The UPROOTED Jazz dance Faculty INCLUDES some of the FINEST educators and artists IN the world ...
Robin Gee
Robin Gee, Professor of Dance at UNC Greensboro, holds an MFA in Dance Choreography and Performance from Sarah Lawrence College. She specializes in African and Modern dance techniques, as well as dance for the screen. Ms. Gee has performed with several New York-based dance companies, including Ballet Bagata, Maimouna Keita Dance Company among others.
A dedicated researcher and advocate for dance documentation and preservation, she has received numerous grants and awards, including the West African Research Association’s Postdoctoral Fellowship in African Research, the AAUW Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, the U.S. Fulbright Scholars Award, Fulbright Specialist Award, the Hayes Award and the NC Choreographers Fellowship.
Ms. Gee is also the Director and Creator of the Greensboro Dance Film Festival. Her latest project, What’s Bred in the Blood and Bone, continues to screen worldwide.
THOMAS F. DEFRANTZ
Thomas F. DeFrantz directs SLIPPAGE: Performance|Culture|Technology, a research group that explores emerging technology in live performance applications, currently in residence at Northwestern University.
DeFrantz received the 2017 Outstanding Research in Dance award from the Dance Studies Association. DeFrantz believes in our shared capacity to do better, and to engage our creative spirit for a collective good that is anti-racist, anti-homophobic, proto-feminist, and queer affirming.
DeFrantz acted as a consultant for the Smithsonian Museum of African American Life and Culture, contributing concept and a voice-over for a permanent installation on Black Social Dance that opened with the museum in 2016.
Books include Dancing Revelations Alvin Ailey's Embodiment of African American Culture (2004), Black Performance Theory, co-edited with Anita Gonzalez (2014), Choreography and Corporeality: Relay in Motion, co-edited with Philipa Rothfield (2016), and the Routledge Companion to African American Theater and Performance co-edited with Kathy Perkins, Sandra Richards, and Renee Alexander Craft (2018).
Creative: Queer Theory! An Academic Travesty commissioned by the Theater Offensive of Boston and the Flynn Center for the Arts;fastDANCEpast, created for the Detroit Institute for the Arts; reVERSE-gesture-reVIEW commissioned by the Nasher Museum in response to the work of Kara Walker, January, 2017.
Recent teaching: University of the Arts Mobile MFA in Dance; Juilliard, Movement Research, ImPulsTanz; New Waves Institute; faculty at Hampshire College, Stanford, Yale, MIT, NYU, University of Nice. In 2013, working with Takiyah Nur Amin, DeFrantz founded the Collegium for African Diaspora Dance, a growing consortium of 350 researchers. slippage.org.
SEKOU MCMILLER
Sekou McMiller is a world-renowned Choreographer and Director at the forefront of a new movement in the dance and music world. His explosive energy on and off stage, has earned Sekou broad recognition worldwide.
Sekou has performed and choreographed for Top Latin artist such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Willie Colon, Cheo Feliciano, Johnny Pacheco, Tito Rojas, Tito Nieves, PitBull, and the pop icon MADONNA.
A recent recipient of fellowship with The Alvin Ailey Foundation’s New Directions Choreography Lab and the City University of New York (CUNY) Dance Initiative, Sekou’s choreographic works have been featured throughout North America and abroad in over 30 countries.
Sekou can be seen in the Warner Bros theatrical feature "In the Heights" (2021) directed by Jon M. Chu and in the newly released documentary "Uprooted: The Journey of Jazz Dance". Currently, Sekou is a Professor of dance at Marymount Manhattan College, The Ailey School, Joffrey Ballet School, Ballet Hispánico, and NYU: Tisch School of the Arts.
In addition, Sekou is a curator and project director at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
AL BLACKSTONE
Al Blackstone (short for Albert) is an Emmy-winning director, choreographer, and educator based in New York City. He loves to tell stories and believes deeply in the power of dance, community, and kindness.
Born and raised in a dance studio, his passion for bringing people together to experience something meaningful has driven him to create work for concert, film, television, theater, ships, basements, parks, and many many stages. This includes original dance narratives such as Freddie Falls in Love (Joyce Theater), Happy We’ll Be (Roseland Ballroom), Elephant in the Room (Arts on Site), NORMA (Steps on Broadway) and Brown Eyed Girl (2011 Capezio A.C.E. Award for Choreographic Excellence). Al has directed/choreographed reinventions of classic musicals such as An American in Paris (Cape Playhouse), Pippin (Music Theater Wichita) and Annie (Axelrod Performing Arts Center) and has choreographed dozens more around the country and Off-Broadway. Concert commissions include the repertory company 10 Hairy Legs (BAM), The Fire Island Dance Festival (five seasons), and the Agnes DeMille commission for the SDC’s Abbott Awards in 2019. His decade-long relationship with Dancers Responding to AIDS/BCEFA has inspired him to tell stories for charity events like Broadway Bares, Easter Bonnet, and Red Bucket Follies.
