was writing a doctoral dissertation on Renaissance dance and painting. Whereas in California Lucas saw the landscape refracted through the lens of vehicular transportation, the urban fabric of New York increasingly became for him a landscape defined by corporeal movement. Lucas maintains equal interest in critically acclaimed companies, emerging companies, and freelance dancers—unsung heroes who tirelessly give themselves to an art that courses through the veins of New York City. When not running from studios to rehearsals, Lucas can be found walking his dog Layla through Fort Tryon Park or exploring the streets of Rome, a city he holds very close to his heart. To see Lucas’s work visit www.lucasch.com or www.facebook.com/LucaschPhoto
Tristan Pope
Website: http://tristanpope.com. Currently I focus on shooting high fashion and dance. I love combining industry standards with the motion and energy of a professional dancer, be it a ballerina or contemporary. It brings me back to my theatre major days where I was more comfortable in the green room than in a classroom. I am convinced that the model world is backwards. The strength and beauty of the dancers I have worked with is out of this world. The energy alone they bring to a shoot is more than I could ever ask for. They really prove what I have always believed; that beauty is inside, passion, character, and hard work! This all equates to natural beauty, something overlooked too much in a Photoshop imbued world. Photography to me is about capturing a moment in time filled with the emotion and character of the person in front of me. People often ask me “Is it fun to shoot pretty girls” and I always wince. That is not what photography is for me. Male, Female, young and old, it is so much about capturing an expression, a breadth of air, rather than just a pretty face. Working with people open to themselves and working to get them to open to me and an open space that is both scary and exhilarating, is why I shoot, it is why I am a photographer and director. It is that interaction that makes it fun. It is that hour of makeup and first look where I am more interested in getting to know you as much as possible to really be able to capture that moment, on that day, of who you are, that excites me. It is challenging and invigorating.
Craig Feder
Craig Feder, a graduate of Princeton University with a degree in Sociology, also began his interest in dance photography there as the photographer for their Expressions dance company. He has studied film and photography at UC Berkeley, NYU, and at the International Center of Photography. For ten years he worked at Wilhelmina Models, NY doing editorial style portraits for model portfolios. While working as a publicist for the Joyce Theatre early in his career he had the chance to photograph many rehearsals and performances by world class dance companies, which led to his creation of the Urban Dance Photo Project. His photographic style is directly related to his interest in Sociology and Documentary Film. His portraits capture the inherent personality of his subjects by using a spontaneous style that gives the subject the freedom to be themselves. To this end, he prefers to utilize natural settings, exploiting aspects of natural light as much as possible. In the spring of 2012 his street photography was featured in the exhibition: “The New Yorker Exhibition” at the Istanbul Fotograf Muzesi, Turkey’s first museum dedicated solely to photography. Craig has also taught Digital Photography at the Montclair School of Adult Education in NJ. Craig is very excited to be working with a group of dancers who bring such a high level of skill and passion their work. Website: federfotography.zenfolio.com
Marc Safran
A former New York City native, Marc Safran is a photographer and ophthalmologist living in Syracuse, NY. Outside his main gig, Safran spends much of his free time at his studio at the Delavan Center in the Armory section of Syracuse. His interests are diverse, but he is most drawn to shooting images of people — from portraiture to figure and dance. He has had works published by Cornell University and is a chief photographer for AMS Modeling Agency. Safran studied with Lois Greenfield in NYC and Allen Birnbach in Rejkevik, Iceland where he became enamored with dance and figure imagery. His contacts lead to a collaboration with Alison Cook Beatty Dance, with whom he has had a growing and productive relationship. His images can be found at www.marcsafan.com
Jerry M Guerrero
A television editor by day, and photographer by night, Jerry M Guerrero hails from Los Angeles, Ca, where he attended Cal State University, Northridge. There, he earned his BA in Cinema and Television Arts. A few years after, he relocated to New York City for a new opportunity in television, all the while honing his skills in video and photography. His photography comprises mainly with his travels around the world and new places he discovers in the states.His video work entails personal projects ranging from short films to video profiles on local artists. In the end, his interest is rooted in the ever present pursuit of discovering the human experience though the lens of a camera. Some of his work can be seen at theilluminatedgaze.tumblr.com
Russell Haydn
I originally studied Fine Arts/Photography at Bolton College of Art & Design in the UK, before working mainly in promotional and editorial photography for the entertainment industry for many years. I am now working as a freelance photographer based in Forest Hills, New York and my main focus of interest is now in Performing Arts; Dance, Burlesque, Music and Theatre. I also have an ongoing personal project of documenting the people and places of New York City to give the viewer my perspective of life here in the Metropolis, most of which can be found here at www.russhaydn.com I am always looking to collaborate with creative people, particularly in the performing arts / dance arena. If you would like to work with me on a project or have something in mind, please contact me, it would be great to hear from you. My Dance, Burlesque, Music & Theatre work can be found here: Russell Haydn Photography (Performing Arts) My other social gallery listings can also be found here: About Me: Russell Haydn
Paul B Goode
Jeff Keller (Video editor)
Ellen Maynard (Videographer)
ELLEN MAYNARD is a Brooklyn-based artist who specializes in the intersection of dance and film. She received a BFA in dance and video art from The Ohio State University. Her dance films have been shown at the Brooklyn Museum, SPRING/BREAK Art Show, and festivals including the International 60 Seconds Dance Film Festival, the 9th International Screendance Festival, the Third Coast Dance Film Festival, and Dance Film Association screenings. Ellen spends her summers as a videographer at the Bates Dance Festival.
Zoe Alexandra
Zoe Alexandra, a New York city born artist, has been designing and making clothing since 1997. She refined her craft at the Rudolf Steiner Waldorf School where she developed multiple hand crafting skills. She designed an abundance of costumes for the Antioch Area Theater, and in 2006, she worked at the San Francisco Mime Troupe as assistant to the costume designer. When she arrived back in NY she found Tango and began to design dance-wear. A dancer herself, Zoe’s talent is supported by her understanding of movement, character development and mise en scene.
Christine Darch
Christine Darch designs for choreographers Julia Adam, Marc Brew, Val Caniparoli, Robert Dekkers, Jodie Gates, Edwaard Liang, Jae Man Joo, James Kudelka, Matthew Neenan, David Palmer, Gina Patterson, Brian Reeder, Dwight Rhoden, Amy Seiwert, and Merian Soto. She has been commissioned by Ballet Arizona, Ballet Memphis, Atlanta Ballet, Axis, Cincinnati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Complexions, Diablo Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Houston Ballet, Imagery, Israel Ballet, Madco, NCDT, Oregon Ballet Theater, Pennsylvania Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Post:ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Smuin Ballet, and the Washington Ballet. New projects include a world premiere for Dwight Rhoden for Ballet Nice Méditerranée, a world premiere for Matthew Neenan with Ballet X, Imagery’s Sketch four series, and the debut of Julia Adam’s new company with The Boathouse Project in Inverness, CA. This is her first collaboration with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Adrienne Perry
Adrienne Perry (Costume Designer) favorite design credits include: Pressing Matters (MBL Productions) and The Seagull, Julius Caesar (Atlantic Theater Acting School), Floyd Collins (STAGEright). She has assisted costume designer Christine Darch for Complexions, BalletX, Pennsylvania Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. In 2011 she worked with Denise Vale and the Martha Graham Dance Company to create a new costume design for Steps In The Street, which was set on dancers in the Western Washington University Dance Department. She assisted on Dance Nation (Playwrights Horizons) and Fires In the Mirror (Signature Theater Company). She is an alum of the Juilliard School Professional Intern Program.
Ali Taghavi
Ali Taghavi is a native of Iran and was raised and educated in England. Upon earning a degree in fashion and textiles from the University of Brighton, he relocated to New York, which he has called home for more than 20 years. His career as a design director spans numerous top brands, including Oscar de la Renta, Elie Tahari, and Jeffrey Banks, among others. In particular, his expertise in knitwear has allowed him to create successful knitwear collections for DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, Express, and Nautica, among others. Thanks to his broad experience in both women’s and men’s fashions, Taghavi has also developed lasting relationships with mills, suppliers, and global garment manufacturers over the years.
