The Mosaic Dance Festival

Check back soon for information about the 2014 Mosaic Dance Festival!

A celebration of movement experimenting with the music, rhythms, and colors of the Indian subcontinent

Festival 2013

Sunday, December 1st, 2013
7:30pm
Broadway Dance Center
322 W 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

December, 2013 Performers

Arielle Rosales (New York City)
Beat Club Crew (Central New Jersey)
Groove Merchant Drum & Dance Ensemble (Central New Jersey)
Gustavo Caldas (New York)
juri nishio (New York City)
Kalamandir Dance Company (Central New Jersey)
Kamaria Dailey (Brooklyn, NY)
Katherine Roarty (New York City)
Patrick Suzeau and Meggi Sweeney Smith (University of Kansas)
Transcending Motion (Central New Jersey)

 

1375160_10202336102580952_2108202061_nArielle Rosales (New York City): Arielle Rosales, aka ʺThe Urban Gypsyʺ, is a New York based dancer / choreographer / teacher. She has been dubbed ʺExcitingly rhythmic and undoubtedly seductiveʺ by Dance Informa Magazine, and ʺA very intense and wonderful new choreographic talentʺ by Luis Salgado on BroadwayWorld.com. As a member of several dance companies in New York and Chicago, Arielle has had the opportunity to perform throughout the U.S., U.K., and Spain, including renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Minskoff Theatre, and The Joyce Theatre. She has been featured on The Today Show, Telemundo, and Good Morning America. Her choreography has been featured in commercials for Nokia, music video “Ahora o Nunca” for Mexican recording artist Shanik Hughes, East Flatbush Dance Festival, STEPS Faculty Concert, Sybarite Prod. Love Is Love Showcase, and most recently for The Latin Quarter Show at REVEL Casino & Resort in Atlantic City. Company Dancer: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, Andrea Del Conte Danza España, Soul & Duende, Cultural Explosion Dance Co. Commercial: Nokia, Target, MTV. Film/TV: Going the Distance (Warner Bros.), True to the Heart (2011 LIIFE Award Winner, Best Supporting Actress), ʺFatal Encountersʺ Season 2 (NBC Universal), The Today Show (NBC), Good Morning America (ABC). Print: Verizon. Theater: Zorro The Musical (The Alliance, ATL; Dir. Christopher Renshaw), Sex, Relationships, and Sometimes Love (Michael Chekhov Theatre Co.), The Pestilence Is Coming (Magic Futurebox), Independence (The Ansonia Theatre). Training: The American Musical & Dramatic Academy, The New School University (BFA – Musical Theatre; Certificate in Creative Arts & Health w/ emphasis in Dance Therapy), Amor de Dios Centro De Flamenco (Madrid, ESP), The Institute for Spanish Arts (Santa Fe, NM), Apprenticeship and Teachers in Training Certificate Program under Andrea Del Conte. For more information, please visit www.ArielleRosales.com!

 

 

 

beatclubBeat Club Crew (Central New Jersey): Led by Eric Samson, Beat Club is a family of dancers who use many forms of dance and their creativity to express themselves in a positive way. The world is full of obstacles and negative pitfalls. We choose dance to express ourselves instead of falling into those pitfalls and to learn how to persevere past the obstacles. Its like learning a gravity defying freeze…you’ll fall and fail many times, but you’ll never learn how to do it until you keep picking yourself up and try again. Beat Club gets its name from rising above adversity, negativity, and ʺbeatingʺ the odds. There is no growth without struggle. Beat Club studies urban dance forms from the 70s, 80s, 90s, to current styles. Styles include: b-boying/b-girling, locking, house, popping, waacking, voguing, hip hop (90’s social/party dances), and commercial street jazz industry styles. Beat Club also is required to train in the traditional styles of ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, and lyrical. Beat Club Crew Facebook

 

 

 

 