In 2020 Al won an Emmy for his work on the iconic television show So You Think You Can Dance where he has been making dances since 2016. Additional network television credits include Good Morning America and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He continues to create self-produced short films including La Vista, The Suburbs, and A Good Thought (upcoming with playwright Rachel Bonds). In 2019 he choreographed the film Double Exposure (On the Rocks Films) and the next year he was chosen by the Irving Berlin Estate to direct and choreograph Isn’t It A Lovely Day to commemorate the 85th Anniversary of the classic musical Top Hat.As an educator Al is deeply indebted to the many brilliant teachers he has encountered throughout his life and does his best to uphold their principals and continue their legacy. These values inform and inspire his classes which have been shared with dancers all over the world for more than two decades. He is currently on faculty at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and JUMP Dance Convention and in 2019 he was featured in the documentary film Uprooted which sheds light on the African roots of jazz dance in America.
He has been a guest artist at many universities including The University of the Arts, Pace University, Point Park University, and Marymount Manhattan. Al is proud to be a part of the New York dance community and in 2020 collaborated with his partner Abraham Lule on MOMEN NYC, a project that highlights and celebrates the power of dance through live events, workshops, and virtual offerings for adult dancers. Their weekend workshop MOMEN&FRIENDS has brought hundreds of dancers together from around the world to form deep and lasting dance memories. He lives in Queens and has kept a journal since he was twelve.
CATHERINE FOSTER
Catherine Foster is a professional dancer, dance educator, choreographer, freelance makeup artist, and cultural consultant. She received her dance training from the DC Youth Ensemble (DCYE), the BaltimoreSchool for the Arts (BSA), and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.
She was a finalist and 2nd place winner in the National Arts Recognition/YoungARTS, in Miami, Fla., and is a recipient of the Astaire Award for Best Broadway Female Ensemble. She has worked with and performed the works of noted choreographers, including Donald Bryd, Bill T. Jones, Hinton Battle, Darrell Grand Moultrie, and Abdel Salaam.
Company Credits: The Fred Benjamin Dance Company; Forces of Nature; Camille A. Brown and Dancers (Principal Dancer). Recording Artists: Alicia Keys, The Roots, Jazmine Sullivan, Seun Kuti, Davido, Angelique Kidjo, Lauryn Hill. Film/TV: TEDx/TED Talks; Black Girls Rock (BET);
Netflix Originals: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Assistant Choreographer); NBC /Amazon prime comedy series HARLEM (dancer/actor). Broadway/Off-Broadway: FELA! (original cast) produced by Jay Z and Will Smith; Once on this Island (Assistant Choreographer); Ain’t No Disco (Assistant Choreographer). Catherine is currently in her second season at The Metropolitan Opera, performing in Terrance Blanchard’s CHAMPION: An Opera in Jazz. A dance educator for over 10 years, Catherine regularly teaches in New York City and internationally. Catherine has performed throughout North America to as far as Central and South America,Europe, and Africa. Catherine gives thanks to her ancestors, mentors, and loved ones for her success and guidance!
"Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances."- Dr. Maya Angelo
GERMAINE GOODSON
Germaine Goodson was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. She started taking Ballet and Acrobatics Classes at Age 3. She continues to Dance, as a Performing Artists, A Passionate Tap Teacher and Choreographer. She believes that having a good Education, is very important. She has a B.A. in Liberal Arts: Concentration, (Child Psychology.) She is an M.A. Candidate: Concentration, (Musical Theatre/Dance.).
Germaine is !/2 of the Classy & Sophisticated Tap Act, known as The RHYTHM QUEENS. She with Her Dance Partner, Deborah Mitchell, have Toured with and Opened for the Legendary Great, Band Leader & Singer, CAB CALLOWAY! They have Performed in Productions with the Legendary, Nicolas Brothers: Harold Nicholas in the Off-Broadway Production of BACK IN THE BIG TIME!
She Loved Performing in the Broadway Production of BLACK AND BLUE with Fayard Nicolas as One of the Four, Tap & Swing Choreographers. The Other Legendary Choreographers, were: Henry LeTang, Cholly Atkins, Frankie Manning.
Germaine was Chosen by the Extraordinary Genius, Broadway, TV, Film Choreographer, and Master Tap Teacher, Henry LeTang, to Perform as One of the RHYTHM QUEENS, Who He Created for the Film, The COTTON CLUB. She was a Company Member of the Tap Company, Ballet Tap USA, Created by Tap Dancers and Choreographers, Maurice Hines, Jr. and Mercedes Ellington.
Germaine was last seen, in the Broadway Production of PLAY ON! It is a Duke Ellington Musical, that Mercedes Ellington, Choreographed.
Germaine continues to Teach Tap Classes at Steps on Broadway, in NYC. Her Style, Skills and Inspiration comes from Henry LeTang! Her Philosophy is: LIVE, LOVE, DANCE! Work Hard, Dream Big, Study continuously, Persevere, Believe, and Never Give Up! She is living Proof, that Dreams Do Come True! She Believes that Tap Dancing is Great for Your Health.
Germaine has delivered Her, Oral History, for the NY Public Library for the Performing Arts/Oral History Project, of the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. She was Interviewed by: Lynnette Barkley, as Dancer, Tap Teacher, Performing Artist, Choreographer.
LAURA ANN SMYTH
For Laura Ann Smyth, dance is a celebration of diversity. It draws together people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures and gives them a voice. She believes that dance has the rhetorical power to champion social justice in a world that desperately needs it. And she’s dedicated her life and career to inspire change through the arts.
