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January 7th, 2021
Selim Cizdan is a young choreographer, teacher and dance artist. He is studying Performing Arts in Istanbul Bilgi University He has been dancing for 9 years. He performed in various festivals such as Cyprus Dance Festival, Istanbul Dance Festival, Ankara Dance Festival. He competed in TDSF Dance Competition in Ankara and he came in second. He came across with contact improvisation 3 years ago and he presented a performance called ‘’BizBize’’ in Canakkale. He started contemporary dance in 2018. He attended many workshops on improvisation, Contemporary and Contact Dance ever since. The projects which he worked in: Project assistant in ‘’The Things We Carry’’ choreographed by Francisco Camacho, Junior Art Director in ‘’Artık Okunmayan Masallar’, Choreographer in ‘’Renkli Rüyalar’’, Dancer in ‘’It is a Sin’’ cover by Barbekü Band.
*In his leisure time he likes to play saxophone.
Adriane Erdos has been dancing and acting since she was a young girl. At 11, she was personally mentored by Anna Sokolow. She went to LaGuardia HS for drama. In college she was mentored by the famous Indian classical dancer Indrani Rahman and performed a solo of Bharatanatyam at Carnegie Hall. At 18, she was the youngest dancer/choreographer to have her work selected for Dance Theatre Workshop’s “Fresh Tracks” series. She was also Assistant Director for the Tony award winning play “Side Man”, by Warren Leight. Adriane has always studied theatre, dance, religion, spirituality, myth and folklore from around the world.
She is particularly interested in how most classical and indigenous forms do not make distinctions between these disciplines and use performance art as a way to communicate between dimensions – be it gods and man or spirit and matter.
Aigars Larionvos is a Latvian-born teacher, choreographer, and dance artist. Graduated with an MFA degree from Florida State University School of Dance in May 2020.
He has taught capoeira and dance workshops in the USA, Latvia, Italy, Greece and other European countries.
Throughout his dancing career he has performed in works by Jawole Zollar, Guy Nader and Maria Campos, Ilze Zirina, Josephine Garibaldi, and others . His choreographies have been performed at A.I.R. Dance Conference (Miami, FL), COCO Dance Festival (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago), as well as being adjudicated for FSU Days of Dance concerts in 2018 and 2019.
Makayla Peterson is the artistic director of her dance collective, Monét Movement Productions: The Collective founded in May 2020. A graduate of Temple University (’20), she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in Digital Media Technologies. From Brooklyn, NY, she trained in a plethora of styles, attended performing arts schools and dance intensives. Her accomplishments include: Temple University Diamond Research Scholars Grant 2019 recipient (research accepted for presentation at conferences nationally and internationally), Education Outreach Intern for American Ballet Theatre and a non-profit intern for APSOCECAT located in Barcelona. She currently interns for Philadelphia-based Black Dance Magazine. She is a dancer and teaching artist with Enya Kalia Creations. Her collective had their first performance in the 11th Annual Making Moves Dance in September. Most recently, Peterson was selected as a semi-finalist in the JCHEN Core Choreography Competition (C3).
Her performance will include dancers Samara Byrd, Wren Coleman, Janel Mitchell, Bria Pitts, Surya Swilley, Jada Wade, Seande Wynter, and Asha Yates.
February 4th, 2021
Jenise Akilah Anthony, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, is an international dance educator, choreographer and performing artist well-known for her African Diaspora dance work. She is an Assistant Professor at the College at Brockport and serves as the Artistic Director of the Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble. With her recognition and passion for traditional and contemporary African-based work, Ms. Anthony founded Echoes of Africa, an international dance collective that reflects the heartbeat and energy of African culture through concert and community performance. Ms. Anthony has studied intensively with multiple native dance and drum masters from Guinea, Senegal, Mali and the Ivory Coast. With her expertise in Afro-Caribbean and Traditional/Contemporary African dance forms, she has presented her creative work at worldwide conferences such as ACDA, World Dance Alliance Assembly, UTEP, COCO Dance, Trinidad and the Dance Africa Festival. Ms. Anthony prioritizes cultural exchange and passionately focuses much of her work on providing equitable, inclusive spaces for the community to engage in shared cultural experiences through movement.
Her performance will include dancer Kelly Johnson and musician Mohamed Diaby.