1463415_732253033470676_1338203549_nGroove Merchant Drum & Dance Ensemble (Central New Jersey): Groove Merchant Drum & Dance Ensemble directed by Kim Leary (Alexia) and Dave Merritt performs dances and plays percussion instruments from cultures around the world. The ensemble performs culture-specific traditional pieces as well as our own original compositions. Some compositions are more traditional, loyal to the cultures that they represent while others are a fusion of musical ideas and traditions. Many of the group’s performances have been sponsored in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Groove Merchant Drum & Dance Ensemble is the resident performance group of Alexia’s Belly Dance & Beyond located in Lawrence, New Jersey (Princeton area). Some of the group’s performances include the Monroe Arts Center, The Kennedy Center (Burlington), Two River Theatre, guest performers with Jamila Salimpour’s Bal Anat, Paramount Concerts on the Beach, Lafayette Grill NYC as well at many festivals and conventions. www.facebook.com/AlexiaGrooveMerchant | www.drumdancecenter.com

 

 

 

gustavoGustavo Caldas Mr. Caldas is a native of Salvador, Bahia in Brazil. The Caldas family hails from a long lineage of capoeiristas that have practiced Capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian martial arts), Afro-Brazilian dance, and music, which Gustavo began studying as a young child. Gustavo toured extensively with Bale Folclório da Bahia, Brazil’s premier company and was selected to perform, to teach kids, teens and adult Capoeira, Music and Dance workshops. His unique talents have allowed him the opportunity to teach and perform throughout the U.S.A, Europe and Asia with The Vanaver Caravan, Balé Folclorico da Bahia, Viver Brasil and many other companies. Gustavo Caldas Website

 

 

 

jurijuri nishio (New York): juri nishio is a performance artist living in NY. She was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and graduated from Nihon University of Art with degree in Drama. She came to NY in 2003 to investigate contemporary and African form and 2006, completed the International Student Independent Study program at The Ailey School. Her work includes choreographed dances with the Vangeline Theater, Khaleah London/ LAYERS, Sacred Space Dance(Rainy Demerson), Nora Chipaumire, Camille A Brown, Urban Bush Women, Joanna H Norris, ARCH(Sridhar Shanmugan), M’WORD(N’Bewe Escobar), INSPIRIT a dance company(Christal N Brown), and Maimouna Keita school of African Dance(Marie Basse Wiles). She also presented her solo works to express her voice. She performed at Triskelion Arts, Eden’s expressway, AUGA JAPAN, Greene Space, Jebon, Perry Dance Studio, Hudson River Park, Meta Center, ARE Center (Edgar Cayce Center), Laguardia Community College, BRIC studo, Daibosatsu Zendo kogoji, Charles Moore Dance Theater, Springfield College, Trinity College, CRS(Center for Remembering and Sharing), Bowery Poetry Club and Hunter College. Through her own body language “ Afro-Zen” a stylized Zen, Wabi-Sabi with plenty of Afro spice, she convey the rhythm and message from the spirit. jurinishio.com

 

 

 

img_0044Kalamandir Dance Company (Central New Jersey): Kalamandir Dance Company (501c3) is a contemporary dance ensemble that uses the vocabulary of classical Indian dance to explore new spaces of artistic expression. Instead of diminishing the foundation of our classical styles, we look to investigate their communicative potential when merged with Western dance traditions. Using Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Capoeira, Flamenco, Modern and Ballet training, our dancers collaboratively converse with movement and create dialogue with expression. We are driven by creativity, human emotions, and a desire to be released from the four walls of our daily existence. Our movement vocabulary is a collective effort that aims to create a reachable area for all people to participate and communicate. kalamandirdanceco.com

 

 

 

 

 

kamariaKamaria Dailey (Brooklyn, NY): Kamaria Dailey (Brooklyn, NY): Kamaria Dailey is a native of Miami, FL and began training in the arts at the age of eight; studying dance, music, voice, and theater. She went on to receive a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Dance, from the conservatory program at New World School of the Arts/UF in 2008. Moreover, she has studied at several renowned programs on full scholarship, including Jacobs Pillow, Garth Fagan Summer Institute, Sankofa Dance Festival with Chuck Davis, and Florida Dance Festival. Upon graduation, Kamaria moved to New York City and began working with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and Simone Sobers Dance, while venturing back and forth to Miami to work with Brazz Dance Theatre. Alongside performing, Ms. Dailey developed an extensive teaching resume which includes Pure Elements, Forces of Nature Dance Theater/HCZ, New World School of the Arts, Miami Dade College, and many more. She also consults with cultural organizations that produce arts events and bulletins, such as Artzy People, 77 Indie Street, and Legros Cultural Arts Organization. Kamaria is currently developing solo repertory and performing vigorously. Her choreography has been presented at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, CMD’H in Spain, Chorl’ton Arts Festival in England, Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX) Upstart Festival, Triskellion Arts Center, Here Arts Center, Florida Dances, etc. She has been featured in press publications such as the Miami Herald, Caribbean Today, and the Performing Arts Literary Magazine for her performing and public speaking accomplishments. Her movement style has influence in the African Diaspora blended with experimental contemporary, with emphasis on improvisation. As a multi-talented artist, she often fuses her work with media, text, and/or voice. Kamaria Dailey believes in using the creative voice of the arts to shine a light on the voice of her soul. www.kamariadailey.com www.kamariadailey.com