Laura began her journey as an artist at the age of four, attending the Edmonton School of Ballet in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her training focused on R.A.D. and Cecchetti ballet, as well as theatrical jazz and classical modern techniques. Laura obtained her BA in Sociology from The University of Calgary and holds a Journalism Certificate from Mount Royal University. After performing and teaching for many years in Canada, Laura migrated South to pursue a graduate education. After receiving her MFA in Dance from The University of California, Irvine, Laura performed professionally in modern, contemporary, and jazz genres with a variety of highly-acclaimed companies including: Regina Klenjoski Dance Company, Donna Sternberg and Dancers, JazzAntiqua Dance and Music Ensemble, and Brockus:RED.
In addition to performing, Laura has extensive and diverse experience in choreography. She’s crafted work for faculty dance concerts at Cornish College of the Arts, Santa Monica College, Long Beach City College, Golden West College and Loyola Marymount University. And she’s found particular joy choreographing theatre productions at Pepperdine University and Loyola Marymount University. Laura has also been a Pure Barre instructor for over 10-years and is the face of Steezy Studios online Intro to Jazz Dance Program.
Laura is currently a PhD Candidate in Dance Studies at Texas Woman’s University and serves a s a full-time instructor in the dance department at Loyola Marymount University. She’s deeply proud of her Canadian heritage, joyous spirit, and technical precision, and she’s committed to creating art that promotes the beauty of cultures and experiences through dance.
Mishay Petronelli
Mishay Petronelli is an accomplished dancer, teacher, choreographer, director, movement coach, model, and actor based in New York City and Los Angeles. Mishay has danced for a wide variety of artists including Jonte’, Janes Addiction, Kanye West, Miley Cyrus, Icona Pop, Jennifer Hudson, Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, Mackelmore, Will Smith, Janelle Monáe, Hailee Steinfeld, FKA Twigs, Kylie Minogue, Demi Lovato, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson and in music videos for Whitney Houston, Nikki Williams, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Madonna, and Janet Jackson.
Other credits include performances on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, America’s Got Talent, MTV’s Run’s House, Fashion Rocks, Glee, Lip Sync Battle, Kids Choice Awards, BET Awards, iHeart Music Awards, Billboard Awards, VMAs, Grammy’s, the Oscars, and Assistant Choreographer for Beyoncé’s Mrs. Carter World Tour and On The Run World Tour to name a few.
Mishay’s work in the fashion world includes choreographing and performing in Aéropostle’s spring and holiday commercials and the billboard for Times Square, choreographed a commercial for Net-A-Porter, Joe Fresh, and appeared in other commercials and campaigns for, Amazon, Grand Hyatt, Warby Parker, Verizon, Skechers, and Nike. Mishay has also, appeared in a print campaign for Converse, has been featured in numerous articles for Dance Spirit Magazine, i-D Magazine, Vogue Magazine, and ESPN Women. As well as a part of Rihanna’s Savage show for NY Fashion Week.
Mishay has been a part of numerous live performances with a variety of artists. She has traveled the world on tour with Janet Jackson on Unbreakable World Tour & State Of The World Tour as well as Hugh Jackman’s world tour, The Man. The Music. The Show.
A passionate teacher, Mishay has been on faculty at Broadway Dance Center, and World Dance Movement/Italy. She has taught at numerous National Conventions and choreographs for award-winning studios and arts organizations throughout the country. You can also see Mishay featured in the hit movie, The Greatest Showman and recently Better Nate Than Ever and Blue’s Big City Adventure, more credits on Mishay’s website and social media platforms.
To continue to follow Mishay's journey follow her at @mishayyyy and on all social media platforms. www.MishayPetronelli.com
CAM LOESER
CAM LOESER is a New York based choreographer and dance educator. Cam is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Production Company COLE JAZZ, and the Co-Founder and Choreographer for their Dance Company The Jack Cole Dancers. Through the Company, Cam teaches the Jack Cole Technique across the world in Tokyo, London, and in New York City at STEPS on Broadway.
Cam currently acts as Resident Director/Assistant Choreographer for the National Tour of CHICAGO, and the Associate Choreographer for the Broadway Revival of PIPPIN. In 2022, Cam acted as the Swing/Dance Captain for the UK Tour of CHICAGO for their Tokyo run. Cam also served as Tour Choreographer for the National Tour of FINDING NEVERLAND in 2018/2019, and Dance Captain for the National Tour of PIPPIN in 2017.
Cam had the privilege of acting as the late Chet Walker’s Associate, working closely alongside Chet teaching and creating work across the globe up until his passing. Cam assisted Chet in reconstructing the Broadway Revival of PIPPIN for the first Japanese language production in Tokyo in 2019, and remounted PIPPIN on Chet’s behalf in Australia in 2020, as well as again in Tokyo in 2022. Cam assisted Chet in teaching in the style of Jazz Dance pioneer Jack Cole in New York as well as in London, and can be seen dancing for Chet in a Jack Cole segment for the critically acclaimed jazz documentary UPROOTED, which was released on HBO Max.
