Emily Bicks upon entering high school attended the Kirov Academy of Ballet studying the Vaganova Method. She spent her summers at various intensives including ABT, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Kaatsbaan International. At the Kennedy Center she danced in Debbie Allen's Dreams and La Bayadere with the Universal Ballet Company. Emily recently spent a season in the Off-Broadway play, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I owe my entire college education to Mom and Dad. LOVE YOU
Zöe Blake, originally from Los Angeles, California, began training seriously at Westside Ballet, a preprofessional ballet company under the direction of Rosemary Valaire and Yvonne Mounsey. She furthered her training by attending The Rock School, The Jillana School, Ballet Chicago, Dance Theater of Harlem, and Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance.She has performed at the Hollywood Bowl with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Dance Theater Workshop. She is in the process of completing a minor in Communication Studies.
Chelsea Bonosky was born in Rochester, New York, and studied under the mentorship of Timothy M. Draper at the Draper Center For Dance Education, where she was a Principal Member of their contemporary company. Her summer intensives include: Hubbard Street Dance, Limon Dance at SUNY Brockport, and American Ballet Theatre, New York. She has performed with Brigette Moore, Cherylyn Lavagnino, and worked for Gina Gibney Dance, networking their online Facebook Group and has also enjoyed working with “Dancers Responding to AIDS”.
Kelly Brunk is from Kansas City, Missouri. Kelly has been dancing for over 16 years. He’s studied at the Kansas City Ballet, Priscilla and Dana’s School of Dance, Dance Company of San Francisco and many more; and performed nationally and internationally in Vietnam and Austria. Kelly has choreographed for many venues including pageants, professional cheerleaders, and concert dance pieces. Kelly is also pursuing a minor in Pre- Business.
Bryan Campbell is a Brooklyn based dancer and choreographer. He has danced professionally with Christopher Williams, Stephan Koplowitz, Gus Solomons jr., Kate Digby, and Cadence Dubus, and has presented his own work in New York City at Dance Theater Workshop, The Tank, and Bowery Poetry Club.
Erica Frankel is from Snellville, Georgia. She attended the School at Jacob’s Pillow for two consecutive years under the direction of Chet Walker, as well as summer workshops at North Carolina School of the Arts and Virginia School of the Arts on full-tuition scholarship. Erica has worked with Milton Myers, Dana Moore, and Bill Hastings, and her honors include the Katrina Easter Performing Arts Memorial Scholarship, Dance Spirit Magazine’s “Future Star Award,” and Dance Masters of America’s title of “Miss Dance.”
Jackie Hunsinger-McConnell grew up in Salem, Oregon where she trained at Willamette Ballet Academy under Rik Eastman and Deborah Higginbotham during the school year and spent summers dancing with Houston Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, WA. She is currently dancing with Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance and Christopher Caines Dance Company.
Alana Isiguen trained at the Official School of the North Carolina Dance Theatre (NCDT) with Patricia McBride and Mark Diamond, and attended summer programs at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Chautauqua Ballet, and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. In 2003, she studied privately with Rebecca Massey at Piedmont Dance Conservatory, who gave her the opportunity to teach and choreograph. Alana has performed professionally with NCDT, Piedmont Dance Theatre, and Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance, and attended Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria, where she performed selected works by William Forsythe.
Jacob Peter Kovner has a background as a competitive figure skater. As a dancer, he has studied at Connecticut College, 2006 Tanz Im August Festival, 2007 Impulstanz Festival and 2008 Winter MELT Festival. He has studied with Meg Stuart, John Jasperse, David Dorfman, Lisa Race and Georg Reichsl. Jacob has been making work all along. As well as many pieces previously shown at Tisch and Connecticut College, he will also be showing his work this summer at the Tank and DTW.
Ariel Lembeck grew up in Evanston, Illinois. Her dance education includes: Interlochen Arts Festival, ABT (California), ADF, Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance and Winter MELT Festival. Ariel is currently interning in the Artist Services Department at Dance Theater Workshop and co-produced and performed in their 2008 CPP Performance Lab. In addition to dance, she has up started her own business (East Village Nut Butters) and is currently pursuing a minor in Business. She will be performing this summer at the TANK in NYC.
