The Dance Complex Faculty

(Alphabetical by first name)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Aicha "Astou" Sagna (African) has been dancing for twenty-five years. During this time, she worked with the African Ballet of Senegal and the National Ballet of Senegal.

Alyza Delpan-Monley (Contemporary), originally from Northern California, studied with Marin Ballet for ten years before moving to the Stapleton School of Performing Arts in 2004. Though her early fundamental training was in ballet, she explored modern, jazz, West African, flamenco, musical theatre, hip hop and contemporary dance. Since moving to Boston in 2007, Alyza has danced and choreographed for Sarabande, a contemporary, jazz, modern and ballet ensemble, and Spirit of Color, a hip-hop and contemporary company, both associated with Tufts University. In 2009 Alyza joined Static Noyze Dance Company, through which she dances, choreographs and teaches classes. Alyza's main goal as a choreographer is to stretch movement beyond the body and to create pieces that are expressive. Alyza currently attends Tufts University where she studies Philosophy and Economics.

AnaLinda Marcus www.tangoembrace.com (Tango) Argentine Tango is an improvisational social dance that changes lives, and AnaLinda fell under its spell 6 years ago. Social dance has been the connective tissue of her life since age 12. After dancing Jazz and Hip-hop in her 20's, she renewed her childhood involvement with Latin social dance in her 30's and studied Salsa and Mambo intensively, as well as Cha Cha, Bolero, Cumbia, and Bachata. She continues to dance these genres, which influence her Tango style. AnaLinda's method of movement in the Tango utilizes the concepts of stretch and release/weight and counterweight that she encountered as a student of both Tai Chi and Yoga. AnaLinda has taught dance classes for more than 5 years, initially as an assistant to Sharna Fabiano of the Boston Tango School. For the last 4 years she has led her own group and private classes. She was a member of the faculty at the former Brookline Community Center for the Arts, and is presently a member at the Dance Complex in Cambridge, MA. In addition to performing in the local area, AnaLinda has traveled extensively to pursue her Tango passion throughout North America. She has also been to Buenos Aires, Argentina several times to study Tango.

Andy Taylor-Blenis (Modern) - started dancing with her parents in International Folk Dance at age 0. Her early Creative Movement experiences were with Ruth Wheeler, co-founder of Dance Collective, and with Ann Brown-Allen. After receiving her BFA in Dance from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, she came to Boston and danced with Danny Sloane Dance, Paradigm Dance, Concert Dance Company, Dance Collective, Micki Taylor-Pinney, Dawn Kramer, Miguel Lopez, Milton Myers, Julie Ince-Thompson, ACE Entertainment, and has been with Prometheus Dance Company for 19 years.

She has taught International Dance through the Folk Arts Center of New England, Modern and Jazz Dance at Northwestern and Northeastern Universities, Harvard, Emerson, Boston University, Boston Conservatory and the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio. Andy is the artistic director of Mladost Dance Ensamble and the RSCDS Demonstration Team and loves teaching school residencies thru Mass Movement and Revels Inc. Andy is an adoring admirer of Lynn Simonson. Dance is a musical, satisfying, overwhelming, strengthening, challenging, freeing discipline that applies to and enhances each day of our lives. Enjoy!

To contact Andy, call: 617-875-7426 or email: atayblenis@yahoo.com

Anna Myer www.annamyerdancers.org (Ballet) received scholarships from American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet and a Ford Foundation Scholarship from the School of American Ballet. Since 1978, she has performed with various companies in the Boston area such as Boston Ballet, Caitlin Corbett Dance Company and Copley Square Ballet, as well as directing her own company, "Anna Myer and Dancers" in contemporary works. Myer also directs the Cambridge School of Ballet.

April Genovese de la Rosa - April is a salsa dancer, choreographer, and teacher extraordinaire. She has worked in Boston, New York, Connecticut, San Francisco, and internationally. April has performed and danced with some of New York's finest Mambo dance companies, including Eddie Torres, "The Mambo King of Latin Dance", Descarga Latina, RAZZ M'TAZZ, Santo Rico Dance Company, Stacey Lopez and Combinacion Magica. April has been teaching in Cambridge since 1997. Her 4-week sessions include partnering, styling, spinning, footwork and private instruction for men and women of all skill levels. April was the founder of Boston's first salsa night, WEPA WEDNESDAYS at the Hong Kong Club in Harvard Square in 1998. She continues to promote local salsa events, parties and workshops featuring top salsa dancers and instructors from around the nation. April is the promoter of the annual Boston Salsa Congress. For more information on this event please visit www.BostonSalsaCongress.com.

BACK TO TOP

B

Brian Crabree (Modern) has been dancing and making dances since 1975 in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia and his home town of Portland, Maine. He studied Modern Technique with Viola Farber, Dan Wagoner, June Finch, Diane Frank, Douglas Dunn and Daniel McCusker. For 8 years he was a member of Ram Island Dance Repertory Company based in Portland under the direction of Daniel McCusker. There he danced a repertoire that included dances by Senta Driver, Maida Withers, Yvonne Rainer, Lucinda Childs and Mr. McCusker. Since moving back to Boston, his own work has been produced or commissioned by the Boston Center for the Arts, Greet Street Studios, Ram Island Dance, Dance Complex, World Music, First Night and Dance Umbrella.

