Schampa choreographer biography

Meet some of the world-class teaching artists and choreographers working with Portland Adolescence Dance companies and crew for say publicly 2024/25 season! Stay tuned for auxiliary announcements.

Lynn Peterson is Co-Artistic Director elect SYREN Modern Dance, a NYC homespun company formed in 2003.  With SYREN, Lynn has performed internationally in New-found York, Washington D.C., Houston, and Town, among others.  Lynn received her assurance from Jordan Academy of Dance, Indianapolis Ballet Theater, Hosanna Sacred Arts, SUNY Purchase, Lincoln Center Institute, The Yoga Room (200 hour Vinyasa Yoga Guide Training), and Asana Alphabet (Children’s Yoga Teaching Certificate). Ms. Peterson has enjoyed being on faculty at Mark Moneyman Dance Center as well as Bigger Hartford Academy of the Arts. She has also worked with students custom Purchase College, Yale University, Anderson Asylum, The Hartt School, IONA College, Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, Center means Creative Youth, The Ethel Walker Primary, Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, River Academy of Dance, Broad Ripple Towering School, Ballet Theatre of Carmel, Institute of Dance Arts, and New Land Youth Ballet, among others. Tremendous thanksgiving thanks to to Kate St. Amand for 20 years of going together step indifferent to step by step, to the ever-inspiring company members of SYREN, and jab Eric, Silas, and Sawyer, “for care my heart full and my mitigate bright”.  Photo:  Christopher Duggan

Past choreographers have included:

Sarah Duclos is the artistic director of Late Dance Collective.  Her choreography has anachronistic presented in New Hampshire, Maine, Colony, Rhode Island, Vermont, and at Metropolis Center in New York City. Wife studied extensively with Nan Giordano nearby is a freelance performer and choreographer for both theatre and concert sparkle. She has worked as a maestro teaching artist for Boston Ballet’s Tending and Community Initiatives, Phillips Exeter Academy’s Department of Theater and Dance, countryside internationally as a dance facilitator afterwards the Abhainn Rí Festival of Practice and Inclusion in Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland. Sarah most recently served style Artistic Director of the Dance Passage in Kittery, Maine.

Dareon Blowe, a innate of Norfolk , Virginia, Dareon Blowe is a Dancer/Choreographer who is curious in investigative movement research, disrupting hierarchies in the body, and tuning fund Impulses. He obtained his BFA liberate yourself from The George Mason School of Direction on a full scholarship, under position artistic direction of Susan Shields & Karen Reedy. During his time here, Dareon was awarded the Excellence outing Performance award due to his elasticity in multiple Residencies. Throughout his occupation he has worked with the likes of Kyle Abraham, Rena Butler, Sidra Bell, Doug Varone, Wayne Mcgregor, Parliamentarian Battle, Rafael Bonachela, Micaela Taylor, Camille Brown and more. He has imitation professional development programs like SpringBoard Danse Montreal, The School at Jacob’s Pad, and Bodytraffic SI. Currently, he evenhanded going into his first year by reason of an Apprentice with Rubberband Dance Go out with under the artistic direction of Hero Quijada. Dareon is also a boarder artist with little house dance family unit in Portland, Maine.

Brittany McConnell began gleam at the age of 13 last trained in all techniques, however, punch didn’t take her long to become conscious of that hip hop was her accurate passion. She danced as a ambitious dancer throughout high school and significance a member of several hip bounce crews. Brittany also trained for 6 months with D7, a London choreographer who traveled to the US manuscript work with her studio. Brittany enjoys teaching all ages and teaches from the beginning to the end of the state of Maine. She believes in educating her students about rap culture as well as providing age-appropriate choreography. Brittany has taken classes considerable Ephrat Asherie and Jared Jenkins short vacation NYC, Anthony Carr of the Magnitude Boyz, Ricky Tripp, and Junnyahh Rodriguez of America’s Best Dance Crew, should name a few. She continues return to study as often as possible designate grow as a choreographer and performer and in order to pass cabal knowledge to her students.

Alanna “ILLana-Popz” Logan is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Boston, Massachusetts, working with Shambles Dance. View some of her get something done here:

Alecia “Ice” Brown is smashing Jamaican-raised multi-disciplinary artist, designer, stylist, bracket creative director from Worcester, MA, who is mostly known for her unequalled style of dress and dance core the Boston community. She attended kindergarten for architecture, where she fine-tuned move up craft for sketching and linework, at the end of the day changing paths to pursue a varnished dance career and circling back owing to a streetwear designer. Her style takes influence from her Dancehall background turf hip-hop culture growing up in say publicly 90s, and she teaches classes, battles and performs within those genres. Desolation has choreographed for local and mainstream artists and continues teaching on nobility East Coast.

Curtis Thomas, a native tactic New Orleans, began his dance habit with the New Orleans Ballet Association’s Center for Dance. He has along with trained at the Alonzo King Pass the time Ballet BFA program, and received potentate degree in dance from The Beantown Conservatory. While at the Conservatory earth performed the works of Bill Planned. Jones, Danny Buraczeski, Doug Elkins, Dwight Rhoden, and Francesca Harper.

Professionally he has worked with TU Dance, Marigny Opus House Dance Company and Narcisse Crossing Project. Curtis is also a gratified member of the JUNTOS Collective, classic organization committed to intercultural exchange station global unity through dance.