Avery Lincoln
Avery Lincoln (Principle Lighting Designer and Sound Engineer) is thrilled to be back in Milford for her third season with the Alison Cook Beatty Dance Company. Originally from Arizona, she graduated with a BA from University of California Davis in 2013. Some of her favorite credits include ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’, ‘Dogs of War’, and ‘Frame 313’. Please visit averylincoln.com for more information.
Rachel Lewallen
Rachel Lewallen is a performance artist, writer, musician, audiovisual & lighting technician, fish monger, and production manager living in Providence, Rhode Island. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2013 with a B.A. in Performance Studies and is a SITI Company Viewpoints/Suzuki Method trained actor & director. Her work (currently under moniker, RRLEW) can be found largely undocumented throughout the east-coast underground. While stationed as the Production Manager for AS220’s Black Box Theatre during its 2016 Modern Movements Festival, Rachel had the immense pleasure of working with the Alison Cook Beatty Dance. It is with great joy that she re-joins the company to provide technical/production support for its performance series in Milford, Connecticut in August of 2016.
Zach Weeks
Zach a native of Beattie Kansas and received his MFA in Lighting Design from Ohio University. Zach’s Recent work includes Designing Company with the St. Bart’s Players. Zach Assisted Thom Weaver on Tom Stoppard’s US premiere of The Hard Problem. Assisted Michael Lincoln on Beth Henley’s World Premiere of Laugh. Zach has worked for the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts(PCPA) as their summer Assistant Lighting Designer. While attending PCPA Zach assisted Jennifer “Z” Zarnow and Michael Frohling. (My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, and Peter and the Starcatcher). Zach’s work has been seen at Ohio University in Athens OH. (The Penelopiad, bobrauschenbergamerica, Blood Knot, Crooked) The Monomoy Theatre in Chatham MA. (Kiss Me Kate, Blood Knot, 12th Night, The Man Who Came to Dinner). Seagle Music Colony (Roscoe, The Music Man, Elixir of Love The Most Happy Fella), Shawnee State University in Portsmouth OH (Evita and Of Thee I Sing). Zach would like to thank his parents for pushing and supporting him throughout his life.
Tony Marques
TONY MARQUES is a freelance lighting designer and stage manager and has mainly worked in the field of dance. He has recently completed a 26 city, 9-week tour of China with “Rock the Ballet / The Bad Boys of Dance.” Since 2018 he has designed several ballets for ABT stars, Diana Vishneva, and Marcelo Gomes. He has also designed two world premieres productions for Ardani Artists’, “Solo for Two”, starring Ivan Vasiliev and Natalia Osipova, and “Ardani at Twenty Five”. He has also designed New York Seasons for Locomotive Dance Co., Elisa Monte Dance, Youth America Grand Prix Ballet, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Nai-Ni Chen Dance, C. Eule Dance, and Thomas/Ortiz Dance.
Ellen Colcord
Ellen Colcord is a painter and multimedia artist who has been actively collaborating with international music and dance programs for over twenty years. Recently, Colcord’s collaborations have included the NYU Faculty Dance Program at the Frederick Lowe Theatre, Greenwich Village, Equus Projects at Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and the New York Drawing Center, NYU Jazz Festival at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and Brooklyn Go at the Brooklyn Museum. This spring, Colcord was sponsored by the Instituto Guatemalteco Americano to present a three-week collage and painting workshops throughout the country. While in Guatemala, she also lectured on the Business of Art for the New York Foundation for the Arts’ Bootcamp. Colcord attended the prestigious Accademia di Belle Art in Urbino, Italy, Yale University and holds a Master’s of Art from New York University. She is currently a resident artist with Chashama at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.
Daniel G. Cook
Daniel G. Cook, PhD, served as a teacher and administrator in the Connecticut Public School System, including the position of the Assistant Superintendent in Stamford, CT. He currently serves as an education and financial consultant to Connecticut school systems. In addition to interests in sustainable gardening, Dan is a skilled carpenter and craftsman, with a lifetime of work spanning educational, municipal, armed services, and private projects.
Heather Robles (Founding member)
Lauren Etter (Founding member)
Lauren Etter trained at the Ballet School of Stamford in Connecticut where she began teaching and choreographing under the mentorship of Stephanie Marini, along with Michael Vernon and Peter Anastos. She danced children’s roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and American Ballet Theater’s Othello and Le Corsaire, spent four summers at Chautauqua Dance, and was a scholarship student at the American Dance Festival. She holds a BFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Lauren is a faculty member at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York and the Ballet School of Stamford in Connecticut. Her choreography has been presented in the Raw Festival by DanceNOW[NYC], the Showcase Series by :pushing progress at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center, and as part of the Women in Dance series by Legros Cultural Arts at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York. Most recently she has performed with the Umbrella Company and is thrilled to be dancing with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Jessica Kilpatrick (Founding member)
Jessica Kilpatrick began her training at the School of the Hartford Ballet, at the age of 9, where she was taught by Franco de Vita, Peggy Lyman, Maria Youskevitch, Raymond Lukens, Alla Osipenko and Susan Brooker. Jessica has performed various roles in productions of the Nutcracker including Kirk Peterson’s American Nutcracker, where she danced with members of the ABT II studio company. She was selected to perform in Jose Limon’s Choreographic Offering and Anthony Tudor’s Dark Elegies, for the Hartt School Spring Showcase which was also selected for Hartt’s Got Talent. Her solo performance of “Behind These Walls”, choreographed by New York choreographer Thang Dao, was selected to represent the Hartt School at both the American College Dance Festival Association at Boston University and the Ted Hershey Dance Marathon in Hartford, CT. Jessica performed Merce Cunningham’s “inlets 2”, restaged by Jean Freebury, at the American Dance Festival at Duke University in North Carolina. The work was filmed by the Merce Cunnigham Dance Company as part of a documentary highlighting Merce Cunningham’s work. Jessica collaborated with visual artist Saya Woolfalk by choreographing and performing in her art installation ‘Institute of Empathy’ at Real Artways in Hartford, CT. Jessica is a founding member of Alison Cook Beatty Dance, under the Artistic Direction of Alison Cook Beatty. Her experience with Alison Cook Beatty Dance has provided the opportunity to perform and teach at several prestigious venues including SUNY Purchase, Syracuse University, Ailey Citygroup Theater, Dumbo Dance Festival, 92nd Street Y, NY Fine Arts, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Riverside Theatre, San Jose University, and The Putney School, Putney Vermont. * Photo shoot dance magazine; collaboration with Alison Cook Beatty Dance/Sansha/Gaynor Minden/Bloch/Capezio/Freed (January 2013 issue). Jessica graduated magna cum laude from the dance division of the University of Hartford Hartt School, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Dance Pedagogy Major, where her teachers included Stephen Pier, Miguel Campaneria, Hilda Morales, Katie Stevinson-Nollet and Nina Watt. Jessica’s teaching experience includes Ballet Hispanico in New York and the University of Hartford Hartt School Community Division, where she served as Artistic Director for their 2014 Summer Ballet Intensive “From Studio to Stage II”. She is currently on the faculty of the Ballet School of Stamford and the Joffrey Ballet School.
Stephanie Van Dooren (Founding member)
Stephanie Van Dooren was born in The Netherlands and started her early dance training at the Dutch National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam. She moved to New York upon graduating in 2007 and attended The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance on full scholarship. In 2008 Ms. Van Dooren joined Graham II and performed lead roles such as: The Bride in Appalachian Spring, The Girl In Yellow in Diversion of Angels and the role of Ms. Graham herself in the reconstruction of American Document. Ms. Van Dooren completed The Professional Training Program in 2009 and The Teacher Training Program in 2010 and holds a certificate as Martha Graham Level I Technique Teacher. Currently Ms. Van Dooren is a dancer with Buglisi Dance Theatre in NYC where she has been dancing as a full time member since September 2011. She appeared in Jacqulyn Buglisi’s: Sand, Blue Cathedral, Letters of Love on Ripped Paper, Requiem (Excerpts), Suspended Women (Excerpt), Interplay no. 9 and in Forever and This is Forever commissioned by ‘Father Fame’ David DaSilva. Ms. Van Dooren has also danced with Nimbus Dance Works and appeared in works of Charles Weidman, Pearl Lang and Mary Anthony among others.