 

 

462698_10150923289684535_1706409950_oKatherine Roarty (New York City): Katherine Roarty is a native of Pittsburgh, PA. She received a BFA in Dance from University of Illinois, along with a degree in Business. Her training includes the Alvin Ailey Professional School, Broadway Dance Center Internship Program, and Lou Conte Dance Studio Scholarship Program. Katherine was awarded Mark Morris Dance Group Shadow Scholarship and has performed works by Stefanie Batten-Bland, Carl Flink, Darcy Naganuma, and Dana Foglia. She is currently living in New York City, as a professional dancer with MSA Agency. Her performance credits include the Victoria Secret Fashion Show ft. Nikki Minaj, national commercials, Spirit Productions Cirque and Rocket Man, and more. Katherine has also earned her credits as a choreographer. Her most recent works were featured in Broadway Dance Center’s Performance Project and Student Showcase. She has also choreographed for University and High School dance teams across the country. Katherine continues to teach and perform on national and international stages. Website

 

 

 

 

patrickPatrick Suzeau and Meggi Sweeney Smith (University of Kansas): Patrick Suzeau – Reviewed as a ʺvery special performer…prodigious techniqueʺ (Dance Magazine) ʺphysically expressive, a pleasure to watchʺ (The New York Times) Suzeau is a professor of Dance at the University of Kansas. His early career includes Les Ballets Modernes du Canada and Theatre de Danse Contemporaine while in Montreal, various groups and television work while in Mexico City. While in New York he toured nationally as a solo artist for the Affiliate Artists program and performed for Mary Anthony, Pearl Lang, Anna Sokolow among others. He taught at the Alvin Ailey School, American Academy of dramatic Arts, Barry/Klein, Mary Anthony studio, and others. The Juilliard trained Suzeau is the recipient of several grants and choreography commissions from private and public funds, including a Fulbright Fellowship and the Master Fellowship from the Kansas Arts Commission. A Certified Laban Movement Analyst, he has been a guest artist at countless universities. Formerly NYC based the COHAN/SUZEAU Dance Company has toured the Midwest (on the NEA Regional and the KAC Touring Programs) ʺThis is what art at its best is all aboutʺ (Arts Indiana). Cohan and Suzeau continuing their international appearances will be artists in residence in Kuala Lumpur choreographing a new work on Malaysian dancers to be performed January 2014. For more information on the company, please go to cohansuzeau.org.

Meggi Sweeney Smith (dancer) a performer and educator, currently lives in New York City. She has performed solo roles for companies including CorbinDances, Nellie van Bommel, Cohan/Suzeau Dance Company, and internationally for the New York Baroque Dance Company. She also danced Anna Sokolow’s 1965 piece Odes with the Sokolow Dance/Theater Ensemble and was part of the original cast for Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theater’s The Spring to Igor Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps. She has performed works by the Intercultural Arts Dialogue, José Limón, Wally Cardona, Kate Skarpetowska, Patrick Corbin, William Whitener and more. Meggi graduated from the University of Kansas earning highest honors for her BFA in dance and music minor. While there she received the Undergraduate Research Award for her work in the field of dance history, as well as the School of Fine Arts Collaborative Initiative Award and an honorable mention for the Sara and Mary Edwards Paretsky Award for Creativity. Meggi has guest taught at various festivals and universities in the area and at the Mark Morris Dance Center. She is currently pursuing her MA in Teaching Dance in the Professions at NYU Steinhardt, while teaching and performing. For more information please see www.meggisweeney.com

 

transcending

Transcending Motion is a modern day contemporary performance group comprised of dancers from all genres of movement and style. The company is co-directed and choreographed by Courtney Goerge and Christy Rak-Samson and is the sister group of the Beat Club Crew currently based out of the FUNKtion Dance Complex. TM dancers are encouraged to transcend and move beyond ordinary limits or preconceived notions in their ability and skill set. This allows for freedom of any restrictions or boundaries to help push themselves to find a greater quality in dance, movement and in their own lives. Visit their facebook page here.

