Guest Artists

Artist, Musician, Choreographer, Director, As a performer he has worked with Africa 1 Dance Theater, Children of Dahomey, Viva Brazil, Forces of Nature, Song and Dance Company of Mozambique, the National Dance Theater of Nigeria, and Urban Bush Women. His leadership spans as former Associate Artistic Director of Urban Bush Women, to former Cultural Ambassador of Egypt, to presently, Founder and Artistic Director of KAR Dance Project. Mr. Ross has been commissioned by numerous organizations Long Island University, Florida A&M University, Tulane University, Lincoln Center Festival, Carnegie Hall, St. Marks Church Dance Project, Riverside Church, Cutno Artist Group, and Cairo Opera House Modern Dance Theater.

Kwame A. Ross' work is based on the belief that every soul can express itself, when given the moment and platform to voice their opinion. It is his intention to provide such platforms for expression for freedom of mind, body and spirit. Mr. Ross has studied extensively in four continents, giving a dialogue of expression of unlimited expression.

A classically trained percussionist and composer, Michael Wimberly holds both a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music from the exclusive Baldwin Wallace Conservatory, and a Masters Degree in Music from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. But it is his study of West African percussion that makes his compositions most unique and sets both audiences and critics on fire.
He has recorded, performed and toured with many jazz artists such as, Charles Gayle, Jean Paul Bourelly, William Parker, Steve Coleman's 5 Elements, David Murray Octet, Teramasa Hino Quartet, Onaje Allen Gumbs, New Music Pioneer Paul Winter Consort, John McDowell and Mama Tongue, Funk Legends George Clinton and the Parliment Funkedelics, The Boys Choir of Harlem, Berlin's Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra, Vienna's Tonkuntsler Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Chamber Orchestra, Rock Icons Vernon Reid, Henry Rollins, Blondie, Mickey Hart and R&B sensations D'Angelo and Angie Stone. and The National Song and Dance Company of Mozambique.
Michael's compositions appear in such luminary dance companies as Urban Bush Women, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Philadanco, Forces of Nature, Ailey II, Complexions, Ballet Noir, Alpha Omega, Purelements. His work has been heard in several New York City Off-Broadway Theaters including: The Public Theater, Cherry Lane Theater, The Women's Project, Ensemble Studio Theater, The Greenwich House Theater, The Harvey 651 @ BAM and Lincoln Center Performing Arts Center.

the real: kendra loves dance. loves to dance. heartbreakingly. movement is integral. its the way we first learn. unspoken language. secret codifications. secret agreements. without a common tongue, the skin, the pupils, the heart: speaking on their own. make things. do things. see things. listen.

the rub: Originally from Columbus, Ohio; Kendra was born and raised commune style. She trained and performed with BalletMet and later received a BFA in dance from the Ohio State University, but not before she pursued professional photography, worked for the Smithsonian Institute, and served briefly in the US Army... we all make “odd” decisions at one point or another, or REPEATEDLY. Since relocating to NYC, she has had the fortune of working with brilliant beings such as Lisa Race/Scott Cohen, Jennifer Nugent, White Road Dance Media, 5’4”, Hoi Polloi, Nicole Wolcott Dance, and collaborations with Launch Movement Experiment, In 2008, Kendra created and implemented “dancepants”, a donation based community dance program dedicated to experimental pedagogies and in support of the Brooklyn based dance space, Triskelion Arts. She has been a guest artist and/or presented work at a variety of colleges, universities, dancespaces, rooftops, and festivals; newly under the moniker BandPortier. Currently, Kendra is on faculty at Hunter College and Dance New Amsterdam, and is performing with Vanessa Justice Dance, MVWorks, Michael and the Go-Getters, Annie Kloppenberg Dance, and, most recently, David Dorfman Dance.

