OPENING NIGHT
INTRODUCTION Jodee Nimerichter
2014 SEASON DEDICATION to Roger W. Hooker, Jr. and F.V. “Pete” Allison, Jr.
PERFORMANCE Vertigo Dance Company
First Lady Michelle Obama, 2014 Honorary Chair
Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 8:00pm Durham Performing Arts Center
presents
VERTIGO DANCE COMPANY
ADF performances of Vertigo Dance Company are supported by The Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast Region and Israel’s Office of Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel in New York. Additional support provided by The Israel Center of the Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill.
Thursday, June 12 & Friday, June 13, 2014 at 8:00pm Durham Performing Arts Center
VERTIGO 20 (2012) (US Premiere) Awarded the 2013 Israel Ministry of Culture and Sport performance excellence award.
Choreography Noa Wertheim
Assistant Choreographer Rina Wertheim Koren
Dancers Dorry Aben, Micah Amos, Yael Cibulski, Ron Cohen, Alon Karniel, Gil Kerer, Yuval Lev, Tomer Navot, Sian Olles, Marija Slavec, Eyal Vizner, Emmy Wielunski
Music Ran Bagno
Lighting Design Dani Fishof - Magenta
Set Building Yigal Gini
Costumes and Stage Design Rakefet Levy - School of Theatrical Design
Graphic Design Dorit Talpaz
Still Photography Gadi Dagon
Cinematographer Elad Debi
Vertigo 20 is a well-deserved look back at two decades of dance and investigation the result of which has been the creation of one of the finer Israeli dance companies…the evening, loaded with beauty, originality and spirituality, enriched our already diverse dance field. — Ora Brafman, the Jerusalem Post, February 6, 2013
This festive production weaves together twenty years of Vertigo Dance Company’s creations, from its inception to this date, while choreographer Noa Wertheim follows the trail of pebbles she had laid in an attempt to redecipher the secret of time. As stitches between the private and the public are unraveled, she moves from real to surreal, from intimate to theatric, from impalpable to tangible. Vertigo 20’s unique body language, accentuated by wit and hinted sadness, delivers a spectacular staging of rituals.
Commissioned by the Fondazione Campanie dei Festival - Teatro Festival Italia, Vertigo 20 is a Vertigo Dance Company and Fondazione Campania dei Festival - Teatro Festival Italia coproduction.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Founded in 1992 by Noa Wertheim an Adi Sha’al, winner of the 2013 Israel Ministry of Culture and Sport’s performance excellence award, Vertigo Dance Company has established a distinct presence in the contemporary dance scene worldwide.
Vertigo Dance Company’s performance is characterized by a strong sense of awareness for society and the community, bringing people together while reaching out through body language and expanding the boundaries of dance. Led by the holistic and spiritual approach of choreographer Noa Wertheim, a collage of intricate and singular dance creations forms an impressive repertoire of both original and collaborative works, inviting audiences on a unique and enchanting journey. The movement seeks to evoke artistic and environmental inspiration to promote social involvement in a responsible manner and protect the future of our planet.
Conveying their message over the years, Vertigo Dance Company has garnered respect and admiration for their work both socially and professionally. Vertigo Dance Company is supported by the Israel Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Jerusalem Municipality, and the Jerusalem Foundation.
BIOGRAPHIES NOA WERTHEIM (Artistic Director, Co-Founder, Dancer, and Choreographer) — A multi-talented artist, choreographer, and dancer, Noa (47) was born in the US and grew up in Netanya, Israel, where she started dancing at Esther’s Studio. Although her religious upbringing delayed her pursuit of a dancing career, in 1990 she completed her studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Noa performed with the Jerusalem Tamar Dance Company where she met Adi Sha’al, her partner in life and in dance. Together they founded Vertigo Dance Company. Noa has won numerous awards including the 1998 Ministry of Culture award for young choreographers, the 2003 Landau Prize for the Performing Arts, and the 2012 Israel Culture Minister award for her choreography of Birth of the Phoenix. SIAN OLLES (Dancer) — Born in Jerusalem, Sian (21) studied at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance High School and Conservatory. Following her graduation, in September 2009 she moved to Kibbutz Ga’aton and continued for two years as a dancer with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC). Sian joined Vertigo Dance Company in August 2011.
EYAL VIZNER (Dancer) — Born in Kibbutz Rosh Zurim, Israel, Eyal (33) joined the dance training program in Ga’aton, danced with Muza Dance Company, worked with choreographer Abigail Rubin, and with Anat Yaffe in the production of Ma’abada (the lab). In 2006, he moved to Jerusalem and after a year of training joined Vertigo Dance Company, where he continues to dance and teach at Vertigo workshops.
EMMY WIELUNSKI (Dancer) — Emmy (28) started dancing at the age of 4. She majored in dance at the Herzog high school, Kfar Saba. In 2006, she completed her BA studies in Modern and Contemporary Dance at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts (KHiO) and in 2007 graduated with a teaching diploma. In 2008, Emmy performed with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company 2 and in 2010 joined Vertigo Dance Company.
GIL KERER (Dancer) — Born in Pardes Hanna, Gil (27) joined local folklore dance group HaDudaim at the age of 14. He later enrolled at the Amal Hadera high school dance program. Gil joined the young Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC2) for two years in 2005 and became an independent dancer in 2007, collaborating with various performance artists such as Rachel Ardus, Nimrod Farid, Niv Scheinfeld, Oren Laor, and Annisa Ashkar. He has participated in various productions with the Israeli Opera, the Goshen Theatre, and the Orna Porat Theatre. In recent years, Gil has been the rehearsal manager and dance instructor of the Hadera Tzivei Machol ensemble, and in June 2009 he joined Vertigo Dance Company.
TOMER NAVOT (Dancer) — Born in Jerusalem, Tomer (24) started dancing at the age of 12 with Hora Jerusalem dance troupe and pursued dance studies at the Charles E. Smith Jerusalem High School for the Arts. In 2008 he joined Young Vertigo Dance Company and continued as a trainee. Since September 2010 Tomer is a member of Vertigo Dance Company.