Lindsey Miller (Founding member)
Lindsey Miller’s dance training is very diverse coming from the professional training program of the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and summer programs with the Joffrey Ballet School NYC, the School of Ballet Chicago, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Ms. Miller graduated with honors from Illinois State University with a degree in dance performance. While at ISU, she received several scholarships including a tuition scholarship for dance all four years, the Caroline Gordon Scholarship for her work in the fine arts, and the Robert G. Bone Scholarship, which was the highest university-wide scholarship for academics and leadership. Ms. Miller was also a recipient of the Jerry Bywaters Cochran scholarship from the Dallas Dance Council. Her choreography has been presented in many venues throughout Illinois, New York, Kansas, and Connecticut. Her professional performance work includes Beth Soll and Dancers, Trainor Dance, Shelter Repertory Dance Theatre, Kari Lindstrom’s “Movement Painting” projects, and Ballet des Amériques Company. Ms. Miller has taught dance at the Greenwich Ballet Academy in Connecticut, Ballet des Amerique School in New York, McLean County Dance Association in Illinois, and Peridance Capezio Dance Center as an assistant in the PeriChild program. She is extremely excited to be working with Alison Cook Beatty Dance!
Chie Mukai (Founding member)
Chie Mukai was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. She graduated from Walnut Hill School of Arts in Boston, and received a full scholarship from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she has learned and performed many repertories of Jose Limon and Martha Graham. In 2008, she earned her BFA in Dance. In New York City, she has worked with C.Eule Dance, Inclined Dance Project, Zhukov Dance Theater, Tina Croll, The Katak Ensemble & Friends, and Untitled|Collective. She is thrilled to be a part of work for Alison Cook Beatty Dance!
Lauren Jaeger (Founding member)
Lauren Jaeger graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2008. Upon graduating, Lauren has been dancing as a full time company member with Buglisi Dance Theater in NYC, where she had the honor of performing Ms. Buglisi’s work, Requiem in Rovereto, Italy. In addition to BDT, she performs with Ballet Ambassadors and Expressions of Grace, and teaches at Peridance-Capezio Center, Steffi Nossen School of Dance, Greenwich Dance Studio, and Manhattan Ballet. She is excited to a part of Alison Cook Beatty Dance!
Alessandra Giambelli (Founding member)
Greta Campo (Founding member)
Greta Campo began her dance training in her native Milan at the Carcano Theater, where she was first introduced to Martha Graham’s work. At age 19, she began the Professional Training Program at the Martha Graham School in NYC and, after a couple of months, she joined Graham II, performing in ensemble and solo roles. She performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company in their 2012 New York Season and has also been traveling nationally and internationally with them. She completed the Teacher Training Program at the School. Greta has performed choreographies by Pascal Rioult, Larry Keigwin, among others and has worked with renowned choreographers, such as Eryc Taylor and Nejla Yatkin. She was a founding member of Alison Cook Beatty Dance and she also received an award from Fini Dance Festival as a female rising star. At the moment Greta is dancing with the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and next year it will be her sixth season.
Amanda Stevenson
AMANDA STEVENSON is originally from Tempe, Arizona, where she started her ballet training with Andrew Needhammer of Ballet Arizona Dance Company and School. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.F.A. majoring in Dance, with an emphasis on Modern Dance and Choreography. Ms. Stevenson has performed throughout the New York Metropolitan area as a soloist and ensemble dancer with ACB Dance Company, (formally Alison Cook Beatty Dance), Mazzini Dance Collective and EDP Dance Project. She has been a teaching artist with the Joffrey Ballet School, Rioult Dance Company and Education In Dance. She participated in the 2008 and 2009 Taylor Intensives and received a scholarship to attend The Taylor School. She also studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. She joined Taylor 2 in Summer 2013.
Megan Cohl
Megan Cohl was born in California and began her dance training at Pacific Northwest Ballet school in Seattle, Washington, where she performed in company productions of Nutcracker, Cinderella and Midsummer Night’s Dream. She continued her training at Princeton Ballet School in New Jersey and was given the opportunity to perform in La Bayadere with the Kirov Ballet of St. Petersburg at the Metropolitan Opera House while still in high school. Megan attended Marymount Manhattan College and graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in history. While in college she performed works by Nancy Lushington, Lona Larsen and Maxine Steinman. She started her professional career in 2012 for the Mazzini Dance Collective. This is Megan’s first season with Alison Cook Beatty Dance and she is very inspired, as well as excited to continue under Alison’s direction!
Audrey Crabtree-Hannigan
Audrey Crabtree-Hannigan grew up in Long Beach, CA where she trained at Long Beach Ballet with David Wilcox and Johnny Zhong, and at Lauridsen Ballet Centre with Diane Lauridsen. She attended summer programs at Houston Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet. Audrey is currently a student at Columbia University, where she is majoring in Political Science. At Columbia, she dances with the Barnard College Dance Department and the Columbia Ballet Collaborative, where she has performed in original works by Emery LeCrone and David Parker among others.
Lara Tant
Lara Tant was born in Philadelphia, PA, and began her earliest training with Donna Chrostek. Lara trained under Jean Gedeon at Pittsburgh Youth Ballet where she danced many lead roles. She furthered her training under the late Edward Stewart, who created many original solo works for her. Lara then continued her training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC. She began her professional career at Ballet Theatre of Maryland, after which she danced in the Trainee Program at the Joffrey Ballet. Recently Lara has performed with many choreographers in NYC, including Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Signature Dance Company, Connecticut Ballet, Mooney-Cooley Dance and Exit 12 Dance Co., where she has performed the roles of Gamzatti in La Bayadere and the Sugarplum Fairy in the Nutcracker, as well as many other classical and contemporary works. Four years ago she co-founded Exit 12 Dance Company,NYC, where she was the Ballet Mistress. Lara has been teaching at Armonk Dance and Ballet des Enfants in Westchester County and Connecticut as well as The Joffrey Ballet School, and aspires to pass on her love of ballet to her students.
Irving Amigon
Irving Amigon was born in Brooklyn, NY and was raised in Minneapolis, MN and Puebla, Mexico. He received his B.A. in Dance from the University of Minnesota in 2011. He performed with Battery Dance Company and Alison Cook Beatty Dance (2015- 2017). He studied at The Ailey School and The Taylor School on scholarship and at the Merce Cunningham Trust and Buglisi Dance Theater. He serves as assistant to Carolyn Adams in the Taylor Technique and Repertory Class – Professional Division at The Ailey School. Mr. Amigon made his debut with Taylor 2 in Summer 2017.
Erin Arbuckle
Erin Arbuckle received her training from The California Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and Steps on Broadway. She has danced with California Ballet Company, Columbia Collaborative, Terra Firma Dance Theatre, Ballet Next, Ballet Popular, and performed works by Jeremy McQueen (Black Iris Project) at Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Dance Festival and Emery LeCrone at MoMA Ps1. In addition to her dancing career, she runs marathons and holds a B.A. from Columbia University in Sociocultural Anthropology.
Lena Staley
Lena Staley is originally from Port Washington, New York. She graduated recently in May as a dance major at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Lena graduated with a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance and an emphasis in modern. While at the conservatory Lena has performed in works by Lorraine Chapman, Colleen Thomas, Doug Elkins, Adam Barruch, Omar Carrum & Claudia Lavista. Lena’s summer studies include The Joffery Ballet dance intensive and a Paul Taylor dance intensive. Before attending the Conservatory Lena trained at The Long Island High School for the Arts. Lena is currently a Zumba fitness instructor and plans to keep teaching. Lena danced with Alison Cook Beatty Dance from 2015-2017.