 

 

 

 

Festival 2012
Festival 2011

 

Festival 2012

September, 2012 Performers

Beat Club Crew (Central New Jersey)
Carson Reiners/CDR Dance Projects (New York City)
Central New Jersey Ballet Theater (Central New Jersey)
DeXdance (Central New Jersey)
Emily Berry (New York)
Gustavo Caldas (New York)
Illstyle & Peace Productions (Philadelphia)
Kalamandir Dance Company (Central New Jersey)
Moushumi Phukan (Assam, India)
Patrick Suzeau (University of Kansas)
Sonja Chung (New York/New Jersey)
Yesid Lopez (New York)

Beat Club Crew (Central New Jersey): Led by Eric Samson, Beat Club focuses on the pure forms of Hip-Hop to use their creativity for expressing themselves in a positive way. Original Hip-Hop was about peace, love, and understanding and we dance with those beliefs in mind. The world is full of obstacles and negative pitfalls. We choose dance to express ourselves instead of falling into those pitfalls and to learn how to persevere past the obstacles. Its like learning a gravity defying freeze…you’ll fall and fail many times but you’ll never learn how to do it until you keep picking yourself up and try again. Beat Club gets its name from rising above adversity, negativity, and “beating” the odds. There is no growth without struggle. Beat Club studies hip-hop dance forms from the 70s, 80s, 90s, to current styles. Styles include: b-boying/b-girling, locking, house, popping, waacking, voguing, new jack swing, and street jazz industry styles. Website here.

Carson Reiners/CDR Dance Projects (New York City): Carson is originally from NJ but grew up in NYC where she worked and studied dance until she moved across the great wide blue to Europe to study in Holland. Then she officially moved to Holland to complete her BA, later moving to Spain for some time. She believes that dance can exist on its own but sparks a beauty when combined with other art forms. Dance allows an outside force to impact it. Carson aims to create and test the boundaries of unrelated situations and see what can be created. Lastly, Carson believes there is a vast amount of knowledge that the world has to offer and would love to be able to travel, learn, meet and create with as much as she can. Website here.

Central New Jersey Ballet (Central New Jersey): CNJB provides New Jersey and other surrounding areas with ballet training in an atmosphere that declares artistry as top priority. Whether a dancer is on the path to a professional career or just studies the art form for sheer enjoyment, CNJB gives students an inside perpective on ballet and performance, ranging from the “young dancer” to the “pre-professional”. CNJB was founded by a current professional ballet dancer, with the idea that students work alongside professional or former professional dancers to solidify an artistic identity, find personal strength, build confidence and achieve a finely tuned technique. Website here.

DeXdance (Central New Jersey): DeXdance performs, improvises, and plays through modern dance in a variety of quirky spaces. Public parks, libraries, galleries, empty storefronts, the backyard, and the beach are some of the company’s favorites to date! DeX is also thrilled to perform in Fringe Festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada. Past tour spots include Maine, Connecticut, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Colorado, and Indiana. The company also performs close to home in New York City and in their home state of New Jersey. Website here.

Emily Berry/B3W (New York): Emily Berry is the Artistic Director of B3W, which has performed in the US, England and Mexico. In New York City, The company premiered their first evening lenght work, Confined, at Dixon Place in 2010 with a Mondo Cane Commission. B3W has performed at Henry Street Settlement, Dance New Amsterdam, Dixon Place, BAAD!, the 92nd Street Y, the RAW Studio Showings with DanceNOW, the International Dance Festival NYC, the DUMBO Dance Festival, the Manhattan Movement Arts Center, and the Cool New York Dance Festival. The company has also premiered two dance films in Maryland and in Switzerland. Emily has performed with Boris Willis Moves, Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh & Company, Restless Native Dance/Tamieca McCloud, Milvia Pacheco Dance, Michele Dunleavy, Lesole’s Dance Project, and Ashe Moyubba/Alafia Afro-Cuban Folkloric Dance Ensemble. She is currently dancing with danceTactics Performance Group/Keith Thompson. She is a Certified Movement Analyst and also has a MFA in dance from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Dance Arts from the University of Michigan. She has taught at Oakland University, George Mason University, Marymount University, Coppin State University, Montgomery College, and the Community College of Baltimore County. She has also taught master classes for ACDFA, Hunter College, Goucher College, the College of William and Mary, the University of Michigan, and numerous dance intensives. She commissioned to set a piece on Ann Arbor Dance Works in May, 2010. She is currently an assistant professor of dance at Queensborough Community College. Website here.