Throughout the years, Cam worked with Chet developing his original show JACK COLE: A New Musical. As a choreographer and Jazz Dance dance educator, Cam is dedicated to continuing to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of where this incredible art form comes from, and to celebrating the rich cultural tapestry and legacies of those who had a hand in leading us all to where we are today.
MAURICE WATSON
Maurice Watson is a dancer, choreographer, and educator with over 20 years of dance experience. He holds an MFA in choreography from the University of Iowa and is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG). As a dancemaker and teacher, his movement research focuses on jazz dance and choreography rooted in the black dance vernacular, utilizing musicality, groove, and individuality as the driving force.
Watson has choreographed and taught nationally and internationally for universities, summer programs, anddance studios across the United States, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
CHANON JUDSON
Chanon Judson is the Co-Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed Urban Bush Women (UBW). UBW galvanizes artists, activists, audiences and communities through performances, artist development, education and community engagement. As a legacy bearer, Chanon stewards the continuum of UBW’s methodology and repertory, as well as innovates new creative works and practices alongside Co-Director Mame Diarra Speis. Original works include Hair and Other Stories and Haint Blu.
Other directorial and choreographic credits include "Priestess of Twerk” (Irondale, Nia Witherspoon), “Chronicle X” (The Shed, Nia Witherspoon), “The Hang” (HERE Arts, Taylor Mac), Cannabis! A Viper Vaudeville (La Mama, Talvin Wilks), “The Invention of Tragedy” (Flea Theatre, Meghan Finn), “It’s Not so Bad in My Brain” (New Perspective Theatre), “Prometheus Bound” (The Tank, Ran Xia), , “Brett and Ashley” (New Perspective Theatre).“ Orlando (Bard University, Ran Xia), and directoral fellowship with New Perspective Theatre and Chicago Director’s Lab
As a performer and collaborator, Chanon has worked with Mickey Davidson, Kwame Ross, Barak adé Soleil, Talvin Wilks, Sita Frederick, Allyne Gartrell, and Sandra Burton. With credits that include A 24-Decade History of Popular Music (Taylor Mac), God’s Trombone (Craig Harris), Cannabis! A Viper Vaudeville (Talvin Wilkes, Grace Galu, Baba Israel), Cotton Club Parade (Warren Carlye), Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Concert (Glenn & Brian), and the Tony award winning musical Fela! (Bill T. Jones)
KARLI DINARDO
Karli Dinardo is a NYC based performer originally from Melbourne Australia. She moved to the big apple to attend the Integrated Conservatory Program at the American Music and Dramatic Academy.
Karli was most recently seen playing the role of Aysha/ Storyteller in Children Of Eden at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall. She was featured in the Revival of Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ (OBC) and made her Broadway debut as the Dance Captain/Swing/understudy Nini in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” (OBC). This position saw her to assist mounting the Australian Production, the North American Tour and remounting the show on Broadway when it reopened.
Some of her highlights include, Dance Captain/Swing/understudy Peggy/Maria in the original company of the First National Tour of “Hamilton”, Alex Owens in the National Tour of “Flashdance The Musical”, the Off-Broadway World Premier of “Revolution In the Elbow...”, Cassie in A Chorus Line at the REV Theatre in New York, multiple productions of West Side Story in America including Carnegie Hall. Regionally - “42nd Street”, “The Music Man”, and “The Pajama Game”. She also performed West Side Story in Australia receiving a Helpmann Award Nomination for the role of Anita. TV: Up Here (Hulu), IF (Paramount), Kiss Of The Spider Woman (upcoming), 75th, 76th and 77th Annual Tony Awards Opening Number (CBS / Paramount+).
Rep: CESD / Insta: @karlidinardo
KHORI MICHELLE PETINAUD
Khori Michelle Petinaud is a NYC based performer and educator. She studied at Dance Theater of Harlem, North Carolina School of the Arts, The Ailey School and received her BFA in dance from NYU. She has danced with choreographers such as Sean Curran, Nathan Trice, Aszure Barton, Cherice Barton, and Benoit Swan.
Credits include Aladdin the Musical (OBC), Moulin Rouge the Musical (OBC), Chicago the Musical, Lempicka (OBC) and her principal debut in the company of Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ where she landed a Chita Rivera Award nomination (Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway show) as well as a win (Outstanding Ensemble in a Bway show)! Some other credits include Black Swan, In the Heights (Kennedy Center), The Color Purple (Nat. Tour), King Kong, American Dance Machine, and Freddie Falls in Love ( Signature Theater: Al Blackstone). Tv credits include: Up Here (Hulu), Rent: Live (FOX) , The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) ,Vinyl (HBO), The Knick (Cinemax), and Z:The Beginning of Everything (Amazon).
CANDICE MICHELLE FRANKLIN
Candice Michelle Franklin, born and bred in live jazz music and jazz dance, is a New York-based professional dancer, choreographer, and producer as well as Artistic Director for the live urban Jazz music and dance production, JAZZ AIN’T DEAD®, and the A.D. for Cumbe RISE, an open community dance company and performance workshop series produced by Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance.