YUVAL LEV (Dancer) — Born in Haifa, Yuval (28) practiced gymnastics as well as jazz and Israeli folklore dance before enrolling in the Ga’aton dance training program. During his professional career Yuval danced for two years withthe Barcelona IT Dansa Jove Companyia de l’Institut del Teatre, three years with the Cardiff based National Dance Company Wales, and two seasons with Dansgroep Amsterdam. He has worked with artists such as Jirí Kylián, Nacho Duato, Stijn Celis, Gustavo Ramirez, Rafael Bonachela, Alexander Ekman, Nigel Charnock, Andonis Foniadakis, Itzik Galili, Uri Ivgi & Johan Greben, and Krisztina de Châtel. Yuval teaches classes and workshops around the world, and in the summer of 2013 he joined Vertigo Dance Company.
MICAH AMOS (Dancer) — Micah (22) grew up in Kibbutz Kfar, Blum where he started dancing at the Clore Center for Music and Dance. He continued a year’s training at the dance training program in Ga’aton. At the age of 17 he joined the young Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC2) from 2007 to 2009. In September 2010, Micah joined Vertigo Dance Company.
YAEL CIBULSKI (Dancer) — Yael (24) began her studies at Rotterdam Dance Academy in the Netherlands. During her four years she participated in many projects and graduated with a BA. In August 2011, she returned to Israel and joined Vertigo Dance Company. ALON KARNIEL (Dancer) — Born in the USA, Alon immigrated to Israel in 1980. Alon received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Arts and English Literature. To hone his dance skills, he enrolled in a two year apprenticeship at Haifa Dance Workshop before joining Vertigo Dance Company.
MARIJA SLAVEC (Dancer) — Born in Slovenia, Marija (28) began her career as a participant of the D.A.N.C.E. interdisciplinary program, performing with the Forsythe Company in Human Writes and with Ballet Preljocaj in an installation at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. She participated in two new original choreographies, Memeri by Wayne McGregor and A Success Story by Frederic Flamand before returning to Slovenia to collaborate with choreographer Kjara Staric. In 2009, she joined the Swedish Riksteatren and Batsheva Dance Company and participated in Ohad Naharin’s Kamuyot. Marija continued to dance with Batsheva before joining Vertigo Dance Company in August 2012.
DORRY ABEN (Dancer) — Dorry comes from a small town in southeast Netherlands called Geijsteren. She studied in the Artez Academy in Arnhem and has been working as a dancer in Holland and Israel ever since, with Dansgroep Krisztina de Chatel (2007-2008), Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (2009- 2012), and Vertigo Dance Company (2012-2013).
RON COHEN (Dancer) — A graduate of Vertigo’s international dance program, Ron has participated in various projects including Vertigo-Power of Balance and Oscula Project. He performs various sytles of dance including breakdance, hip hop, and modern. He won 1st place in the Hip Hop International Contest (HHI). He is the owner of a hip hop dance studio.
presents
GREGORY MAQOMA/ VUYANI DANCE THEATRE
First Lady Michelle Obama, 2014 Honorary Chair
Saturday, June 14 - Monday, June 16 at 8:00pm Reynolds Industries Theater
EXIT/EXIST (2011)
Concept, Choreography, and Performance Gregory Maqoma
Music Composition Simphiwe Dana Director James Ngcobo
Video Animation Mileta Postic
Guitar Composition, Arrangements, and Performance Giuliano Modarelli
Vocal Arrangement, Additional Composition Complete Quartet
Vocal Performance Tobela Mpela, Siphiwe Nkabinde, Xolisile Bongwana, Timothy Moloi
Rehearsal Director Shanell Winlock
Recorded Text Voice Sbulele Gcilitshana
Sound Design Andile Mpahlwa
Costume David Tlale
Lighting Design Ralf Nonn
Sound Engineer Benjamin Dandoy
Set Design Oliver Hauser
The core of this piece is memory, rephrasing the notion of existence and the notion of simply existing in order to exist. Exit/Exist takes a moment to pause, to look back, to rewind the tape to the days when the tapestry of South Africa was about the collision of biographies. Maqoma, a renowned chief of the Xhosa nation, is at odds with the English over the possession of cattle. The animosity that was brewing at the time left us with a body of work that we’ve used in putting together Exit/Exist.
With the deliberate choice of less exposition and an emphasis on how we use the visual element to tell this tale, while underpinning the musicality, it is hoped we will evoke the spirit of the time. Maqoma to us is not only an iconic figure of Xhosa land but a figure of historical transformation, the custodian of a movement of a people that cleared the path to an emancipation that he spent his whole life yearning for. — Gregory Maqoma and the collaborators and performers of Exit/Exist
Exit/Exist is a co-production of Theatre de la Ville (France), Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg (KVS, Belgium), Dance Umbrella (South Africa), and Vuyani Dance Theatre. Vuyani Dance Theatre is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.
The North American Tour of Exit/Exist is produced by MAPP International Productions in partnership with The Africa Contemporary Arts Consortium.
ADF’s presentation of Gregory Maqoma/Vuyani Dance Theater’s Exit/Exist is made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts’ National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
BIOGRAPHIES GREGORY VUYANI MAQOMA — Born in Soweto, October 16,1973, Gregory Vuyani Maqoma became interested in dance in the late 1980s as a means to escape the political tensions growing in his place of birth. He started his formal dance training in 1990 at Moving Into Dance where in 2002 he became the Associate Artistic Director. Maqoma has established himself as an internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, teacher, director, and scriptwriter. He founded Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1999 when he was undertaking a scholarship at the Performing Arts Research and Training School (PARTS) in Belgium under the direction of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.
Maqoma is respected for his collaborations with artists of his generation. In 2006 he worked with the Britain-based choreographer Akram Khan and the London Symphonietta to the music of Steve Reich’s Variations for vibes, pianos & strings. He also created Neon Flight for the South African Ballet Theatre, which premiered in Russia in June 2006.
He began his ongoing collaboration with theater director James Ngcobo in 2008 with The Lion and the Jewel and Zakes Mda’s The Hill. In 2009 Maqoma collaborated with Ngcobo on Crazy for Jazz and Thirst. His collaboration with Ngcobo continued with the adaptation of Athol Fugard’s Master Harold and the Boys produced by Theatre on the Square.
For the 2009 opening ceremony of the 4th World Summit of Arts & Culture in Braamfontein he co-created 3 Colours with Cape Town theater maker Brett Bailey. In 2010 he was head choreographer for the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Concert held in Soweto. That year he choreographed the now internationally acclaimed Hugh Masekela project Songs of Migration, produced by the Market Theatre and directed by James Ngcobo. Returning to the Market Theatre in 2011 he collaborated with Ngcobo yet again on their version of Sunjata. In 2011 he won the Dance Manyano Choreographer of the Decade Dance Award. In 2012 Maqoma, with Ngcobo, was part of the creative team behind the ANC centenary celebration musical, Tshihumbudzo, staged in Bloemfontein.