Gustavo Caldas (New York): Mr. Caldas is a native of Salvador, Bahia in Brazil. The Caldas family hails from a long lineage of capoeiristas that have practiced Capoeira (an Afro-Brazilian martial arts), Afro-Brazilian dance, and music, which Gustavo began studying as a young child. Gustavo toured extensively with Bale Folclório da Bahia, Brazil’s premier company and was selected to perform, to teach kids, teens and adult Capoeira, Music and Dance workshops. His unique talents have allowed him the opportunity to teach and perform throughout the U.S.A, Europe and Asia with The Vanaver Caravan, Balé Folclorico da Bahia, Viver Brasil and many other companies. Website here.

Illstyle & Peace Productions (Philadelphia): Illstyle and Peace Productions is a multi-cultural, male and female dance theatre company which fuses hip hop with various other styles of dance. Founded in 2002 by Brandon Albright and Forrest Webb, the company creates and shares awe-inspiring works (live performances and residencies) with diverse audiences and is committed to spreading unity, peace, love, respect and fun through dance. Brandon Albright a.k.a. “Peace” is the Artistic Director of Illstyle and Peace Productions. He lives, eats and breathes hip-hop as a dancer, recording artist, dance instructor, choreographer and actor. Intrigued by the universality of hip-hop, he seeks inspiration from other dance forms and arts as well. He was an original member of the Philly based crew Scanner Boyz and has danced for major recording artists such as: Schooly D, Will Smith, Tuff Crew, Boyz II Men, LL Cool J, Run DMC, and The Beach Boys. Video Clip here
Kalamandir Dance Company (Central New Jersey): A contemporary dance ensemble that uses the vocabulary of classical Indian dance to explore new spaces of artistic expression. Instead of diminishing the foundation of our classical styles, we look to investigate their communicative potential when merged with Western dance traditions. Using Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Capoeira, Flamenco, Modern and Ballet training, our dancers converse with movement and create dialogue with expression. We are driven by creativity, human emotions, and a desire to be released from the four walls of our daily existence. Our movement vocabulary aims to create a reachable area for all people to participate and communicate. Website here

Moushumi Phukan (Assam, India): Moushumi is from Assam, India, and has been dancing and teaching Bihu for several years. Bihu is a traditional folk dance from the state of Assam, and the dance style is related to the Bihu festival of India. Moushumi has performed this rare form of art in many memorable events, such as Kharavella festival in Orissa (2004/2005), Replublic Day in New Delhi (2003), Dusshera festival in Himachal Pradesh, Antaragni (2004), Octave (2005/2006), Virasat Utsav (2003), Mondei (2006) and more. Moushumi has performed plays in the National School Of Drama (NSD) on the occasion of Bharat Rang Mahotsav, and has taught Bihu in Assam to young kids and adults. Video here.

 

Patrick Suzeau (University of Kansas): Patrick Suzeau is a professor of dance at the University of Kansas. His early performing career includes: Les Ballets Modernes du Canada and Theatre de Danse Contemporaine while in Montreal, and various groups and television work while in Mexico. Upon his arrival in New York City he performed for Mary Anthony, Pearl Lang, Anna Sokolow, among others, in off-Broadway theatres and toured as a solo artist for the national Affiliate Artists program. In collaboration with Muriel Cohan he founded the COHAN/SUZEAU Dance Company that has performed nationally and abroad to critical acclaim. “The talented, gutsy pair have, through the perfection of their craft and the vivacity of their art, carved a respected place for themselves in the crowded landscape of the New York City dance world” (Cleveland Magazine). Website here

 

Sonja Chung (New York/New Jersey): Sonja is pursuing a BFA at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. She is an accomplished dancer, fashion and dance choreographer and model, and is making a name for herself in the tri-state area. LinkedIn Profile here.