She received her conservatory training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and has continued her studies with the Ballroom Dance Teachers College of New Mexico. She is currently an IDTC certification candidate in Katherine Dunham technique. A 2024 NYSCA grant winner, Miss Franklin’s choreography has been presented by such presenters as Jazzmobile, Lincoln Center “Summer in the City,” Yale University, Joyce SoHo, Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, Harlem Arts Festival, Harlem Summerstage, BAMcafé Live, NYC Department of Education DECC, Webster Hall, and MTV/Viacom, as well as several casinos including Turning Stone, the Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Borgata, and Caesar’s. She has also choreographed for Bollywood recording artist, SHAKTI, singer Art Auré, and Grammy award-winning recording artist, MACY GRAY.
Currently, Miss Franklin is earning her MBA with a concentration in Music Business at Berklee College of Music/SNHU’s joint business program and is on the faculty and audition tour team of Joffrey Ballet School. She continues to teach throughout the US and abroad. IG @candicegetsdown2
ZAK NEMORIN
Zak Nemorin is a seasoned West End performer, Zak was cast in 17 West End and International Musicals before becoming a critically acclaimed choreographer.
Recently he performed in Matilda - The Movie for Netflix; Associate Choreographer for Rebecca The Musical and was choreographer for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Midsomer Murders; Agatha Raisin and is Co-Creator/Choreographer of UPROOTED.
Zak is also Artistic Director for Millennium Performing Arts and TheJazzCore Company and takes pride in embodying Matt Mattox based Isolation Technique, passed down to him by the late great Jacki Mitchell.
JREENA GREEN
Jreena Green is a professional choreographer, dance teacher and "practical dance historian' Recent choreographic credits include major commercials for Guinness, M&S, Balmain, Youtube, Google, KFC, Mr Muscle and Levis and the feature film ' The Phantom of the Oper' for Working Title films. Jreena has her own dance company Jazz Dance Elite, and was original cast of the Tony award-winning West End musical 'The Lion King'.
ANNETTE WALKER
Annette Walker is an accomplished, multi-talented performing artist who has appeared in a variety of theatre, film, television and concert productions. Her tap dance features include the BBC Proms 2019 Duke Ellington's Sacred Music concert at the Royal Albert Hall, Swinging at the Cotton Club (UK tour) and the short film, Dateleap (2022). As an aerial circus artist, she was one of the Mary Poppinses in the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony.
Annette is the founder and the musical director of the band, Rhythmaticians, and headlined the Marsden Jazz Festival with them for her new tap dance show in 2021. She also works as a music director and musician for other dance, music and theatre productions with credits that include Swing Sister Swing (UK tour 2022), Myke Masters Band and Sandi Toksvig’s Mirth Control at the WOW Festival at the Southbank Centre.
Annette’s passion for integrating music and dance continues off stage as a researcher and educator and she has taught at many dance and music institutions including, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, Royal Academy of Dance, The BRIT School, National Youth Jazz Collective and Tomorrow’s Warriors. She led the Renegade Stage (tap improvisation workshop) at the London Tap Jam for over 15 years, and is currently a co-director of Tap Dance Research Network UK
For Annette’s upcoming events, please visit https://linktr.ee/annetteuk
BAFANA MATEA
Bafana Matea was born in the township of Mamelodi Pretoria, South Africa and started his dancing career at Pro Arte Alphen Park High School in Pretoria where he studied Voganova and the Checcetti technique. After his studies he moved to NYC on a scholarship by Miss Judith Jamison to study at the Alvin Ailey school for 2 years.
At Ailey, under Miss Denise Jeffreson, Bafana got to work with wonderful choreographers including Mathew Rushing, Colin Connor and Igal Perry. Bafana later joined Ballet Hispanico for 2 years, where he travelled extensively within the US. He later joined Elisa Monte dance for 3 years and toured Europe, visiting Germany, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Brazil.Bafana then joined Battery Dance Company under artistic director Jonathan Hollander.
With Battery Dance he toured five continents in a span of 6 years. The company also spent time in Germany working with high school pupils on a “Dancing to Connect” Project. Bafana help found “Juxtapower” (South African song and dance) where he was rehearsal director and choreographer and continued to work with Alpha Omega, Delerious Dance, Thomas Ortiz and Mathew Westerby Dance. Bafana has been living in the UK for the past 10 years and teaches at Bird College, Wilkes Academy and the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge.
Since being in the UK, he has worked with Tavaziva, BOP Theatre and State of Emergency as a choreographer on a project “Where is Home”. Bafana is actively teaching at Bird college Conservatoire for Dance and Musical Theatre and Wilkes academy of performing art for the past 8 years.
JOhNNY BISHOP
Johnny Bishop
Training: Sylvia Young Theatre School. The Actors Centre London. Dance2xs Uk. Royal Ballet junior associates.
Theatre includes: Baby Doll in the Original London Cast of Moulin Rouge; the Original London Cast of Hamilton (Victoria Palace Theatre); Graffiti Pete in In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre); Young Simba in The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre); Carnival Messiah (UK & Trinidad); Aspire the Musical (Qatar); the Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Trinidad).
Workshops include: Wicked (Stage Entertainment Germany) & Juliet (Greene Light Stage). Film and Television includes: The Little Mermaid (Disney); Mary
Poppins Returns (Disney);
Galavant (ABC).