BACK TO TOP

C

Carl Alleyne www.carlalleyne.com (Hip-hop) Carl has been involved with the entertainment industry for over 20 years. A native Bostonian, he has spent his time performing, teaching, and choreographing in different parts of the country at many venues. As a performer, he has performed in front of thousands of people, sharing the stage with artists such as Gladys Knight, the late Ray Charles, the O-jays, Fabolous, SPEECH of Arrested Development, Sir Elton John, Neill Young and others. He did a West Coast tour with his 3 time Boston Music Award Winning R & B Band Eye2Eye. He performed at Symphony Hall at Hillary Clinton's event where the Goo Goo Dolls were also special guests. His latest works include choreography and movement coaching for the new feature film “ Furry Vengeance ” starring Brendan Fraser, Brook Shields and Ken Jeong, directed by Roger Kumble, feature film “ Knight and Day ” starring Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruz where he was the role of one of the groomsmen, the taping of MTV ’ s Made as a dance instructor to an aspiring rapper, Hasbro ’ s Clue Game board as the character Mr. Green, and choreography and movement coaching for YouTube ’ s number one R & B Group, recording artists Ahmir.

Carl spent a few years in New York City working with his Talent Agency that he started, TTE Talent Agency. TTE represented choreographers and dancers who worked with projects and with artists such as Michael Jackson, Destiny ’ s Child, Chris Brown, The Rolling Stones, Don Omar, Coke Commercials, Bombay Dreams National Tour, In the Heights on Broadway, and the list goes on.

Carl brings personality, style, and knowledge to the table. God has blessed him to make great impact on the entertainment industry.

Carolisa moonlightdjs@aol.com (Bellydance and Zumba) has over fifteen years experience as a professional entertainer and Bellydance teacher throughout New England, teaching beginner through master classes at dance studios, colleges and community ed programs. She is a Zumba certified instructor, and found Zumba to be another fantastic way to combine her love of music and dance as it is a fusion of both! She especially enjoys motivating and inspiring others of any fitness level or dance experience in a fun and friendly class, and sharing her joy and knowledge with others. She teaches Bellydance, Zumba, and Dance Fitness and conducts Workshops for companies, wellness centers, groups, colleges, private events, teen and children's programs. She is also an experienced DJ with Moonlight Entertainment & Disc Jockeys at weddings, corporate functions, theme events, clubs, family and kids' parties.

BACK TO TOP

Daniel McCusker (Modern) Daniel McCusker choreographs for a wide assortment of performers and venues; is a senior dance lecturer at Tufts University; curates and produces the THis THat show; with Amy Spencer co-directs the Young Dancers Program at Summer Stages; directed Ram Island Dance Company, a community arts organization, in Portland ME, and danced in national and international tours with the Lucinda Childs Dance Company.

Danny Swain www.dannyswaindance.org (Jazz Funk & Modern) holds a BFA in Theater from Salem State College, where he studied under Caitlin Corbett, Jennifer Uhl and Sallee Slagle. Danny teaches Jazz-Funk and Modern at the Dance Complex as well as teaching Jazz Dance at UMass Boston. In the past, he has taught classes at the Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Salem State College, Cambridge School of Weston, and the Boston Center for Adult Education, as well as St. Anselm's College & Plymouth State College in NH. He has been choreographing, performing and teaching throughout New England since 1997. His choreography has been seen in such venues as the Hatchshell on the Boston Esplanade, Seacoast Repertory Theatre in NH, Salem State College, Massachusetts College of Art, Green Street Studios, and the Dance Complex. Along with being Artistic Director & Choreographer for Danny Swain Dance Company, Danny has performed with Snappy Dance Theater, Boston Dance Collective, Impulse Dance Company, Kate Digby, Peter DiMuro Performance Associates in Massachusetts and in Washington D.C.

Dennis Goldsmith (Tae Kwon Do, Cardio Kickboxing) holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and Consulting Psychology from Harvard University. He is a fifth degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and provides both private and group lessons in Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, and Self Defense Skills. Dennis is certified as a personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the American council on Exercise, the American Institute of Fitness Educators, and has an Advanced Personal Training Certificate from the International Sports Medicine Association. In addition, he was part of the Reebok University's Personal Training Program. Dennis is also certified to teach Aerobics, Kickboxing and Muscle Conditioning classes through AFFA, Cardio Athletic Kick Box, and Martial Arts Training, and teaches Heartsaver classes in First Aid, CPR and AED. Dennis teaches group exercise classes and provides personal training sessions throughout the Boston and Greater Boston Area including the Sports Club/LA and Boston Sports Clubs. Dennis also serves on the Board of Directors of The Dance Complex.

Denny Morrell (Teen Ballet) has extensive dance training and performing experience. After graduating from the Victorian Ballet School, Denny performed with The Victorian Ballet Company. She received her classical ballet training from Dame Laurel Martyn one of Australia's foremost Ballerinas and Artistic Director of The Victorian Ballet Company. Denny has a B.F.A. from The Boston Conservatory of Music and a Ms.Sc.Sp from Emerson College. Denny has choreographed many original ballets including Peter and the Wolf, The Wizard of Oz, and Snow White. She has also choreographed many musicals including West Side Story, Annie, and The Music Man. She founded The All About Us Performing Arts Company Inc in 2000. Denny is an artist-inn-residence at MassBay Community College in Wellesley Hills, MA.

Dee Ramee (Introduction to Qigong) teaches and leads weekly Qigong Practice Group and private lessons in Qigong to help improve and maintain health and improve energy levels. Began the Greater Boston Qigong Meetup Group. See: www.meetup.com/Greater-Boston_Qigong/ .

Deepa Srinath (Bharatanatyam for beginners) is a well known danseuse from Bangalore, India. Introduced to dancing at the tender age of 5, Deepa has continuously been learning and has proved herself time and again on various dance platforms. Having been trained extensively by Guru Radha Sridhar in Bangalore, she has also learnt from Guru Nandini Eshwar (Mysore) and Guru Soundarya Srivatsa (Bangalore). She has performed her “ Arangetram ” (i.e., ‘ Ascent to stage ’ graduation) in the year 2001.

