Guest Artists
Theater
- Joe Baker, Choreographer
- Bianca Blanco, Choreographer
- Tracy Burns, Improv Instructor
- Alexis Chamow, Director
- Emily Cohn, Audition Workshop Instructor
- Janet Dacal, Musical Theater Instructor
- Danny Dolan, Choreographer
- Khanisha Foster, Instructor
- Park Haskell, Assistant Director
- Carole Kim, Interdisciplinary Artist
- Spark LeoNimm, Instructor
- Gabi Mayorga, Assistant Director
- Deborah Pardes, Instructor, Arts + Business
- Tony Sancho, AHA Improv Instructor
- Sara VonGillern, Choreographer
Joe Baker, Choreographer
Joseph Baker is an actor, director, writer, choreographer and dancer living in Los Angeles, CA. He has performed in, co-created and directed a plethora of original work all over the United States and in Canada, and has worked with many American theater innovators including Wendell Beavers, Meredith Monk, Moises Kaufman and Steve Wangh.
A long-time practitioner/teacher of the Viewpoints and a graduate of the MFA Theatre: Contemporary Performance program at Naropa University, he has also trained in Roy Hart voice work, Grotowski-based physical acting, the Suzuki method, Butoh, Moment Work and Developmental Movement. Joe founded the US touring companies Inertia Theatre and Warrior Theater. He also works with Brooklyn-based Witness Relocation Theatre and served as the Lead Theater faculty at North Carolina’s Governor’s School East from 2006-2011. Mr.Burns adds to now 10 years of collaboration with Ms. Bauer and six years working on shows at Marlborough.
Bianca Blanco, Choreographer
Bianca Blanco grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she discovered the love of dance at a young age in her first ballet class. She trained daily in ballet, jazz and modern dance. Her training continued at the Interlochen Arts Camp where it was solidified that there was no other path but to dance. Her first job was teaching dance as a young teen. After receiving a full scholarship to Western Michigan University she decided to pursue a BA in dance where she focused equally on ballet, jazz and modern dance and studied under and performed for such greats as Kathleen Hermsdorf, Donald McKayle and Derrick Evans. During her time at WMU she was also selected as a part of CRDT, a touring/performing/teaching ensemble, which traveled locally as well as internationally in Prague. It was also during this time that she was chosen to perform in many incredible works such as the legendary modern dance choreographer Paul Taylor's Three Epitaphs. In 2002 she felt the calling of her Latin roots, after so many years of classical training, and decided to move to Los Angeles to study salsa. She worked with many great salseros, toured nationally and won many salsa competitions. She has also continued her studies of partner dancing and is well versed in many ballroom styles. Blanco has worked on many movies, commercials and television shows as a principal dancer including Along Came Polly, Luis, Dexter, Taco Bell and more. In addition to dancing, another passion of Blanco is community service. Blanco is truly humbled to be a member of CONTRA-TIEMPO, which is an outlet for the classical training, the "sabor" of her roots and her passion for community. Blanco has been with the company 4 years and has been touring with them nationally and internationally with the goal of transforming the world through dance. In 2011, Blanco also launched her own company Bella SavOur and became certified in plant based nutrition. She also teaches vegan cooking classes and creates gourmet custom vegan desserts!
Tracy Burns, Improv Instructor
Tracy Burns has been teaching and performing internationally for more than 25 years. She teaches acting and improv at Pixar (Inside Out, Toy Story), DreamWorks (How to Train your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda), Chapman University and California College for the Arts. She has also taught for Disney, Telltale Games, Middlesex University in London, UCLA Extension, and for puppeteers at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Tracy was the director of the improv program at Pepperdine University for 13 years. She was named one of the top improv instructors in Los Angeles by Back Stage L.A. Tracy works with many improv groups such as Second City, ACME, ComedySportz, and the award-winning Impro Theatre. Tracy has taught many industry professionals including writers and actors from such shows as The Office, The Muppets and The Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything.
Alexis Chamow, Director
Alexis Chamow is a director, educator and arts curriculum specialist who has worked in Los Angeles (Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, Pasadena Playhouse, Antaeus Company, Furious Theatre), New York (Teatro La Tea, P.S. 122), Chicago (Northwestern’s National High School Institute/“Cherub” program), Austin (Austin Script Works, Brockett Theatre, B. Iden Payne, Hyde Park Theatre), Seattle (Seattle Repertory Theatre, A Contemporary Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Living Voices, Unexpected Productions), St. Louis (Center for Contemporary Art, Edison Theatre, Two Girls’ Productions), and England (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London, and the Theatre Royal Bath, Ustinov Studio). She has adapted and directed multiple scripts for young performers, facilitated ensemble-generated New Work and created subject specific drama intensives for theatres and schools. As Artistic Associate/Director of Education with Pasadena Playhouse, she produced and directed both mainstage and Balcony Theatre events including PlayWriteGirl, Megan Gogerty’s Sig Gotta Do and Laura Schellhardt’s Air Guitar High for Hothouse at the Playhouse, and showcases with community partners like Phoenix House and West of Broadway. Ms. Chamow is just returned from Riverside Theatre in Iowa City and Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, where she directed the rolling world-premiere of solo artist Megan Gogerty’s Feet First in the Water With a Baby in My Teeth as part of the National New Play Network new works program. She has worked with Marlborough students on The Arabian Nights Project.
Emily Cohn, Audition Workshop Instructor
Emily Cohn is a professional musician, songwriter, and Musical Director based in Los Angeles. After starting classical piano lessons in 1996, she went on to earn her Bachelor Degree of Music from Cal State Northridge in 2010, specializing in jazz piano. Emily has played the piano, keyboard or synth book for the following shows: Putnam County Spelling Bee, Rent, Les Mis, Spamalot, Xanadu, Little Shop of Horrors, Peter Pan, Hollywood Fringe 2013 Original Exorcistic, and one woman show by Ken and Kate Fugeli Rachel Calof in 2011. Emily is currently Musical Director for HiTech Hi- Jack at Studio C Artists in Hollywood, and You’re a Goodman Charlie Brown at the Attic Theater in Mid City. Emily also plays piano for Broadway Star, Kathy Deitch’s, audition bootcamp in Los Angeles.