Rachel Boggia, Visiting Assistant Professor in Dance and Acting Director of Dance in academic year 2010–2011, has been on faculty at Wesleyan University, Dickinson College, and The Ohio State University. She brings with her a BS in Neurobiology from Cornell University and an MFA in Choreography and Technology from The Ohio State University. She specializes in multidisciplinary collaboration with scientists, dance documentaries and multi media performance. Rachel continues to choreograph and perform around the east coast and has performed professionally in the work of Risa Jaroslow, Vanessa Justice, Marlon Barrios Solano, and Karl Rogers. This year she looks forward to commissioning a solo from Jeanine Durning.

Dance choreographer Niles Ford is the founder of the Urban Dance Collective. This production of In Search of the Invisible People, in collaboration with fellow choreographer Nathan Trice, is the culmination of several years of research and exploration into the urban dance scene from the ’s70 and ’80s. Owing to the effects of the aggressive actions by the Giuliani administration and the advent of AIDS, the New York House scene became an endangered species forced to go underground in order to survive. Ford’s hope in revisiting this difficult time in the dance community is to bring awareness to the crippling effects of the mayoral resurrection of the Cabaret Licensing Laws and pay homage to a lost generation of dancers, dj’s and musicians.

Ford holds an MFA from New York University’s Tisch Dance Program and a BFA from the University of the Arts. He began his professional dance career in 1977. In 2003 his piece, A Dream Deferred, was performed at PS 122 and received critical acclaim from New York Times’ reviewer, Jack Anderson.

His 30-plus years in the professional dance world have filled his dance card with such note worthy names as the Boston Ballet, Bill T. Jones, Ron Brown, Gabri Christa’s dance on film project Savonetta, Danny Sloane and Company, the Rod Rogers’ Dance Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Philadanco, and a recent collaboration with Marlyse Yearby on her piece, Brown Butterfly, a tribute to boxer, Mohammed Ali.

Throughout his career, Ford’s work has received grant support from the Jerome Foundation, NY State Council for the Arts, the Harkness Foundation for Dance and the Puffin Foundation. He has also received grant awards from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and the Asian Cultural Council. In 1998 Ford was granted a residency at Djerassi. And for his outstanding performance in Merian Soto’s, Historias, Ford was awarded the prestigious Bessie Award in 1993.

Niles Ford

MONICA BILL BARNES is a New York based choreographer and performer. She founded Monica Bill Barnes & Company as a contemporary dance company with the mission to celebrate individuality, humor and the innate theatricality of everyday life. The company has been presented in over twenty venues in NYC including Danspace Project, Symphony Space, 92nd Street Y, Dancenow/NYC, Fall for Dance at New York City Center, and in thirty cities throughout the US. She has created twelve evening-length dance works, numerous site-specific events and several cabaret numbers for her company. Recent commissions include Another Parade, commissioned by the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Festival, I feel like commissioned by Dancenow’s 10 Year Anniversary Project, and Game Face presented by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s SITELINES Festival. She has been an invited Guest Artist at the North Carolina School of The Arts, Vassar College, Virginia Commonwealth University, Connecticut College, Florida State University, James Madison University, Steps on Broadway, Peridance Center and Dance New Amsterdam. In addition, the company creates dances outside of the city through extended artistic residencies, college residencies and site specific performance projects with local community members. During summer 2010, the company will perform at Bates Dance Festival, American Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and make their Joyce Theater debut.

Monica Bill Barnes

Photo by Julie Lemberger

The Bates Dance Festival Presents Gregory Maqoma:

Residency:
October 11-17, 2009

Performance:
8:00pm Friday, October 16
Schaeffer Theater

Gregory Maqoma, Vuyani Dance Theater

Performing Beautiful Me

In Beautfiul Me Gregory Maqoma, one of South Africa's leading choreographers, attempts to define, redefine and profess his own identity in relationship to history, humanity and nature. Maqoma begins with movement, text and music contributed by three master choreographers who have had a great influence on him: Akram Khan, contemporary Kathak: Faustin Linyekula, visual dance-theater: and Vincent Mantsoe's Afro-Fusion. Through layering these distinct and diverse styles with his own unique lightness and humor. Beautiful Me becomes a living self-portrait and provocative exploration of kinetic African identity.