Having done her graduation in the field of business, Deepa ’ s first and foremost passion is dance. Deepa combines in herself a student, performer and choreographer. An assortment of these qualities won her not only awards and certificates but also critical acclaim. With excellent communication skills and imaginative ‘ abhinaya ’ (expression), Deepa has been able to impress and connect herself to laymen and connoisseurs alike while performing.

Deepa has performed extensively throughout India and abroad. She has rendered more than 100 performances – over 40 solo recitals, 10 dance ballets, 40 group performances, and 7 televised shows. She has also choreographed 3 dance ballets herself. She has delivered workshops introducing Bharatanatyam to foreign audience.

Gifted with fine demeanors and expressive eyes, she is aptly etched for dance and has dedicated herself to the field of dance.

Deraldo Ferreira www.bccne.org (Samba, Samba de Gafieira w/ Glenio de Oliviera & Capoeira Angola) Mestre Deraldo Ferreira, founder and Artistic Director of the Brazilian Cultural Center of New England (BCCNE), brings a thirty-one year tenure in capoeira and a similar lifetime involvement and commitment to samba drumming, musical composition and choreography. Deraldo is a Mestre (official master) of Capoeira Angola, Afro-Brazilian percussion rhythms, the Artistic Director of the Afro-Brazilian music and dance troupe, Samba Tremeterra, and a sought-after samba dancer instructor. Mestre Deraldo began studying capoeira at the age of 14, and was awarded certification as a Mestre in 1984. He created and taught at the Academy of Capoeira in his hometown of Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil. When he relocated to the US, Mestre Deraldo was one of the first Brazilian Masters to introduce Capoeira Angola and Samba dance to the US and Montreal, Canada. He founded the Brazilian Cultural Center of New England (Cambridge, MA) in 1996 where he continues to serve as the Artistic Director. He currently teaches at Hampshire College, Amherst College, Smith College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and in Sardigna, Italy. Mestre Deraldo's teacher and mentor, Grand Mestre Joao Pequeno de Pastinho has awarded him with the title and responsibility of a Mestre of Traditional Capoeira Angola. In 2006, Mestre Deraldo was recognized by the Minister of Brazilian Culture, Gilberto Gil, and the Brazilian Cultural Center of New England was designated as one of three Brazilian " Cultural Points " in the United States.

Derrick Davis (Jazz Funk) is a native New Yorker who attended Fiorello H. Laguardia School of the Arts and was a scholarship student with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Derrick has taught Hip Hop, Jazz, and modern dance in the New England area and in the Boston Public schools for the past twelve years. He has also taught master classes throughout the United States. Derrick has trained some of Boston's best Hop and Jazz performers and has choreographed and performed with such artists as: Nas, Eve, Kid Capri, Slick Rick, KC & Jojo, and other national and international recording artists. Derrick is a member of Impulse Dance Company, Expressions of Christ and a featured artist with companies throughout the U.S. He is currently a master teacher at Dance Theatre of New England in Bridgewater, MA, under the directorship of Debra Bianca.

Dey Summer (Contact Improv) has been a voracious student of Contact Improvisation for about 18 years. She spent several years before that studying Eric Hawkins (modern) technique, and making and performing solo pieces. In 1995 she took Ruth Zaporah's month-long Action Theater training, a powerful practice of embodied improvisation skills. She is excited to be teaching now, and brings along her love and respect for the moving body from her professional work as a bodyworker and movement educator.

Diane Arvanites & Tommy Neblett www.promethuesdance.org (Advanced Modern) As co-Artistic Directors of both the Prometheus Dance Company and the Prometheus Dance Elders Ensemble, Diane Arvanites & Tommy Neblett create powerful and provocative dance/theatre that resonates with honesty and passion. Since 1997, they have choreographed nearly thirty works for Prometheus Dance, Inc.; two operas, Nixon In China and Alceste, for OperaBoston; and over fifteen works for the dance programs at The Boston Conservatory, Emerson College, Walnut Hill School, Boston Ballet Summer Dance and Harvard University. They, and their company, regularly perform and teach throughout New England, as well as in Spain, France, Denmark, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Ms. Arvanites & Mr. Neblett have received numerous awards for their work, including a Creativity Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and four Artists Grants for Choreography from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, individually in 1996 and 1994, and collaboratively in 2004 and 2000. Prometheus Dance has also been named " One of the Years Ten Best in Dance " by the Boston Phoenix (2004), the Boston Herald (2002) and the Boston Globe (2000). As respected educators, Ms. Arvanites and Mr. Neblett teach modern dance technique, partnering and choreography at The Boston Conservatory and Walnut Hill School. They also teach open-enrollment technique classes for professionals (company class) and post-professionals (Dance for 55+) at The Dance Complex in Cambridge. They are highly involved and supportive of the local arts community, participating in grant panels with the Cambridge Arts Council and the New Hampshire Arts Council; on the Board of Directors of the Boston Dance Alliance; and as mentors for The Dance Complex Shared Choreographers Program.

Dicki Johnson Macy (Duncan Dance), ADTR, M. Ed. L.M.H.C creates movement/music programs for children that encourages the development of resiliency, awareness, honor, and grace. Dicki, direct lineage holder in the Art/Technique of Isadora Duncan, distills her methodology from this tradition; her work celebrates nature's unity and rhythm, remembers ancient rituals and archetypes and dances simultaneously, the tribal and the divine. Her programs for the able and disabled have been presented and implemented nationally as well as in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

E

Eve Agush www.alwaysbdancing.blogspot.com (Children's Tap) Eve Agush has been teaching flamenco, tap dance and yoga in the Boston community for the past eighteen years, specializing in teaching children. She is currently on the faculty at the Brookline Ballet School and the Dance Complex and has taught at many local studios, including Boston Ballet, Acton School of Ballet and the Northeast Youth School of Ballet. She was first introduced to flamenco by Ramon de los Reyes and then went on to both perform and teach in his company. Ms. Agush is a familiar face on the Boston dance scene, contributing her considerable experience to events such as Dance Across the City Day, The Children's Dance Festival, City Dance and the Boston Children's Museum Outreach Program. Eve Agush is the founder and Artistic Director of Always B Dancing and is the creator of Yoga Snacks, an in-school yoga program.