Yesid Lopez (New York City):YESID LOPEZ is originally from Colombia where he began his dance training in ballet at the age of 18 with Jaime Diaz and Ana Consuelo Gomez Caballero in Anna Pavlova´s Ballet Academy in Bogota dancing as corps of ballet and soloist in The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet as well as in contemporary pieces. He received a scholarship from The School at Jacob´s Pillow in the jazz program in 2004 and 2006 where he was training with Luigi, Matt Mattox, Bill Hastings, Chet Walker, Patti Wilcox, Dana Moore, Alex Sanchez, James Kinney and Mark Burrel and a full scholarship from Inland Pacific Ballet Academy in Montclair, CA where he danced Dracula and The Nutcracker. Yesid has performed in Colombia, UK, Cuba, USA as a dancer and choreographer in latin, jazz and contemporary ballet styles and South Korea as a choreographer-featured dancer with Hanwha Resort in Sokcho City.
In 2006, Yesid moved to New York where he received a full scholarship from STEPS on Broadway and was selected to be a member of the Steps Repertory Ensemble 2006-2008 performing different works from choreographers like Heidi Latsky, Steven Sofia, Jason Winters,Bradley Shelver, Wes Veldink, Max Stone and Monica Bill Barnes. As a choreographer Yesid has performed in different venues in the New York City Area like Winter Follies- Spoke The Hub, Steps Lab Series, PMT Seasonal Showcase, RHYTHMS, Mojito/DanceOmopolitan at Joe’s Pub, Dance Tracks NYC, Dumbo Dance Festival, Bridge for Dance, Local Produce- Spoke The Hub, COOL New York, The Ailey Citigroup Theater, El Museo, The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College and has received reviews in publications like Attitude The Dancers’ Magazine, Ballet-Dance Magazine, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and Dance Spirit. He has danced with Ballet Hispanico, works as a Ballroom Instructor and choreographer at Dance Times Square and DeMa Dance Company as a Co-Artistic Director and resident choreographer. Website here.

Beat Club Crew (Central New Jersey): Lead by Eric Samson, Beat Club focuses on the pure forms of Hip-Hop to use their creativity for expressing themselves in a positive way. Original Hip-Hop was about peace, love, and understanding and we dance with those beliefs in mind. The world is full of obstacles and negative pitfalls. We choose dance to express ourselves instead of falling into those pitfalls and to learn how to persevere past the obstacles. Its like learning a gravity defying freeze…you’ll fall and fail many times but you’ll never learn how to do it until you keep picking yourself up and try again. Beat Club gets its name from rising above adversity, negativity, and “beating” the odds. There is no growth without struggle. Beat Club studies hip-hop dance forms from the 70s, 80s, 90s, to current styles. Styles include: b-boying/b-girling, locking, house, popping, waacking, voguing, new jack swing, and street jazz industry styles. Website here.