Accompanied on stage by four exceptional South African musicians (violin, cello, sitar and percussion) simple lighting and set design, Beautiful Me speaks honestly and directly about the process of finding one's authentic voice.

BIO
Gregory Maqoma is founder and artistic director of Vuyani Dance Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. He received his training both in South Africa and In Belgium. As a Choreographer, Teacher, Dancer, Artistic Consultant and Creative Director, he has taught and presented work in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, Mexico, Finland, Burkina Faso, Austria, Nigeria, France, Senegal, Norway, Belgium, Germany, US and South Africa. He has won several awards, accolades and nominations in South Africa and Internationally including FNB Dance Umbrella Choreographer of The Year, Standard Bank Young Artist of The Year, Rolex Mentor and Protégé Award Finalist, Daimler Chrysler Choreography Award Finalist, Gauteng MEC Award for Choreography. Maqoma also serves as Associate Artistic Director for Moving Into Dance and as Artistic Director of The Afro Vibes Festival in the Netherlands. He was the Creative Director of Gauteng Carnival 2007. He is the founder member of MUiSA (Multi Arts Initiative Of South Africa). He teaches at several institutions in South Africa, Europe and US.

Visit Greg's site for more info. I can also share a dvd of the work.

http://www.vuyani.co.za/

Janis Brenner is on one of three guest choreographers creating works for DANC 253 Repertory Performance. She comes to Bates as Mellon Learning Associate in collaboration with the Music Department and the Theater Department and will create a performance piece for the Fall concert of Professional Works in November 2008.

Bio: JANIS BRENNER is an award-winning dancer, choreographer, singer and teacher, and is Artistic Director of JANIS BRENNER & DANCERS in New York City. She has toured in 30 countries and is recognized as a “singular performer” with a multifaceted artistic range. Honors and grants include: New York Dance & Performance Award (“The Bessie”) for her performance in Meredith Monk’s Vocal Ensemble, Lester Horton Award for Choreography in Los Angeles, Leach Fellowship for Outstanding Achievement, 2002 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, The Fund for U.S. Artists at International Festivals and U.S. State Department (tours to Indonesia), Asian Cultural Council (tours to Taiwan and Indonesia), The Trust for Mutual Understanding (tours to Russia), UNESCO (tour to Senegal), and a commission for the interdisciplinary, intergenerational work THE MEMORY PROJECT from the Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris. Janis’s work has been commissioned and restaged on more than 40 companies and colleges throughout the world. She is a sought-after teacher to conduct workshops in technique, improvisation, composition, repertory and vocal work. Since 1990 she has performed with Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble (recording on ECM Records). She was Co-Choreographer with Michael Moschen (including PBS’s “Great Performances”), and was a soloist with Annabelle Gamson’s company and with the Murray Louis Dance Company. In 1997, BUZZ Magazine in Los Angeles wrote, “Dancer/choreographer/singer, Brenner is that rare contemporary performer who can do it all.”

Kellie Lynch is on one of 3 guest choreographers creating works for DANC 253 Repertory Performance to be performed in Fall concert of Professional Works in November 2008

Bio: Kellie Ann Lynch is a New England-based dancer who graduated from Rhode Island College in 2003 (BA Dance) and Smith College in 2007 (MFA Dance). She currently dances in New Haven, CT, with Nazorine Ulysses and Dancers and Bronwen MacArther-MacArther Dance Project. She is also a member of Heidi Henderson’s elephant JANE dance and freelances for artists such as Freedman/Coleman Dance (Northampton), Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance (Brooklyn), Melody Ruffin Ward (Providence), and Cathy Nicoli (Northampton). Kellie is the co-director of slipperyfish dance, a Northampton-based dance company, with dance partner Ariel Gonzalez Cohen. slipperyfish dance has been awarded a 2008, Choreographic Fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council in which they will use to introduce their work to new communities in a series of mini tours throughout New England. Kellie has been on faculty at Smith and Mount Holyoke College, currently teaches at Springfield College, and she continues to create and set work on college dance companies in the New England area. This summer she will premiere new work at Built On Stilts Festival, Martha’s Vineyard and the Fledgling Festival, Providence. She will also begin a new site-specific work for RISD’s Frazier Terrace in the Frazier Festival, Providence, July 2008.