Janet Dacal, Musical Theater Instructor
A Los Angeles native of Cuban decent, Janet has an extensive career in music and theatre. Janet has starred in several Broadway productions, including the Grammy and Tony Winning Mega-Hit In the Heights. She most recently starred as Alice, in the Broadway show, Wonderland. Her musical influences range in genres, find inspiration from the likes of Sarah Vaughan to Celia Cruz. Her music career began under the wing of Grammy winning artist Gloria Estefan, recording background vocals on a number of her albums. Other artists she's worked with include Ricky Martin, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. She currently serves as a founding member of the District Stage Company, a theatrical force based in Miami. You can also see her touring the world as a symphony concert vocalist with New York Pops conductor, Steven Reineke. Find out more about Janet at janetdacal.com
Danny Dolan, Choreographer
Danny has been dancing in Los Angeles for 9 years, working with LACDC, Ryan Heffington, Holly Rothschild, Axiom Dance Theater, Nina McNeely, Lita Albuquerque and the clothing designers SKINGRAFT and R. Swiader. He is the choreographer/creative director for the band Hi Fashion, touring internationally with them and choreographing all of their music videos. He has toured with Foster the People and performed with the band Muse at the 52nd Grammy Awards and can also be seen dancing in commercials and on the TV show Crazy Ex Girlfriend. Danny is part of the artist collective VOMIR, producing and directing photo and video content, keeping gender, archetypes and sexuality fluid and evolving. His choreography has been seen in clubs all over Los Angeles, The Art of Elysium, BENT, the LACE Gallery, and The Ace Hotel Los Angeles. He has choreographed videos for American Apparel, MTV, Folsom Street Fair, Bloomingdales, Active Child, Gold Zebra and singer Steve Grand and also appeared in music videos for Hercules and Love Affair, Passion Pit, Depeche Mode and Florence and the Machine.
Khanisha Foster, Instructor
Khanisha Foster is a mixed race actress, writer, teaching artist, the Associate Artistic Director of 2nd Story and an ensemble member of Teatro Vista. She was a featured storyteller on NPR’s The Dinner Party. She was chosen for the Theatre Communication Group’s Young Leaders of Color 2009 and an artist exchange with the Citizen’s Theatre of Scotland in Glasgow. She is a Sarah Siddon’s Society Scholarship recipient and a two time finalist for the PEN Emerging Voices Fellowship. Her teaching artist work was honored by the White House. Her writing has been published with CellStories, podcast through 2nd Story, and published in the anthology Briefly Knocked Unconscious By a Low Flying Duck. She has performed with Teatro Vista, the Goodman Theatre, Steep Theater, and Collaboraction, among others. She can be seen in the film Chicago Boricua, official selection the Tribeca Film Festival, the Chicago Latino Film Festivals, and closing night selection for the New York Latino International Film Festival. She is the Live Events Producer for the Mixed Remixed Film and Literary festival which featured Key and Peele. Currently Khanisha is getting ready to direct The Bluest Eye, writing screenplays, and raising two daughters nine years apart because she enjoys a challenge.
Park Haskell, Assistant Director
Carole Kim, Interdisciplinary Artist
Carole Kim is an interdisciplinary artist with a focus on media installation and video for live performance. She has experimented extensively with the moving image to physicalize the medium and render it malleable in real time. She pursues an ongoing interest in creating environments in which live and mediated presence co-exist rather than compete. Kim seeks an integration of media where moving image, sound, body and architecture are on equal planes engaging in a dynamic, reciprocating and mutually supportive dialogue. Her work floats between disciplines, manifesting in different contexts including experimental music, theater, dance and art.
Her work has been supported by the Irvine Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Center for Cultural Innovation, City of Los Angeles, Pasadena Arts Council, The Music Center, Durfee Foundation, REDCAT, University of California Institute for Research in the Arts (UCIRA), The Getty Center, The Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound (SASSAS), Dublab, Newtown, Turbulence.org, CalArts, and The Center for Experiments in Art, Information, and Technology. She was selected as a recipient of a 2013 COLA Fellowship, 2014 CCI Investing in Artists Grant, 2015 Metabolic Studio Chora Council Grant and a 2015 CHIME Grant.
Spark LeoNimm, Instructor
Spark LeoNimm is a Founding Member Joker of Theatre of the Oppressed NYC and a Clown. They do therapeutic hospital clowning with Healthy Humor, Inc's Red Nose Docs and has toured with Clowns Without Borders to Mexico & Guatemala. Spark also teaches and creates subversive physical comedy: tinyDANGEROUSfun! variety show & co-created the award winning Handshake Uppercut. They are a graduate from the Dell 'Arte School of Physical Theatre. Awards: Gold Medal, NY Clown Olympics; Best Comedy & Best Physical Theatre, SF Fringe Fest; Encore Award, Boulder Fringe Fest; "Must See," Chicago Fringe Fest; Individual Artist Project Award; Rasmussen Foundation. Photo credit: Will O'Hare. johnleo.net
Gabi Mayorga, Assistant Director
Gabi Mayorga is a Mexican American theater artist. She graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University and currently resides in Los Angeles. She’s trained with Pedro Pascal, KJ Sanchez and Moment Work with Tectonic Theater. Her favorite acting credits include Seven Spots on the Sun at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Ezperanza Rising at the Goodman theatre, Downrange; Voices from the Homefront at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. This summer she taught Moment work to k-5th grade students at The Princess Theater in Decatur Alabama and is currently working on making short films.
Deborah Pardes, Instructor, Arts + Business
Deborah Pardes has thrived as a writer, musician and producer for over 3 decades. She uses performance art and technology to enliven the experience of traditional storytelling. Her current stage work with Deb Talk: Shoes Worth Sharing represents an expansion of her creative process. She's interesting in integrating her words, music and love of audience engagement into one unique, entertaining and interactive experience. The founder of Artists for Literacy and The Literature Remix Project, Deborah has produced literary events, concerts and multi-national music competitions. Her work has engaged artists such as Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Tom Waits and Suzanne Vega. She’s a music composer and producer, with 8 CDs to her name. Her recent book, Climbing Out for Under: A Handbook For Heartbreak, is available on Amazon. Deborah is a graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University and of The Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars Program. She’s lived in New York, San Francisco and currently lives in Los Angeles. More info at deborahpardes.com.
Tony Sancho, AHA Improv Instructor
Tony Sancho began as a teaching artist in the visual arts. He transitioned from fine art to acting while in college where he was hired by the Goodman Theatre in Chicago to teach Acting, Voice and Movement. He continues to return every summer to teach there. After Graduation from Columbia College Chicago, Tony was asked to return as adjunct faculty and also began instructing with The Center for Community Arts Partnerships, a literacy through the arts organization created by Columbia. Currently, he is a teaching artist for CTG’s August Wilson Program, and the SAG Foundation’s StagePals. Tony has performed in Los Angeles with Ojai Playwrights, South Coast Rep., Mark Taper, the Geffen. In Chicago: Victory Gardens, Goodman, and Steppenwolf.