Maqoma is perhaps best known for producing trilogies. He first created the award winning Rhythm Trilogy (Rhythm 1 2 3, Rhythm Blues, and Rhythm Colour) followed by the Beauty Trilogy (Beautiful, Beautiful Me, and Beautiful Us). Beautiful, a duet with Shanell Winlock, premiered in South Africa in a VDT/Moving into Dance joint season that took place at the Dance Factory, June 22-25, 2005. After finalizing his extensive research on Beautiful Me, Maqoma took up residency at the Centre Nationale de la Danse, Pantin, outside Paris to prepare the South African premiere at the 2007 FNB Dance Umbrella. In 2006 and 2007 Maqoma won the Gauteng MEC Award for the group work Beautiful Us and solo Beautiful M, respectively.
Maqoma’s Skeleton Dry, a work with an original score exploring the liminality of human existence, the space between flesh and bone, was commissioned for the 2009 FNB Dance Umbrella, supported by the National Arts Council. Continuing his exploration of the human condition and our relationship to the earth, Maqoma created Four Seasons in 2010 with original live music. This work articulated Maqoma’s view on the moral degeneration of the human race and the detrimental effect it has on the world and dynamic Mother Earth.
Exit/Exist (2011) is a collaboration with fashion designer David Tlale, singer composer Simphiwe Dana, male a capella quartet Complete, and James Ngcobo. Through choreography and ritualistic performance, Maqoma explores his historical roots by examining the life and fate of his ancestor Jongum-sobomvu Maqoma, the famous Xhosa chief. Chief Maqoma, born in 1798, was arrested while requesting the liberation of Xhosa territories from the English colonists, imprisoned on Robben Island, and buried there in 1873.
Maqoma was Associate Artistic Director of Moving Into Dance Mophatong, 2002- 2007, and for the FNB Dance Umbrella Festival, 2010. He was Artistic Director of the Afro-Vibes Festival in the Netherlands and the UK, 2004-2010. Since 2011 Maqoma has served on the dance committee of the National Arts Festival. He teaches at various universities in Africa, US, and Europe including University of California (UCLA), Bates College, and Bennington College. He has created repertoire for Moving into Dance, Jazzart Contemporary Dance Theatre, South African Ballet Theatre, and Cape Academy of Performing Arts, among others.
Several works in his VDT repertoire have won him accolades and international acclaim, including FNB Vita Choreographer of the Year in 1999, 2001, and 2002 for Rhythm 1 2 3, Rhythm Blues, and Southern Comfort. He received the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance in 2002. Maqoma was a finalist in the Daimler Chrysler Choreography Award in 2002 and in the Rolex Mentorship Programme in 2003. He is the recipient of the 2012 Tunkie Award for Leadership in Dance, which is presented annually to a South African who has elevated the standard and visibility of dance in South Africa.
Dance has given a platform to establish artistic directions, to communicate qualities and values addressing our fundamental humanity, to be audacious and bold in dealing with contentious political and gender issues, and most importantly, to establish myself as an important element in the history of contemporary African dance in this country and beyond. —Gregory Maqoma
TOBELA MPELA — Mpela is a singer and actor, native to Umtata (South Africa), who first moved to Johannesburg when he was a young boy. He trained for two years at Phakalani Music Industry Institute studying studio production, song writing, and vocal training under noted bass guitarist Victor Masondo. In 2002 Mpela was cast as lead singer on the television series Soul City 5. A year later, he joined Umoja as lead singer with whom he traveled to Australia, Denmark, the United States, France, Israel, New Zealand, China, Jamaica, and Barbados. In 2007 Mpela joined African Footprints as a singer, touring throughout Mexico. As an actor, Mpela received a best acting award for his appearance in the short film My Husband and Boy Friend. He also appeared in the National Children’s Theatre productions of The Wizard of Oz (2008) and African Tapistry (2010). Mpela continues to act and sing on several television and musical productions on the continent.
SIPHIWE “SIP” NKABINDE — Born in Bergville, South Africa, Nkabinde showed artistic abilities from a young age, singing a capella (Isicathamiya) and in his local school choir. Studying Pansula and Latin American dance prior to returning to his roots in Zulu traditional dance, Nkabinde has since grown up to become a passionate artist adept at songwriting, singing, dancing, acting, and piano playing. In 2001, he joined the cast of Umoja and toured the world for almost nine years, until his departure when he decided to focus more on music. In 2009 he joined the Afropop group Fohloza as a backup singer and also began working as a session musician at SLAM Production Studio, recording music for radio and television. In 2011 Nkabinde got a chance to work with Themba Mkhize on musicals Kwela Bafana and iLembe. While acting and performing with several ensembles and theater companies, Nkabinde continues to focus on his solo career to remain grounded spiritually and mentally.
XOLISILE BONGWANA — Bongwana’s dance career began in 1999. In 2005 Bongwana joined Uphondo Lwe Africa as a singer and dancer and toured throughout the UK. He joined Dodgy Clutch Production in 2008 and appeared in the UK, US, and Spanish tour of Elephant. In 2011 Bongwana performed as a singer and dancer in Robyn Orlin’s Walking Next to Our Shoes, which was presented across the US, Switzerland, and France. He joined Vuyani Dance Theatre as a dancer and singer in 2011.
TIMOTHY MOLOI — After completing his studies at Wesleyan University, Moloi returned to his native South Africa in 1999. Since then, he has performed with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, the East Cape Philharmonic, the Electric Pops Orchestra, the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra, and the Soweto Gospel Choir. He performed during the FIFA 2010 World Cup opening ceremony, as well as several other national sports events. Televised music and acting performances include MTN South African Music Awards, SABC3 JoBurg Pops, Afro Café, Spirit Sundae, and Top Billing, to name a few. His 2009 Love That Music album (released by Thatch Music) received two MTN South African Music Awards nominations. Moloi hasappeared in several South African stage productions including Motown Gold (Lyric Theatre), Coming Home (Baxter Theatre), Bring on Broadway (Artscape Opera Theatre), and more. Several career highlights include performances for President Nelson Mandela, Graca Machel, King Willem Alexander, and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. He has also been featured on Africa Peace Awards, Oprah Winfrey’s Live Your Best Life event, the Aardklop National Arts Festival, the RMB Starlight Classics, and the FNB Starlight Pop Opera.