BACK TO TOP

F

Fatou Carol Sylla (African) has been a dance teacher, performer, and choreographer for over a quarter of a century. She has preformed in several African as well as Modern/Jazz/Blues/Gospel dance companies including Ballets Africaines and Ballet Bougouroubou in Senegal and Ballet Fatala in Guinea, West Africa. She is the current Artistic Director of Under the Sun Dance & Drum, which is sponsored under the Mass Cultural Council's Events and Residencies program and teaches at the Dance Complex and for over ten years in the public schools for VSA arts of Massachusetts Standard Teaching Certification in both Dance and Health K-12. Ms. Sylla has also taught dance at the college level, including ten years in the dance department at Bradford College. In 1985, Ms. Sylla designed and lead a month long seminar in Senegal, Guinea and Guinea Bissau for Americans interested in studying dance, music and the function (especially in health and healing) that the arts play in these traditional cultures. She continued this work at Bradford College by organizing and teach a similar two-week three credit course in Senegal as part of Bradford's Summer Studies Abroad Program.

Fatou N'Diaye (African) founder and director of the West African traditional ballet company " Silimbo D'Adeane, " has danced and acted professionally for over twenty-five years. As a former member of the " Daniel Sorano National Dance Theatre " of Dakar, Senegal and two of its branch dance companies, Fatou has had the opportunity to perform for the President of Senegal to accompany him on official visits to other countries, including his visit to China. Fatou's acting experiences include performances in two popular television productions of her homeland and a dance performance in the movie " L'lle de Diama " filmed in Morocco and starring Michael Douglas.

BACK TO TOP

G

Glenio De Oliviera (Samba De Gafieira w/ Derlado Ferreira) Glenio de Oliviera has been teaching Brazilian ballroom dancing for 15 years. He has done professional performances on many TV shows, in theaters and for fundraising events in Brazil. Glenio started dancing ballet at the age of 12 and quickly progressed to staged performances. He has studied the art of dancing with many famous Brazilian professional dancers such as Jaime Aroxa, Carlos de Jesus, Carlinhos de Jesus, Juliano Andrade, Vinicios Da Costa and many others. Since moving to Boston, Glenio has taught at Ryles, MAPS, MIT, BCCNE, and now at the Dance Complex. Glenio specializes mainly in Brazilian ballroom dancing such as samba de gafieira and forro, but he also teaches samba no pe, bolero, salsa, zouk, merengue, bachata, cha-cha, swing, and even tango. Come take a class and see for yourself how fast you will learn!

Gretchen Hayden www.chhandika.org (Kathak) Chhandika Artistic Director and Founder Gretchen Hayden is a senior disciple of the renowned and innovative Kathak Dance Master, Chitresh Das (from Calcutta). She began her Kathak training in 1972 and became a principal soloist with the Chitresh Das Dance Company. (CDDC) at its inception in 1980. She has given solo recitals and workshops in North America, Europe and India. Ms. Hayden taught at the Chhandam School in California throughout the late 1970's and 1980's, and in 1987 was presented with a Senior Degree in Kathak Dance from the Nritya Bharati Academy in Calcutta, founded by Mr. Das' parents in 1942. In 1992, she moved to Boston with her husband, sardoist and musicologist George Ruckert, where she established an offshoot of Chitreshji's Chhandam School. With the assistance of several dedicated students, this school blossomed into the non-profit organization Chhandika. In addition to teaching at dance and arts centers throughout Greater Boston, Ms. Hayden has also initiated accredited Kathak Dance courses at Tufts University and Wellesley College, and is an adjunct faculty member at MIT. Through her work as a dancer and teacher she has contributed significantly to fostering the art of Kathak in the West.

BACK TO TOP

H

Honey Blonder www.HoneyBlonderDance.com (Street Funk) started dancing in New York City at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute where she studied dance, theatre and voice. Her choreography in the independent film Dance by Design screened at the National Film Theatre, London; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Boston International Festival of Women's Cinema; the Ivy Film Festival at Brown University and the First Glance Film Festival in Philadelphia. In 2006, Honey choreographed The Berries, a pilot for children's television. Additionally, Honey choreographed and danced in New York and Boston with performance art / recording artists Countess and received a Boston Music Award nomination for Best Live Act. She performs frequently with her dance company, Disco Brats.

BACK TO TOP

I

Ife Bolden (African) is a former member of several Boston based dance companies such as The Art of Black Dance and Music and the Bamidele Dancers and Drummers. She was co-founder & choreographer of ACE (African Cultural Explosion) and founder, director & choreographer of the We are Family Children's Dance Theater and the Kuumba Watoto Children's Dance Company. Ife was the first instructor to establish an African dance class at the new Dance Complex and has now been teaching here for over 18 years.