Sara VonGillern, Choreographer
Sara VonGillern aka "Mis' Von" specializes in hip hop dance elements: B-girling, House, Waacking, Locking and Popping. She began dancing at the age of four and has formal training in not only hip hop but also Jazz, Ballet, Modern and Tap. She most recently competed on MTV's All Star Season of America's Best Dance Crew Season 8 with returning champions, We Are Heroes. Her versatility was showcased on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance: Season 3 as a top 8 finalist and in the 50 city US tour following the show in 2007. She has danced for musical artists like Ne-Yo, Justin Beiber, Usher, Andy Grammar, Vanilla Ice, Wally Lopez, Jasmine V, Tariah, T. Gouche, Jensen Reed, MC Hammer, LMFAO, Big Time Rush, Dawn Richards, SOFI, Avril Lavigne, Alexz Johnson & comedian Aziz Ansari. She has performed as an aerial artist at Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, Lucidity and for Bringing Back Broadway at the Historic Los Angeles Theater. She has also performed on shows like American Idol and the Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Talk and FOX's TV Sitcom The New Girl. She has danced for NBA Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers and performs in the Southern CA area with her crews The Syrenz and Outer Circle Crew. She also performs dance, aerial and fire with her circus/dance company, The Furies LA.
Tech Design
- Matt Aston, Set Designer
- Greg Breda, Fine Artist and Set Designer
- Gary Grundei, Sound Director
- Ning Ji, Lighting Designer
- Hilda Kane, Lighting Designer
- Connie Martin, Set Designer
- Jeff McLaughlin, Set Designer
- Pablo Santiago, Lighting Designer
- Joe Seely, Mask and Puppet Maker
- John Trevino, Set Designer
Matt Aston, Set Designer
Matt Aston earned the Master of Fine Arts Degree in Stage Design on an Algur H. Meadows Full Scholarship Award from Southern Methodist University. Aston designed sets for Dallas Theater Center, Stage West and Addison Center Theater before becoming full time theater faculty at the University of Central Oklahoma. Since moving to Los Angeles in 1992, Aston has focused on Fine Art painting and has shown his work in galleries throughout Los Angeles.
As a commissioned painter, Aston has painted murals for the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum, Disney Animation, and the restoration of the Egyptian Theater Hollywood. He has also painted for David Lachapelle, Madonna, and is responsible for creating the American flag in the mega award-winning Greenday video, "American Idiot". To view his work, please visit: www.mattaston.com
Greg Breda, Fine Artist and Set Designer
California native Greg Breda is a self-taught visual artist wholives and works in Los Angeles. Painting with acrylic on canvas, mylar and paper, his work explores the strength, resilience and beauty of the human spirit. Sourcing media, memory, and his imagination, Greg constructs realistic, central theme “heads” against abstracted backgrounds, persuading the viewer that the compelling conditions surrounding us could merely be challenging illusions. The “heads” then step forward into reality (realism) in order to convey a level of clarity that is attainable through an illuminated spirit. Often referencing nature and the language of flowers,
Breda also illustrates luminous attributes that his “heads” embody. Through his work, Breda seeks to encourage the viewer to envision himself as elevated and illuminated. His works are featured in various private collections.
Gary Grundei, Sound Director
Gary Grundei is a composer, music director, sound designer, and teacher. He regularly composes for mainstage productions at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and teaches at Naropa University. He also directs the Mosaic Gospel Choir in Boulder and Bar Choir in Denver. Other credits include shows at The Magic Theatre, New York Stage and Film, Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and Baltimore Theatre Project, as well as commissions by the National GALA Choruses, Sound Circle, Resonance Women's Chorus and two ongoing projects with Bill Pullman and Caitlin FitzGerald. He composes for and plays with the band High Fiction.
Ning Ji, Lighting Designer
Ning Ji received her MFA in lighting design from UCLA, School of Theater, Film and Television. She is a lighting and projection designer for theater, dance, opera and musical based in Los Angeles, California. Her varied body of work includes Mother. Father. Choreographed by Christine Suarez, Opera Cosi fan tutte directed by Peter Kazaras, Hidden Choreographies choreographed by Lea Anderson from London, Bat Boy: The Musical directed by Jeremy Mann, and Cloud 9 directed by April Shawhan.
Hilda Kane, Lighting Designer
Los Angeles credits include Three Days of Rain for Pepperdine Theatre Department, Gallery Secrets for Chalk Repertory at the Museum of Natural History, The Elephant Man for The Mechanicals Theatre Group, Pinocchio for The Nine O’Clock Players, O Jerusalem for The Production Company, True West by Action! Theatre Company, Six Degrees of Separation for the Kentwood Players. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Emerson College. She is excited and grateful to be back at Marlborough School for her fourth academic year.
Connie Martin, Set Designer
Connie Martin Trevino is a self-taught photographer who was born on Chicago’s south side. From a very early age photography was a very important part of her immediate and extended family’s lives. Photos and movies were taken at all sorts of events from birthdays, vacations and nights out. She received her first 126mm camera around the age of 8 and even remembers getting what was supposed to be a better camera a 110mm and thinking that the quality was not improved. Once in high school she became even more interested in the photography process and took her first and only class. Her mom purchased her first 35mm camera, with the threat “you better use this.” and she’s been taking photographs ever since. After moving to Washington, D.C. in the late 80’s she continued to shoot and develop her style. Connie. Martin Trevino’s work has been exhibited in several group shows in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD and the Los Angeles area where she currently resides.
Jeff McLaughlin, Set Designer
Jeff is very happy to be working at Marlborough yet again. Jeff designs sets and lighting for film, television, commercials, corporate events and theatre. Commercial clients include Tropicana, Huawei and Kellogg’s. Corporate clients include Washington Mutual, Infiniti and Wella-Sebastian. Television credits include Octane Academy, Lady Gaga's Judas video, and Interior Motives with Christopher Lowell. Recent notable works include Years to the Day at Beverly Hills Playhouse, Nuttin' But Hutton at The NoHo Arts Center, The Blue Iris, Cyrano, Bakersfield Mist (Ovation nominee), A House Not Meant to Stand (Ovation and LA Weekly Award nominee) and The Train Driver (Ovation and LA Weekly Award nominee) all at The Fountain Theatre, Falling for Make-Believe and Grace and Glorie (Ovation winner) at The Colony, Wrap Your Heart Around It and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindoors at The Falcon, Open House and Sexsting at The Skylight, Recent Tragic Events (LADCC Award nominee), The Long Christmas Ride Home (Ovation nominee), and A Skull in Connemara (Ovation, LADCC and Stage Scene LA winner and LA Weekly nominee), all at Theatre Tribe. For more information, visit JeffMcLaughlinDesign.com
Pablo Santiago, Lighting Designer
Pablo Santiago (Lighting Designer) has enjoyed 16 years of experience lighting stage, film, and TV. He is excited to work with Holly once again after working with her and String Theory in 2011 at the Broad Theater. Pablo is nominated to the Stage Raw Award 2015 for Best Lighting Design for his work on The Brothers Size (Fountain Theater).He was nominated for the Ovation Award 2014 for best lighting design (large theater) for his work on Premeditation (LATC), and for LA Weekly’s 2014 best lighting design award for his work on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Actors Co-Op Theatre). He won Scenie Award 2014 for Memorable Design for his work on The Brothers Size and Time Stands Still (Chance Theater). Recently, he worked with the LA Phil as part of their Green Umbrella Project at Disney Concert Hall, La Olla, the Latino Theater Co. at Getty Villa and Woyzeck (Musical) at The New Vic in Santa Barbara . Pablo’s upcoming shows include Amor Brujo for the LA Phil with Gustavo Dudamel (conductor) and Siudy Garrido (choreographer). Pablo is also a Lecturer in Lighting Design at UCLA's Television, Film and Theater Department. Find him at pablosantiagodesign.com.