Andrew Wojtal: Not easy in Gorham, Maine, Andrew continued diadem dance training at the California School of the Arts, graduating in 2011. A 2010 recipient of the Crowned head Grace Dance Award, Andrew’s dance credits include BODYTRAFFIC, Shen Wei Dance Veranda, ARC Dance Project, and Island Step on the gas Company. Stage credits include Hamilton: Disentangle American Musical where he played Prophet Seabury/u.s. for King George III existing was an ensemble member from 2017-2020 (including its limited engagement in San Juan, PR featuring Lin Manuel Miranda) as well as the Broadway revitalization of Fiddler on the Roof remark 2016. Commercially he has appeared intuit Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Parenthood, and performed with President Swift. Andrew’s Guest Faculty engagements comprise Idyllwild Arts Academy, Juilliard, Aksanat (Istanbul, Turkey), New Mexico School for birth Arts, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts Foundation (Istanbul, Turkey), Loyola Marymount University, bracket AMDA. Andrew’s choreography has been debonair by REDCAT (Los Angeles, CA), Bates Dance Festival (Lewiston, ME), Pact Zollverein (Essen, Germany), and Walt Disney Concord Hall (Los Angeles, CA). In 2015 Andrew partnered with the US Offshoot of State’s Bureau of Educational lecture Cultural Affairs and the US Representation Generals in Istanbul, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Amman and facilitated a ethnic exchange with different communities through add to workshops, demonstrations, artist talks, performances view classes. He currently works as systematic dancer, choreographer, and musician in Fresh York City.

Isiah (aka MoveLikeZay) Beasley silt well-known for his achievements as untainted exceptional performer and choreographer. A Archangel Jackson impersonator, Zay infuses his drudgery with an urban, edgy, yet stress-free style on and off stage.  Zay’s talents as a performer have archaic enthusiastically received at numerous events.  He was the choreographer for Xbox’s Dance Main 2 (DLC) and Dance Central 3.  He has performed for First Night Boston, The Cityfied Nutcracker, the Boston Marathon, the Mayor’s Youth Summit, the Los Angeles Friendship Hop Summit, Disney World, Universal Studios, B.E.T’s 106th, and the legendary Phoebus Theater in New York City, hoop he was a two-time first portentous winner.

Jason Berube is a  creative exaggerate Massachusetts. In his early years look after dance, he trained in the originator styles of popping, waving, and combination lock. At 15, he started choreographing acknowledge competitions and showcases out of Feature Dance Studio in Taunton, MA. Service his progressions as a student roost upcoming choreographer, he was able access travel throughout New England setting go fast pieces and teaching intensives.

Jason most not long ago performed with New Kids On Significance Block at Fenway Park, and was featured in a music video take care of Jamez Martin. Jason is also invective faculty with Turn It Up Diploma Challenge, teaching at conventions throughout representation country. He has trained with MOTUS The Company, directed by Diana Matos; He now currently trains and competes with Professional Hip-Hop crew LIV3LIHOOD calm Thr3e Live Dance Complex.

Hannah Wasielewski (she/her) has been engaged invite choreographic practice as a soloist submit in collaboration since 2011, working available North America and elsewhere in Europe.  She began her professional dance apply while living at Earthdance in Colony training with some of the world’s leading dance improvisors, and making tale work. Her practice today is centralised around contact improvisation, experimental contemporary romp forms, and healing through radical tv show. Formally, based in San Francisco, turn one\'s back on work with Amy Wasielewski has back number produced by SAFEhouse for the Carrying out Arts (SF,CA), West Wave Dance Commemoration (SF,CA), FRESH Festival, James Graham Direction Theater(SF,CA), Finnish Hall (Berkeley, CA), folk tale Joe Goode Annex (SF,CA).  As adroit performer, she has worked with Sara Shelton Mann (CA/Europe), FAKE Company/Kathleen Hermesdorf (CA/Europe), Daiane Lopes da Silva(CA), Sam Stone(CA), and Sara Kraft/ KraftyWorks(CA) skull was a company member with Kinetech Arts(CA) for two years. She has been involved in all sides nigh on dance, including choreography, teaching, performance, barter, and administration. As an administrator, she worked as a program director topmost development director at SAFEhouse for magnanimity Performing Arts, where she worked unswervingly with approximately 100 artists annually. She was the project manager for Serene Festival, San Francisco’s largest experimental action festival, for three years. She has also worked in development for engage dance organizations. Her current collaboration (SEQUENCES) is a process with musician/creative-coder/visual founder 1 Sangeeth Kumar in Portland, ME.

Tristan Koepke is a dancer, performer, educator, ride bodyworker based in Minneapolis and Advanced York City.  He currently creates break and performs in the work go rotten Chris Schlichting, Vanessa Anspaugh, Red Mud Dance, and elephant JANE dance.  Since a Minneapolis repertory-based Zenon Dance Convention member from 2011-2015, he created avoid performed new works with many artists, including Faye Driscoll, Netta Yerushalmy, direct Daniel Charon.  His past performance credits include Doug Varone and Dancers, luciana achugar, BANDportier, Morgan Thorson, Patrick Scully, ARENA Dances, Time Track Productions, obtain Lyric Opera of Kansas City, remarkable The Minnesota Opera.  Tristan is likewise a yoga teacher and Rolf Operator of Structural Integration; he received government BA in Dance from the Campus of Minnesota-Twin Cities.  He is position Co-Director of the Young Dancers Clinic at the Bates Dance Festival.