Tania Isaac is the third guest choreographer creating work for DANC 253 Repertory Performance for Fall concert of Professional Works in November 2008.

Bio: Tania Isaac is originally from St. Lucia and is currently based in Philadelphia. Her company, Tania Isaac Dance, has presented work throughout the U.S., Japan, England and the Caribbean. She is a recipient of a 2004 Rocky Award for her evening length work home is where I am as well as for her solo performance in Rennie Harris’ Facing Mekka. Tania has taught at Temple University and Bryn Mawr College and given workshops and classes at Matsuyama and Ehime Universities, Michigan State and Rowan College. She is a Commonwealth Speaker with the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and has been a guest artist-in-residence at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ohio State University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Bennington College. Tania is a former member of Rennie Harris Puremovement, Urban Bush Women and Li Chiao-Ping Dance. Tania is a regular artist and teacher at the Bates Dance Festival.

Heather McArdle comes to Bates from NYC for the Fall semester as Resident Scholar/Artist. She will teach (270 Rep Styles) and choreograph a piece for the Fall Concert.

Bio: A native Californian, Heather began her movement career with gymnastics. She graduated from Cal State University Long Beach with a BFA in dance. Her most influential mentors include Keith Johnson, Jacques Heim & most notably Bella Lewitzky. She joined the professional world of dance with the hyper physical dance troupe Diavolo Dance Theater. Heather has spent the past five years traveling around the world with Bill Young, and has been working for David Dorfman for the past three plus years. She is on faculty at Dance New Amsterdam and teaches residencies in NY and around the country. Heather has been presenting her own solo choreographic works at loft showings in NYC and random Brooklyn spaces. Blueprintviolation is her latest group project that involves a troupe of eclectic artists from all corners of the world. In addition to the performing and teaching Heather also does costume work for most of the companies she works for as well for this show and her own company. She is also certified in hatha vinyasa yoga.
http://www.blueprintviolation.org

Danny Buraczeski will be with us to set his classic piece Swingtime Concerto through a grant from American Masterpieces: Dance - College Component, AMDCC. “The American Masterpieces: Dance – College Component (AMDCC) is designed to foster appreciation for seminal artists or works in American dance history and creativity. The AMDCC brings classic American dances of the past century to college students and audiences in communities across the nation.” This initiative is in partnership with the New England Foundation of the Arts, NEFA and the NEA.

http://www.danceusa.org/programs_publications/American_Masterpieces.htm

Bio: Buraczeski is best described as a classic jazz dance stylist, whose company has performed at leading concert halls and festivals in more than 30 states, in Europe and the Caribbean. Propelled by the rhythms of jazz, Buraczeski’s formal explorations and sophisticated musicality distinguish him as one of the most original voices working in the form. JAZZDANCE delivers "simply the most ebullient, dynamic and all-out energy-sapping dance around," says The Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Downright terrific," says The New York Times.

Drawing on a background in ballet and modern in addition to jazz, Buraczeski has helped redefine what was once considered a limited form - jazz dance. After a career on Broadway, appearing in such musicals as "Mame" with Angela Lansbury and "The Act" with Liza Minelli, Buraczeski formed the original New York-based JAZZDANCE by Danny Buraczeski in 1979. That company performed at leading concert halls and festivals in more than 40 states, in Europe, Russia and the Caribbean. His work has been commissioned by the Walker Art Center, the Bates Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, the Joyce Theater and the Library of Congress among many others. A classic jazz stylist, he has received multiple fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and is now an Associate Professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Peter Kyle will come twice in September to choreograph a work for the outdoor Orientation celebrations on Sept 4th and for theater performance in the theater for Parents weekend and the Fall Concert.