Christopher Bursley
Christopher Bursley received his dance training at Marymount Manhattan College, dancing in faculty, professional, and student choreographies. Since graduating, Christopher has appeared in the Brooklyn Dance Festival, The Martha Graham Dance Company’s 90th Anniversary Season, as well as various other studio showings. He is very grateful for the opportunity to join the Alison Cook Beatty Dance, and is excited to continue to explore and experiment with many styles of movement within the company.
Jonathan Breton
Jonathan Breton professionally trained and performed both in ballet and musical theatre since the age of 16. He first started dancing within the Brigitte Wattellin Ballet School, the Conservatory of Angers and later the Conservatory of Bobigny, and graduated from the Professional Superior Institute of Performing Arts of Paris in dance, singing and acting. Jonathan passed is EAT Classique (French national ballet technique examination) in 2012 at the Paris Opera and arrived in NYC the same year, to develop his dance skills at the Alvin Ailey School Professional Division, and then at the Martha Graham school as an open student. His professional experience includes musicals (Cats, A Chorus Line, Les Misérables, Hairspray, Roméo and Juliette…), Jeune Ballet Classique Balbynien, Modern Dance Ensemble, Transcendance Group, Zion Dance Company, Alison Cook Beatty Dance… Jonathan was also the choreographer and artistic director of his own company in France, the Compagnie de l’Etoile (ballet and performing arts dance company) founded in 2009, and guest choreographer for various musicals, dance and theatre companies. He is now choreographing and performing for AZOTH Dance Theatre in New York and has presented his work in the USA, France, Poland, and Denmark. As a tearcher, Jonathan has taught in the USA as an artist-in-residence in several schools in four different states, as well as in France, Poland and Denmark as a guest teacher. Jonathan is a member of the International Dance Council CID at UNESCO, the official world-wide organization for Dance in the world.
Morgan Alysse Rydberg
Morgan Alysse Rydberg hails from Concord, New Hampshire. Morgan is a recent graduate from Adelphi University on Long Island where she earned her BFA in dance, while studying for physical therapy. During her time at Adelphi she was able to perform many works done by the faculty on staff, as well as many works from guest choreographers such as Takehiro Ueyama, Martha Graham and Lar Lubovitch. Morgan also took part in the Broadway Dance Center Summer Professional Semester where she got to work with a variety of the industries leaders.
Kevin Wiltz
Kevin Wiltz is thrilled to be making his debut season with Alison Cook Beatty Dance. He started his dance training at the age of 7 studying at Indiana’s premiere dance school, The Dance Refinery. Kevin has danced for such companies as Dance Kaleidoscope, The Louisville Ballet, and Ballet NY where he performed soloist works by world class choreographers. He hails originally from Indiana where he graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance from Butler University. He has traveled the world dancing from The Far East in Asia to the sparkling cities of Spain. Wiltz is now happy to call New York City home.
Joshua Elliot
Joshua Elliott was born in Los Angles, California and started his dance training at age 17 at The Orange County High School of the Arts. He then went on to work as a dancer with the Disney Company both in Anaheim, California and Tokyo, Japan. He continued his training with the Joffrey Ballet School in New York, later being invite to tour with the Joffrey Ballet Touring company under the direction of Davis Robertson and Brian McSween. He has been lucky enough to work with some amazing choreographers, such as Larry Keigwin, Karole Armitage, and Dwight Rhodan,performing their work both nation wide and internationally. And is currently working with KaDance Dance and excited to work with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Dorrie Silver
Dorrie Silver graduated from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2015 with a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance, and had the honor of showcasing two of her pieces of choreography on the main stage. Dorrie was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where she began her training at Brighton Ballet Theatre studying Russian Ballet. She studied ballet at Manhattan Youth Ballet with a full scholarship, and attended LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. There she was exposed to modern dance under the direction of Michelle Mathesius and graduated on the Honor Roll. Dorrie has had the pleasure of working with and/or performing works by Troy Powell, Zvi Gotheiner, Uri Sands, Robert Battle, Mark Morris and Andrea Miller. She has attended summer intensives including Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Alonzo King LINES ballet and NYSSSA modern and ballet program on full scholarship. Dorrie is honored to be performing with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Jacob Brown
Originally from North Carolina, Jacob Brown received his training at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has worked with artists such as B.J. Sullivan, Duane Cyrus, Clarice Young, Justin Tornow and Maurice Watson. While in college he performed solo work throughout North Carolina with The MARK Dance. Upon completing his training, he moved to New York City and has continued to work with Zullo/Raw Dance, The Cunningham Trust, Kymera Dance, and Jack Tracy.
Timothy Ward
Born in Louisiana, and raised in Abita Springs Timothy Ward graduated high school from the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts dance program. He then moved to NYC and earned a BFA in dance from the Juilliard School. He went on to be the last man chosen by Merce Cunningham to learn and perform his works. Currently, He works with Douglas Dunn & Dancers, Dusan Tynek Dance Theater, and Pat Catterson. During his studies Timothy performed repertory by Jose Limon, Jiri Kylian, Ohad Naharin, and Miguel Lopez, in addition to making original pieces by Elisa Monte, Alan Heinline, Doug Varone, Belinda Mcguire, Robert Battle, Adam Weinert, and Michelle Mola. Professionally, Tim has performed original works by Igal Perry, Sidra Bell, Mary Seidman, Young Soon Kim, Wendy Osserman, Brynt Beitman, Lucie Baker, Carlye Eckert, Andrea Miller, Kira Blazek, and John Zurek.
Sasha Rydlizky
Sasha Rydlizky grew up in Ellsworth, Maine. She graduated summa cum laude from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance and minor in Arts Administration, with additional training abroad at the Taipei National University of the Arts. She has had the pleasure of performing work by Christina Robson, Lucinda Childs, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Taryn Russel and Kevin Wynn, among others. Currently working as a freelance artist, Sasha is also a certified yoga instructor and teaches yoga and dance throughout Brooklyn.
Nika Antuanette
Nika Antuanette, a native of Chicago, IL, currently resides in New York City. She graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (B.A. Dance & Psychology) and spent 7-months abroad in Israel for Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company’s Dance Journey. As a freelance dance artist, Nika has been featured in music videos by Jash, ATELLER, and Financial Criminals. She has danced with Gotham Dance Theatre, Sarah Berges Dance Company (SBDC), ColliDe Theatrical Dance and Skylark Opera, in addition to performing work by Rami Be’er, Paul Taylor, Mats Ek, Larry Keigwin, Carl Flink, Penelope Freeh, & Arnie Zane. As a choreographer, she has presented and performed her solo, “The Itch,” at Alvin Ailey CitiGroup Theatre, as well as at the Koresh Come Together Dance Festival (Philadelphia, PA). She continues to develop a movement language for Jeremy Cone’s production, The Field.