Lopiki Mboko David, born in Goma, DR Congo, is a social technic diplomate and the Choreographer and Artistic Director of HEARTIST DANCE COMPANY, standing out today in the urban environment. He started dancing in 2011 by practicing hip-hop, and in 2015 led a workshop teaching so-called street children as a part of MAENDELEO DANCE PROJECT. The initiative is for the supervision and reintegration of street children in the society. Driven by the desire and the passion to learn different forms of contemporary dance, in 2016 he joined the INUKA DANCE COMPANY dance company and trained during BUSARA DANCE COMPANY workshops and masterclass with CHIKU LWAMBO and CHITO LWANZO, and choreographers LUKAS KATANGILA (dancer choreographer and diplomate to the ACADEMIE DES BEAUX ARTS Belgique) and RODHA GATETE (choreographer and dance rat Busara ance company). He never stops learning by participating in creations ,training internships and dance workshops in his country, the Democratic Republic of Congo and worldwide.
In 2019 he takes the first steps in his creation CRIS D’INNOCENCE on the street of Goma. He did the research and creation residency at the ORPAS ROPPA dance studio in Kigali, Rwanda. At the end of the residency, he exhibited the performance at the UNIVERSAL ECOLOGY of the NDOTO ART and ACTIVISM Collective. In 2020, he participated in the workshops of the first edition of the HADISI URBAN FESTIVAL, initiated by choreographer NEEMA BAGAMUHUNDA (Kenya), BISOLA BELLO (UK), and HANGI BIENCO (DRCongo) and exhibited his creation CRIS D’INNOCENCE at the the Plateform. His performance piece “WE ARE TOGETHER” was created as a part of the Covid -19 research and development project he exhibited to the SOCIAL DISTANCING FESTIVAL and at the WORLDWIDE AFRO NETWORK (WAN).
TruthNanda (Balidawa Hussein) is a 21-year-old choreographer, instructor, dance motivator, and dance traveler from Uganda. They started to dance when they were 10 years old, but later went on the upgrade and discover what they do best, by joining different crews and meeting different choreographers and Dance artists in their community and other countries in the world. They started a crew in 2015 named UltimateDancers from Iganga town _Uganda. Their genres include Afro Dancehall, AfricanContemporary dance, Jamican Dancehall, and Traditional Dance.
Waeli Wang (she/her/hers) is a movement artist, filmmaker, collaborator, and educator. She creates interdisciplinary contemporary works interweaving personal, familial, social, and artistic contexts to investigate the human condition for the concert stage, cinematic screen, and alternative spaces. Her research explores the overlap between critical dancemaking and identity to transform and challenge unjust social relations while filling in the gaps of our collective memory. She sees art-making as a means for social justice, as contemporary and historical representations of intersectionality, and as a way to cultivate community. She is driven to make work that fuses movement/imagery, figurative/abstract, and the poetic personal. Waeli currently resides on the ancestral lands of the Kiikaapoi, Wazhazhe, Kaw, and Očeti Šakówin, also known as Lawrence where she is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas.
March 4th, 2021
Olga Drachuk-Meyer was born 1989 in Ukraine. She is a 2013-2015 fellow of the DAAD and OSF scholarship at the Technical University of Cologne, and in 2013-2016 was in education at the Theatre Department of the University of Cologne. A member of the Young Academy of the Arts of the World Cologne from 2014-2016, in 2020-2021 she was scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia. Since 2014, she works as an independent performance artist, collaborating with MAI (Marina Abramović Institute), The Institute for Art and Innovation, Social Art Award, ITSLIQUID International Art Exhibition Venice, International Art Fair Contemporary Art Ruhr, Emerge Festival London and other art institutions.
In her works, she deals with the phenomenon of pain, proximity and distance, existing power mechanisms and actual social issues. The main focuses of her work are performance art, dance, installation, art in the public space and aesthetic space research.
She currently lives and works in Cologne and Kyiv.
Irina Lerman is a ballet artist and choreographer from Russia, 29 years old. Graduated from Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint – Petersburg Irina was dancing for 7 years in the Mariinsky Ballet before starting her soloist career and moving to Canada for dancing as a Lead Soloist.
Her first choreographic production she made at 21 years old on the beautiful stage of the Mariinsky Theatre. Then she combined the touring performance of the theater, receiving a master’s degree and new productions in her intense ballet life. Got a silver medal at the International Ballet Competition in Riga, she also made several independent productions around the world – in USA, Europe, Russia and danced at the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games. She was fortunate to be trained at NDT and meet a variety of well-known choreographers of our time during her job at the Mariinsky Theatre.
Her performance will include music by Max Richter – Sarajevo, and filming by Wes Perry.
Laura Katz Rizzo, Ph.D., is a performer, choreographer, scholar and pedagogue of ballet. She is an Assistant Professor in Temple University’s Department of Dance. She holds a BA in History and English, an Ed. M. in Dance, and a Ph. D. in Dance and Women’s Studies and has also been certified in the Vaganova pedagogical syllabus, American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum, and oral history recording and transcription. She has performed with several ballet and contemporary dance companies, as well as in the capacity of an independent performer and choreographer. Her choreographic work (live and for film) has been shown at independent venues around the world. Katz Rizzo has also written for dance publications such as Dance Chronicle, Playbill Magazine, and Movement Research Journal, and is the author of, “Dancing the Fairy Tale: Producing and Performing “The Sleeping Beauty” (Temple University Press, 2015).