Other work includes: commercials for House of Fraser, H&M and Nick Jonas Live; Dancer for One Direction, Justin Bieber, Cher Lloyd, will.i.am, Rebecca Ferguson and Fleur East.
GREGORY HANEY
Gregory Haney
Training: University of Arizona BFA Theatre & Dance program
Theatre includes: Noxeema Jackson in World Premiere of To Wong Foo Musical; Richard Bullock u/s Ike Turner in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (West End); Speedy Valenti in Wonderful Town(Opera Holland Park); Hamilton (Original Broadway & The West End); Chistery in Wicked (Broadway); La Cienega in Bring It On (Broadway); Mika in Hit The Wall, a Play (Off-Broadway); Memphis (Broadway); Tyrelle in Nobody's Girl, a Play (NJ Rep); Tarzan (Broadway).
Film includes: Mike in Her Pen Pal dir. by Clare Niederpruem (Hallmark Films); Demolition dir. by Jean-Marc Vallée (Fox Searchlight); Michael in Michael&Clyde dir. Jessica Way.
Choreographed Natalie Imbruglia’s video for “Build It Better” 2021
Television includes: Dennis in Elementary (CBS); Grease Live dir. Thomas Kail (Fox); Bart in The Jim Gaffigan Show (TV Land); Clarissa in Blue Bloods (NBC); Hot Waiter in Broad City (Comedy Central).
AGGIE NONSIZI
Aggie Nonsizi is a versatile professional dancer and teacher who trained in Musical Theatre at Millennium Performing Arts. Her other dance styles include Street Dance, Afro and Commercial.
Credits include performing for Ed Sheeran, Wizkid, Yemi Alade and a World Tour with Bring Me The Horizon. She has performed at countless festivals including Glastonbury Festival, BBC Radio 1's Big Weekender and Lollapalooza.
Aggie has also performed on Dancing on Ice with Oti Mabuse, featured in adverts for Reebok, Rimmel London and Betfair. She holds different types of workshops and teaches throughout London.
NICHOLAS PALMQUIST
Nicholas Palmquist is an internationally recognized teacher and choreographer, currently based in Berlin.
As a freelance dancer in New York City, his eclectic work experience has ranged from films like In The Heights and episodes of SNL, The Tonight Show, and Netflix Original Series; to live performances with American Dance Machine, on the Tony Awards, and with the Radio City Rockettes. Nicholas and his movement have been featured in Vogue Magazine, CFDA X VOGUE, Numero China, Dance Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine, Tanz Magazine, Vogue Mexico, Nordstrom, Kenzo, Zalando, and at NYFW.
Since moving to Germany, Nicholas has created world premieres with Ballet x Schwerin, Semperoper Ballett, and Palucca University. He has taught Masterclasses with Juilliard, NYU, ABT Studio Company, Mozarteum University Salzburg, Staatsballett Berlin, and their educational program; Tanz Ist KLASSE! He continues to develop his genre bending movement language, and In addition to his world-famous classes at Steps on Broadway in New York City, Nicholas has accepted invitations to teach in Italy, Spain, the Philippines, France, London, Germany, Brazil, Austria, Mexico, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Paraguay, Shanghai, Japan, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland.
You can also interact with Nicholas online, via his Dance Masterclass series; The Art of Teaching Dance.
ASH MUKHERJEE
Ash Mukherjee was born in Kolkata, India, Ash trained in Bharatanatyam at Kalamandalam Kolkata with Guru Smt Thankamani Kutty. He pursued ballet with Lady Doreen Wells from the Royal Ballet and graduated in Jazz Theatre Dance from London Studio Centre.
Acclaimed by Dance Europe Magazine as one of the finest Indian classical dancers in the UK, Ash was hand-picked by the This Is It! team, to dance a duet with Michael Jackson at London’s O2 Arena. Ash starred on BBC 3’s Move Like Michael Jackson and created with choreographer Lavelle Smith Junior a solo integrating Indian classical dance with Michael’s iconic hit "Man In The Mirror," broadcast to three million viewers.
Choreographic works include BBC 2's Royal Wedding Duet for So You Think You Can Dance UK, Katie Melua/William Orbit's "The Flood" video, and British Youth Music Theatre's "Educating Yorkshire T’Musical" & “Naughty Carriage on the Orphan Train” at Dundee Rep.
Awards include Outstanding Male Dancer Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards UK nominee, Time Out London Rising Talent, and Critics’ Choice artist by Dance Europe.
Ash currently serves as Movement Director for The Citizens of the World Refugee Choir, performing at the Queens Platinum Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace and Glastonbury 2022.
CLAIRE MILLER
Claire Miller is a tap dance performer, choreographer and educator from London, UK. She is the founder and director of London Tap Academy and it passionate about authentic jazz dance education for children and adults.
Claire performs improvised work with live jazz music and can be seen at various jazz festivals, jams and lindy hop events across London and the UK. Her credits include Love Supreme Jazz Festival, The Southbank Centre, Britain's Got Talent (Diversity Break Free), BBC Sounds (Oti Mabuse's Dancing Legends) as well as regular performances at the London Tap Jam and the SOFF music jam.