BACK TO TOP

Jean Josue Appolon www.JeanAppolon.com (Haitian Dance & Modern Technique) grew up in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, where he began dancing at the age of 13. In 1991 Jean received a scholarship to study with Lynn Williams Rousier Dance School where he commenced his training in Ballet and traditional Haitian Folkloric dance techniques. Because of Jean's great passion and aptitude for dance, he was blessed with the opportunity to study and perform with several dance companies at that time, including Viviane Gauthier Dance Company and the Folkloric Ballet of Haiti. After moving to the United States, Jean was able to continue his dance education at the Harvard and Radcliffe Dance Program (1995-1996 Miami, FL), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (1996-1998 New York, NY) and graduated from the Joffrey American Ballet School (1998-2003 New York, NY) in the spring of 2003. In addition to those listed above, Jean has performed with many dance companies throughout the US including, Rainbow Tribe Company, Elma Lewis Productions (Black Nativity), Marlene Silva, North Star Ballet Company, Black Door Dance Company, and the Atlantic City Ballet Company. Jean teaches dance classes at various locations throughout the New York City area. In addition to teaching classes, Jean also aspires to develop his skills as a choreographer. For Jean, dance is a special vehicle that affords him the ability to communicate his life experiences in the visible realm. Therefore, he hopes to bring his danced visions to the stage, as well as the classroom, so that he may reach a larger audience.

Joan Green, www.greenbrownart.com, choreographer and painter, has lived and made art in Cambridge since 1968. At age 68, she is surprised to find herself still so passionate about making dances. The last few years have offered her several opportunities, including a stint as guest choreographer with the Cambridge Rindge and Latin Dance Company (2008), creating a site specific piece for Dance in the Fells (to be performed October 9, 2010), choreographing for Back Pocket Dancers, the small inter-generational company focused on creating performance material for elders that she directs (2010), sharing a concert with Lise Brody and Melody Ruffin Ward (2008) and presenting Dance on Paper, Dance on the Floor, an exhibit of her images of dancers accompanied by a dance concert (2007). Her recent performances have included the choreography of Daniel McCusker (2008), dancing with Prometheus Elders Ensemble (2004-2009), performing improvisation to poetry with poets Molly Watt and Jim Foritano (2009-10) and with Back Pocket Dancers(2010). Joan was one of the founders of the Cambridge Performance Project, now in its 25nd year teaching dance and theater to Cambridge kids after school hours. With Victoria Solomon, she co-founded and co-directed Back Porch Dance Company, an interracial, inter-generational company of women, honored with a listing on the newly launched Cambridge Women ’ s Heritage Website. As co-choreographer of Back Porch, Joan ’ s choreography was supported by many grants from the Cambridge Arts Council, the Massachussetts Cultural Council, the LEF Foundation, and the Boston Foundation. Her work bringing dance into the community won her one of the first Dance Belt awards. She has been greatly influenced by Liz Lerman and the Dance Exchange. Since 1992, she has taught a constantly evolving workshop in improvisation and choreography called “ Dancing Outside the Lines ” . Joan ’ s life is enriched by teaching painting to high school students on Saturdays at the Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester, MA and by teaching a class in Making Dances to a group of homeschooled kids ages 9 thru 14 at the Dance Complex.

Johara Cusick www.joharasnakedance.com (Middle Eastern BellyDance) Johara, which means Jewel in Arabic, is a passionate and innovative dancer, drummer, choreographer and teacher in the Boston area. Johara's diverse background in dance includes ten years of study in Middle Eastern dance (Egyptian ,Turkish, and Gypsy) along with five of study in West African and several years of Afro-Caribbean and Latin dance styles. Beyond folk dance, she has taken courses in Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Ballroom, Yoga, and Pilates. Johara also has studied at Berklee College of Music, and holds an Associates degree in jazz and Contemporary Music from the University of Maine. She has performed professionally in Istanbul Turkey, Baiia Brazil, New York City, and throughout New England. One of the highlights in Johara's dance history was on July 9th and 10th 2006, when she performed as a solo artist and as part of the MAVI dance company for a crowd of 5000 cheering fans in a folk festival in Inegol, Turkey. Johara is a compassionate and committed dance instructor and workshop leader with over 11 years of experience. She has trained some of Boston's top bellydancers and two of her students have passed auditions to join the Bellydance Superstars International performing company produced by Miles Copeland. She is director and producer of Snakedance Theater, Serpentine Nights (semi-monthly dance events), and the Bellisima dance troupe. She is creator and host of the Boston Annual Bellydance Awards which began in 2004.

"Joh" Sidi Mohamed Camara www.JohOnLine.com (African Dance) Sidi Mohamed Camara, popularly known as " Joh, " was born in Bamako, Mali in West Africa. Surrounded by great artists and musicians as a child, Joh started traditional dance and drumming at the age of five. On his father's side, he comes from the Camara ancestry that ruled in Mande Society. However, he mastered the art of music and dance from his mother, Fanta Kamissoko, a well-known Jali. Jalis, also known as Griots, are highly venerated in their traditional society as skilled oral historians who are singers, storytellers, musicians, advisors, and mediators. Joh has participated in and founded a wide variety of traditional dance companies in his career, completing tours throughout West Africa. Under his guidance as Chief Choreographer, Troupe Mande and Troupe Sewa became among the most renowned and competitive troupes in the world of West African dance and drumming. Since relocating to the US in 1995, Joh has taught at: Brown, Princeton, Brandeis, University of Pennsylvania, Berklee School of Music, Washington University, Olympia (Washington State), and Boston Public Schools (elementary, middle, and high). Nationally, Sidi has presented at various museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. In addition to holding weekly classes in Boston and touring the United States, Canada, and France, Joh currently teaches at various community centers and instructs a semester dance and drumming class at Boston University and Harvard University. Through his willingness to share at national conferences, community workshops, and academic engagements, Sidi continues to enhance cross-cultural exchange and make a positive imprint on the fabric of cultural arts and education in America.

BACK TO TOP

K

Kelly Silfies (Salsa) is a non-Latino female with a Latin soul. Her inner Latina emerged six years ago, when she discovered salsa while living in Chicago. She has studied salsa with Colombian, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and French instructors and has been teaching Puerto Rican style salsa for four years. Her motto is to enjoy the salsa experience - feel the music, feel the connection to your partner, relax, and have fun!