Joe Seely, Mask and Puppet Maker
Joe Seely is an Actor/Designer. His award winning masks and puppets have been seen on stage internationally and with the Center Theater Group, The Aspen Santé Fe Ballet, the Winston Salem Festival Ballet, as well as countless other smaller theater throughout Los Angeles. He discovered his love for puppets and masks through Hans Jurgen Fettig’s Book “Hand and Rod Puppets” as a boy.
John Trevino, Set Designer
John Trevino was born in 1972 and raised in Long Beach, CA. He received his B.A. in Black Studies and Art Studio in 1995 from U.C. Santa Barbara and MFA in painting from Howard University in 2000. In his work, Trevino pursues information that is acquired from personal experiences, observations, and reflections on the surrounding environment as a way of documenting aspects of contemporary culture. Working primarily in painting and mixed media, Trevino feels the range of these materials mirror the diversity of his experiences and allow the artist the flexibility and freedom to visually navigate this territory.
In addition to studio work, he has painted murals in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., as well as exhibited work in both cities. In 2004 his work was selected as part of the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Neighborhood Poster Competition and displayed throughout Los Angeles. Most recently he has been working on an ongoing series of photographs featuring friends and colleagues wearing customized water polo caps. John currently lives in Los Angeles.
Dance
- Jahanna Blunt, Instructor
- Jasmine Burgo, Choreographer
- Alexis Carra, Choreographer
- Roya Carreras, Choreographer
- Raquel Chavis, Choreographer
- Hai Cohen, Choreographer
- Gustine Fudickar, Choreographer
- Nick Gonzalez, Choreographer
- Johnnie Hobbs, III, Choreographer
- Laura Iacuessa Keramidas, Choreographer
- Carole Kim, Interdisciplinary Artist
- Anindo (Sarah) Marshall, Choreographer
- Anchita S. McDaniel, Choreographer
- Genna Meroni, Choreographer
- Lisa Donmall Reeves, Choreographer
- Guzman Rosado, Choreographer
- Micaela Taylor, Choreographer
- Angel Tyson, Choreographer
- Pia Vinson, Choreographer
- Sara VonGillern, Choreographer
- Jamal Wade, Choreographer
Jahanna Blunt, Instructor
Jahanna Blunt, a native of Los Angeles, California, began her dance career as a seven-year-old with Abalaye African Drum and Dance Ensemble. While majoring in acting, she continued to dance throughout her time in high school at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and in college at UCLA's School of Theater Film and Television. Jahanna has taught African Dance courses for the Los Angeles Unified School District and for the University of La Verne, as well as workshops and studio classes. She has choreographed for the University of Southern California's theater department, for the Lower Depth Theater Ensemble, and for the renowned JazzAntiqua Music and Dance Ensemble. Jahanna’s performance credits include Global Soul Night at the Hollywood Bowl, the BET Awards at the Kodak Theater, and various concerts at the Ford Amphitheater. Most recently, she has collaborated with her close friends to create Le Ballet Dembaya, a brand new West African drum and dance company, and also one of her proudest accomplishments to date. She feels blessed to be able to pursue her passion as a career and looks forward to a bright future.
Jasmine Burgo, Choreographer
Since discovering her passion for movement, Jasmine has always wanted to share this joy with different communities. Not having been exposed to the arts as a child, she was determined to bring the arts to as many people she could.
She started teaching young children at a local church while attending the University of South Florida in 1997. It wasn’t long before Jasmine received her first studio teaching position in Nashville, TN.
In 2006, Jasmine began teaching at HYPE Studios in Hermosa Beach, CA under the mentorship of Christopher Tyler. It was there where she honed in on her abilities to create choreography, break down movement and developed her sense of musicality.
After joining CONTRA-TIEMPO in 2008, Jasmine received the opportunity to train to become a teaching artist. It was through this organization where she went through various training programs such as, Teaching Artist Training through the Actor’s Fund, Arts For All - Building Standard based curriculum, Council Training with The Center for Council, California Dance Institute, and consistent professional development with artistic director for CONTRA-TIEMPO, Ana Maria Alvarez. Jasmine has expanded her skill set when she began working at the Skirball Cultural Center in 2017. At the Skirball she added the art of Storytelling, Puppetry & African Drumming to my repertoire.
Alexis Carra, Choreographer
I am a Latina woman, born and raised in Tampa Florida. I have Spanish, Argentine, and Cuban blood on both sides of my family. From as early as I can remember, music and dance were a part of my heritage. My mom says I actually danced before I walked. I was just out of diapers and barely 2 when I started dance classes. By the time I was ten, I was dancing with Bay Ballet Theatre, concurrently with my childhood dance studio, Centerstage Dance Academy. During summers I studied dance in programs throughout the country: Alvin Ailey, Princeton Ballet, Nutmeg Ballet, Broadway Dance Center, and LA’s own Edge Performing Arts Center. I danced a lot and studied a lot! I went to a prep school in Tampa where I learned how to study, be disciplined, and to love musical theatre. My Drama and Music teachers at Berkeley Prep still support and guide me. With a demanding academic schedule, I learned to carry books with me everywhere and studied in the car, in between dance classes, and managed to be accepted at Yale University where I graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Theatre Studies. Being at Yale was a spectacular experience intellectually, artistically, and emotionally.
While at Yale, I took a leave of absence during my Junior Year to tour the world with the First National Broadway Company of Ann Reinking’s Tony Award-winning musical review Fosse. That experience confirmed what I already knew – dance and theatre were essential to my future! Following graduation I was off to NYC where I performed in several Broadway shows, including, Wicked, Sweet Charity, Fame on 42nd Street, and The Pirate Queen. I transferred to LA with Wicked and the Southern California sunshine and landscape were so addicting that I never left. Making a transition from theatre to television and film was natural as I grew up watching Dick Van Dyke, Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and Leslie Caron in the classic movie musicals. It was a harsh reality to switch gears, but persistence and sheer grit has kept me going. Thank you mom, thank you Berkeley, thank you Yale, and thank you dear friends on whose shoulders (and couches) I inevitably leaned hard—really hard.