GIULIANO MODARELLI — Originally from Italy, Giuliano Modarelli is a stylistically unique guitarist. During his musical training he explored many different genres of music from western classical to trip hop, klezmer to heavy rock. After studying jazz at university, he went on to study under UK renowned sitarist Dharambir Singh and Indian classical maestro Buddhadev Dasgupta. His style is a subtle blend of world folk, Arabic, flamenco, Latin, and eastern European. His breadth of knowledge and soulful improvisation have led to awards and scholarships from the Arts Council England, SAA-UK, Sampad, Milapfest, and others, enabling him to work with and learn from some of the world’s most respected Indian classical musicians such as L. Subramanian, J. Bose, and Pt Ajoy Chakraborty. In addition to being a solo artist, Giuliano is also a core member of UK based band Samay, which combines traditional forms with a range of contemporary influences to reinvent the sound of Indian classical music, blending jazz, flamenco, samba, funk, and chill out to create both powerful and dynamic arrangements. As part of the international project Sunev featuring Grammy Award winning tabla star Bikram Ghosh (Rhythm Scape), Giuliano collaborated with Bikram to write and perform the soundtrack of the Mira Nair film, Little Zizou (2008). He is also featured on the soundtrack of the latest Sangeeta Datta film, Life Goes On. Giuliano writes for theater and dance, touring nationally and internationally with companies such as Balbir Singh Dance Company, Motion Manual, Diversity Dance, Red Ladder Theatre, and Phoenix Dance Theatre. He has also developed various music projects in the UK (such as Klezmer Trip with Bill Laurence and My Journey with Manvir Singh, Nshwa, and Raga Nova) and performs regularly in prestigious venues throughout the country (Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Barbican, The Purcell Room, Bridgewater Hall, CBSO, and BBC Venue/Radio) as well as at Darbar Festival, Music Port, Bestival, Womex, and jazz and world music festivals throughout the UK and abroad. Giuliano regularly works and trains in India where he tours with many outstanding artists such as Bickram Ghosh, Paban Das Baul, Pete Lockett, Purbayann Chatterjee, and Sandip Chatterjee. These collaborations have allowed him to explore many different styles of South Asian music including Bengali folk, Rajastany folk, gazals, thumri, and khyal, deepening his awareness of world music and continuing his journey into innovative and eclectic excellence.
JAMES NGCOBO — James Ngcobo is a stage, television, and film actor best known for his roles as editor Joe Dlamini on the South African drama series Hard Copy (2005), and as Mojo Khumalo on the South African sitcom Stokvel, (2003-2008, 2010). Ngcobo has appeared at London’s Young Vic in The Revolution, toured the US in The Horn of Sorrow, toured Britain in The Cherry Orchard, and performed in Sizwe Banzi is Dead at Britain’s Festival Hall. He trained with Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Loft Theatre Company, appearing in such productions as La Ronde, Mujaji, Horn of Sorrow, and Jesus Christ Superstar. As a director he has become known for adaptations: Es’kia Mphahlele’s The Suitcase, Fred Khumalo’s autobiography Touch My Blood, Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel, and Thirst, which saw Pelen Baldini’s The Water Carriers transposed into an African setting. In 2007, Ngcobo won Best Director for The Suitcase at the Naledi Theatre Awards. In 2011, he turned his attention to the myth of the warrior king, Sunjata, who, legend has it, in the 13th century founded the Mali Empire—the land of Timbuktu, the spiritual and intellectual capital of Africa. Ngcobo has just been appointed the new artistic director of the Market Theatre in Johannesburg.
SIMPHIWE DANA — Simphiwe Dana is one of South Africa’s most soulful singers, renowned around the world and adored for her impressive vocal prowess. As an award- winning singer whose albums have ascended to the top of international charts, her music captures the hearts of those listening to it. Her third album Kulture Noir (2010) received two METRO FM Music Awards for Best Female and Best Contemporary Jazz Album and also claimed the number 1 spot on the German World Music Charts and the number 3 spot on the European Music Charts.
RALF NONN — German born Nonn holds a degree in Mining- Engineering from Germany’s Bochum University. From 1987 to 1989 he studied dance in Essen and subsequently moved to Belgium and joined dance company Plan K (currently, Charleroi Danse). Nonn launched his lighting design career in 1996 as a lighting director for Compagnie Un Ouef (Brussels). In 1997, he became a freelance lighting designer making designs for Toneelgroep Amsterdam (Netherlands), Meg Stuart (US), Royal Flemmish Theatre (Belgium), Ultima Vez (Belgium), Ballet Marseille (France), Ballet Lyon (France), Deepblue (Netherlands), David Byrne (US), and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Belgium), among others. Nonn has also worked on projects with solo artists and dance/theater companies from Austria, Sweden, Brazil, Russia, Slovakia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and China. His work on special event productions includes Les Metamorphoses de Louvre (Paris), which was presented to more than 12,000 spectators. Nonn’s work can also be found in international film and television productions. Nonn is currently based in Brussels, where he is the Technical Director for KVS.
BENJAMIN DANDOY — Belgian born Benjamin Dandoy studied sound in Brussels’ INSAS (Superior National Institute for Show and Cinema). After completing his studies he relocated to Lisbon to work on live music sound reinforcement at Expo ‘98. Upon his return to Brussels in 1999 he joined choreographer Wim Vandekeybus’ Ultima Vez Dance Company, where he remained for more than 10 years, working on the company’s productions, world tours, and extensive music collaborations, including works with David Byrne, Marc Ribot, David Eugene Edwards, Daan, and Mauro Pawlowski. Benjamin also works independently on a variety of other Belgium based theater and video editing productions. He recently began touring with the acclaimed show Kiss and Cry by choreographer Michèle-Anne De Mey and film director Jaco Van Dormael.