Kieran Jordan www.kieranjordan.com. (Irish Dance) Kieran Jordan works as a performer, teacher, and choreographer of Irish dance. With over 25 years of dance experience, Kieran has developed a musical and expressive style, marrying deep-rooted traditions with contemporary innovations. She incorporates award-winning Irish dance technique with improvisation and other styles of dance, including modern dance, sean-n ó s Irish step dancing, and Cape Breton step dancing. Kieran has performed and taught in the US, Canada, Sweden, and Ireland. She holds a B.A. in English and Irish Studies from Boston College, an M.A. in Contemporary Dance Performance from the University of Limerick, Ireland, and the TCRG certification for teaching Irish dance.

BACK TO TOP

L

Lamine Toure www.laminetoure.com (African) Amadou Lamine Tour é comes from a long line of griots, a caste of musicians and oral historians among the Wolof people of Senegal. Born into a family of griot percussionists, masters of the sabar drum, Lamine has been drumming and dancing since the age of four. Growing up in Kaolack, he received his early training as part of his family's drum troupe, performing regularly at weddings, baptisms, and neighborhood dance parties. In 2001, Tour é relocated to the U.S. to pursue his solo musical career and has continued to teach and choreograph sabar dance. Since Fall 2002, Lamine Tour é has been serving as Artist-in-Residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he directs the Senegalese drumming ensemble, Rambax MIT. He also teaches sabar dance at Suffolk University. In May 2005, he co-wrote a pioneering composition with Evan Ziporyn entitled Sabar Gong for sabar drums and Balinese gamelan, which was premiered at the MIT Presidential Inauguration of Susan Hockfield. He continues to teach sabar drumming and dance classes in the Boston area, with ongoing dance classes at the Brazilian Cultural Center of New England and at Springstep in Medford, MA. He also conducts workshops and lecture-demonstrations at local schools and universities.

Lino "leanski" Delgado www.floorlords.com (Break Dancing)

Lisa Simon (Jazz, Stretch) has been a professional dancer/choreographer for over 30 years and a stretch and personal trainer for over 20 years. She has taught and performed in a variety of dance styles for many colleges and universities, and performed with many local and European companies such as: The Opera Company of Boston, The Kamikazee Jitterbugs, San Germaine Follies European tour, Brazilian dance tours in Sicily, and TV and film. She has taught master classes for many companies and colleges throughout New England, New York, Italy, France and Germany and has taught many couples how to be fabulous dancers for their weddings.

Liz Lapuh (Ballet) is the Artistic Director of the Cambridge Chamber Ballet. She has taught ballet classes in the Boston area for more than ten years and is currently teaching at The Boston Conservatory, North Atlantic Ballet Studio, and at the Dance Complex. She has performed in the Boston Area as well as in Virginia, Florida and the south of France with such companies as the Virginia State Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Boston and the North Atlantic Ballet. Ms. Lapuh holds a BA in dance and an MFA in choreography from the Boston Conservatory. She currently heads the dance program at UMass Boston.

BACK TO TOP

M

Margot Parsons www.dancevisions.net (Ballet) Margot Parsons trained in Chicago with Richard Ellis and Christine DuBoulay, and in New York with Richard Thomas, Barbara Fallis, Maggie Black, The Harkness School, and the Martha Graham Studio. Along with being invited to dance with American Ballet Theater, Agnes deMille, and Pearl Lang, she performed with Yuriko, The Ballet Ensemble of New York, in the City Center production of the King and I, and in Boston with Ken Pierce Baroque Dance Company, and the Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble. Her degrees include a BS from the University of Wisconsin and an MA from the University of Utah. She is an instructor of ballet at Boston College, Boston University, the Dance Complex, Harvard University, and Suffolk University, and she is President and Artistic Director of DanceVisions, Inc. Her work has been seen across the United States and in Europe. She choreographs for her own company and has choreographed for Boston College, Boston University, Wellesley College, and Boston Ballet II Company, and produces numerous shows including Dance on the Top Floor.

Marianne Harkless (Afro-Jazz) was a member of Danny Sloan Dance Company, Ballet Theatre of Boston, Impulse Dance Company, Bandanca Afro-Brazilian Dancers & Musicians, Brasiliero, Inc. and the Arts of Black Dance & Music. She has performed and taught at colleges, public and private schools and dance studios throughout New England, France, Switzerland, Sweden and Jamaica. Marianne was a 1996 recipient of the dance Belt Award and is a former member of the Board of Trustees o the Boston Dance Alliance. Marianne currently teaches at Wellesley College, the Cambridge School of Weston and Move for Youth, Cambridge.

Matei Livianu and 'Hirley Cremin' www.salsamatei.com/About.php (Salsa)

Maureen Cosgrove (Tap), teacher, choreographer, and Director of Boston Tap, has been teaching and performing tap dance in the Boston area since 1977. She teaches at the Dance Complex as well as at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Her company has performed throughout the area at various events, schools, and clubs, including First Night, Cambridge River Festivals, and Boston University. Maureen received her MFA from Massachusetts College of Art where she is currently a part-time instructor. She has been the recipient of grants from the Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities, the Cambridge Arts Council and the Massachusetts Arts Lottery.