In 2016-17 Claire had an apprenticeship with Tapestry Dance Company in Austin Tx where, under the direction of Acia Gray, she performed in productions of ‘Just Tap’ and ‘Of Mice and Music: A Jazz Nutcracker’. She is an alumnus of the Jacob’s Pillow Tap Dance Programme (2021), directed by Michelle Dorrance, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards and Derick K Grant, and has studied with dancers such as Josette Wiggan, Heather Cornell and Roxane Butterfly.
Claire is interested in the historical context of tap dance and its connection to jazz dances such as blues, charleston, and lindy hop. She also likes to make short dance films!
Insta @clairemillertaps
Jacqui Jameson
Jacqui has had an extensive career on stage and screen. She is proud to have worked with renowned artists including Gwen Verdon, Anne Reinking, Joel Grey, Chita Rivera, Gillian Lynne and Anthony Van Laast.
Theatre credits: KISS ME KATE ( Barbican Theatre) ; BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED (Lyric Theatre); MY FAIR LADY (National Theatre & Theatre Royal Drury Lane); FOSSE (Prince of Wales Theatre); CHICAGO ( Adelphi Theatre ); HEATHCLIFF (Hammersmith Apollo); JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (London Palladium); SONG AND DANCE (Norway); MIKADO ( English National Opera); PICKWICK (Chichester Festival Theatre & UK tour); OKLAHOMA! (UK tour); CHESS (UK tour).
Film credits: WICKED (Universal); KISS ME KATE ( Trafalgar ); TOMORROW MORNING (Visualize Films); MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN (Universal); BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Disney) and BEYOND THE SEA (Trigger Street Productions).
Television credits: THE ONE SHOW ( BBC1), GREY DOGS (Channel X); THE SOUND OF MUSIC: LIVE (ITV); BYRON; TOP OF THE POPS; BRTISH STYLE AWARDS; ROYAL VARIETY PERFORMANCE (BBC); UK OLYMPIC CONCERT (ITV) THE KUMARS (BBC2); EMMA BUNTON’S MUSIC VIDEO ‘MAYBE’.
Choreography credits: RITA HAYWORTH MUSCIAL (Cockpit); and ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST ( Gielgud Theatre).
Passionate about inspiring the next generation of performers, Jacqui has taught at the Guildford School of Acting and recently as Head of Jazz at Laine Theatre Arts.
LaDuca have paid homage to Jacqui’s incredible career by naming an iconic boot in her honour..."The JJ”.
Instagram: Jacqui_jameson
Alexzandra Sarmiento
Alexzandra is a theatre choreographer from NYC, currently based in London. She is currently working on 42 Balloons - a new musical by Jack Godfrey which will have its North American premiere later this year at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Theatre choreography credits include Babies (The Other Palace), The Red & The Black (Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre), and Woodhill (for LUNG Theatre) amongst others. As a performer Alexzandra’s credits include the original London company of Hamilton (Victoria Palace), Zoonation’s Message In A Bottle (Phoenix Theatre & Int’l Tour), In The Heights (King’s Cross Theatre), and A Chorus Line (The London Palladium).
Luca Dinardo
Theatre Credits: Onstage Swing in the World Premiere of Elvis The Musical Revolution (David Venn Enterprises); Swing in HAMILTON Australia(Michael Cassel Group); Anybodys/Dance Captain in West Side Story for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (Opera Australia); Dance Captain/Ensemble & Understudy Nautica in Bring It On (David Venn Enterprises); Ensemble in Billy Elliot (Louise Withers and Associates), Ensemble in Rebel Wilson's movie The Deb (Dunburn Debutants Pty Ltd.)
Creative Credits: Creator & Director of METAMUSE (Vass Productions); Choreographer of RENT at Sydney Opera House (LP Productions); Choreographer of Kinky Boots (James Terry Collective;) Assistant Choreographer of West Side Story for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (Opera Australia;) Assistant Director & Assistant Choreographer of Kiss of the Spider Woman (MTC); Other: Assistant to Travis Wall, Al Blackstone, Stacey Tookey, Karla Puno Garcia, Andrew Hallsworth and Michael Ralph.
Arlene Phillips DBE
Dame Arlene Phillips is an Olivier Award-winning choreographer and theatre director, honoured as a DBE for services to dance and charity. A pioneer of jazz dance in the UK, she developed her signature style inspired by American Modern Jazz and taught at London’s iconic original Dance Centre, Pineapple Dance Studios and numerous stage schools including Italia Conti and Arts Educational.
From creating the revolutionary dance group Hot Gossip in the 1970’s to working with stars from film, TV and theatre, Arlene has become a household name. Celebrated for her groundbreaking choreographic work on hit West End and Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and iconic music videos, her expertise extends through to her television work as a dance show judge and presenter.
Arlene’s most recent projects include the critically-acclaimed Guys & Dolls at Bridge Theatre and the Edinburgh Fringe sell-out success brand new musical I Wish You Well, the recent UK tour of Grease which followed on from two successful runs at Dominion Theatre, as well as celebrating over 36 years of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express in Germany as choreographer and director, whilst also being creative dramaturg on the phenomenally successful current London revival of the show.