VUYANI DANCE THEATRE (VDT) is a dance and theater company based in Johannesburg and was founded in 1999 by Gregory Maqoma. VDT’s mission and artistic objective is to produce multidisciplinary projects that question and challenge social values while exploring history, using it as a launch pad for research and development. Vuyani Dance Theatre’s artistic approach embraces—in a dynamic and theatrical way —the many tastes, the different motivations, and the diverse cultures that shape the uniqueness of the South African society. VDT constantly works with co-creators and performers of artistic excellence from all over the world to collaborate on their productions, which ultimately tour throughout Africa, Europe, and North and South America to great critical acclaim and audience response. In addition to performance projects, VDT has numerous ongoing programs that involve both professional and junior dance companies, educating dancers at all levels and engaging South African communities in movement classes and broader discussions around the arts and social issues. For more information: vuyani.co.za
MAPP INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS is a nonprofit producing and touring organization dedicated to engaging audiences through contemporary performing arts projects and artistic experiences that offer fresh interpretations of social issues and forge connections between the artist and the community. Established in 1994 by Ann Rosenthal, and co-directed with Cathy Zimmerman since 1998, MAPP International is recognized for producing nontraditional artists who tackle complex subject matter, experiment with form, and push the cultural conversation forward in society. Since its founding MAPP International has produced 33 productions involving more than 300 artists in 42 US states and 16 countries. MAPP International has also introduced the US public to artists from 25 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Caribbean. Current programs include New Works, Artist-Public Dialogues, MAPP on Tour, The America Project, and The Africa Contemporary Art Consortium. The common goal of these programs is to promote artistic and community engagement, and the exchange of ideas on a local, national and international stage. For more information: mappinternational.org. THE AFRICA CONTEMPORARY ARTS CONSORTIUM, a national partnership of twelve organizations, initiates, develops, and sustains a dynamic exchange of arts and ideas among artists, arts organizations, and public communities throughout the US and the African continent. The consortium is dedicated to working with artists who are interpreting contemporary life through traditional, popular, or contemporary forms. Its programs are rooted in experiential opportunities that nurture conversation and exchange allowing for organic connections to evolve. Consortium members include 651 ARTS (Brooklyn, NY), Bates Dance Festival (Lewiston, ME), Center for World Arts at University of Florida (Gainesville, FL), The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (College Park, MD), CounterPULSE (San Francisco, CA),The Graduate Arts Leadership Program, University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA), The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC), MAPP International Productions (New York, NY), Portland Institute of Contemporary Art (Portland, OR), Seattle Theatre Group (Seattle, WA), Walker Art Center (Minneapolis, MN), and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco, CA). In 2011, the consortium published a comprehensive history of its first 8 years, Building Enduring Partnerships: A Report to the Field. Copies are available from MAPP International Productions.
presents
HERE AND NOW: NC DANCES CHOREOGRAPHERS Renay Aumiller Gaspard Louis Diego Carrasco Schoch Leah Wilks
ADF and NC Dance Festival (NCDF) are delighted to co-present four dance works by North Carolina choreographers. Selected by nationally recognized choreographers Mark Dendy, Adele Myers, and Zoe Scofield, the works of the four chosen artists celebrate dance being created here and now, at home in North Carolina. First Lady Michelle Obama, 2014 Honorary Chair
Wednesday, June 18 at 7:00pm & 9:00pm Reynolds Industries Theater
ANNATATIONS (2013) Choreography Gaspard Louis
Performers Anthony Amatucci, Sarah Beacham, Christopher Bell, Michaela Grace Best, Andrew Lamar, Dana Lossing, Jeryl Palana Pilapil, Rashod Wells, Dominique Anderson Willis
Music Joshua Starmer
Lighting John Kolba
Set Design Steven Silverleaf
Costume Jakki Kalogridis Choreographer’s note: David Liu, scholar of religion and philosophy, coined our title after attending an early open rehearsal held for critical feedback on this work. It references the imagery we used in the creative process, of journeying, cleansing, connecting. In this sequel to Souke, we are exploring the many concepts of afterlife, the human spirit following the tragedy, and the indelible connection of family and lovers who share this world in life and who may seek one another in the next plane of existence. He defines the title:
Annatations: noun, swimming toward and with. Related to the Italian word “andare,” which means “movement toward” a place, and “natations,” from the Latin root for swimming. Also a pun on the word “annotations,” the joining of notes.
MESS (2014)
Choreography and Performance Leah Wilks
Video Design John Haas
Music Quiet 6 by Michael Wall
Choreographer’s note: How does the body react when the world makes no sense? Does it shut down? Does it ignore, or fight back? Does it try to control, to compartmentalize, to make meaning out of nothing? Can it ever learn to let go?
A PLACE APART (2009) Premiered November 16, 2009, Agnes de Mille Theatre, University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Choreography Diego Carrasco Schoch
Performers Justin Dominic and Wesley McIntyre
Music Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Soundscape Design Diego Carrasco Schoch, based on original design by Maggie Hall
Lighting Design Diego Carrasco Schoch, based on original design by Roya Abab
Costume Design and Construction Carolyn Fay (costumes courtesy of University of North Carolina School of the Arts and School of Dance Costume Shop)
Choreographer’s note: I wanted to choreograph to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, music that is incredibly romantic and beautiful, and make a duet for two men that defied what the music seemed to dictate—a romantic relationship. Yet I still wanted the men to support each other, get entangled, and create a sense of intimacy and tenderness. During the process, I discovered that the dance was also about a need to carve out a space separate from a world that can seem assaultive.
ACQUIRING DAWN (2013)
Choreography Renay Aumiller
Performing Artists Amanda Beaty, Julie Champagne, Julie Crothers, Colette Dong, Leah Wilks, Stacy Wolfson
Music Aurora by Hans Zimmer, edited for the purposes of this performance
Costume Design and Construction Karl Green
Lighting Design Bill Webb and R. Mitch Fore
Props and Scene Design Courtesy of Elon University and UNC-Greensboro
Choreographer’s note: Cormac McCarthy’s novel The Road inspired the making of this dance. I was captured by the postapocalyptic environment illustrated through this story and the existence of polarized dualities of hope/despair, truth/prophecy, and nature/industry. Acquiring Dawn was chosen to represent the UNC-Greensboro Dance Department at the Mid- Atlantic American College Dance Festival in Lexington, VA.
GASPARD LOUIS
GASPARD&DANCERS was founded upon a shared passion for collaborative modern dance forms. Our vision is to create, perform, and teach movement that is physically inventive, emotionally dynamic, and inspiring to people of all ages and backgrounds. Inclusion is central to the mission of Gaspard&Dancers. Through performances, demonstrations, workshops, and long-term residencies within our community and around the world, our goal is to expand the creative potential of all who see and share in our work.