Bio: Peter Kyle was a soloist with Nikolais/Louis Dance Company (1992-1999), prior to working with Mark Morris Dance Group (1998-2003) and Erick Hawkins Dance Company. Kyle earned his MFA from the University of Washington and taught in the Dance and Drama departments there from 2000 – 2005. He has been a guest instructor at numerous colleges, universities and workshops across the country and overseas. Kyle also teaches in the Dance Department at Marymount Manhattan College and is a 2007 Guest Artist at Wesleyan University. Kyle’s choreography has been presented internationally, including commissions by Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, Symphony Space, The Dancenow/NYC Festival, Cornish College of the Arts, University of Washington Summer Arts Festival and the Museum of Glass: International Center for Contemporary Art. He has received awards from Concours Internationale de Danse de Paris, Walter Chapin Simpson Center for the Humanities and the Washington State Arts Commission, among others. http://www.peterkyledance.org/home.htm

Jodi Melnick graduated from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance. She has been a featured dancer with Twyla Tharp, and Irene Hultman. Currently, she performs and works with Susan Rethorst, Sara Rudner, and Vicky Shick, and over the past 13 years, has worked with NYC based freelance choreographers Tere O'connor, Dennis O'connor, Donna Uchizono, Yoshiko Chuma, and Yves Musard.

2002, she began working with Trisha Brown as an assistant director on Schubert's 'Winterriese', continues to re-stage the work, and has appeared as a guest performer in the Trisha Brown company.

As a teacher, Jodi has taught master classes, technique, and workshops throughout the US, Europe, Australia, Russia, and Asia. Her gift as a teacher has been to translate movement into a format accessible to all bodies and all disciplines.

Her choreography has been shown in NYC, Japan, Ireland, Estonia, and Russia. Her most recent work, spring 2003, a solo commissioned by Jenny Roche and Temple Bar Properties, Dublin. Ireland, and, September 2004, a duet for Roche and Nicola Curry, Belfast. This fall, 2005, Ms. Melnick will present her work at Dance Theater Workshop, NYC.

Fall 2003, Graz, Austria, Ms.Melnick was part of a new Opera based on David Lynch's 'Lost Highway', singing (mezzo soprano), again performed in Basel Switzerland, Spring 2004.

In 2001, she was honored with a Bessie award for sustained achievement in dance.

Jennifer Archibald is the founder and artistic director of Arch Dance company. She graduated from the Alvin Ailey School and has performed across the U.S. at major venues including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Aaron Davis Hall, Lincoln Theatre, The Duke on 42nd Street Theatre, Abron Arts Centre, and Judson Memorial Church, as well as in Europe and Canada. She has staged various off-Broadway shows working with casts from Bring in Da Noise Bring in Da Funk and Cats, and choreographed Carousel, The Music Man, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Pippin for professional theater companies. Jennifer has also choreographed for the NBA New York Knicks City Dancers and The Alvin Ailey School, served as a movement specialist and a choreographer for singer Shaggy and actresses Sarita Choudury and Audrey Tautou-Amelie. Her works have been featured twice at the Elan Awards honoring choreographers Rob Marshall and Lar Lubovitch. Jennifer currently teaches contemporary jazz and hip hop at Steps on Broadway and the Dance Space Center and is on faculty at Bates Dance Festival and Florida Dance Festival. Jennifer is a graduate of Maggie Flannigan acting conservatory specializing in the Meisner technique. In 2005 she taught master classes at Princeton University, University of South Florida, Jacksonville Community College, Washington’s Joy of Motion, Jackson School of the Arts in Bermuda and Tommy Hilfiger’s Excellence program.

Seàn Curran began his dance training with traditional Irish step dancing as a young boy in Boston. He went on to make his mark on the dance world as a principal dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. A graduate and guest faculty member of New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Curran was an original member of the New York City cast of the Off-Broadway percussion extravaganza "STOMP!" performing in the show for four years. He has performed his solo evening of dances at venues throughout the U.S. as well as at Sweden's Danstation Theatre and Creteil's Exit Festival in France. Curran has choreographed new dances for Denmark's Upper Cut Company, Pittsburgh's Dance Alloy and Dublin's Irish Modern Dance Theater among others. Curran choreographed James Joyce's The Dead for The Playwright's Horizon production that opened on Broadway in January 2000. He has been awarded a Choreographer's Fellowship from the New York Foundation for the Arts. Curran has taught extensively at the American Dance Festival, Harvard Summer Dance Program, Bates Dance Festival and the Boston Conservatory.