Jason Luks grew up in New Jersey training at multiple dance studios before coming to NYU. In 2003, he won Adult World Tap Champion at the World Tap Dance Championships in Riesa, Germany. His credits include Tapaholics, Saturday Night Live, MTV Video Music Awards, and Break the Floor at Radio City Music Hall. In 2006, Jason performed in the original production of “Common Grounds” in the NYMTF at 37 Arts. This past summer, his choreography was presented at St. Mark’s Church. Jason also choreographs and teaches as a guest teacher at studios and conventions around the nation.
Megan Madorin is a native of Denver, Colorado. She is on the verge of graduating from TSOA where she performs and has set her own works for the stage. Last summer, Megan studied abroad at the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria where she performed works by William Forsythe and studied with various European artists. Her other performing endeavors have been at The Tank, The Bowery Poetry Club, DUMBO Arts Festival, and Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts.
Hunt Parr hails from Petersburg, Alaska. He trained at Idyllwild Arts Academy, where he graduated with a major in Dance. Hunt has preformed internationally in Austria, Germany, and Italy, and his choreography has been featured in both Los Angeles and New York. He has appeared in works by Nora Reynolds-Daniel, Stefanie Gilliland, Deborah Brockus, and William Forsythe. He would like to thank his family for their constant support.
Sarah Purtzer was born and raised in Arizona where she trained and performed locally, for ten years, in ballet, jazz, tap, musical theater and hip-hop. She began her training at NYU in ballet, modern, composition, voice, and acting. Sarah plans to continue performing in NY upon graduation in May.
Khori Michelle Rogers inspired by seeing Dance Theater of Harlem’s production of Giselle at 12 years old began setting her sights on being a star! She began her studies at the Russell’s School of Ballet in Chantilly, Virginia but also studied at the Dance Theater of Harlem, North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Alvin Ailey School. She has also worked with the late Melissa Hayden (a George Balanchine prodigy), been a soloist with the Fairfax Ballet Company, and served as a demonstrator for Gus Solomons Jr, formerly with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company.
Sandra Ross grew up in Norwalk, CT where she trained in classical ballet techniques from a young age. She also studied modern, jazz, musical theater, and flamenco. Sandra participated in summer intensive programs including The Rock School (PA), Studio Maestro (NYC), and Boston Ballet prior to attending Tisch where she continues to develop her artistry.
Ally Sacks began her dance training at The New Jersey School of Ballet and eventually joined their Junior Company where she danced the lead role of Clara in the Nutcracker, among numerous other roles. She performed at Lincoln Center with the Kirov Ballet in La Bayadere and attended American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey summer programs. She would like to thank her family for their continuous support and love.
Alexander Schwartz grew up in Chico, CA. There, he danced as a principle dancer with Chico Community Ballet and was the captain of Full Force Hip-Hop Company. Alex furthered his training by attending the Joffery Summer Workshop, Lines Ballet summer program, and was a weeklong guest with the ABT II Company. Alex was also given the opportunity to work in Australia with the Royal Academy of Ballet and L’Ecole Ballet. Alex is also an actor, choreographer, composer and musician, and is in the process of starting a company combining all of his many passions.
Ariana Siegel attended the Cultural Arts Center for the Performing Arts. Outside of school, she was a principal dancer for the CAC Repertory Company, and studied at the Martha Graham School on full scholarship. She has attended various summer programs, including American Dance Festival, Pittsburg Youth Ballet, and New York State Summer School for the Arts. Recently, Ariana choreographed for SADC. She is excited about the following: completing a double major in Psychology, teaching hip-hop class, community outreach, and performing for you tonight.
Leia Weil began favoring dance as a mode of expression while growing up in California. She trained with teacher Shirley Winters, and attended summer programs with the San Francisco Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, and Bolzano Dance Festival (Italy). She is a 2008 Bronfman Jewish Artist Fellow and a Tisch scholarship recipient. Leia plans to graduate with another degree, a BA in Journalism. She expresses deep gratitude to her parents and grandparents, along with her entire family for their unwavering support and love.
Anna Whaley , a Maryland native, began her dance training at Carver Center for Arts and Technology. In 2005, she found ADF and branched out from her Taylor and Limon days. She attended Smith College and finally made her way to NYU! Her current influential teachers include Fernando Suels and Gerald Casel. Upon graduation, she looks forward to further exploring the offerings, needs and possibilities of dance. Anna is also excited about addressing her paths and interests of human rights, Buddhism and family in the near and distantfuture! She will be performing at The Tank and DTW this summer in NY(annakwhaley@gmail.com)