Roya Carreras, Choreographer
Roya began studying dance at Riverside City College, trained at the Alvin Ailey school in NYC, then graduated with honors from UC Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts. She has worked with Lux Boreal Danza Contemporanea, Malashock Dance, California Riverside Ballet, Intersect Dance Theatre, The Danielle Russo Dance Company and Luna Negra Dance Theater at Springboard Danse Montreal. Most recently, Roya apprenticed for Body Traffic, working with Barak Marshall on his newest commission for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Chairman Dances, and danced for award-winning choreographer Stephan Koplowitz in Red Line Time, a site-specific piece performed in the LA Metro. Roya has taught all over Southern California and her work has been presented at Highways Performance Space, The Electric Lodge Theater, The Glenn Wallichs Theatre, Diavolo, Brockus Project Space, and BRAVA. She is co-founder of oddJobs Performance; is currently dancing for String Theory and is the Rehearsal Director for Rosanna Gamson in their upcoming project Layla Means Night. Her latest work, A Table, will be presented in New York at the Wild Project Theatre as a part of the Current Sessions Contemporary Dance Festival.
Raquel Chavis, Choreographer
Singer, songwriter, producer, director, dancer, choreographer, actor, and artistic director Raquelle Chavis is from Queens Village, New York. Her studies began at The Long Island School of Music, The Eglevsky Ballet School, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center’s Children’s Program, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center’s Merit Scholarship Program, and The School of American Ballet. Chavis is a Graduate of New York’s Prestigious High School of The Performing Arts, where she received The B’nai Brith Award for Excellence in Dance, and the “Arts Award” from The National Foundation for the Advancement of The Arts for distinction of Presidential Scholar. Raquelle has performed throughout The U.S. and the Caribbean with The Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble / Ailey II, under the direction of Sylvia Waters, and she has performed throughout the United States, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Soviet Union, and Asia as an eight year soloist and principle dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater under the direction of Alvin Ailey until his death in 1989, and under current director Judith Jamison until 1994.
Chavis's artistry is not limited to dancing—she is also an accomplished singer, songwriter, choreographer, stage director, playwright and actor. She was eighteen when she assisted legendary director William Hammerstein and choreographer Talley Beatty on the European production of Carmen Jones; at nineteen she joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Post Ailey she has appeared on and off Broadway; recorded music for Sony, Partisan Records, Taca Tuca, BMG & Warner music in Germany, and Australia; written, directed, choreographed, and staged theatrical productions in the U.S. and Europe. Currently Chavis is creating works for Geechie Anne Productions, a multidisciplinary performing arts company founded in 1997.
Hai Cohen, Choreographer
Hai Cohen is a native of Beer-Sheva, Israel. His professional training began at Bat-Dor dance school where he was a recipient of the American-Israeli Cultural Scholarship, an award given to the top dance students in the country. Cohen continued his dance training with Bat-Sheva Dance Company. He was also a member of the Kamea Contemporary Dance Company and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, whom he toured internationally for a couple years. He has had the opportunity to teach Kibbutz repertory in various places around the world.
From 2010-2013 Cohen performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall alongside the LA Philharmonic and the Joyce Theatre in New York City as a member of the LA-based contemporary dance company, BODYTRAFFIC. He join the faculty at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in 2011. Cohen’s choreography has placed his students in first place at Young America Grand Prix (YAGP). He is a free-lance guest artists in various dance schools throughout Southern California.
Hai Cohen is a native of Beer-Sheva, Israel. His professional training began at Bat-Dor dance school where he was a recipient of the American-Israeli Cultural Scholarship, an award given to the top dance students in the country. Cohen continued his dance training with Bat-Sheva Dance Company. He was also a member of the Kamea Contemporary Dance Company and the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, whom he toured internationally for a couple years. He has had the opportunity to teach Kibbutz repertory in various places around the world.
From 2010-2013 Cohen performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall alongside the LA Philharmonic and the Joyce Theatre in New York City as a member of the LA-based contemporary dance company, BODYTRAFFIC. He join the faculty at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in 2011. Cohen’s choreography has placed his students in first place at Young America Grand Prix (YAGP). He is a free-lance guest artists in various dance schools throughout Southern California.
Gustine Fudickar, Choreographer
Gustine holds an MFA in Contemporary Performance From Naropa University. Prior to her time in Colorado, Gustine collaborated and performed with many Los Angeles dance and theatre artists such as Common Actions Dance Co., Rae Shaolan Blum, Elizabeth Leister and playwright , Jonas Openheim. As an actor, Gustine has worked in television and film in Los Angeles and Denver , thoroughly enjoyed playing "Miranda" in Steve Wangh’s production of The Tempest at Naropa University, multiple leads in Leigh Fondakowski’s staged reading of SPILL at Wesleyan University, "Chantal" in Band of Toughs production of The Thugs, "Elizabeth Benton" in Roses, an original play by Janet Mylott, and most recently as guest artist in Language of Fish dance collective’s performance of Francesca, an homage to the late photographer Francesca Woodman.
Nick Gonzalez, Choreographer
Internationally known for his remarkable work on and off camera, Nick is a talented choreographer and artistic director. Nick has enjoyed working with celebrities Derek Hough, Usher, Pitbull, Fat Joe, Jessica Sutta, Joey McIntyre, Jackson Guthy, Boa, Benny Marchant, Justin Stein and many more. Nick was featured on Season 1 and 2 of So You Think You Can Dance as one of Top 25 Male Dancers. You may have seen his recent project, "Make Your Move 3D", bringing the two worlds of tap dancing and hip hop together for an action pack movie starring Derek Hough and Boa.
Nick has been sharing his passion for teaching and creating new opportunities for dancers around the world. Teaching in Australia, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Virgin Islands, Germany and 47 of the 50 United States; Nick stays busy perfecting his craft and artistry.
Johnnie Hobbs, III, Choreographer
Johnnie Hobbs, III is a tap dance performer, teacher and filmmaker who has offered his talents to L.A. and theatre companies such as, Adren Theatre Company, Interact Theatre and Matrix Theatre. His talent of tap dancing was showcased at The Apollo Theatre, and the Inauguration Events in Washington D.C for President Barack Obama. Johnnie has served as judge and performed in The Guatemalan Dance Challenge in Guatemala. His first directorial effort was “Nostalgia” with Dule Hill (Psych, West Wing, Ballers) and Syncopated Ladies leader Chloe Arnold and Jason Samuels Smith (Bringin’ Da Noise Bringin’ Da Funk). “Nostalgia” went on to air on TV and at several film festivals. He has seen made 4 other short films. He has worked on TV segment shows America Now, The Amazing Race, Food Network and was an acting coach on a Showtime TV pilot. He was also worked under film producer Edward Saxon (Silence of the Lambs, Adaptation, Philadelphia). Johnnie is a teacher at AMDA (LA), Studio School, Edge Performing Arts Center, and Colburn School. Johnnie has also held speaking engagements at University of the Arts, Temple University, Arts Institute Philadelphia, and Santa Monica City College to name a few.