Carolina Rivera (Founding member)
Carolina Rivera was born in Santiago (Chile) were she began her dance training at the school of ballet of Teatro Municipal de Santiago. Continuing her studies, she majored in Dance at the University of Chile with High Honors and the Excellence Award “Isidora Zegers Montenegro”. In Chile, Carolina has performed as a Soloist and as a Ensemble in various operas at the renowned Teatro Municipal de Santiago. Her desire to pursue a career in Dance brought her to New York where she was a scholarship recipient at the Martha Graham School and joined Graham II, performing soloist roles (El Penitente) and chorus in the major pieces of Graham repertory as Chronicle, Ritual to the Sun, Heretic, Appalachian Spring, Rite of Spring and others. She has dance works by Jacqulyn Buglisi, Yung Yung Tsuai Lerner, Blakeley White- McGuire, Lone Larsen, Martin Lofsnes, Edgar Cortes, Alison Cook Beatty, Shawn Rawls and Martha Graham. Carolina is also a Figure 4 Barre Instructor at Pure Yoga. www.carolinariveradance.com
Niccolò Orsolani
Niccolò Orsolani was born and raised in Turin (Italy), he discovered his passion for the performing arts at the age of 19 as part of “Progetto Teatrale La Rete.” Niccolò quickly fell in love with the Circus, street art environment and started learning the art of Juggling. As a self-taught juggler, he performed in different street art festivals and venues around the region of Piedmont in Italy. At 20 years old, Niccolò started his studies in Ballet with Joan Bosioc and Annagrazia D’Antico and Modern techniques with Matilde Demarchi at Arke’ asd. At the same time, he was involved in the “Professional Training Program for Contemporary Dancers” at Teatro Nuovo Torino from which he graduated with 100/100. In 2015 Niccolò moved to New York to attend the Professional Training Program at the Martha Graham Dance School. There he appeared in the 90th Gala of the Company at NY City Center and participated in a Company tour in South Florida as a member of the Martha Graham Ensemble. Niccolò has been working with Teatro Regio Torino, Nickerson Rossi Dance, Victoria Ballet, Fadeyev Ballet, Charlotte Colmant Choreographer among others. As an independent artist, Niccolò has been influenced by his background in architectural studies, sports, circus, street arts, ballet, and classical modern dance techniques which helped him to develop an eclectic style, athletic strength, and emotional depth. Niccolò currently lives in NY working as a freelancer artist, dancer, and performer.
Ricardo Barrett
Ricardo Barrett attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Afterward, Mr. Barrett was a three-year member of the Jamaica Junior Theatre Company and a member of The Company Dance Theatre under the direction of Tony Wilson. He continued his training there until he left for the Martha Graham School, where he was a member of Graham 2. During that time, he performed Amanda Kreglow’s “In The Midst of Dying” in TED Talks Live “War & Peace,” along with multiple Graham and contemporary works, including dances choreographed by Adam Barruch and Virginie Mécène. He was a second company member for three years and an Apprentice with the Martha Graham first company for two years. He is currently a member of Dzul Dance Company and Buglisi Dance Theatre.
Richard Sayama
Originally from Honolulu Hawai’i, Richard Sayama earned his double major in BFA Modern Dance and B.A Business from Marymount Manhattan College. He has performed works by Paul Taylor, Jose Limón, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, Elisabeth Motley, and Maria Torres. Richard currently dances with H.T. Chen & Dance Company.
Fiona Oba
Fiona Oba began her training in Tokyo, Japan. A graduate of The Ailey School, she has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Elizabeth Roxas, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Pedro Ruiz, and Amy Hall Gardner among others. She has worked for companies including Buglisi Dance Theatre, NYC Dance Collaborative, Laurens County Civic Ballet, International Ballet Chamber Company and Metropolitan Repertory Ballet. Fiona holds a BA (Hons) in Dance Education from the Royal Academy of Dance / University of Bath.
Austin Kelly
Austin Kelly is a recent graduate from The Hartt School at The University of Hartford where he majored in Performing Arts Management with minors in Business Administration and Dance Performance. He has performed works by Paul Taylor, José Limón, Lar Lubovitch, August Bournonville, and Stephen Pier. Administratively, he has worked with organizations such as Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham, José Limón Dance Foundation, and Kansas City Ballet. Austin is furthering his dance training at The Taylor School and is thrilled to be joining Alison Cook Beatty Dance as a company member
Charles Scheland
Charles Scheland is a New York City based contemporary dance artist and choreographer. Charles grew up and trained in Germany, Austria, and the Washington DC area and graduated summa cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program double majoring in Dance and Economics, receiving departmental honors from both departments. He is also an alumnus of the School of Jacob’s Pillow’s Contemporary Program. He has danced for RIOULT Dance NY, Michael Mao Dance, Buglisi Dance Theater, New England Dance Theater, as well as other companies and independent choreographers. He has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Elana Anderson, Robert Battle, Clifton Brown, Amy Hall Garner, Jae Man Joo, Bill T. Jones, Jessica Lang, Michael Mao, Milton Myers, Elizabeth Roxas-Dobrish, Pascal Rioult, Henning Rübsam, Paul Taylor, to name a few. As an instructor, Charles teaches ballet, Horton technique, the repertory of Michael Mao, and is a demonstrator for Milton Myers. As a choreographer, Charles has created multiple ballets for live performance as well as dance films and most recently completed a residency and virtual concert with Spoke the Hub in Brooklyn, NY.
Jaryd Farcon
Jaryd Farcon, a native of Fords, New Jersey, is a graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and later graduated magna cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA dance program. He is a competitive ballroom dancer who holds numerous national and international titles. Jaryd has represented Team USA at the Blackpool Dance Festival in Blackpool, England and has reached the Top 21 in the world. In addition, he has danced on Season 6 of ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, Season 14 of FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, ABC’s Good Morning America, and NBC’s Today Show. He was dance captain on the Knicks City Kids and Lil’ Torches dance teams, which dance at Madison Square Garden. Moreover, he has worked with Julie Taymor in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at A Theater For A New Audience. Jaryd is a 2016 National YoungArts Foundation Winner in (Dance/Jazz) where he had the opportunity to work with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Jaryd has attended many summer programs such as the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive, Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and Ballet Hispanico’s ChoreoLab. He is a former member of Ballet Hispánico’s second company, BHdos.
Aurélie Garcia
Aurélie Garcia is a dancer, dance teacher and young choreographer. She grew up in South of France where she first started dancing in a small local dance school. After graduating from high school, she moved to New York City at the age of 18 years old to attend The Ailey School and graduated from their scholarship program in 2018. She performed works by Ray Mercer, Elizabeth Roxas, Tracy Inman, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Talley Beatty, Anabelle Lopez Ochoa, Eduardo Vilaro, Michelle Manzanalez, Pedro Ruiz and Alvin Ailey. Since she moved to New York to pursue her dance career, Aurelie has performed with companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico, Bloodline Dance Theater, Ann Nuo Spiritual Dance Art. Aurelie Garcia works with MOMIX, OCA Dance, Faustine Lavie Dance Project, and VLD.
Miranda Stuck
Miranda Stuck is a 22 year old professional dancer from Seattle, Washington and currently resides in New York City. Prior to graduating from the Ailey/Fordham Bachelor of Fine Arts program, Miranda trained classically at Pacific Northwest Ballet School. While dancing within the professional division at The Ailey School, Miranda has danced on scholarship at Perry-Mansfield and Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, as well as training with Ballet Hispánico and Visceral Dance Chicago. Miranda’s most recent professional endeavor includes dancing for Marc Jacobs in the closing show of New York Fashion Week, February 2020. She has worked closely with artists and choreographers such as Gabrielle Lamb, William Isaac, Karole Armitage, Earl Mosley, Nicholas Garr, Olga Kostritzky, Kyle Marshall, and Davalois Fearon. After earning her Dance Major as well as Minor in Fashion Studies, Miranda is currently studying Multi-Platform Journalism within Fordham University’s Public Media Master of Arts Program. While continuing professional dance, Miranda aspires to begin a career in fashion editorial writing or as an entertainment critic. Miranda is extremely passionate about performing arts, visual and digital arts, storytelling, as well as genuine human and artist connection.
Vera Paganin
Vera was born in Milan (Italy), where she began her professional training at the Centro Studi Coreografici Teatro Carcano, and she graduated in ballet and modern dance in 2012. After her graduation, she won a scholarship for the Henny Jurriens Stichting Summer Intensive in Amsterdam, where Miki Orihara gave her the scholarship to study at the Martha Graham School in New York, and she moved in the City in 2013. After a few months, she was asked to join Graham 2. She danced many principal roles in distinguished venues such as the Met Museum, and in 2015 she obtained her Teaching Training Program certification. She has been dancing with Alison Cook Beatty Dance since summer 2015. Vera returned to Europe for a year in 2017, where she danced with Aconcoli Dance by Elena Albano in Milan, and she collaborated with the pianist Xavier Boot for the Nationale Indiëherdenking in the Netherlands, along with teaching Graham Technique workshops in Milan, Sardinia, Rome, and Utrecht. Since she has been back to the US, Vera has also danced for several independent productions such as “Enter the Luminous” by Miriam Barbosa and experimental projects with Fooju Dance Collaborative by Adam Dickerson. Vera has danced works by Martha Graham, Alison Cook Beatty, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Blanca Li, Lone Larsen, Miriam Barbosa, Kun-Yang Lin, Darshan Singh Bhuller, Christopher Fleming, Elena Albano, Marcela Corbellini Duarte, Adam Robert Dickerson, Luisa Righeto.