Stacey Haynes
Stacey Haynes has enjoyed a long and varied career in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. From dancer to director, performer to producer. Stacey is the London Director and Choreographer of the hit theatrical dining experience Mamma Mia The Party! at London’s O2. Working directly on creating the immersive experience with ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. Recently, Stacey has Directed the official Take That Musical Greatest Day’s, Chicago UK Tour and International Tour is Creative Director for the band BLUE’s Greatest Hits UK and Italian arena tours.
Other Credits include:
THEATRE: The Lion King, Buddy the Elf, Guys and Dolls, The Producers, West Side Story, Fame, Footloose, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Rent.
FLIM: Sense and Sensibility, Othello, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Hamlet:
ARENA SHOWS UK & US: America’s Got Talent, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent.
TELEVISION (ON SCREEN): Musicality, Strictly Dance Fever, The Big Audition, Grease and Hairspray the School Musical.
LYNN Simonson
Lynn Simonson is an internationally respected educator of Jazz Dance. She is the creator of Simonson Technique, an organic approach to movement, that prepares the body to dance in a way that is anatomically intelligent and somatically aware. Her call to jazz dance grew out of a deep love for jazz music and a need to express that music in movement. Lynn was on faculty and co director of Morelli Ballet, Inc., NYC, 1972-82. She created and directed The Jazz Project for Jacob’s Pillow, 1983-89 and, a founding co director of Dance Space Center/Dance New Amsterdam, New York City, 1983-2013, which housed Simonson Technique and Simonson Method of Teacher Training (which she continues to present yearly). Simonson has received awards from American Dance Guild, N D E O, Dance Magazine and National Dance Association of USA. And, honored for lifetime achievement in dance by Encore International Festival, 2003, Boston Youth Moves, 2003, and Dance New Amsterdam 2005.
For her FULL BIO Click HERE
christine Kiernan Fisher
Christine Kiernan Fisher, the 2020 National Dance Education Teacher of the Year, brings 25 years of teaching experience bridging professional dance and education. She holds an MFA in Performance and Choreography from UNC Greensboro and is dedicated to fostering both artistic excellence and strong pedagogy in every learning environment.
As a performer, Christine has worked with 2B Tribe Dance Theater, Jan Van Dyke Dance Group, Informall Theater Company, and John Gamble Dance Theater. Her choreography has been featured throughout the Southeast at venues such as the Greensboro Fringe Festival, American Dance Festival’s Acts to Follow, NC Dance Festival, and NC Dances. She has also received choreographic commissions from The Sun Valley Ballet (Idaho) and the Power Company (SC).
She has taught at institutions including Columbia College, UNC Greensboro, Weaver Academy for Performing and Visual Arts, and Durham School of the Arts. In public education, she has served as Lead Dance Teacher for both Durham Public Schools and Guilford County Schools. Currently, she is adjunct faculty at UNC Greensboro and UNC Charlotte, where she teaches and supervises dance education student teachers. As a doctoral candidate and graduate research assistant at UNCG’s School of Education, she is completing dissertation research on visions of high-quality dance instruction—work that aims to further enrich the field of dance education.
Vibecke Dahle Dellapolla
Vibecke is an educator, choreographer, producer and photographer. She has a Bachelor in Dance with Pedagogy from the Norwegian College of Dance and a Bachelor in Sports Coaching from The University of Sports in Norway. She is certified to teach the Jazz technique of legendary Jazz dance master Matt Mattox.
She has performed in musicals like Evita (Euopean Tour), White Christmas (First US tour), Brigadoon, Beauty and the Beast, George M, Camelot and Crazy For You.
Her extensive background in dance and theater has given her exciting opportunities in Europe and the USA. She has taught master classes in musical theater, tap, and jazz dance at colleges, musical theater schools and dance studios and choreographed multiple musicals.
Vibecke is a Tony nominated producer of the two-time Tony winning musical SUFFS. She is currently Co-Producer on Operation Mincemeat on Broadway. She Co-Produced A Christmas Carol on Broadway and she Co-Produced the award winning new musical “Walking With Bubbles” Off- Broadway. She is Co-Producer of the world’s first Theremin Audio Musical “Falling in love with Mr. Dellamort” available where you listen to podcasts. Internationally, she is an Associate Producer of the new musical “Here You Come Again”, featuring Dolly Parton songs, in the UK .
She is an Executive producer of the feature length documentary “Uprooted”, the journey of Jazz Dance.
www.Vibeckedahledellapolla.com
LISA DONMALL-REEVE
Lisa Donmall-Reeve migrated from a successful and extensive career in theatre, which armed her with all the essential cross transferable skills for producing. She is a true collaborator with a passion for storytelling and has over two decades of production experience. Her company, LDR Creative, plays to its strengths to make an impact. It has enjoyed its role in creating excellence in film entertainment building creative teams that inspire and to deliver a product that makes a difference.
Lisa has been awarded over 15 major film festival awards in its first seven years of production. Her most recent work includes two feature length documentaries; ‘Uprooted – The Journey of Jazz Dance’ (HBO Max) and ‘Susan Feniger. FORKED’ (currently on the film festival circuit) She has several feature length projects in development (both scripted and un-scripted) and looks forward to creating, collaborating, and producing the current and future generation’s vision in film.
Lisa is the UPROOTED Jazz Dance Education Projects Artistic Director and strives to continue to educate the current and future generations of dancers worldwide with this companies important programs.