Laura Iacuessa Keramidas, Choreographer
Ms. Iacuessa Keramidas has been a dance educator and choreographer for 25 years, holding positions in studios, schools, and universities across the country. She holds an MFA in Dance Performance & Choreography, is a former professor of dance at the University of Louisiana, and is the founder and artistic director of Intersection Dance Project. Trained in modern, contemporary. jazz, ballet, tap and hip hop. Her choreographic passion lies with contemporary expressionistic work and bringing artists of all disciplines together for collaboration and inspiration. She has performed professionally across the country with several modern dance companies and her choreographic work, shown in Massachusetts, New York, California, Texas, Arizona and Louisiana, has been reviewed as "explosive", "evocative" and "original."
Carole Kim, Interdisciplinary Artist
Carole Kim is an interdisciplinary artist with a focus on media installation and video for live performance. She has experimented extensively with the moving image to physicalize the medium and render it malleable in real time. She pursues an ongoing interest in creating environments in which live and mediated presence co-exist rather than compete. Kim seeks an integration of media where moving image, sound, body and architecture are on equal planes engaging in a dynamic, reciprocating and mutually supportive dialogue. Her work floats between disciplines, manifesting in different contexts including experimental music, theater, dance and art.
Her work has been supported by the Irvine Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Center for Cultural Innovation, City of Los Angeles, Pasadena Arts Council, The Music Center, Durfee Foundation, REDCAT, University of California Institute for Research in the Arts (UCIRA), The Getty Center, The Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound (SASSAS), Dublab, Newtown, Turbulence.org, CalArts, and The Center for Experiments in Art, Information, and Technology. She was selected as a recipient of a 2013 COLA Fellowship, 2014 CCI Investing in Artists Grant, 2015 Metabolic Studio Chora Council Grant and a 2015 CHIME Grant.
Anindo (Sarah) Marshall, Choreographer
Anindo (Sarah) Marshall began her musical and dance career in her homeland of Kenya as a vocalist, dancer and percussionist. She enjoyed a successful solo career in Europe as a vocalist, signing a recording contract with EMI Spain and becoming known as Kenya’s singing sensation. She has performed with Babatunde Olatunji and Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, among others.
As a young dance student in Kenya, Marshall met Saundra Barnes, a Dunham dancer teaching Dunham Technique. She studied with Barnes (Ife) and, in 1983, moved to the United States to continue her study of the technique with Katherine Dunham and other Dunham Technique masters including Pearl Reynolds, Archie Savage, Lucille Ellis, Tommy Gomez, Tally Beatty, Vanove Aikens, Theo Jamison, Ronald Marshall and Keith Williams. Her studies also included Haitian, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and African dance forms as taught in Dunham Technique.
Today Ms. Marshall is a certified Dunham Technique instructor and a member of the Katherine Dunham Certification Board. She continues to teach at schools worldwide: Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Dance Dimensions, Lula Washington Dance Theater, Occidental College, Loyola Marymount University, University of California, Irvine, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance. As programs director with Dream A World Education, Marshall has conducted arts residencies in the Los Angeles County Unified School District, Hawthorne School District and Wiseburn School District schools.
An accomplished musician, Marshall teaches percussion from Africa and Latin America and has studied with some of the world’s finest percussionists including Babatude Olatunji, Mamadi Keita, Mor Thiam, Lamin Dido Camara and Karamba Diabate. Her study of African rhythms compelled her to further her studies of West African dance under the tutelage of Kimoko Samo (former artistic director of Les Ballet African of Guinea West Africa), Marie Basse and countless others. Marshall also teaches music in Montrose, California where she runs the school choir, band and flag team.
Anchita S. McDaniel, Choreographer
Achinta S. McDaniel is a pioneer of contemporary Indian dance in the United States, and the founder and Artistic Director of Blue13 Dance Company. McDaniel’s style draws form diverse techniques including ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, Bhangra, Kathak, and Bollywood. Born in Queens, McDaniel grew up dancing in New York and Ohio, and graduated from New York University with a degree in Choreography and Dance. She later studied classical Indian dance in Bangalore, India with guru Maya Rao. In 1999, McDaniel founded Blue13 in New York City with 4 dancers, relocating to Los Angeles in 2001. For over 15 years, the ensemble has performed on stages all over the world, appeared in films, television programs, and commercials, and collaborated with incredible artists around the globe. A central mission of Blue13 is to connect diverse communities through public outreach and dance education, teaching classes, workshops, and holding community interactive events exposing children and adults alike to the rich and varied dances of the Indian Subcontinent. McDaniel teaches LA’s longest running dance classes at studios throughout the city.
Genna Meroni, Choreographer
Genna Moroni graduated from LACHSA and magna cum laude from UCLA. In 2011, she met Barak Marshall while performing his work with BODYTRAFFIC. Since then, Genna has been fortunate to work as Marshall's choreographic assistant whenever possible. In June 2012, Genna was invited as a founding member of Danielle Agami’s Ate9 Dance Company. With Ate9, she’s performed at prestigious venues such as, Jacob’s Pillow, White Bird Dance, American Dance Festival, Vishneva Fest (Moscow), Chutzpah! (Canada), the American Platform for Dance at The Joyce Theater, among others. More recently, through Ate9, Genna had the opportunity to work with Guy Shomroni/Yaniv Abraham, Shahar Binyamini and Tom Weinberger in developing new works.Lately, Genna has been developing her own choreography for stage & film. She has enjoyed opportunities to perform & choreograph for musical artists such as Helado Negro, Jarina De Marco, Francisca Valenzuela & Delune for music videos & shows around LA, NYC & at the Coachella Music Festival. More recently, Genna assisted Teresa “Toogie” Barcelo for the 2018 American Music Awards, as well as assisting and dancing in Dua Lipa’s upcoming music video “Swan Song."
Lisa Donmall Reeves, Choreographer
I have been living and working in America, first New York and now Los Angeles, since 2012. I was always an active child, either in sports or dancing. I was bitten by the theatre bug very early on when I was taken to the theatre to see ‘Singing in the Rain’ at the London Palladium. Many shows followed from that moment and my passion for dancing and theatre grew and grew. At 16 I embarked on full time musical theatre and dance performance training at The London Studio Centre for 3 years. Graduating at the tender age of 19 to embark on my career as a performer.