Asia Bonilla
Asia Bonilla is from Trabuco Canyon, California. She started her formal dance training in Orange County, California under the guidance of Marlene Hall whom she assisted at the 24th Annual Conference of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) in Basel, Switzerland. Asia graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program with a major in Dance and a minor in Mathematics. She has performed internationally at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia and the Rudolfinum Concert Hall in the Czech Republic. Asia has danced with Awaken Dance Theater, VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, and BHdos, the second company of Ballet Hispánico. She has performed works by choreographers Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, Michelle Manzanales, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Jacqulyn Buglisi among others. She has also taught dance outreach in Nicaragua, New York City, and virtually with JUNTOS Collective, and is currently on the ballet faculty of Dance Project of Washington Heights.
Kaysha Smith
Kaysha Smith was born in Chicago, IL, and began her training at Rockford Dance Company, where she performed as a company member in various lead roles. In 2017, Kaysha moved to NYC and graduated from the Certificate Program at The Ailey School in 2020. She was a member of the Ailey Student Performance Group (ASPG) her third year. There she had the opportunity to work with artists such as Darell Grand Moultrie, Matthew Rushing, Milton Myers, and Freddie Moore. She has attended summer intensives at Ballet Hispánico, The Ailey School, Ballet Chicago, and Milwaukee Ballet on scholarship. This is also Kaysha’s second season with the Pa’lante Scholars program under the direction of Rodney Hamilton at Ballet Hispánico, where she performs regularly for schools and events in the NYC area. Kaysha is so grateful to be dancing with Alison Cook Beatty Dance Company and recently had the amazing opportunity of touring the tri-state area. She performed at places like the Fairfield County Dance Festival and Windhover Performing Arts Center.
Mariah Anton Arters
MARIAH ANTON ARTERS is a New York-based artist who graduated in 2019 from UNC School of the Arts with a BFA in dance. Before her attendance there, she trained in formal disciplines under Jo-Ann Hertzman. Mariah has been privileged to perform works by Martha Graham, Charles Czarny, Ming-Lung Yang, Alexei Kremnev, Larry Keigwin, José Limón, Tim Miller, Natalie Desch, Dawn Bazemore, and Juel Lane. Most notably, Mariah was a dancer in the Merce Cunningham Trust’s “Night of 100 Solos: A Centennial Event” at BAM Opera House and has since continued work with them alongside Liz Gerring, Daniel Gwirtzman, Christopher Williams, and Mary Seidman while also freelancing. During her summers, Mariah attended workshops with Anouk van Dijk, Stephen Petronio, Peridance Contemporary Dance Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Jessica Lang Dance, Limón Dance Company, and Rioult Dance NY. Mariah is so excited to be joining Alison Cook Beatty Dance for another season, and she looks forward to a wonderful future working alongside the entire artistic team.
Genaro Enrique Freire Benavides
GENARO FREIRE was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where he started dancing at age 17 and attended Escuela de Ballet Inge Bruckman del Teatro Centro de Arte. In 2013 he moved to NYC to dance with the Joffrey Ballet Concert Group, with which he toured the East Coast, Canada, and China, performing in dances by Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, and Robert Battle, in new works by Africa Guzman, Tyler Gilstrap, and Gabrielle Lamb, and appearing with dancers from Complexions in work by Dwight Rhoden. He has danced as a guest artist in Delta Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker in New Orleans for four seasons in multiple soloist and principal roles. He danced with NYTB from 2018 to 2020, performing in works by Keith Michael, Merce Cunningham, Donald Mahler, Pam Tanowitz, and Robert La Fosse. During 2022 he worked along The Sebastian and Cristopher Caines Dance. He joined Tabula Rasa Dance Theater to participate in the world premiere of Oedipus Rex.
Madeline Kuhlke
MADELINE KUHLKE is from Long Island, New York, and attended The Long Island High School for the Arts. In 2020 she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a BFA in Dance. While at Adelphi, she performed works by Frederick Earl Mosley, Paul Taylor, and Martha Graham. After college, Madeline furthered her dance training by studying in the Advanced Studies Program with a focus on Performance at The Martha Graham School. She is currently a scholarship student at The Taylor School and recently performed with The Taylor Outreach Ensemble. Madeline is an ABT® Certified Teacher who has completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Chloe Crade
Originally from Orange County, California, Chloe Crade began her training at age 14. She trained at various schools: Long Beach Ballet Arts Center, West Coast School of the Arts, and Ballet Pacifica, where she placed in the top ten at the Youth America Grand Prix competition’s senior division for both classical and contemporary categories. At 16 she moved to North Carolina and trained in ballet at the North Carolina School of the Arts, where she worked intensely with Melissa Hayden. She has attended various summer programs including American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, the Kirov Academy, Kaatsbaan International Extreme Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, and Summer Lee Rhatigan’s San Francisco Conservatory of Dance where she was greatly inspired and performed pieces by William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián. After graduating from NCSA, Chloe was invited to study at the Juilliard School. During her four years at Juilliard, she has had the privilege to dance works by José Limón, David Parker, Adam Hougland, Antony Tudor, Johannes Wieland, Ohad Naharin, Aszure Barton, Merce Cunningham, and Jodie Gates. Post graduation, she moved to Chicago where she received a scholarship at Hubbard Street Dance. During her time in Chicago she has also professionally danced with Ron De Jesus Dance Company, Chicago Dance Crash, Fayth Caruso Dance, and Dorcas Roman Dance Theatre. Chloe is excited to be collaborating with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Madelyn Ho
Madelyn Ho is from Sugar Land, Texas, where she began dancing at Kinard Dance School and later trained with BalletForte under the artistic direction of Michael Banigan. She graduated from Harvard College with a BA in Chemical and Physical Biology. While there, she was awarded the Artist Development Fellowship and attended the Taylor School Winter Intensive. She was a member of Taylor 2 from 2008 to 2012 and left to attend Harvard Medical School, during which time she was a guest artist for Alison Cook Beatty Dance and performed with Urbanity Dance. She joined Paul Taylor Dance Company in Spring 2015.
Justin Dominic
Justin Dominic was born in Newark, NJ where he began classically training at Arts High School, furthering his studies at the Joffrey Ballet School, The Ailey School Fellowship Program, and ABT’s summer intensive in Bermuda. On full scholarship, Justin received his BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. There, he performed with the Jose Limon Dance Company and other works by Mark Morris, George Balanchine, Merce Cunnigham, Donald McKayle, Lar Lubovitch, and Larry Keigwin. Since graduating, he was a founding dancer with Lustig Dance Theatre, directed by Graham Lustig and has performed with Mark Morris Dance Group in Hard Nut, and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in Orfeo ed Euridice, Aida, and Les Troyens. Justin has also worked with choreographers Ronald K. Brown, Hofesh Scheter, Didy Veldman, Doug Varone, Janis Brenner, and Lane Gifford. Currently, Justin is a member of Keigwin + Company under the direction of Larry Keigwin.