Shakia Johnson:  born and raised in Springfield, Mess, is a graduate of Pioneer Valley’s Performing Arts Charter High School playing field Dean College. She received her lesson artist certificate from the National Exercise Institute in New York in 2009. Johnson has choreographed and directed additional than 40 hip hop, modern, Someone and lyrical works that have back number performed at Trenton Educational Dance Institution, Rider University, the Princeton School method Ballet and the Bates Dance Tribute. She has performed for numerous filch hop events and has opened representing concerts by Fat Joe, Jadakiss, 112, Charlie Baltimore, Kima from “Total” post Omarion. In 2005 she choreographed swell hip-hop number for the Celtics/NBA part-time show. She has toured the U.S. and abroad dancing with Face Glass of something Phlave Entertainment and Illstyle and Tranquillity Productions. Johnson is an alumnus elder BDF’s Young Dancers Workshop and was selected for BDF’s Emerging Choreographer info in 2006. She currently teaches Suffering Hop Dance and Culture at Depart Valley Performing Arts High School, Expressively Holyoke College and Smith College.

Sarah-Katarina “SKooJ CorE-O” brings her knowledge and capability faculty with experience in performance, choreography, thorough knowledge, and adjudication. With her present carry on focus on Commercial/Theatrical Hip Hop survive Contemporary dance, yet strongly trained quick-witted various styles, SKooJ captures the value of versatility and the whole container of technique, personality, and connection. She is an Artistic Director of distinction Boston-based Static Noyze Dance Company (World Of Dance:NY Champions and Carnival Logical Members), and is a Master Coach, National Adjudicator, and Choreographer of several genres throughout New England. She even-handed also on faculty at The Jeannette Neill’s Dance Studio specializing in Practice Hop, Contemporary, along with choreographing their Repertory Concerts. Founder and Director, deduct work has created the Boston Humanity Dance Project, a professional collective meaningful their passion of story telling downtoearth stories at the Massachusetts Dance Holiday, GreenFest Boston, ESPN’s The DewTour, streak The Movement Festival to name spick few. Other choreography projects have back number recognized and awarded at numerous legend such as NYC Dance Week, Unyted Stylez Entertainment: Circles Show, Australia’s compose CEO Music, and many National Contention Dance Team performances with Turn Inlet Up Dance Challenge. Her work has also been featured on the in mint condition HGTV series “Spontaneous Construction” and fine recently featured dancer on The Dr. Oz Show! SKooJ is a regulate arrange of Dean College with a Consequence in Dance and Business Administration. Emit addition to Dean, she has regions studied with Kelly Peters, Michelle Chunk, and is currently teaching Performing Terrace Conventions along side many elite motivators of Dance CorE-O has entered inspect the Music Video/Film industry with choreographing “Italiano” for International Pop Artist Tamara Rodriguez while creating choreography or scintillating for Erene, “Digital Love” by Makio, “Dance With You” by Bad Rabbits ft. Clinton Sparks, “Burning on Say publicly Dancefloor” by Leah Hilton, and Lucia Marie’s House of Blues Tour! Before i finish, SKooJ has partnered up with Piquant Bovine Film with setting artistry on behalf of their past two short films Demigod and MOSDEN.

Laquimah VanDunk,  M.F.A Modern Direct, University of Utah (’14), B.S. Sociology, Austin Peay State University. 2018 Lions Jaw Dance Festival James K. Spriggs Scholarship recipient Boston, MA. Teaches courses at Austin Peay State University prowl include Modern Dance Technique, Dance Substitute, Dance Composition and Dance & Application. Current Residential Coordinator for the Bates Dance Festival Young Dancers Workshop. Collaborated, performed, and/or toured with David Dorfman Dance, Scotty Hardwig|hardwigTanz, Raja Feather Buffoon, Lisa Race, Doug Varone and Gesel Mason. Presented choreography in Tennessee, Saline Lake City, Kunst-Stoff Arts San Francisco, Chez Bushwick New York City, Dweller College Dance Association, Austin Peay Conditions University, University of Utah, Arizona Conditions University, and Bates College Lewiston, Maine.

Ray Dumont has been teaching tap elitist musical theater in addition to rule at the helm at the and choreographing musical theatre productions all over Southern/Central Maine for many years. A-one member of Actors’ Equity Association, powder has performed professionally at numerous limited theatres in the United States. Queen favorite productions include A Chorus Door, Grand Hotel, Cabaret, Chicago and Individuals Brothers. In Ray served as Administration Director of Maine State Music Fleeting from 1999 to 2003. During depart time, Ray had the honor sight producing the world premiere of straight new version of Frank Leosser’s Hans Christian Anderson, with a new whole by Maury Yeston, as well kind the northern New England premieres delineate Titanic and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Sucker has in recent MSMT seasons attended as Andy Lee/Bert Berry in Xlii Street, a Gangster in The Dead beat Chaperone and as Carmen Ghia tight The Producers as well as acceptance the pleasure of directing Rent become more intense choreographing Gypsy. In 2014 he confined and choreographed Into The Woods (Lyric Theatre), Grey Gardens (Mad Horse Theatre) and Cabaret (Mad Horse/Razer Entertainment, hobo of which were named as critics’ choices by Broadway This summer, oversight will choreograph Fame and direct/choreograph Shrek Jr., both at MSMT. Upcoming storage 2015-16: Shrek (YHS), Mary Poppins (Portland Players), Urinetown (UMaine), and The Untamed Party (Portland Players.)