BACK TO TOP

O

Olivier Besson (Movement Improvisation Jam & Contact Improv) is a improvisational movement artist who hails from France and is based in Boston (USA). From 1980 until the early 90's, Olivier studied contact improvisation with Nancy Stark Smith, Lisa Nelson and Andrew Harwood, and improvisation with Daniel Lepkoff and Julyen Hamilton. During that time, he also trained and performed Bugaku (Japanese court dance) with Arawana Hayashi. Most notably, Olivier's work has been presented: in the US - at Dance Theatre Workshop (NYC), Judson Church (NYC), New York Improvisation festival, Walker Art Centre (Minneapolis), Boston Dance Umbrella, Florida Dance Festival, Dance Place (Washington DC), Radford University (Virginia) & internationally - at the National Institute of the Arts (Taipei, Taiwan), Die Pratze (Tokyo, Japan), Art of Movement Festival (Yaroslav, Russia), Studio 303 (Montreal, Canada) and with Cie Vertige (Nice, France). He has collaborated with many individuals including Chris Aiken, Lisa Schmidt (formerly of Trisha Brown co.), Debra Bluth, Liz Roncka, Min Shen Ku, Pamela Newell (formerly of Marie Chouinard co.), Toshiko Oiwa (formerly of Bill T. Jones co. and Angelin Preljocaj co.) and musicians Mike Vargas, Peter Jones, Jane Wang and Grant Smith. Locally, he has guest danced for Dawn Kramer, Micki Taylor Pinney and Diane Noya. His current and upcoming performance projects involve collaborations with musician/composer Mike Vargas in Paris, Emmanuelle Pepin in Nice and Jane Shockley in Minneapolis. The Boston Conservatory senior class will perform under his direction, Nov 15-18th. Olivier is currently on faculty at the Boston Conservatory (dance division) and teaches regularly at Canal Danse (Paris) and the French national circus school (C.N.A.C). He has been on faculty at Emerson College, Boston University and Bates Dance Festival. He has taught residencies at the National Institute of the Arts (Taipei, Taiwan), the Centre Choregraphique de Danse/ Daniel Larieu (Tours, France), the University of Minnesota, and Radford University (Virginia) among other places. His current and upcoming performance projects involve collaborations with Liz Roncka in Boston, musician/composer Mike Vargas in Paris, Emmanuelle Pepin in Nice and Jane Shockley in Minneapolis. This fall, the Boston Conservatory senior class will perform under his direction, Nov 15-18th.

BACK TO TOP

P

Paa Seck (African, Sabar) Yeumougor " Paa " Seck (African) has been dancing and drumming from the age of four, when he joined his father's drum and dance troupe, Jeri-Jeri, based in Kaolack, Senegal. Paa has also played with Senegalese groups such as Pape and Cheikh, Nder, Pape Diouf, Titi, Abdou Guitte and Yorro. Paa has taught at the Djoniba Drum and Dance Center in New York City, and is currently based in Boston, where he continues to teach at The Dance Complex and The Cambridge YWCA, both in Central Square, Cambridge.

BACK TO TOP

R

Ramon de los Reyes (Flamenco) was born in Madrid, Spain and since an early age has been dancing flamenco. At only 13, he was performing flamenco and classic Spanish dances around the world while continuing his training under great Spanish teachers like Manolo Vargas, Enrique " el Cojo " , Perice, La Quica, Antonio Marin and others. He has performed worldwide in prestigious theatres and danced as a soloist with the Spanish National Ballet, Ximenez Vargas Company, Pilar Lopez Dance Company and Alba-Reyes Spanish Ballet. M. de los Reyes has performed on television and has won many awards and grants: National Endowment for the Arts; recognition for Excellence in Dance from Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival; Recognition for Artistic Contribution to the people of Massachusetts from Governor Michael Dukakis; Gold Medal, World Olympics, Mexico, to name a few. He has also taught in universities including Boston Conservatory, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Walnut Hill School, Boston Ballet and many more.

Rebecca Rice www.rebeccaricedance.com (Organic Ballet).From the beginnings of her professional career when she co-founded and performed in Pittsburgh ’ s Dance Alloy company, Rebecca Rice has been a sought-after and highly respected modern and ballet dance teacher, choreographer, and performer. With a solid base in classical ballet, Denishawn and modern dance, Rebecca ’ s classes support in each student a powerful sense of working intuitively and as a unique individual artist. Her background studying and performing classical Denishawn Dance with her grandmother, Marion Rice; her training in Ballet with Maggie Black and Lance Westergard and her work in modern with Bill Evans, Mark Morris and Gerri Houlihan all contribute to her rich, unencumbered style. A graduate in modern dance performance with honors at the University of Utah cemented her creative work in both ballet, choreography and modern dance. Rebecca spent 17 years teaching modern and choreography as faculty of the Boston Ballet under Bruce Marks, Anna Marie Holmes and Mikko Nissinen, and developed ballet, modern and choreography programs at MIT, Winsor School and Dana Hall. Her performing group, Rebecca Rice Dance, performs throughout Boston and won the " Best of Boston 2003 " by both the Boston Herald and the Boston Phoenix. Her group performed at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in 2004 and was invited to show her work as part of the Bank of America Celebrity Series May 2006. Her company debuted in NYC in March 2006 and has performed recently at Killian Hall, MIT, Cunningham Studio NYC, JORDAN HALL, Boston, and as an invited guest of the DANCEGUILD NYC, performances in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Rebecca recently received a grant from the MIT Office of the ARTS. In May 2009 her work "Russes Suite "premiered at Boston Symphony Hall as guests of Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops in their " Ballets Russes " Celebration. Keith Lockhart mentioned in the August " Improper Bostonian " that Rebecca Rice Dance is one of "Boston's hidden gems".