Edgar Peterson
Edgar L. Peterson III was born in New York City and accepted into The New Ballet School (official school of Ballet Tech) at the age of 8. There, he studied Elizabeth Barrow, Patrice Hemsworth, Daniel Levans, Christine Sarry and Master Teacher Richard Thomas. Edgar first performed with the Ballet Tech Company, formerly Feld Ballets NY, at the age of 14 as a student performer and later joined the company performing at a variety of venues including The Joyce Theater, Kennedy Center, Jacob’s Pillow, NJ Performing Arts Center, and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. Edgar briefly left the world of dance to continue his academic studies at Columbia University. He then pursued an internship at Standard & Poor’s where he currently enjoys a career in Finance. He has since danced professionally throughout the country and abroad with Dances Patrelle, C Eule Dance, Christopher Caines, Miral Kotb, Open Project, Thang Dao Dance Company, and Classical Contemporary Ballet Theatre. In 2011 Edgar had his choreographic debut, and in 2012 co-founded ENCOUNTERS with Gisela Quinteros. He’s delighted to work with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Tiffany Mangulabnan
Tiffany Mangulabnan first trained in classical ballet at the Philippine Ballet Theatre Conservatoire in Manila, Philippines. From 2000-2005, as an apprentice with the Philippine Ballet Theatre (PBT), she performed as a member of the corps de ballet in the company’s productions of ‘Don Quixote’, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Madame Butterfly’, ‘Carmina Burana’, ‘Merry Widow’, ‘La Bayadere’, ‘Serenade’, ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘Cinderella’, among several others. She honed her ballet technique under the guidance of PBT ballet master Anatoly Panasyukov, but was also significantly influenced by mentorships with Labayen Dance/SF artistic director Enrico Labayen, current PBT artistic director Ronilo Jaynario, and Ballet Philippines principal dancer Katherine Sanchez-Trofeo. In 2004 and 2005, she worked closely with Labayen and performed in several of his contemporary pieces, including ‘Arias’, ‘Ocean’, ‘Vivaldi Sketches’, and the Isadora Duncan Dance Award-winning ‘Puirt a Beul’. The experience pushed her to seek further training and experience in contemporary and modern ballet – at Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet School in San Francisco, as well as at Ballet Philippines’ CCP Dance School in Manila. In 2007, she created the role of Doña Consolacion in Alden Lugnasin’s ‘Rizal Revisited’ for Ballet Philippines. Upon her return to PBT in 2009, she danced as a soloist and then took on the dual role of Odette/Odile in PBT’s ‘Swan Lake’ in 2010. She went on to win Second Place in the Senior Ballet Division of the 2010 National Music Competition for Young Artists in the Philippines. As a principal with PBT, she created lead roles in Jaynario’s neoclassical suites ‘Beatles Revisited’ and ‘Ang Buhay’; performed as Paquita in Petipa’s Paquita Grand Pas Classique, as the The Dew Drop Fairy in Michael Chernov’s ‘The Nutcracker’, as Death in David Campos-Canteros’ ‘Carmina Burana’, and the lead concubine in Thomas Pazik’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’. At the end of 2011, she danced as a guest in Maniya Barredo’s ‘Coppelia’ with the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. She has since moved to New York City and has been dancing as a soloist with Ballet Next, performing a featured role in Alison Cook Beatty’s ‘Tintinnabuli’ and in other works by Brian Reeder and Tobin Eason. She is a regular guest artist with Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Michael Fernandez
Michael Fernandez was born in Ponce, PR and raised in Kissimmee, FL Where he began his dance training at Osceola County School of the Arts. He continued his training at New World School of the Arts in Miami. After Graduating with a BFA in dance he joined Garth Fagan Dance Company. He has recently moved to NYC where he is working with Buglisi Dance Theatre and Nimbus Dance works.
Lauren DeMaria
Lauren DeMaria began her training at the Joffrey Ballet School with John Magnus, Francesca Corkle, and Eleanor D’Antuono. She continued her training with the School at Steps under Leslie and Ethan Browne. She also attended summer programs at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. She then attended Columbia University (2009-2013) where she performed original works for Columbia Ballet Collaborative and Barnard Dance Project. Lauren has performed the Snow Pas de Deux and Dewdrop solo with Two Worlds Dance Company with ballet master Andrei Kisselev from 2006-2008. She also performed at the Joyce Theater with Complexions Youth Ensemble in the fall of 2008.
John Eirich
John Eirich was raised in Orlando, Florida where he studied ballet and jazz at Southern Ballet Theatre. He earned his BFA in dance from New World School of the Arts in 2005, was a student at Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Traditions Program and performed with Miami Contemporary Dance company and the Florida Grand Opera. He has worked with the Amy Marshall Dance company, was a member of Taylor 2 from 2006-2010 and has been a member of TAKE Dance since 2007. John joined Dusan Tynek Dance Theatre in 2010, is currently a member of Dance Heginbotham, and has performed Missa Brevis with Limon Dance Company and L’Allegro with the Mark Morris Dance Group.
Kurt Douglas
Kurt A. Douglas is originally from Guyana, South America. Kurt received his BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory, where he was the recipient of the Ruth Solomon Ambrose Scholarship Award. He performed with the Boston Dance Theatre and the Boston Conservatory Dance Theatre. Kurt joined the Límón Dance Company from 2001-2009; while dancing with Limón, Kurt received a 2002 Princess Grace Award and was honored for performing for His Serene Highness Crown Prince Albert of Monaco and the Royal Family. He made history as the first African American dancer to step into the infamous role of “Iago” in The Moor’s Pavane one of José Limón most famous works. Kurt was named one of the TOP 25 TO WATCH in the January 2006 issue of Dance Magazine. In 2009 he joined the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company for its 40th anniversary season. In 2011 he joined Buglisi Dance Theatre. Most recently he has been touring the world with the Helpman award-winning Australian cast of A Chorus Line. Kurt has also performed with the Thang Dao Dance Company, Ballet Hispanico, and the Sean Curran Dance Company. Kurt has also produced and conducted Limón Dance workshops in Boston, New York, Oregon, Dallas, and England. He has also served as guest faculty at the Juilliard School, SUNY Purchase, Southern Methodist University, Harvard University, Tufts University, American Dance Festival, the Joffrey School, the Boston Conservatory, and the Sydney Dance Company. He is currently a 2014 MFA candidate with the Hollins University/American Dance Festival masters program.
Megan Rudd
Megan Rudd grew up in Duluth Minnesota where she studied ballet at the Minnesota Ballet School. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities where she majored in music and dance until moving to New York to pursue her dance career in 2014. She is currently a Ballet Trainee at the Joffrey Ballet School. Megan is very excited to be a part of Alison Cook Beatty Dance!
Gabrielle Cruz
Gabrielle Cruz was a born and raised in New York. As a young child, she trained in various genres as a soloist and company member of Performers Edge Dance Academy. Gabrielle continued to pursue her studies throughout high school and is in process of completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from Adelphi University. At Adelphi, she has had the opportunity to perform in several showcases, as well as Dance Adelphi shows, including pieces choreographed by Adelheid B. Strelick, Oliver Tobin, and Orion Duckstein. Gabrielle also had the privilege of performing at the American College Dance Association’s Northeast Conference and Gala in a work set by Orion Duckstein. Other recent performance credits include New York Fashion Week’s Target Style and Vogue Event. She is excited for this new journey with the Alison Cook Beatty Dance.
Anna Schön Levy
A native of the Bronx, Anna Schön Levy received her BA from Barnard College in European History and Dance. Anna is a member of the Reggie Wilson/Fist & Heel Performance Group. She has danced for The Metropolitan Opera, Rebecca Lazier, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, Caitlin Trainor, The Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company (DGDC), Aszure Barton and Artists, The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Mark Dendy, Jennifer Muller/The Works, and zoe|juniper. Currently, Anna is matriculating at the Sarah Lawrence Joan H. Marks program in Human Genetics.
Johnny Vorsteg
JOHNNY VORSTEG grew up in Verona, New Jersey and began his formal dance training at 18, studying primarily with Bil Badolato at New York University and later at Peridance Capezio Center. He has danced in works by Taylor dancers Annmaria Mazzini, James Samson and Orion Duckstein, and by Chase Brock, Chet Walker, Geoffrey Doig-Marx and Nancy Lushington. He performed in Paul Taylor’s Company B at Montclair State University, where he earned degrees in Dance and English. He also performed in La Cage Aux Folles with Phoenix Theatre. In Summer 2011 Mr. Vorsteg was the recipient of the American Dance Guild Scholarship to the School at Jacob’s Pillow. He began dancing at The Taylor School in 2013 and was later awarded a scholarship to continue studies there. He joined Taylor 2 in Spring 2015.