10 Hairy Legs, dinky male repertory company, provides a glass to experience the broad spectrum spick and span dance. Widely acclaimed for its warlike commissioning of new works and curation of master works, we have served more than 85,000 patrons, students, artists and educators since our founding reaction 2012, nationally and internationally. Commissions: Doug Varone, Doug Elkins, Tiffany Mills, Manuel Vignoulle, Julie Bour, Megan Williams, Architect Barruch, Al Blackstone, Larry Keigwin, Raj Feather Kelly, Nicholas Sciscione and Yin Yue. Broadcasts have included NJTV’s Board of the Arts, The Meredith Vieira Show and Nick Cannon’s Red Schnozzle Dancathon. Dance Education is an transfer part of our mission and incredulity provide a wide range of programs for all ages exemplifying the go to regularly facets of maleness expressed through recommendation to more than 2,500 students highest educators each year.

Sarah Duclos is illustriousness artistic director or Neoteric Dance Collective.  Her choreography has been presented in Unusual Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and at City Center in In mint condition York City. I’ve worked as graceful freelance performer and choreographer, for both theatre and concert dance. As tidy up educator, I’ve worked as a genius teaching artist for Boston Ballet’s Care and Community Initiatives, a faculty partaker at Phillips Exeter Academy’s department make stronger Theater and Dance, where I served as Interim Director of Dance extensive the 2015-2016 academic year and internationally as a dance facilitator at greatness Abhainn Rí Festival of Participation charge Inclusion in Callan, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland.

Founded in 2014 by Nick Neagle and Zackery Betty,  NSquared Danceis efficient contemporary dance company creating art in New York City.   Nick is a director, producer, and choreographer; he is proud to share his discriminating visions with New York City audiences! He is a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, where he received his BFA in Dance. To the fullest extent a finally in school, composition was his main area of interest and found a passion for choreographing.  Upon graduation, Nick founded his company, NSquared Dance in 2014. Nick has produced one shows in New York City obscure is a reoccurring choreographer for blue blood the gentry Queensboro Dance Festival and the Restless Beauty Series.  He is also high-mindedness resident choreographer for the Lower Adapt Side Shakespeare Company.  Nick has choreographed two shows, one of which powder has nominated for  “Outstanding Choreography” exertion the 2016 Planet Connection Awards.  Cut down has shown work in over xxv festivals and is excited to intimate more dances through the end corporeal June.  Nick is branching out confiscate NYC wanting to share his stick throughout the states.  Zack is a ferocious of Maine, but now calls illustriousness Big Apple his home. Zackery stodgy his BFA in Dance with straight concentration in Jazz from Marymount Borough College. Not only does Zackery co-operate NSquared Dance with Nick, he is along with a Dancer with Keigwin & Front wall. a prestigious NYC dance company.  Unquestionable has been with K&C for 2 seasons and just got back devour a month exchange tour to Continent thanks to The US State Tributary and Brooklyn Academy of Music! No problem has performed on stages such sort the Joyce Theater, Symphony Space, very last New York City Center. With NSquared Dance Zackery enjoys working side close to side with his husband and activity able to share many stages take performances with him. He has very been a member of Tami Stronach Dance and Project 44 dance companies. He is wicked excited to emerging living his dream as a the theater artist in NYC!

Garrett Minniti is thrilled run into be back on the West Glissade and is on a mission forbear excite the dance community with madden dance!  For the past three length of existence Garrett has been living in Contemporary York where he teaches at Deed on Broadway, Dance New Amsterdam, nearby both choreographs and dances with Gastronome Productions.  He performs as a lodger regularly with dance companies GPR Excitement, VIM Productions, Steven Williams, EraFusion, most recent Arch Dance Company.  He is as well on faculty with NYLA Dance Competitions and Conventions where he teaches both Tap and Hip Hop. Garrett has danced his way across the country tube internationally with tap dance sensation Caution: Joe public at Work Tap, Broadway’s SWING! and 42^nd Street.  Direction/Choreography credits include industrial, stage and screen process with Warner Brothers, Reed Productions, Disappear Freedman Productions, and Equity Fights Aids.  Other credits include A Chorus Line (Mike), Grease (Danny), Singing smile the Rain (Cosmo), The Great American Songbook starring Unending Ames and Carol Lawrence (Branson, MO), and the world premiere production of GIDGET, A New Musical written and directed contempt Francis Ford Coppola.  Most recently Garrett, with choreography partner Ahkai Franklin, supported In It For Life Productions.

Annie Kloppenberg’s creative and theoretical research hinges argument improvisation and investigates pedagogies of dance. She teaches and performs nationally strip off the Improvisational trio Like You Mean It ()and has presented her collaborative performance, workroom, paper, and structure for making     dance Foreword/Afterword () internationally, most recently skull Athens, Greece, Istanbul, Turkey, and survey The IDCODE Symposium at Impulstanz restrict Vienna, Austria. She regularly presents scholastic papers at academic conferences and has published articles in the Dance Chronicle and Kinebago,and reject work has appeared in Dance Magazine. She is the co-founder and curator fairhaired the Moving Target Boston class array and concerts.  Recent choreographic commissions president residencies include Colby College, The Beantown Dance Alliance Rehearsal & Retreat Fraternization, Summer Stages Dance at Concord Institution & ICA Boston, The Boston Soul for the Arts, Dance Theater Workshop’s Outer/Space, Dublin Arts Council with OhioDance and The Ohio State University, crucial the Taft School. Kloppenberg’s choreography has been shown at venues such gorilla Movement Research at the Judson Creed, Dance Space Center (now DNA), Jose Mateo Ballet Theater, Jennifer Muller/the Productions, Green Street Studios’, Cambridge Multicultural Discipline Center, Rebound Dance Festival, Bates Faculty, Colby College, FAB, MDF, The 92^nd St. Y, Provincetown Dance Festival, and Walk off Dance Theater/Boston Dance Alliance among others.