Annie Kloppenberg's recent choreography has been supported by residencies or commissions from the Boston Center for the Arts, Dance Theater Workshop, The Taft School, OhioDance & Dublin Arts Council, and presented at such venues as the Judson Church, Green Street Studios, and Dancespace Center (now DNA). She has worked with the Bebe Miller Company, Sara Pearson & Patrik Widrig, Shani Collins, Rebecca Rice, Heidi Henderson, Karl Rogers, and Ashley Thorndike, among others. Annie performs and teaches nationally as a member of Like You Mean It, an improvisational ensemble. Annie is on faculty at Colby College. www.anniekloppenberg.com

Reynaldo Gonzalez (Afro-Cuban) hails from Matanzas, Cuba. For 14 years Reynaldo was a dancer in one of Cuba's top national folkloric dance companies, AfroCuba de Matanzas. For the past six years Reynaldo has lived and worked in the Boston area, teaching Afro-Cuban dance forms and performing and teaching master classes on a national and international basis.

Ricardo "Psy-Fa" Foster (Hip Hop Explosion) Using his special talent as a Dancer, Choreographer, Performer, Actor, and Model, Ricardo Foster has single-handedly made a name for himself amongst many of today's popular artist. Working and performing with artists ranging from Jay-Z to NSYNC, En-vogue to Uncle Cracker, and Destiny's Child to Old School Classics like Naughty by Nature, and RUN DMC he has seen it all. Ricardo is presently the Associate Director/Instructor of his own company, Street Feet Choreography. With an outstanding personality, he has a way with audiences, students and his peers a like. By using comedy, simple physical analogies, and a story like premise behind all of his dance movement, he looks to have people understand, enjoy, and enhance any performances or classes he has. And at the same time hopes to help people find a new appreciation of Dance and Themselves.

Roland Edwards (Ballroom Dancing) Originally from Costa Rica, Roland was born in a family with a great passion for salsa dancing. Becoming a ballroom dancing instructor in 2005 working for Arthur Murray Studios, teaching, performing, competing, etc in all New England at the professional level. In his class you will experience the passion and energy that salsa has combining with the technique and style from ballroom dancing that creates a dance you will never forget.

Roseann Ridings (Ballet) danced with the Boston Ballet and the Copley Square Ballet. She was the director of the Cambridge Ballet Center and has taught at the Cambridge School of Ballet and Marie Paquette's Classical Ballet School.

Rozann Kraus (Modern) has served on the faculties of the Yale School of Drama, New England Conservatory of Music and Boston University. Winner of an Artists Foundation Choreography Fellowship, a Choreography Fellowship from the State of Ohio, the Paul Robeson Award and Arts Lottery Grants from five cities, her work has been commissioned by a wide range of sponsors, including the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, The Yale Art Gallery, Composers in Red Sneakers and (for nine consecutive years) Boston's First Night. Touring throughout the country as teacher, choreographer and performer, Ms. Kraus has been a guest choreographer at MIT, the Cambridge School and Tufts University and was an Artist in Residence at Clark University's Center for Contemporary Performance and many other institutions. A published author and poet, Rozann Kraus is the founder and President of the Dance Complex. She currently is a dancer with McCusker/Dance.

BACK TO TOP

S

Seemore Johnson & Christina Pujol (on leave) www.hipsonfire.com (Salsa) Hips on Fire was founded with the commitment to preserve and transmit the traditional Salsa style form most of the Latin-American countries, under the direction of Seemore Johnson and Christina Pujol. Seemore Johnson from Costa Rica, has been dancing for over 15 years. He is a professional dancer, choreographer and instructor of more than ten different dances from Latin America. He has preformed on all the main stages of Costa Rica and traveled around Latin America expanding his knowledge and learning the proper technique for each Latino dance. Christina Pujol from Spain, dance choreographer and instructor, has been dancing Latino dances for over 7 years and has also traveled to Latin American countries improving her skills and knowledge of the Latino dances. She has also been teaching other forms of dancing like the Spanish folkloric dance Sevillanas. Both have performed at the Symphony Hall as part of their Centennial Celebration, been invited to perform at the annual fundraiser of WGBH Boston and have been guests of the BNN-TV 3 Boston " It's All About Arts " show (dedicated to promoting and educating in the world of art). They have performed in several MDA fundraisers in Maine, and have performed in the movie " Blue Dinner " …

Seydou Coulibaly (African) is one of Mali's leading choreographers and dancers. He is the founder and Artistic Director of the award-winning TROUPE KOUMME DIOSSE. In America, Seydou teaches at Brown University, the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center, Babemba USA. The Music School, Roger Williams Middle School, and privately in Boston and Connecticut.

Sharon Montella www.hiphopballerina.com (Hip-Hop) holds an MFA from the Boston Conservatory. Her choreography has been presented internationally and includes work for members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She can be seen in the film Dance by Design and has done promo work for Justin Timberlake. Sharon has danced with Boston Dance Company, Impulse Dance, Honey Blonder's Discobrats in Boston, and Bicycle Shop Dancers, Kelley Donovan, Toby Armour and Michael Mao in New York. Her name, Hiphopballerina, derives from her classical training and performing experience. Her hip hop style has been influenced by choreographers Bev Brown and Luam, with whom she studies in NY, and by her studies in White Dragon Fist kung fu, in which she is a black belt practitioner.

BACK TO TOP

W

Wendy Jehlen (Modern) Wendy Jehlen is a Contemporary dancer/choreographer, whose unique approach to movement incorporates elements of a wide range of dance and movement styles including the South Indian dance forms of Bharata Natyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi, Capoeira, West African dance, and a wide-range of Modern and Contemporary dance styles. Jehlen also collaborates with Deaf performers and poets, and uses the language and aesthetic of American Sign Language poetry in her choreography. Jehlen's emotionally powerful choreography has been performed in the United States, Europe, India and Japan.

Home ~ Schedule of Classes ~ Children's Classes ~ Workshops ~ Performances ~ Events ~ Auditions ~ Class Descriptions ~ Studio Rental
About the Dance Complex ~ Faculty ~ Announcements