Many shows, roles, countries and decades later, I decided to widen the scope and move to New York (After successfully being granted my green card) New York was a city I had always loved from the age of 19 when I studied there for a time. It’s energy and passion was infectious and after years and years of visiting we (my husband and I) took the leap and moved from London to NYC
Guzman Rosado, Choreographer
Guzman Rosado: Started dancing at age 15 at the International School of Dance of Carmen Roche Scaena in Madrid on a scholarship sponsored by the Ministry of Culture of Madrid. In 1998, after finishing the studies of Dance and Choreography at the Royal Professional Conservatory of Dance Mariemma of Madrid, He joined the Young Ballet of Carmen Roche as Principal Dancer. In 1999 was offered a scholarship to attend the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York. After his time at SAB, Edward Villella invited him to dance with Miami City Ballet. From 2002 to 2007, Guzmán danced with Companhia Portuguesa de Bailado Contemporâneo in Lisbon. In 2007, he co-founded and co-directed Tok’Art Cultural Platform with André Mesquita and Teresa Alves da Silva, collaborating on creations till 2011. He has performed extensively as a guest artist throughout Europe and Asia. In 2012 Guzmán joins BODYTRAFFIC, where he is currently Artistic Associate and Resident Filmmaker.
Micaela Taylor, Choreographer
Micaela Taylor is a professional dancer/choreographer/ Artistic Director of The TL Collective. She is the recipient of the Inaugural Springboard EMERGE Choreographic Award and recently named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch." She will be choreographing for Gibney Dance Company and BODYTRAFFIC in the 2018/2019 season. Her individual movement style of Hip Hop combined with contemporary technique has led her to find a new way for people to move.
Alongside the launch of The TL Collective, Taylor has been commissioned to choreograph and teach by LA Contemporary Dance Company, AMDA College, Springboard Danse Montreal, MoveNYC, Cal State Long Beach, and Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre. Her work has been presented by Gelsey Kirkland Performing Arts Center, ACE Hotel, Raymond Kabaaz Theatre, Grand Performances, and Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, and Gibney Dance.
Angel Tyson, Choreographer
Angel Tyson is originally from Biloxi, MS. At a young age, she began training at her mother’s studio in ballet, jazz, and contemporary. In 2010, Angel moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career as a dancer and choreographer. She has been a member of Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company (LACDC) for the past nine years. Some of Angel’s performance credits include Smokey Robinson, Colbie Caillat, Vivica A. Fox on “The Eric Andrew Show” (Adult Swim), “The Kroll Show” (Comedy Central), DECKER (Adult Swim), Just Dance 4, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” with Pentatonix, Mirello “Some Families” music video, the SuperBowl XLIX, and Sulli “Goblin’” music video. Angel’s acting and choreography debut was on the hit TV show, “The Office”, episode “Customer Loyalty”. She is also on faculty with The Nexxt Move, a dnace convention that tours throughout the US and UK.
In 2017, Angel co-founded Movement Dance Project, a dance company for teens in Los Angeles. MDP offers young dancers a training program to explore their individualtity of movement and artistry. Angel motivates dancers to find their own voice and self confidence, so they can express themselves from a genuine place.
Angel is represented by Go 2 Talent Agency.
Pia Vinson, Choreographer
Pia Vinson was born and raised in France where she began her studies in tap dance and ballet at the age of 4 years old. When she was 13, she enrolled in ballet major at the National School of Tarn where she studied with Dominique Thouroude, Agnès Nolténius and Marie-José Redon among many others. By the age of 18, she was working for the National Opera of Montpellier as a dancer/mime in La Traviata, Manon Lescaut and other Opera productions. In 2011, Pia moved to New York City and enrolled in the Professional Training Program at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance with scholarship.There, she focused on developing her own choreographic vocabulary. In June 2015, Pia joined the Mark Morris Dance Center as an intern and assistantteacher with the Dance for Parkinson’s Disease Program. Pia Vinson’s repertory has been showcased in various venues in France, New York City and Los Angeles. She has shared the stage with the Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Jazz Montréal and Martha Graham Company dancers.
Sara VonGillern, Choreographer
Sara VonGillern aka "Mis' Von" specializes in hip hop dance elements: B-girling, House, Waacking, Locking and Popping. She began dancing at the age of four and has formal training in not only hip hop but also Jazz, Ballet, Modern and Tap. She most recently competed on MTV's All Star Season of America's Best Dance Crew Season 8 with returning champions, We Are Heroes. Her versatility was showcased on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance: Season 3 as a top 8 finalist and in the 50 city US tour following the show in 2007. She has danced for musical artists like Ne-Yo, Justin Beiber, Usher, Andy Grammar, Vanilla Ice, Wally Lopez, Jasmine V, Tariah, T. Gouche, Jensen Reed, MC Hammer, LMFAO, Big Time Rush, Dawn Richards, SOFI, Avril Lavigne, Alexz Johnson & comedian Aziz Ansari. She has performed as an aerial artist at Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, Lucidity and for Bringing Back Broadway at the Historic Los Angeles Theater. She has also performed on shows like American Idol and the Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Talk and FOX's TV Sitcom The New Girl. She has danced for NBA Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers and performs in the Southern CA area with her crews The Syrenz and Outer Circle Crew. She also performs dance, aerial and fire with her circus/dance company, The Furies LA.
Jamal Wade, Choreographer
Jamal began his formal dance training at 14 with the Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre. At the time, he also performed in local productions with Debbie Allen. In 2012, Jamal moved to Los Angeles to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduating with his BFA in Dance Theatre. He has worked with artists including Swae Lee, Anitta, Snoop Dog, and P!nk. He has also appeared in ads for Google, Bonobos,Universal Studios Japan, and Adidas. Jamal has recently choreographed and created movement direction for Sk8, YG, Ari Lennox, and Josh Dean. His directorial credits include Behind the Door and two music videos from The Lisa Heller Project.
Music
- Bernadene Blaha, Instrumentalist
- Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Instrumentalist
- Dylan Gentile, Resident Accompanist
- Graham Jackson, Musical Director
- Julia Migenes, Vocalist In Residence 2014
- Delores Stevens, Pianist
- Lisa Vroman, Vocalist In Residence 2015-2020
- Michael Kohl, Guitarist
- Felipe Fraga, Percussionist
- Andrew Moore, ASL Instructor
- Jade Tipton, ASL Instructor
- Luke Rothschild, Virtual Choir Editor and Producer
- Nicky Brenner, Virtual Choir Editor and Producer
Bernadene Blaha, Instrumentalist
Bernadene Blaha’s “brilliant command of the piano,” whether featured as a recitalist, concerto soloist or chamber musician, has been heralded in performances throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Mexico. She has also served as a jury member at the Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition in Utah. She is a piano professor at University of Southern California.
Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Instrumentalist
Kevin Fitz-Gerald enjoys a versatile performing career as a recitalist, orchestra soloist and chamber musician. His international concert tours have garnered international acclaim. He performs regularly with internationally acclaimed artists such as Midori, Richard Stoltzman and Hagai Shaham. He has several recordings that include solo works, as well as chamber music recordings. He has also served as a juror for several prestigious music festivals. He is on the faculty of University of Southern California as a piano professor.