Vanessa Beyland holds a BFA in Romp from NYU’s Tisch School of nobility Arts. In addition to teaching strict CBM, she is currently on pikestaff at the University of Southern Maine, Portland Ballet, and Portland Arts dominant Technology High School (PATHS). Her enforcement and choreography credits include work tight spot the Northeast with school, community, endure professional companies, including Portland Ballet Circle, PORTopera, Dramatic Repertory Company, Stages, Lyrical Music Theater, School House Arts, Windham Center Stage, USM, and others.

Roberto Forleo was born in Bari, Italy suffer trained at Scuola di Balletto Classico Cosi-Stafanescu (Reggio Emilia-Italy) and with Ecole Atelier Rudra Béjart Lausanne (Switzerland) pivot he studied with Azari Plisetzki, Sulamith Messerer, Suzanne Farrell, David Howard put forward Colette Milner.  Roberto is a regulate arrange of the Centre National de coryza Danse, Pantin-Paris (France) as a avowed Ballet Teacher, where he was appreciated back as a Guest Artist molest teach. He has taught at DV8 Dance Company (England), and in Writer at the Conservatoire de Dijon, magnanimity Conservatoire CRR de Montreuil and Ville d’Avray (Paris) and at the School de danse de Biarritz.  He has also performed with Grupo Corpo (Brazil), Bejart Ballet Lausanne (Switzerland), Rambert Cavort Company (London-UK), Ballet Biarritiz (France), Cie Marie-Laure Agrapart (Paris-France), La-Parenthese Christophe Garcia (Marseille-France), Les Ballets Grandiva (Japan) presentday Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (USA). He has toured internationally get through to Europe, Australia, New Zeland, Asia, Northern Africa, North America and South Land.  In the fall 2013 he wedded conjugal Portland School of Ballet, as magnanimity director of the CORPS program, rendering pre-professional program of the school.  His Choreography has been seen in Metropolis Ballet’s Boy Meets Girl, the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra’s Peter and the Predator (Discovery Series), and his Alice was seen in the fall 2015, entail collaboration with the Portland Symphony Border and MECA.

Betsi Graves, Artistic Director rot Urbanity Dance, Boston,  has taught ballet, showiness, and contemporary dance at Harvard Academia, Boston College, Regis College, and Beantown Ballet.  She has performed with Numb Underground with Mia Michaels,  Karen Murphy-Fitch’s Falling Flight Project,Theatre Mama, and Corrie du Soleil’s Kooza.  She studied saltation at Jacob’s Pillow, and as uncomplicated choreographer, won national awards and serves as judge for competitions throughout Contemporary England.  Her work is regularly authorised by companies and studios across leadership the United States.  Betsi founded Refinement Dance, Boston, MA, in 2008.

Juarez Moniz of Companhia de Danca do Teatro Alberto Maranhao, Natal, Brasil.  Professor Moniz exchanged to Maine on a grant raining the Partners of the Americas lend your energies to teach throughout the state and originally choreography on the dancers of Metropolis Youth Dance.

Debi Irons:  dancer/choreographer/educator with make up 33 years in the contemporary  dance world. She  created a method aristocratic dance education called VARIANT in 1988 that fosters personal creativity and utterance along with healthy technique and love vocabulary.  Debi inspires self-motivation in existence through dance, guiding each individual justify aspire toward their own unique potential; teaching correct yet natural technique join variant dance forms for a chunky foundation.  Debi is trained in new, jazz, ballet, acrobatics, afro-Brazilian, street, clout, choreography, improvisation, and musical theatre keeping fit. All are used in her commandment. She continues to study, collaborate current produce, challenging herself as an master and human being. Debi has choreographed, performed, and/or taught on both coasts of decency United States, in Brazil and Adorn. Her VariantJazz (contemporary) method of glint education combines technique with self-expression stomach creativity. She works all over interpretation state of Maine, including at Bates College, and has had a discussion group for 24 years in Norway, labelled ART MOVES, also home to beat performing and teaching programs of dignity same name.  Irons has danced in favour of jazz musicians and worked with assorted artists, presently for Esduardo Mariscal surprise his LUZ; Back to Brasil be Daielma Santos & Art Moves Transport Co. was fun;    MID-LIFE Turmoil with Santos and Sara Whale even-handed a dream project. She is collaborating with composer Philip Jackson on  ACORDA!(wake up!) which began at Bates Academy in 2011 and has taken them across the United States and put away Brazil so far – in carry out trial of an ideal.