Her performance will include dancers Tyra Blain Jones and Grace Savage.
Melissa Zuccalà was born in Catania in 1977 and began studies at the professional dance center: Maria Patti with an academic program up to the eighth course.
From 2002 to 2006 she directed the classical dance department of the professional center Arte & Danza in Piazza Armerina Since 2003 she has taught classical academic and modern dance my training center: Sicily Ballet School and participated as a fellow in refresher seminars for teachers at the Academy of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan and at the National Ballet School of Tirana.
In 2017 and 2018 she directed the contemporary dance department of the PAS performing arts studios in Piazza Armerina. She teaches contemporary dance in schools holds choreographic workshops and internships. In 2019, she decided to dedicate herself exclusively to the freelance profession as a contemporary dance teacher and choreographer for advanced courses and professional training centers.
Her performance will include Asia Scuderi and Michele Pastorini.
April 1st, 2021
Considered to be a Pittsburgh pioneer in exploring race and sexual identity, Nick M. Daniels is the founding Artistic Director of the D.A.N.A. Movement Ensemble (Dancers Against Normal Actions) which he started in 1991. With over 30 years of dance and choreography experience, he has reemerged after a 20+year hiatus. Since returning in 2016 his choreographic style continuously has developed. His style is based on butoh, African, modern and contemporary styles based on pure raw emotion. His creativity often entices the use of self realized soundscapes and video imagery.
His dancing career began at a young age, as a student in McKeesport High School where he began developing and perfecting various styles of dance. The now Pittsburgh resident has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Slippery Rock University and started the DANA Movement Ensemble prior to graduation. Along with his Company he has received many awards, accolades and favorable reviews across the country and internationally.
Silvita Diaz Brown is a Mexican/American choreographer, dancer, acrobat and yoga instructor and director of Sildance/AcroDanza. Based in Chicago since 2008, She holds a BFA in Dance from Universidad de las Américas Puebla (UDLAP), Mexico and an MFA in Theatre/Movement from York University, Canada. For the last 15 years, her interdisciplinary work has been presented at venues and festivals in Spain, India, Mexico, Canada, and the USA. Silvita uses her art to celebrate her Mexican heritage and to awaken insights about gender equality and female strength. Her goal is to discover and articulate deep strengths and insights that inspire audiences to feel empowered in their identities and futures.
Indygo Afi Ngozi, original name Andréa A César (born August 6, 1993, P-au-P, Haiti), is a multidimynsional movement artist, choreographer and educator. Indygo received a BS from SUNY New Paltz, an MA in Performance Studies from New York University and proceeded to pursue a second MA and a NYS K-12 Dance Education Professional Certificate from Hunter College. Indygo is a full time Dance Education teacher at Humanities II and an Adjunct Lecturer at Hunter College.
As an artist, she seeks to create work that continues to investigate the nuances found in the intersectionality between choreography, poetry and vulnerability. She believes that she is first human; as such she engages her audience to explore what is found in-between spaces of humanness, allowing it to guide her in developing new understanding of the human experience. Her work lies in storytelling, unfolding what it means to be multidimynsional in today’s culture and society. Indygo continues to re-imagine different notions by investigating and developing on the intersectionality between choreography and poetry as she continues to develop her Salon Series 2 titled For Us, the Humans of the World Who Aren’t Afraid to Live In-Between Spaces: A Khoreopoetic Performance which features movement, choreography and poetry.)
Pei Tong was born in Malaysia, and worked for 10 years as a Pharmacist. Now, she is a choreographer, dancer & teacher. Her practice focused on exploring herChinese heritage & mixed cultural identity, developing Chinese contemporary dance movement & multi disciplinary practice including visual art, physical theatre & storytelling.
She worked nationally & internationally, choreographed both community & professional, collaborated with local established artists, companies & taught masterclasses in Chinese contemporary dance. In 2019, she was invited to Beijing Normal University by Jeanne Travis (Professor of South Florida University) as guest teacher for International Creative dance seminar alongside dancers from Hofesh Schecter, Twyla Tharp, DV8 & Pina Bausch. Was was also invited to return for a seminar 2021 to present creative work. This development was a game changer in her career.