GASPARD LOUIS (Founder/Artistic Director) was born and raised in Haiti. His experience includes being a dancer and choreographer with the cutting-edge and internationally renowned Pilobolus Dance Theatre. In addition to performing, touring, and teaching globally with Pilobolus, he collaborated on nine major dance works during this formative decade with the company. He has also choreographed for Freespace Dance Company in New Jersey and Kentucky University Dance Ensemble. Currently, he directs the American Dance Festival’s year-round creative movement outreach program, which provides free dance classes to Triangle youth. He is a guest teacher at Elon University. He founded his dance company Gaspard&Dancers in 2009 in order to create his own personal vision of dance in North Carolina. The past couple of years he has created two works as part of a planned trilogy about the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which has personal resonance for him. With each of these works, he has explored themes of loss and aspiration on personal, communal, and national levels. He has always sought to push the envelope technically and creatively in his choreography. He hopes that his work engages the audience in a way that is emotional and visceral.
ANTHONY AMATUCCI was born in Massachusetts, where he studied tap, jazz, modern, ballet, and contemporary. In 2012 he began his education as a Dance Performance and Choreography and Dance Science double major at Elon University. His studies focus on modern and ballet technique. His personal interest is in the integration of Pilates and yoga-based somatic practices within these techniques. While at Elon, he has found himself fortunate to take part in multiple concert pieces at the school including guest artist pieces from the Chamber Dance Project, Keigwin + Company, and Gaspard&Dancers. Anthony is very excited to have the opportunity to perform with Gaspard&Dancers and hopes to continue his relationship with the company in the coming years.
SARAH BEACHAM is from Raleigh, NC and trained at City Ballet under the direction of Sandra Zellinger. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography as well as a BA in Psychology from Elon University. Sarah has had the opportunity to perform professionally with The Kearns Dance Project and Terranova Dance Theatre and looks forward to performing with Gaspard&Dancers.
CHRISTOPHER BELL is originally from San Antonio, TX but lives and works in NYC. He recently completed his MFA in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University and also attended Texas Christian University and Lamar University, earning degrees in Dance and Geology. He has danced roles in contemporary works by Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Laura Dean, Hanya Holm, Merce Cunningham, and Pascal Rioult. He was in the original cast of Mark Dendy’s Ritual Cyclical at Lincoln Center and Joe’s Pub and in a workshop of Dendy’s newest project Dystopian Distractions! at Dancespace. Proud ADF alum and thankful scholarship recipient. This place changes lives.
MICHAELA GRACE BEST is versatile in a myriad of dance styles including ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, African, musical theater, and hip hop. Her performance experience consists of lead roles in Roswell Dance Theatre’s ballet productions, a backup dancer for Rascal Flatts’ Bob That Head Tour, and several roles in University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ performances including works by Juel Lane, Mark Dendy, Alwin Nikolais, Larry Keigwin, and the lead role of Maria in Doug Elkins’ Fräulein Maria. Michaela has also had the honor of holding the prestigious title of Miss Georgia 2011 and competed in the 2012 Miss America Pageant. She is currently working towards her dream of having a successful career performing and choreographing. She eventually plans on taking her platform PASSION: Performing Artists Serving Society In Our Neighborhoods to a national/ international level. Michaela is so thankful for the constant love and support of her husband Jeremy, family, and friends.
ANDREW LAMAR received his classical training from the North Carolina School of the Arts and Houston Ballet Academy. He earned a BFA from the Ailey School/Fordham University program in New York, after which he joined the Kansas City Ballet as a company member for three years. He was a founding member of the Quixotic Performance Fusion, serving as an Artistic Associate for three years. Andrew focused much of his time on teaching ballet, modern, and creative movement for many schools, including Danceworks Conservatory, Ailey Camp Kansas City, and the Community School of the Arts. He has created works for the Houston Ballet Summer Intensive, The Ailey School, Danceworks Conservatory, Kansas City Ballet’s annual In the Wings series, and Quixotic Performance Fusion. Andrew is a founding member of Gaspard&Dancers and has performed with Mark Dendy and the Winston-Salem Festival Ballet. He is Co- Director of City Ballet in Raleigh.
DANA LOSSING began teaching and choreographing at age sixteen and was presented the Senior Choreography Award upon graduating summa cum laude from the University of California, San Diego in 2008 with her bachelor’s in Dance. Growing up, she trained with the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo and later had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Drew Silvaggio, Allyson Green, and Yolande Snaith. Dana has attended intensive studies with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet Company, and Alonzo King Lines Contemporary Ballet Company. Her work has been presented in San Diego’s Celebrate Dance Festival 2006, San Diego’s Emerge 2008, and The Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker, seasons 2008-2012. She was also a resident choreographer for the San Luis Jazz dance company from 2008 to 2012. Dana was most recently hired by the city of Chapel Hill and the Carolina Roller Girls to choreograph various flash mobs. Dana moved to North Carolina in 2012 and has been dancing with Gaspard&Dancers and Ronald West’s IAmBlackIrish dance company.
JERYL PALANA PILAPIL graduated from Dean College, earning her BA as a dance major. Jeryl is currently a member of a Boston- based hip hop crews StreetHyPE and Unyted Stylz. She has also performed with companies such as Spunk and Company, Anna Meyer and Dancers, and Impact Dance Company. Being a member of these groups has allowed her to perform in various shows throughout New England as well as doing video work for Erika Van Pelt and other independent and upcoming artists. She is excited to be working with Gaspard&Dancers and indulging in the NC dance scene!
RASHOD WELLS is from Martinsville, VA and is an alum of the outstanding universities North Carolina A&T State University (2009) and Liberty University (2013). He achieved his professional credentials, skills, and personal and artistic training through various conventional and unconventional ways. He received a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Psychology and Exercise Sciences as well as his M.Ed endorsing School Counseling. He’s a school counselor who happens to dance. He trained under Duane Cyrus, E. Gwynn, Christopher Higgins, Peter London, Ella Moore, and other diverse dance community leaders and pioneers from Jamaica to NYC and from Dunham to Graham. Dance is therapy, which keeps him moving and developing. He strives to be the epitome of himself aligning with his faith. As a willing vessel, he represents those in the community advocating, moving and encouraging constructive conversations.