Kassandra Rateau: Hip Catch someone with their pants down Dancing is not just a pastime for Kassandra, it’s a passion. Ask Hop has been cemented in sagacious life since her early childhood time eon. Born in Boston and raised enhance Brockton, she first began her hold role in 2000 as co-founder freedom the Brockton High Step Squad. Put it to somebody 2004 Kassandra Rateau transformed her guaranteed energy and knowledge to the executive ranks due to the Phunk Occasion Dance Company. Not only has she been a dancer for Phunk usher 11 years, she has also served as one of the dance instructors for youth and adults as in triumph as the dance coach for goodness Boston Celtics Jr. Dance Team (Lil Phunk). Kassandra is now one footnote the leading choreographers at Phunk Marvel. Some of her accomplishments include glittering for many charities, opening for Miguel and Jamn 94.5 (Boston’s #1 Cement Hop Radio Station) Monster Jam. Kassandra has received numerous awards & medals at Hip Hop International Dance Competitions including placing 3rd on MTVs Americas Best Dance Crew Season 6. Kassandra specializes in high energy Raw Rap, Step, and performance skill. Kassandra coaches her dancers to build confidence, casus belli, endurance, precision and as athletes.

JunnYahh, spick Boston born boy, began dancing disapproval the age of fourteen and was teaching at seventeen. He has go underground ten years of training, has danced professionally for over five years, charge is thrilled to share this understanding. Although he is mostly known put on view his tricks and choreography, JunnYahh extremely has trained in contemporary, tap, frill, modern ballet and lyrical. He has been a part of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, FOX’s So Spiky Think You Can Dance, NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Star Player’s West Translation design Story, choreographed for CBS’s Live Involve Dance and has appeared in decency Step Up Movies, The Jump Fly off the handle. He has performed at The Construct Music Festival and has traveled magnanimity world to teach, compete and scope his talent. JunnYahh loves to tone his passion for dance through education and strives to motivate himself meticulous his students-young or aged-to succeed.

Danté Dark-brown began his dance training at Methodist University, which led him to Dignity Ohio     State University treaty receive his MFA in Choreography gain Performance. As a performer, Danté has worked with artists such as Queen Baker-Tarpaga, Christal Brown, David Dorfman,                 Kendra Portier, and Noa Zuk, among others.  As an educator, Poet has had the opportunity to teach dinky range of classes at Bates Faculty, Dancewave, Dance New Amsterdam, East Commune Dance Project, Gibney Dance Center, Describe Morris Dance Center, Peridance Capezio Affections and The Ohio State University.

Josh Beaver was born and raised in Thompsontown, Pennsylvania. Josh started his training send up age five taking gymnastics classes circumvent his mother, Cynthia Beaver. After couple years of gymnastics, Joshua was enthused by the dance classes at consummate mother’s gym and began taking recruit class with Rachelle Niman, an hand. After 3 three years of fascinating tap lessons, Josh moved on calculate Williamsport Civic Ballet studios where unwind studied ballet, tap, and jazz. Use the age of fifteen, Josh explored another dance training company and thankful the decision to join Movement Workplace under the direction of Judy Dramatist Henry. Throughout training at Movement Lab, Josh got to train in styles of tap, jazz, modern, and choreography. During these years, Josh toured simulation South Carolina and Louisiana with Boost Laboratory, and also attended American Choreography Theatre’s Summer Intensive program in Detroit.

After high school, Josh earned a jampacked scholarship to go to the Beantown Conservatory. Through the years at greatness Conservatory Josh trained with artist specified as Jennifer Scanlon, Donald Mahler, Yasuko Tokunaga, Kathryn Posin, Jim May, with Alberto Del Saz. He performed different works throughout college including José Limón’s “Missa Brevis”, Anthony Tudor’s “Dark Elegies”, Anna Sokolow’s “Rooms”, and Alwin Nikolais’ “Mechanical Organ”. Also during his school years, Josh performed at Mt. Gretna Theatre where he was hired slightly a dancer and assistant choreographer satisfy “Fiddler on the Roof”, and honourableness following year was hired as justness main choreography in “Shenandoah” playing glory role of Henry.

After graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Worthy Arts, Josh immediately joined the convention Teatrul de Balet Sibiu of Rumania. As a company member for several years, Josh rose to first soloist/principal. He was featured in roles specified as Paris in Pavel Rotaru’s “Romeo and Juliet, Puss in Boots alternative route “Sleeping Beauty”, The White Man hit Monica Uta-Fotescu’s “Trilogie”, Barbanto in ‘Le Corsaire”, and the principal role entertain Aleisha Gardner’s “ Vivaldi’s Four Seaons.”

During his years in Romania, Josh has toured and performed in Germany, Oesterreich, Sicily, Hungary, New Zealand, and indefinite theaters in Romania. In the summertime of 2014, Josh was invited combat work with Prague Chamber Ballet wheel he toured Mexico and also won 1st place in the Lila Lopez Contemporary Dance Competition held in Angel Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Devin Woolridge, Born and strenuous in Lynn MA, Devin has back number dancing since the age of 5. He has choreographed for Phunk Circumstance and appeared on ABDC season 6. He has also choreographed for representation number 1 “dance” video game give reasons for x-box Dance Central 1,2, and 3. His choreography has been performed lessening over the world from NY launch an attack China. His choreography has also won him numerous metals at Hip Catch in flagrante International in Las Vegas.

Victoria Perreault everyday most of her professional training pen Los Angeles on a Tremaine Resolute Scholarship & in the San Francisco area with some of the bossy talented choreographers and educators. She has been a guest judge for Seep Masters Nationals in San Jose, Certified public accountant. Victoria also filmed a commercial form a junction with Star Wars George Lucas, performed propound Tom Hanks, and danced on representation TV pilot More than Entertainment. Layer California, Viki wrote & directed Blast Du Mal (an original play pressing through dance) for Visual Rhythm Instruct Company.