Carlos Ovares, director of the National Dance Company in San Jose Costa Rica, is renowned internationally as a choreographer, actor, teacher, and dancer. He began his dance career while getting his degree in Dramatic Arts from The University of Costa Rica. Mr. Ovares’ choreography has been featured in Europe, Canada, Israel, and Central America. He has also performed with The Contemporary Ballet of Barcelona, the choreographers Cesc Gelabert and Ramon Oller in Barcelona, Spain; with Pilottanzt in Vienna, Austria, and with Tanztheater Theaterhauses Stuttgart, Germany under the direction of Johann Kresnik and Ismael Ivo. Carlos Ovares has won awards from the Ricard Moragues Choreographic Competition 1993 in Barcelona, Spain; the VIl Madrid Contemporary Dance Competition Madrid, Spain; the National Costa Rica Award in 1994 for the year of 2003-2004.

Kwame Azalius Ross is the founder and artistic director of Prophecy Dance Company and former associate artistic director of Urban Bush Women. He has studied several African Diaspora dance forms (Caribbean, Western and Central African) since the age of nine. His choreographic works encompass productions with Children of Dahomey, Ballet Hispanico, S.D.R. Films, Sylvia Del Villard Dance Company, National Song and Dance Company of Mozambique, Urban Bush Women and The Ailey School. For the past three years, Ross has been commissioned by Florida A&M University to choreograph for the Orchesis Dance Company, as well as for Kumbuka Dance and Drum Collective and Tulane University. His work has been supported by the Jerome Foundation, Puffin Foundation and with a 92nd Street "Y" Harkness Space grant. Ross is currently a faculty member at Lincoln Center Institute and Associate Professor at Long Island University. He collaborated with the National Dance Company of Mozambique, Urban Bush Women, and Lincoln Center Institute in the critical acclaim creation of Shadows Child, a work for young audiences. In 2003, Ross received a National Endowment of the Arts grant as Artist-in-Residence at the Cairo Opera House Dance Theater and the Cairo School of Modern Dance (Egypt). In 2005 he made a research trip to Salvador Bahia, Brazil to study the Orisha Dances of Candomble and work with Ilye Aiye.

Larry Keigwin has choreographed and performed for Broadway, Off-Broadway, and numerous Dance Companies. He is the Artistic Director of Keigwin + Company and the Creator of Keigwin Kabaret. From 1997-2000, he was the Associate Artistic Director of Dendy Dance & Theater, and received a Bessie Award for his performance in “Dream Analysis”. Keigwin’s Choreography has been presented by The American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival, Summerdance Santa Barbara, Joyce SoHo Presents, California Institute of the Arts, Zenon Dance Company, NYU/Tisch School of the Arts, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, and various other theaters around the country.

Alison Oakes holds a BA in Anthropology and a Secondary Concentration in Russian Language from Bates College and a MA in Dance and Dance Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a faculty member at Iona College, where she is also the resident guest artist for the Iona Dance Ensemble. She is a teaching artist for New York City Ballet's Education Department, bringing ballet, creative movement and choreography to public school children. Alison is the co-founder and director of Summerdance Intensive in New Jersey, which is a two-week dance program for high school students. She has co-produced performances at Merce Cunningham and Williamsburg Art Nexus (WAX). Her work has been presented in New York at 92nd St. Y, Joyce Soho, Riverside Church, Merce Cunningham Theater, WAX, Columbia University and Iona College. Most recently she took part in a performance in Bergen County, NJ which was featured on Dance Vistas, a show on NY and NJ public television.