DOMINIQUE ANDERSON WILLIS (Rehearsal Director) is from Hamilton, Bermuda where she trained and performed with the In Motion School of Dance and Company until 2005. She graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Dance and AS in Business Administration from Dean College in 2009. She has received scholarships and awards from The Bermuda Ballet Association, National Dance Foundation, DanceBermuda, Ross Blackie Talbot Foundation, The Peter Leitner Arts Scholarship, The Bank of Bermuda Foundation, and Dean College. She has worked with Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works, Caroline Calouche & Co., Duane Cyrus’ Art Production, Jaricco Dance Company, and the Human Triptych Collective. She has performed in Martha Graham’s Panorama, in Coppelia and Romeo & Juliet with the Bermuda Civic Ballet, and the Wizard of Oz, The Nutcracker, and Alice in Wonderland with the Charlotte Youth Ballet. Dominique is currently the ballet instructor at North West School of the Arts and on the dance faculty at the North Carolina Dance Theater, the Charlotte School of Ballet, and DanceSations (Bermuda). She also teaches barre strength and air interval classes at Flex & Fit in Uptown Charlotte. Dominique is extremely happy to be continuing to express her artistry with Gaspard&Dancers.
LEAH WILKS
VECTOR is a Durham-based multi-media dance company creating work that questions the rules and societal norms that shape our daily lives. Directed by visual artist Jon Haas and choreographer Leah Wilks, the company uses highly physical, detail-oriented movement in combination with video, audio documentary, motion-tracking, and projections to create participatory installations, evening-length performances, and dance films. Their recent projects include Still Point (2013) and Secrets I Never Told My Mother (2012). To find out more information on their current project Habitus please visit: inthevector.com/in-the-works VECTOR is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of VECTOR must be made payable to Fractured Atlas only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
LEAH WILKS (Artistic Director, Choreographer, Performer) is a Durham-based dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Recently, as a performer, she has worked with Renay Aumiller Dances, Gaspard&Dancers, Shaleigh Dance Works, Nicola Bullock, Anna Barker, Mamela Nyamaza, Ann Sofie Clemmensen, and Department of Improvised Dance. Leah is currently on faculty at Carolina Friends School, 9th St. Dance, Studio A DanceArts, and the American Dance Festival, where she teaches everything from ballet to contact improvisation to release technique. Throughout it all, Leah has always been creating dances inspired by the questions to which she has no answer. She is the proud co-director of VECTOR with the brilliant Jon Haas.
JON HAAS (Technical Director) was born and raised in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Captivated at a young age with storytelling and technology, Jon went on to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he graduated with a bachelor’s in Dramatic Arts. After working on dozens of productions as a designer, director, and performer, Jon turned his attention to film production. He studied video journalism with Emmy winner Bill Gentile and embarked on a two year documentary project that carried him from Raleigh to Malawi to New York and back. Currently, Jon works for Atlas Stageworks Lighting and as a freelance technical director and video designer for a variety of performance projects in the Triangle. In recent years, he has started to combine video and innovative technologies into live performance to create shows that make stories into lasting experiences. He is excited to bring his award winning video, set designs, and multi-media performances to the stage as a co-director of VECTOR.
MICHAEL WALL (Composer) is an internationally recognized composer, performer, and educator. Mike collaborates with dancers, choreographers, and film makers from around the world. His recent projects were with Bebe Miller, Pearson/Widrig Dance Theater, Ailey II, and Andre Constantini. Mike has worked at Rutgers University, Princeton University, New York University, The Ohio State University, Bates Dance Festival, American Dance Festival, and is currently on faculty at the University of Utah. A strong believer in digital distribution of music, Mike has worked for the last 7 years to make music created specifically for dance available for students, teachers, and choreographers globally. His most recent project, soundFORMovement.com, provides a large range of music in a variety of meters and tempos in a “Pay What You Like” model. Mike believes that making a strong diverse collection available in an open pricing structure will encourage growth in music made for movement.
DIEGO CARRASCO SCHOCH
DIEGO CARRASCO SCHOCH, originally from Southern California, received his formative training at the North Carolina School of the Arts and went on to dance with Fort Worth Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and then Milwaukee Ballet, where he stayed for 12 years and achieved the rank of Principal Dancer. He has created work for North Carolina Dance Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, and the Milwaukee Ballet School, as well as for several universities, including several works for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he served as a member of the Contemporary Dance faculty. Drawing from his Chicano heritage, he often explores themes of duality, gender, identity, and spirituality and embeds his work with Latino imagery, rhythms, and ideas. He currently performs and choreographs in and around the Durham area and teaches modern technique at ADF’s Samuel H. Scripps Studios and the Raleigh School of Ballet, and dance composition and ballet at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also serves as an Assistant Repetiteur for the Salvatore Aiello Trust. Diego is excited to have the opportunity to present his work at the American Dance Festival.
JUSTIN DOMINIC began his dance training at Newark Arts High School and was a fellowship student at The Ailey School. He completed summer programs at American Ballet Theater in Bermuda on the Katherine Zeta-Jones Scholarship, Joffrey Ballet School, and Jacob’s Pillow. On full scholarship, Justin received his BFA from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he performed with the Limón Company and in works by Mark Morris, Lar Lubovitch, Merce Cunningham, George Balanchine, Donald McKayle, and Larry Keigwin. He was a member of Lustig Dance Theater, LaneCoArts, Dance Iquail, Keigwin + Company, and performed with the Mark Morris Dance Group in Hard Nut, with The Metropolitan Opera, working with choreographers Doug Varone, Mark Morris, and Alexei Ratmansky. Justin has worked closely with Ronald K. Brown, Hofesh Schecter, Carolyn Adams, and Francesca Harper and is a principal dancer with Nai Ni Chen Dance Company.