Justin Kahan
Originally from Tampa, Florida, Justin began his dance training at the New Tampa Dance Theatre. He continued his education at Florida State University to pursue a B.F.A. in Dance. He was an active member in the Dance Repertory Theater at F.S.U. under the direction of Lynda Davis, performing works by Dr. Nancy Smith Fichter, Terry Creach and Bruce Wood. Justin has also performed works by Dan Wagoner, Rick McCullough, George Balanchine, Alex Ketley, Tim Glenn, Wallie Wolfgruber and Takehiro Ueyama, as well as many roles with the Tallahassee Ballet. Mr. Kahan was a member of Taylor 2 from 2006-2012 where he performed alongside Alison Cook Beatty and taught both nationally and internationally. During his time in New York he also performed as a guest with Alison Cook Beatty Dance, among other choreographers. During the summer of 2010, he had the honor of teaching dance in India as a cultural envoy for the US Government. Justin now resides in Tampa, Florida, where he remains actively involved in the arts. He is on the faculty at the New Tampa Dance Theatre and has had his choreography showcased yearly since 2015. In addition to his choreography, he has performed with Collective Soles Dance and Dance Theatre of Tampa in multiple performances including their annual productions of The Nutcracker.
Alejandro Herrera
Jennie Begley
Julian Devine
Stephen Hanna
Myles Langston Hunter
Myles Langston Hunter is a native of Los Angeles, California where he attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Myles is a recipient of the Irene Diamond Scholarship to attend the Juilliard School majoring in Dance. Towards the completion his sophomore year at Juilliard, Myles along with four other Juilliard students, were selected to travel to Botswana, South Africa to teach dance and theatre to underserved students interested in the performing arts. Going into his senior year Myles is prepared to continue his thirst of learning about his and other art forms. Myles graduated Juilliard May of 2019, and has had the privilege of freelancing throughout New York. In his spare time, Myles builds his skills as a clothing, costume and dance wear designer. He is the creator, founder and seamster of a clothing line called L. He is a guest performing artist for Alison Cook Beatty fall season.
Aaron Steinberg
Aaron Steinberg began his serious dance training at the JKO school at ABT. He finished his formal ballet training at the Hamburg ballet school, and danced with the Sarasota Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet, and most recently at Dance Kaleidoscope under the direction of David Hochoy. He is a guest performing artist for Alison Cook Beatty Dance Fall Season.
Abigal Mentzer
GUEST ARTISTS of Mahaway Spring Eternal 2019
Dot Armstrong
Dot Armstrong is a Minnesotan dancer/mover/maker and co-founder of Futile Gestures, a collective of queer femme-identified collaborators.
Mariah Baker
MARIAH BAKER is a New York City-based freelance dance artist. She is excited to share the stage with this concert’s incredible artists.
Marquita Marie
MARQUITA MARIE, a native of Mobile, Alabama, is honored to be sharing stage with such beautiful artists both inside and out.
Dutch deCarvalho
Born and raised in New York City, DUTCH deCARVALHO has trained at The Taylor School, NYSSSA School of Dance, and SUNY Brockport (BFA in Dance). He currently dances in New York City and works in education.
Danyelle Demchock
DANYELLE DEMCHOCK has danced with the Metropolitan Opera (The First Emperor with Plácido Domingo) and has performed internationally and nationally with an array of modern dance companies including Amy Marshall, Sue Bernard, and Mary Seidman and Dancers. She choreographed and danced in her debut piece The New Way at TEDxSinCity 2011.
Kristen Hedberg
KRISTEN HEDBERG is a freelance dance artist and dance writer in New York City. In addition to guesting with Alison Cook Beatty Dance, she dances with Curet Performance Project and mignolo dance.
Claudia Maciejuk
CLAUDIA MACIEJUK is a Swedish native and graduate of the Royal Swedish Ballet School and The Ailey School. She describes the process of Mahaway as truly artistically rewarding.
Elizabeth Mendieta
ELIZABETH MENDIETA is a company member with Emma Elliott Dance and has performed with Atmosphere Dance in New York City. She studied Dance Performance and Business Management at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has choreographed for Loose Leaves, BOOM, and the International Sandwich Festival.
Emily Morrison
EMILY MORRISON grew up in San Francisco before moving to New York to pursue dance seriously. Most recently, she had the pleasure of performing with Johannes Wieland in Berlin and with the Secret Theater’s production of The Tempest in New York. She is thrilled to be a part of Mahaway.
Wakaba Nakamura
WAKABA NAKAMURA was born in Hiroshima, Japan. She graduated from The Ailey School with a specialty in modern dance.
Hannah Wojszynski
HANNAH WOJSZYNSKI is a northern Virginia native who received her BFA in Dance from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2017. In addition to dancing, she also works as an in-home aid for a woman with special needs and loves to cook and eat vegan food.
Infinity Dance Theatre
Infinity Dance Theatre is committed to expanding the boundaries of dance by featuring dancers with and without disabilities and changing perceptions of what a dancer can be. Founded by Artistic Director Kitty Lunn in 1995, Infinity achieves parity in the world of dance while maintaining high standards of artistic quality. Infinity aims to inspire people with and without disabilities, encourage their artistic and other professional aspirations, and empower them through the organization’s educational/performance programs.
Kitty Lunn, Artistic Director of Infinity Dance Theatre
After a great deal of hard work and nurturing by my teacher, Lelia Haller, in my home town of New Orleans, I was dancing principal roles with the New Orleans Civic Ballet by the age of fifteen. I made my professional debut in Coppelia. My work in New Orleans led to a scholarship to the Washington Ballet where I studied and worked with both Mary Day and the great ballet master, Edward Caton. I had the great fortune to dance in numerous ballets including Swan Lake, Giselle, Les Sylphidesand The Nutcracker. While in Washington, I was privileged to work with such dance legends as Martha Graham, Agnes de Mille, Jose Limon and Erik Bruhn. While preparing for my first Broadway show in 1987, I slipped on ice, fell down a flight of stairs and broke my back. Now a paraplegic, I use a wheelchair, and work diligently on behalf of performing artists with disabilities. After my accident I was sure that my dancing days were over. How could I dance when I couldn’t walk? The thought of life without dancing was extremely depressing for me. I had to find a way to keep dancing. What I learned was that the dancer inside me didn’t know or care that I was using a wheelchair, she just wanted to keep dancing. In the fall of 1995, I founded Infinity Dance Theater, a non-traditional dance company featuring dancers with and without disabilities. The Company now performs all over the world, offering both concerts and educational programs. We are teaching other dance educators to bring the joy and drama of movement to a new level of inclusion by expanding the boundaries of dance and changing the world’s perception of what a dancer is. I continue to take a mainstream, professional ballet class every day and have developed wheelchair dance techniques strongly rooted in and growing out of classical ballet and modern dance. Listen to the dancer in your heart. He or she will show you the way! My love affair with the dance began at the age of eight, when my grandmother took me to see the film The Red Shoes. I saw that beautiful, red-headed ballerina up on the screen, and I knew, right then, that I wanted to be a dancer when I grew up.
Luísa Righeto
Luísa Righeto is a dancer of Infinity Dance Theatre and has performed in Mahaway Spring Eternal with Alison Cook Beatty Dance in 2019.
Alejandra Ospina
Alejandra Ospina is a dancer of Infinity Dance Theatre and has performed in Mahaway Spring Eternal with Alison Cook Beatty Dance in 2019.
Michelle Martini
Michelle Martini is a dancer of Infinity Dance Theatre and has performed in Mahaway Spring Eternal with Alison Cook Beatty Dance in 2019.
Leslie Taub
Leslie Taub is a dancer of Infinity Dance Theatre and has performed in Mahaway Spring Eternal with Alison Cook Beatty Dance in 2019.