SHAMOU has been teaching music to people of all ages and abilities since 1990. Trained at Berklee College of Music, he teaches group workshops and individual lessons in the hand drumming techniques of the African Diaspora and the Middle East; stick technique for Latin and jazz percussion and drum set; rhythmic studies in world music, music theory and vocal music. Past residencies include Music Director for the Bates Dance Festival’s Youth Arts Program; ongoing workshops at ODC/San Francisco and Alonso King’s Lines studio; Harvard and Boston Universities, Wellesley College; the Boston area public schools (K-12); and ongoing independent workshops in New England and the Bay Area.

Jennifer Nugent is originally from Miami, Florida, where she had the pleasure of performing with Gerri Houlihan & Dancers and Mary Street Dance Theatre. She shared artistic direction with Barbara Sloan in Duo Da Da Dance Theater. While in New York, she has worked with Shen Wei, Lisa Race, Nina Winthrope, Yin Mei and Daniel Lepkoff. She has been working with David Dorfman Dance since 1998. Her own work has been presented at Danspace Project's Food for Thought at St. Mark's Church, Dixon Place, SUNYPurchase, Ohio State University, Dance Space Center's Raw Materials, Moving Current (Tampa, FL), Manhattan Theatre Source, the Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space, and George Washington University. Jennifer teaches widely. Most recently she was a guest artist at Dance Space Center, NYC and The North Carolina School of the Arts. Jennifer has also taught at Hollins University, George Washington University, Ohio State, and NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She is currently on the faculty of the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC.

Paul Matteson received a New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie) in 2002 for performance. Originally from Cumberland, Maine, he graduated from Middlebury College where he studied with Penny Campbell, Andrea Olsen, and Peter Schmitz. He has been a member of David Dorfman Dance since 2000. He also works with Race Dance, Peter Schmitz, Creach/Company, and Keith Johnson. His choreography has been shown in New York at The Thalia Theater at Symphony Space, Dance Theater Workshop, The DanceNow Festival, Joe’s Pub, Dixon Place, Judson Church, St. Mark’s Church and in Vermont at Middlebury College and Flynn Space. He teaches regularly at Dance Space Center and he is on faculty at The American Dance Festival. He has been a guest artist at Middlebury College, The University of Utah, and Hollins University. His piece, “As you are,” created on Middlebury College students, was selected to be performed at the National ACDFA at the Kennedy Center in June, 2004.

Nugent+Matteson
In 2004 –2005 Nugent+Matteson have commissions in Virginia Beach, Hollins University, Rhode Island College, a creative residency in Portland Maine, and will be presented by the Tangente Theatre in Montreal. www.nmdance.org

Co-Artistic Director of the Murray Louis and Nikolais Dance Company as well as the director of The Nikolais/Louis Foundation for Dance and Assistant to Mr. Louis. Tito was born in Bilbao Spain where he was the Spanish National Champion in figure skating. His career turned to dance in 1985 when he made his debut as a lead soloist with the Nikolais Dance Theater. He is the Reconstruction Director of the Nikolais/Louis repertory and has staged their work on university and professional dance companies around the world. He is currently choreographing for champion ice skaters.

Ben Munisteri is a NYC-based choreographer whose dance ensemble performs regularly in New York, at summer festivals, and at dance venues around the country. He has created dances for Pennsylvania Dance Theater, Danceworks Performance Company (Milwaukee), and for many college dance companies and has received commissions and funding from Performance Space 122, Danspace Project, the Joyce Theater Foundation, and Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. He recently received two consecutive major grants from the Jerome Foundation for the creation of new works.

Michael Foley ‘89 has been involved in the world of professional dance for over 15 years and has performed internationally in the companies of over two dozen choreographers. He has taught workshops and master classes throughout the USA, Europe, Central America and The Caribbean. He has received choreographic commissions around the globe where his work has been performed in some of the most prestigious theatres for dance. He formed his own company, Michael Foley Dance in 1994 touring the USA and Europe. Michael received his MFA in Dance from the University of Washington and has been the co-director of the Bates Dance Festival/Young Dancer’s Workshop since 1996. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of South Florida. Michael would like to thank Marcy Plavin for her unending support, guidance and friendship over the past 18 years.