WESLEY MCINTYRE, a native of Yulee, FL, started dancing at the age of 10. His training began at Bean School of Dance and Gymnastics in Fernandina Beach, FL under the direction of Denise Caraway and Missy Ponder. McIntyre trained in classical ballet at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts under Rhonda Stampolia, performing in ballets such as the Jacksonville Symphony’s Nutcracker, Copellia, and Sleeping Beauty. McIntyre recently received his BFA degree from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a focus in Contemporary Dance, where he had the opportunity to train and perform with choreographers and companies such as Alonzo King Lines Ballet, the Mark Morris Dance Group, Doug Elkins Dance Company, Larry Kegwin, and others. McIntyre also paticipated in a three-month intensive with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. SPECIAL THANKS to Triangle Youth Ballet and Artistic Director Lauren Lorentz de Haas for her encouragement and allowing me to use her studios for rehearsal, to Kathryn E. Grillo, Director of Dance Costume at UNCSA for facilitating use of the costumes, and to Banu Valladares, my best critic, most fervent supporter, and loving partner. RENAY AUMILLER
Founded in 2012, RENAY AUMILLER DANCES (RAD) has quickly gained momentum in North Carolina through thought- provoking performances displaying keen wit and fluid physicality. The company is based in Durham, NC, and is comprised of professional dancers from the area known for their technical and creative capacities. RAD seeks to highlight the effects of locality, collaboration, and association within a highly formalized and crafted structure in an effort to offer a point of entry into the poignant yet hidden qualities of human frailty. Since its formation, RAD has been selected to tour with the NC Dance Festival across the state of North Carolina and to showcase work in the Greensboro Fringe Festival, NC Triad Choreography Showcase, and the Carolina Theater’s Dances for Small Spaces. Under the artistic direction of Renay Aumiller, RAD’s most recent work includes Pretty/Ugly (2013), an evening length work exploring polarized extremes and shifts in perspectives. They have just finished touring Left and Leaving (2012). RAD is currently preparing for the premiere of its second evening-length work in spring of 2015.
RENAY AUMILLER has presented her dance works in New York City, Chicago, Louisville, Urbana, IL, Kansas City, MO, and the Triangle/Triad areas of North Carolina as the Founding Artistic Director of Renay Aumiller Dances (RAD). She dances and tours with Lauren Kearns and The Kearns Dance Project and has performed with numerous choreographers and companies including Renée Wadleigh, Christian Von Howard, and Chicago- based contemporary companies, The Dance Team and Thread Meddle Outfit. Additionally, Aumiller toured Taiwan, Cambodia, and Italy with internationally acclaimed Improvisation master, Kirstie Simson. Aumiller’s education includes a BA in Dance Studies from the University of North Carolina- Greensboro and an MFA in Choreography from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. During her graduate studies, she was awarded the Vannie L. Shiery Scholarship for outstanding performance (2007), the Wanda Nettl Prize for Choreography (2008), the Hamstrom Award for artistic integrity (2008), and the Pat Knowles Travel Award (2009). Professionally, Aumiller was the 2011 North Carolina Dance Alliance Choreography Fellow and has received grants through Elon University and the NC Dance Alliance. She has served as dance faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Beloit College, and is an Assistant Professor in Dance at Elon University. Ms. Aumiller has enjoyed guest residencies at NC State University, Washington and Lee University, Appalachian State University, Iowa State University, Salem College, NC Governor’s School West, and Enloe Magnet High School. She also teaches regularly at Arts Together in Raleigh, NC and ADF’s Samuel H. Scripps Studios in Durham, NC.
AMANDA BEATY is passionate about the human body in motion. She is thankful to be performing in multiple projects with Renay Aumiller Dances and The Kearns Dance Project this year. From 2009 to 2013, she created and performed with Durham, NC’s Gaspard&Dancers and has also enjoyed working with Eleanor Smith, Even Exchange Dance Theater, Jane Comfort, and Mark Dendy. Amanda teaches movement classes at Arts Together, Raleigh’s non-profit multi-arts school and is a researcher at UNC- Chapel Hill’s Lineberger Cancer Center. She studied biology and dance at UNC-Greensboro and holds a master’s in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia. Amanda is grateful to her husband and family for their loving support!
JULIE CHAMPAGNE is a graduate of Elon University where she holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a minor in Business Administration. In 2010, she worked at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl in A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas in the Magic Kingdom. In 2011, she danced in ABC Family’s A Cinderella Story: Once Upon A Song starring Lucy Hale. This past year, she danced in the Bel Canto performance of Menotti’s The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore with The Kearns Dance Project and performed with Renay Aumiller Dances in the NCDF tour.
JULIE CROTHERS is a recent graduate of Elon University. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a BA in Arts Administration. Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Julie has trained at Ann Carroll School of Dance, Nashville Ballet, Bates Dance Festival, and Elon University in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, tap, and improvisation. Her choreography has been presented at multiple Elon dance concerts, North Carolina Dance Alliance, Bates Dance Festival, American College Dance Festival-Southeast Conference Gala, National Conference on Undergraduate Research, and Joria Mainstage Theatre in New York City.
COLETTE DONG received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, BS in Dance Science, and Minor in Exercise Science from Elon University. Professionally she has worked with The Westchester Ballet Company, Naganuma Dance, Terranova Dance Theatre, The Kearns Dance Project, and is currently a member of Naganuma II. Her Elon credits include Looking Back to Spring Forward (2014), Moving Visuals (2013), Fused Moves (2012), On that Note (2011), Dancing in the Black Box (2012), Senior Thesis Dance Concert (2011, 2012), and Choreography Salon I and II (2011, 2012, 2013). She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi fraternity, Alpha Xi Delta sorority, and Delta Chi Xi fraternity. She has received high accolades for her independent research in Dance Science, and has had the pleasure of presenting at IADMS and NCUR as well as working at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in NYC. She is thrilled to be joining RAD for this show and is honored to be a part of the ADF performance series.
LEAH WILKS is a Durham-based dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She is on faculty at Carolina Friends School, Studio A DanceArts, 9th St. Dance, and ADF. Most recently as a performer she has danced with Nicola Bullock, Gaspard&Dancers, and Department of Improvised Dance. She runs her own multi-media dance company, VECTOR, with visual artist Jon Haas (for more information go to inthevector.com). This is her first time dancing with RAD and she is so thrilled to finally get the opportunity to do so!
STACY WOLFSON graduated from Radford University in 2003 with a BS in dance. She lived in Chicago for 10 years and co- founded the modern company, The Space Movement Project. For 8 years, Stacy choreographed, performed, and produced many works with these amazing women. Other performance and choreography credits include David Dorfman Dance, MotivityDance, Lucy Vurusic Riner, Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Chicago Cultural Center, Erin Carlisle Norton, Ayako Kato, and The Inconvenience. She is also a certified Pilates instructor, owns Bull City Pilates and Massage with her husband, and is a mama of 2 little girls. She is so happy to be in Durham!