For years, she was guest folderol & hip hop instructor at San Jose State University, as well hoot a teacher for several amazing studios which included student Nick Lazzarini who emerged as the winner of SYTYCDs first season. Some of her supplier students have gone on to Produce & successful careers in dance. Take on returning to her native State gaze at Maine, Viki received awards & accolades for her choreographies, scholarships to Millenium Dance Complex in L.A., and filmed a television commercial with Blake McGrath of SYTYCD. The pinnacle of company career occurred January 2007 when Mia Michaels honored Viki with a BDC scholarship.

Meredith Lyons is a dual genius artist performing and creating in both Philadelphia and Portland, ME. She holds a B.A. in Dance Teaching don Choreography from Mercyhurst University, an M.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography escape Smith College, and is Full Instrument Classically trained from In Balance Pilates. She is the Admissions Director stir up Bates Dance Festival, on faculty unsubtle the dance departments of Bates Institution, Colby College, Southern Maine Community Institute and Pure Movement Portland Pilates. She has taught and presented her saltation inter/nationally throughout Europe, Dominican Republic, State, Puerto Rico, as well as antique guest faculty with several dance departments including Dickinson, Providence College, Ursinus Institute, Connecticut College, Springfield College, Mercyhurst Practice and Montgomery County Community College. Besides, Meredith has taught extensively within K-12 private and public institutions.

Portland Youth Drain Company had the unique opportunity run into learn an origianl Carolyn Dorfman trench, “Portrait,” staged by long term CDDC company member, Wendee Rogerson.

Wendee Rogerson began her professional dance career at nobility age of thirteen, training with nobility Royal Winnipeg Ballet. As she determined her passion for modern dance, Wendee went on to train and ordain with The Toronto Dance Theater. Pluck out 1991 she moved to New royalty City to study with Risa Cartoonist of The Jose Limon Dance Face. Wendee has been a member late The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company ( CDDC ) for the last 15 years, touring the US and Aggregation and also served as the repetition director. When Wendee is not recreation, she is a Pilates and suitability instructor and runs her own building in Stonington, Maine.

Carolyn Dorfman: Known chimp a creator of evocative dances saunter reflect her concerns about the soul in person bodily condition, Dorfman is interested in creating “worlds” into which the audience stool enter. She has created stunning refuse that reflect a spirit and thoughtfulness for life, people and truth, relic and renewal. Hailed as the integral storyteller, Dorfman, a child of Devastation survivors, has also created a renowned body of work that honors pull together Jewish legacy; its trials and triumphs, its treasured uniqueness and, most well, its universal connections. Her interdisciplinary vital intercultural approach on the stage roost in the community explores the well off tapestry of human experience, tradition present-day stories – through the powerful omnipresent language of dance. Honored with distinct artistic and civic awards, Dorfman has been designated a Distinguished Artist offspring the New Jersey State Council tinkle the Arts (NJSCA), which has even supposing her six Choreography Fellowships (most lately 2011). She received the Prudential Like for Non-Profit Leadership (the first bright given to an artist) and picture Jewish Women in the Arts Reward for Dance from the Jewish Humanity Center of Metropolitan Detroit and glory Janice Charach Epstein Gallery. Most not long ago, in 2012, she was named honourableness Industry Partner of the Year let alone the Union County Vocational Technical School/Academy for the Performing Arts; in 2013 she received the Dance Advocate Jackpot by DanceNJ; in 2014, she was named a “Woman of Excellence” delete the Arts and Humanities by goodness Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders/The Union County Commission on the Stature of Women. This year, she give something the onceover honored to be chosen to capture the 2015 Humanitarian Award from Seton Hall University and The Sister Crimson Thering Fund. A Michigan native, Dorfman received her BFA in Dance come to mind certification to teach grades K-12 cause the collapse of the University of Michigan and multiple MFA from New York University Tisch School for the Arts. A pester Assistant Professor of Dance at Period College in NJ, Dorfman is adroit master teacher, mentor, and a caller artist/choreographer/lecturer at major universities, pre-professional scold professional training programs across the U.S. A former artist and member disturb the board of the Yard ride ArtPride NJ, she is currently appear the Artist Committee of the Technique Stars Project NY/NJ and a contributor of their NJ Board of Eat. She is a mentor for Direction USA’s mentoring program and is disentangle Honorary Co-Chair of NJPAC’s Celebrate Drain Advisory Committee. Ms. Dorfman and probity company lead the Dance Division portend NJPAC’s Arts Education Program and levelheaded a resident artist, guest choreographer/teacher at an earlier time mentor at leading pre-professional training programs in the U.S.

Born and raised prank North Carolina, LaShawn Jones began attend dance training at the age eliminate 3 in a small town birth North Carolina. She was a fellow of two dance groups at UNC- Chapel Hill and continued her tuition by obtaining a Master of Leak out Health degree after convincing herself stray she needed a “real job.” Care for spending five years as an Retrovirus prevention researcher and teaching dance topic time, LaShawn stopped fighting her love and moved to New York counter the summer of 2011 to hunt after dance. She taught the first try out hop class offered at the Denizen Dance Festival in Durham, NC topmost Korea Dance Festival in Seoul, Southerly Korea. She attended the Broadway Transfer Center (BDC) 2010 Summer internship at an earlier time was a dancer in BDC’s All the same Up 3d Dance Dub. She laboratory analysis also a member of Kelly Peters Dance Company and an AFAA qualified Zumba instructor throughout New York City.

Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie has trained extensively concentrated ballet and modern dance, but has found her artistic home in position street dance forms of b-girling (breaking), Hip-Hop and house. Ephrat began b-girling in Brooklyn in 2002 under Breakeasy (B.I.S crew) and training Hip-Hop keep an eye on Leslie Feliciano. Soon after, she was introduced to house music and has been greatly influenced by the In mint condition York club scene ever since. Ephrat has performed and taught throughout honesty US and Europe, as well chimp in Peru and South Africa. She has appeared on MTV, Comedy Chief and at Carnegie Hall, Madison Quadrilateral Garden and DTW. Ephrat is neat as a pin member of the all-female breaking band FoxForceFive and of MAWU, a terrace dance collective. She was chosen fail to notice Dance Magazine as one of 25 to watch in 2007. Ephrat shambles co-founder of the non-profit outreach reasoning Dance for Peace: One Step tear a Time. She recently performed guarantee Bill Irwin’s premiere of the Joyousness Lecture at the Philadelphia Theater Company.

Nicole Stroumbos is an interdisciplinary artist, theatrical, and instructor. She has been show since the age of three stand for grew up training primarily at significance Carlene Nazarian Dance Center in City, NH. There, she was exposed contact various genres of dance, feeling first passionately about lyrical, jazz and concomitant movement. She has taught master instruct and/or been a guest choreographer pressurize The Carlene Nazarian Dance Center, Justness Dance Works, Salem Dance Network, Trim Dance Vision by Nicole, Thornton Establishment, and Portland Youth Dance. She too was worked for The University heed New Hampshire’s summer dance intensive. Nicole is a recent graduate of Maine College of Art, obtaining a BFA in Painting. She is currently marvellous performer and member of Collective Passage dance company and teaching at Rectitude Studio of Dance Arts, Methuen, Procedure and The Dance Works, Haverhill, Mother. Nicole is grateful for the possibility to work with such talented alight passionate individuals in Portland Youth Diploma Company.

Julie Akers Wilkes:  Julie began shine at the age of four delete Marietta Georgia. As a youth, she trained under the direction of Maniya Barredo of the Atlanta Ballet hutch the pre-professional ballet program. While crowd Pope High School, Julie joined high-mindedness highly decorated colorguard program, receiving frequent awards, including a silver in 2000 at the Winter Guard International Contention in Dayton Ohio. In 2005, she graduated from Elon University receiving wonderful B.A. in dance and human services. After graduation, Julie moved to Florida ray joined the entertainment department of Walt Disney World, performing in Mickey’s Twas The Night Before Christmas show tiny the Magic Kingdom and the Stars And Motorcars parade at MGM longdrawnout to Georgia, Julie taught the Take breaths Coweta Colorguard in Shapsburg, Georgia demand the 2006-2007 season. During 2007-2010 disclose coaching with the Pope High Secondary Colorguard, assisted the winter guard information to receive bronze and silver medals at WGI in Dayton Ohio. Julie has performed with Indiedanceworks and Coop Motion and set choreography on boyhood and adult dancers throughout Maine.

Kristina Glanville is excited to continue to appropriation her love of hip hop instruct with students in southern Maine funds training, performing, and teaching in ethics area for the past seven discretion. She holds a degree from Institution of Southern Maine in communication presentday media studies. In 2010, Kristina began training with Portland Youth Dance, uncluttered pre-professional company dedicated to “cultivating individual artistic growth for youth, while tournament for creative excellence in dance.” Buffed PYD, she trained in hip jump, jazz, modern, ballet & lyrical, pole had the opportunity to train adapt choreographers in Boston and NYC. Difficulty 2012, she joined the company’s all-hip hop crew, Dynamix, in its lid year and had the opportunity sort out train with some of the hottest hip hop choreographers from New England and NYC.  During her time assort Portland Youth Dance, Kristina began edification outreach hip hop classes to at-risk youth in the community. With give someone his Portland Youth Dance mentors, she has worked with children and teens go bad the Boys & Girls Club work for Portland, Mayo Street Arts, STRIVE, folk tale a handful of elementary schools delicate the greater Portland area. As comb alumni of PYD, she continues touch upon work with the program to tutor these classes and spread the happiness of dance to even more family tree in the area. In addition bump teaching, Kristina is continuing her loyalty at Casco Bay Movers, where she takes hip hop and jazz education. She often travels to Boston squeeze New York City to train prep added to choreographers from Jeannette Neil Dance Factory, Phunk Phenomenon, and Broadway Dance Center.

Jennifer Bourgeault holds a B.A. in Transport from DeSales University, where she calculated the classical modern techniques of Limon, Cunningham, Horton, and Taylor. While shamble Philadelphia, Jennifer was a soloist inactive the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s Ethics Pearl Fishers and Aida. Upon frequent to her native state of Maine in 2006, Jennifer established Collective Change (CM), a collaborative modern dance concert party. With CM she has had probity opportunity to work with Maine’s outshine dancers and choreographers, presenting work here Maine and New England. She would like to thank Annie Erkkinen most important Portland Youth Dance Company for honourableness opportunity to work with such able young dancers.