Capoeira Maranhão (Central New Jersey): Established in 2009 by Professor Maranhão (Jose Carlos Silva), the group practices contemporary capoeira, combining different angola and regional styles. They are also exposed to the Afro-Brazilian culture (including practices, customs, and the Portuguese language) as well as percussive music, Samba and Maculele. The group is located in Central New Jersey. Website here.
COHAN/SUZEAU Dance Company (University of Kansas): Muriel Cohan and Patrick Suzeau were established performers in the works of New York choreographers Mary Anthony, Anna Sokolow, Pearl Lang, and others prior to the formation of their own company. Since its founding, Cohan/Suzeau Dance Company has toured nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. Both award- winning choreographers, they combine their strengths to create programs of dramatic power, lyric force and humor. They have appeared as artists in residence in numerous colleges and universities across the country and are currently on the NEA regional touring program of Mid-America Arts Alliance and the Kansas Arts Commission Touring Program. They are presently the company in residence at the University of Kansas. Both have received fellowships in choreography from the Kansas Arts Commission. Website here.
Janete Silva (New York City): Having studied dance since childhood, Silva has performed with various local and international companies such as Dance Brazil (NY), Bale Folclórico da Bahia (Brazil), Bahia Brazil (Los Angeles), Orquestra Popular da Bahia (Brasil), Freddiek Bratcher and Company (Miami) to name a few. Her professional training includes Afro-Brazilian Dance, Ballet, Modern Dance and Silvestre Technique. Janete has appeared as a dancer on star singer Ivete Sangalo’s recent DVD who will be performing at Madison Square Garden in NYC on September 4th. Currently, Janete is a master dance teacher in New York City. She also travels regularly for bookings and has most recently participated in the Lowell Folk Festival (Lowell) and National Black Arts Festival (Atl, GA), the Brazilian Independence Day Celebration (Atl, GA), Target’s Super Sabado! at El Museo del Barrio, and the Houston Brazilian Festival.
Kalamandir Dance Company (Central New Jersey): A contemporary dance ensemble that uses the vocabulary of classical Indian dance to explore new spaces of artistic expression. Instead of diminishing the foundation of our classical styles, we look to investigate their communicative potential when merged with Western dance traditions. Using Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Capoeira, Flamenco, Modern and Ballet training, our dancers converse with movement and create dialogue with expression. We are driven by creativity, human emotions, and a desire to be released from the four walls of our daily existence. Our movement vocabulary aims to create a reachable area for all people to participate and communicate.
Nabanita Pal (New York City): Nabanita or Neeta is a recent Fulbright Creative arts grantee who trained at the Orissa Dance Academy in Bhubaneswar, India under the direction of Guru Aruna Mohanty and Guru Madhusmitha Mohanty. Neeta is also a student of Chitra Krishnamurti of Nrityalaya in Maryland. She is an emerging dancer interested in presenting Odissi in a way that highlights the hybridity of its many mediums – movement, music, poetry and theater – and encourages engagement with the audience. The Odissi that she has come to make her own is one that does not sacrifice technical precision for lyricism and spontaneity. Recognizing that the Indian classical dances are continually re-created as much as they are inherited, she hopes to channel Odissi’s evocative power to access individual and collective experiences.
Shibani Patnaik (Philadelphia): Extensively trained in Odissi, her instruction has entailed frequent visits to India to study under internationally acclaimed Gurus Padmashree Gangadhar Pradhan, Aruna Mohanty, Manoranjan Pradhan and Yudhistir Nayak from the Orissa Dance Academy in India. Shibani’s gurus have lived with the Patnaik family in San Diego, California for extended periods of time helping Shibani master the techniques of Odissi. She is an energetic dancer with a strong technical background who strikes the perfect combination of power and grace. Website here.
Vervet Dance (Philadelphia): A contemporary dance company whose dance works draw on both the legacy of modern dance and cross-cultural influences to create innovative movement vocabularies and imaginative choreographies. Vervet strikes a unique balance between classic forms, new ideas, and ancient purposes for dance. Although subject matter varies, what is characteristic of the company is an ongoing intellectual diligence meeting a curious playfulness and an exploration of the visual and visceral components of dance. Website here.
photo by Justin Tornow

Kamaria Dailey (Brooklyn, NY): Kamaria Dailey is a native of Miami, FL and began training in the arts at the age of eight; studying dance, music, voice, and theater. She went on to receive a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Dance, from the conservatory program at New World School of the Arts/UF in 2008. Moreover, she has studied at several renowned programs on full scholarship, including Jacobs Pillow, Garth Fagan Summer Institute, Sankofa Dance Festival with Chuck Davis, and Florida Dance Festival. Upon graduation, Kamaria moved to New York City and began working with Forces of Nature Dance Theatre and Simone Sobers Dance, while venturing back and forth to Miami to work with Brazz Dance Theatre. Alongside performing, Ms. Dailey developed an extensive teaching resume which includes Pure Elements, Forces of Nature Dance Theater/HCZ, New World School of the Arts, Miami Dade College, and many more. She also consults with cultural organizations that produce arts events and bulletins, such as Artzy People, 77 Indie Street, and Legros Cultural Arts Organization. Kamaria is currently developing solo repertory and performing vigorously. Her choreography has been presented at the Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, CMD’H in Spain, Chorl’ton Arts Festival in England, Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX) Upstart Festival, Triskellion Arts Center, Here Arts Center, Florida Dances, etc. She has been featured in press publications such as the Miami Herald, Caribbean Today, and the Performing Arts Literary Magazine for her performing and public speaking accomplishments. Her movement style has influence in the African Diaspora blended with experimental contemporary, with emphasis on improvisation. As a multi-talented artist, she often fuses her work with media, text, and/or voice. Kamaria Dailey believes in using the creative voice of the arts to shine a light on the voice of her soul. www.kamariadailey.com

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