Dylan Gentile, Resident Accompanist
Dylan Gentile is a highly sought after pianist in the Los Angeles area. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from USC and a Master’s from the Manhattan School of Music. He most recently served as rehearsal pianist for A Christmas Story Live, which aired on Fox. He has accompanied for UCLA under Neal Stulberg, at CSULA, the Marlborough School, and with Pacific Opera Project in their productions of Don Giovanni, Lucia Di Lammermoor, and others. Dylan has consulted for the CW series Hart of Dixie and the Starz series Blunt Space. As a singer, Dylan has been a chorister in the Los Angeles Master Chorale for 14 seasons, performing under Gustavo Dudamel, Esa Pekka Salonen, Lorin Maazel, and others. He has sung with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Singers, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Jacaranda Singers, and Millennium Consort. Most recently, he had featured solos as a throat singer in the Warner Brothers film, The Nun, and can also be heard as a soloist on the upcoming documentary, American Dharma. Choral session work includes Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Frozen, Despicable Me 3, and a host of others. In June 2019, Dylan will make his solo debut with The Los Angeles Philharmonic in a new landmark production of Meredith Monk’s opera, ATLAS.
Graham Jackson, Musical Director
Graham Jackson has been a theater/musical theater educator for numerous schools and organizations, including Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Theatre 360, Act-1, MyArt, MET2, Turning Point School, Fontana High School and Covina High School. He also teaches each summer in Beijing and Shenzhen, China.
As an actor and musical director, Graham has performed with many theater companies throughout the Los Angeles area, including Theatre West, Zoo District, Sacred Fools, Evidence Room, and the Getty Villa. He also performed with Zoo District at the first annual Bulgakov Festival in Kiev, Ukraine, presenting the world premiere of “Heart of a Dog”. As a founding member of FSHA, he brought “Go True West” to Tadashi Suzuki’s Spring Festival in Toyama, Japan.
Graham has directed numerous shows, including “Cabaret”, “Woyzeck”, “Machinal”, “Urinetown”, “Into the Woods”, “On the Town”, “Company”, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, “Sweet Charity”, “Merrily We Roll Along”, “Thieves’ Carnival”, “42nd St.”, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Sweeney Todd”, “Hello, Dolly!” and many more.
Graham has musically directed over 50 shows, and has played piano since the age of 5. When he’s not leading a class or directing a cast, he’s at the piano.
Julia Migenes, Vocalist In Residence 2014
Julia Migenes was born on the Lower East Side of New York into a family made up of a passionate mixture of Greek and Irish-Puerto-Rican descent. Despite a difficult and violent childhood, she discovered her calling upon engagement of the child role in Madame Butterfly where she first experienced the power and the emotion of music linked to a stage setting.
A few years later, while studying at the New York School for Performing Arts, she was chosen by Leonard Bernstein to be a soloist in his Young People's Concerts. Julia then began her Broadway career; she was part of the original casting of Fiddler on the Roof with Zero Mostel and she interpreted Maria in West Side Story.
However, she understood that her real calling was to sing, leading her to a cover contract at the New York Metropolitan Opera. While substituting for the leading role of Alban Berg's, renowned for its technical difficulty, she was cheered and acclaimed by the public, launching her opera career.
While on stage in Geneva as Salomé, the Italian film director Francesco Rosi was casting for his up and coming film Carmen. The lead role required not only an opera singer and dancer but also an actress sensual enough to personify the burning passion of Bizet's character. The result was Julia Migenes immortalized in a motion picture that has since become a reference in the filmed opera genre. The soundtrack not only brought her a Grammy Award but even more worldwide notoriety that allowed her to access the greatest theaters in the world.
To this day, Julia Migenes has recorded more than 20 albums. Among the most recent are Vienna conducted by Lalo Schifrin, a Gold record six months after its release ; in 1996, Man of la Mancha (L'homme de la Mancha), conducted and arranged by Paul Gemignani, with Placido Domingo, Samuel Ramey, Mandy Patinkin ; in 1999, Robert Stolz and The music of Franz Lehar for BBC and in 2000, Donizetti's Catarina Cornaro.
Delores Stevens, Pianist
Delores Stevens is a well known performer and piano teacher in the Los Angeles area. She has been the founder of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society for over forty years. Stevens was the pianist in the Montagnana Trio, touring the United States and Europe and associated with the Columbia Artists label. She has always promoted modern classical music and has several pieces written specifically for her.
Lisa Vroman, Vocalist In Residence 2015-2020
Lisa Vroman has established herself as one of America's most versatile voices. She starred on Broadway, Los Angeles and San Francisco as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera. As “One of American Musical Theater’s most beautiful voices” (Cameron MacIntosh), she has garnered Theatre critics’ awards for her portrayal. Lisa starred as Marian Paroo in The Music Man(Bushnell Theater with Shirley Jones, Patrick Cassidy and the Hartford Symphony), Lili Vanessi in Kiss Me Kate (Glimmerglass Opera/MUNY Theatre of St. Louis), Birdie in Regina, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, Anna 1 in The Seven Deadly Sins (Utah Symphony/Opera), Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus (New Jersey Opera), and Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella (New York City Opera). For PBS: Johanna in Sweeney Todd (2001 Emmy Award), and Hey! Mr. Producer(London Royal Gala). She played Laurey in Oklahoma(BBC PROMS festival), Mary Turner in Of Thee I Sing (San Francisco Symphony w/Michael Tilson Thomas), and sang and danced opposite Dick Van Dyke as Mary Poppins at the Hollywood Bowl (Disney 75th). Lisa is a frequent guest with Symphonies including San Francisco, Nashville, Philadelphia, Dallas, Utah, St. Louis, Houston, Pacific, Atlanta, Hong Kong, Cleveland, National, Florida, Cleveland, BBC Concert Orchestra, Boston Pops (Keith Lockhart), Philly Pops (Peter Nero), New York Pops (Carnegie Hall) as well as with the New York Festival of Song (NYFOS) and Organist David Higgs (Disney Hall, Los Angeles). Her Broadway debut was in Aspects of Love and she was the first to play both Fantine and Cosette in Les Misérables. Ms. Vroman is a graduate of the Crane School of Music, State University at Potsdam (BM, Dr. of Music, Minerva Award), Carnegie-Mellon University MFA, and is a George London Competition winner. Last year included trips to Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, as well as an evening of Cole Porter’s La Revue des Ambassadeurs in Paris.
This season has included a tour of China, a concert series with L’Opera de Rennes in France, and playing the role of Maria Callas in Terence McNally’s award winning play, Master Class. Please visit www.lisavroman.com.