May 6th, 2021
Kennedy Banks was born and raised in Chicago,IL. She began her training at Russell Talbert Dance Studio in 2010. In 2017, she graduated from The Chicago High School for The Arts, performing works from faculty and guest choreographers such as Irma Ruiz and Terrance Marling. She is currently a senior at the University of Missouri-Kansas City working towards her BFA in Performance and Choreography, where she has performed original works created by Gary Abbott, Cleo Parker Robinson and Kevin Iega Jeff. Kennedy has choreographed multiple works in collaboration with composers Isaiah Collier and Angel Bat Dawid. Kennedy is an Instructor with Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey and also a co-founder and active member of The Chicago Black Artist Union.
Her performance will also include dancers Ahmad Hill, Allison Harsh , Marcus Johnson, and KaiLisha Micole.
Winifred Haun is the founder, choreographer and artistic director of Winifred Haun & Dancers. Since the 1990’s, Wini has created over 60 new dance works, including one full length dance, and she has received numerous awards and accolades for her choreography, including a 2016 MacArthur Foundation Award. In 2014, she was selected by the Martha Graham Dance Company to participate in their Lamentation Variation project. Wini won three Ruth Page Award (Chicago Dance Award) nominations for Choreography and Performance and in 2000, she won the Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Dance Community. Wini danced with the Joseph Holmes Dance Theatre from 1985 to 1992. Wini and her husband, theoretical physicist, Stephen Parke have three daughters, and they live in Oak Park, IL.
Céline Richard Robichon and Armel Mzalina met through the Montreal Street Dance community in Canada. These two artists communicate their movement differently which, in turn, creates a language unique to their duet.
Céline is a multi-disciplinary artist who comes from an extensive background in dance. Her path in dance consists of classical training in Ottawa, growing urban dancer in Montreal, and evolving performer in Toronto. In Toronto, Céline performed in several Toronto Gadfly company productions, along with working on television, movie, and music video sets (Family Channel, Nickelodeon etc.). Céline has performed with Quebec music artists like Marie Mai and Eli Rose at the Bell Center, Videotron Center, and for Les Francos de Montréal. Recently, she has been growing her multimedia/ choreographic practice. Her piece, oui/ non, was presented by 100lux at Tangente in April 2019. Most recently, Céline has been training, touring, and performing with Montreal’s Tentacle Tribe company nationally and internationally.
Armel is a street dancer from Ottawa, Ontario. His main dance style consists of Popping/Animation. Armel has also explored other street styles in the past, such as Breaking and Hip-Hop. He has trained and performed with prestigious Canadian Popping pioneers like Handy Yacinthe and Mecdy Jean-Pierre. In recent years, Armel has been focused on teaching to the next generation of poppers. He continues to battle, create and perform in and outside of Ottawa with his crew Third Party.
June 3rd, 2021
Originally from Argentina, Anabella Lenzu is a dancer, choreographer, writer, and teacher with over 30 years of experience working in Argentina, Chile, Italy, and the USA.
Lenzu directs her own company, Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama (ALDD), which since 2006 has presented 390 performances, created 14 choreographic works and performed at 100 venues, presenting thought provoking and historically conscious dance-theater in NYC.
As a choreographer, she has been commissioned all over the world for opera, TV programs, theatre productions, and by many dance companies. She has produced and directed several award-winning short dance films and screened her work in over 50 festivals both nationally and internationally, including London, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, Serbia, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.
Barbara Mahler is a well known Choreographer, Movement Educator(Kleintechnique, Teacher, and body worker (zero balancing) residing and working in the greater New York area. An international traveler, working in all of these categories, all workshops, daily classes, and performances have been virtual. Workshops with Tanzfarik, Berlin; Independent Dance Agency in London, Horse Dance Theater (JUNE) Taipei, Movement Research in NYC, and coming up summer MELT. Performances for summer/fall 2020 were with the Queensboro Dance Festival 2020, and Dancerisrising, NYC. She has been working as an artist for over 35 years, and loves her work. www.barbaramahler.net
Seema Viswanath is an Indian classical dancer, educator and choreographer. Based out in North Carolina, she is the artistic director of Nritya MāyāNanda School of Arts. She holds Vidwat degree, masters in Bharatanatyam and Computer applications. A touring artist, Seema has presented solo as well as collaborative works in India, USA, Bahrain & SriLanka. A seasonal artist who has worked with dance companies and have conducted master workshops. She has performed in many festivals like “Charlotte Dance Festival”, “Raw – natural born artists”, “IDEA Dance Festival” and many more.
Seema has produced three major productions to raise funds for non-profit organisations. She also conducted “Abhyāsa” – ‘a Bharatanatyam & Kathak community free dance practice session’ for 72 hours during the pandemic to motivate the dancers globally which created a platform to connect & pursue dance online.
Seema is eternally grateful for her teacher’s guidance which led her to believe that, art is not just for entertainment but it’s a way of living.