Gina T'ai holds a MFA and BA in Dance from Hollins University/American Dance Festival. She has danced professionally with Annlivyoung Dances and Bopi's Black Sheep/Dances by Kraig Patterson in New York City. She has also worked with Li Chiao Ping, Andrea Woods, Karinne Keithley and Sam Piperato.

As an independent artist Ms. T’ai has choreographed for the stage, site-specific spaces, film and video - often with collaborator Joe Kirschling. She recently presented work at the WUK in Vienna, Austria, The American Dance Festival and Danceworks' ScreenDance and Causing Effect concerts.

Mary-Jean Cowell -- Michio Ito Master Class -- Fall 2008

Mary-Jean Cowell performed with the Katherine Litz Company and in her own work, produced at Clark Center and Dance Theatre Workshop. Since then, she has choreographed more than 50 works which have been presented in New York, Hawaii, Tokyo, and more recently in St. Louis and other midwest venues. In Tokyo, Cowell taught and choreographed for the Kobo Abe Repertory Company. Her work often evades genre distinctions: for instance, she appeared in the St. Louis production of performance artist Ping Chong's Angels of Swedenborg, and she scripted, choreographed, danced, and acted in "Komachi" and "Research," and "For Robert: On Orders." 

Cowell’s awards include an exchange fellowship to the University of Strasbourg, a Council of Students of Arts and Sciences Award for Outstanding Teaching and Dedication to Students, a Japan Foundation grant, and a Missouri Creative Artist Project grant. She has secured two National College Choreography Initiative grants to bring dance artists David Dorfman and Alonzo King to teach master classes and set choreography on WU students. She was project director for these NCCI grants and Festival Coordinator for the 2005 Central Region American College Dance Festival hosted by the WU Dance Program. One of her research interests is Michio Ito, a Japanese born dancer who contributed to the development of modern dance in the United States . Her articles on Ito have appeared in the Dance Research Journal and Dance Chronicle. She presented her most recent study, “From Enemy Agent to Army Choreographer: Michio Ito at the Ernie Pyle Theatre” at the Congress on Research in Dance conference in Taipei, August, 2004. Another interest, developing new methods of dance pedagogy, has been shared in several workshops given at National Dance Education Organization conferences. Cowell is currently on the National Board of the American College Dance Festival Association and is also a board member the Missouri Dance Education Organization.

Michael Snipe, Jr. -- Master Class -- Spring 2009

Michael Snipe Jr was born and raised in Baltimore Maryland. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts where he studied under Sylvester Campbell and Stephanie Powell. While in high school, he guested with The Ballet Theater of Annapolis under Edward Stuart. He moved to New York City to attend the Juilliard school where he earned his B.F.A in dance and graduated with the Hector Zaraspe award for Choreographic honors. He has performed with Ailey 2, The David Parson Dance Company and Robert Battle's Battleworks and Kevin Jeff's, "Deeply Rooted". Throughout his career he has worked with Hinton Battle, Paul Taylor, Jiří Kylián, Hans Van Manon, and Twyla Tharp. He has also performed in Swing! The Musical and Movin' Out. He was original cast for the 1st national tour of Movin' Out, and later went back to New York to perform with the Broadway Cast. Michael spent this past summer touring through various cities in Japan. He can be seen in a soon to be released film about the late and great Buddy Bolden. It was directed by Dan Pritzker, and choreographed by Hinton Battle. He is currently on staff at Visceral Dance Studio in Chicago and is a guest teacher at Columbia College also in Chicago.

Amy Marshall -- Master Class -- Spring 2009

Amy Marshall spent her early performing career based in New York City and dancing around the world with the companies of Paul Taylor and David Parsons, H. T. Chen and Dancers, Cortez and Company and many more. Born in Kyoto, Japan, she possesses an innate curiosity and passion for cultural history. The essence of her art is dance as metaphor for life's experiences. After a decade of performing professionally, Ms. Marshall established the Amy Marshall Dance Company in 2000. Her motivation to test the physical boundaries of dance through her work established the unique character of her choreography. Trained at Goucher College with a double major in Dance and Theater, Ms. Marshall has become a renowned choreographer in her own right. Her repertoire has been set on professional companies and universities across the nation. In addition, Ms. Marshall serves as a mentor to dancers and choreographers through her work on numerous panels including American College Dance Festival, North Carolina School of the Arts "Arts Exchange", and South Carolina Dance Association. She is also an Associate Professor of Dance of Hofstra University. Ms. Marshall sees dance as both the embodiment of life's complexity and the pure elation it imparts to the world.

Claire Porter -- Master Class -- Spring 2009

CLAIRE PORTER's work has been produced by Dance Theater Workshop, PS-122, Joyce Soho, The Bottom Line, NY Horticulture Society, The Knitting Factory, Danspace at St. Marks, Jacob's Pillow, Southern Theater in Minneapolis MN, Duncan Theater in Palm Beach FL, Liberty Science Center NJ, Kitchen Theater in Ithaca NY, Wooley Mammoth Theater in DC, Off Center Theater in Tampa FL, Center Stage in Raleigh NC, American Dance Festival, Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy, Holland Festival in the Netherlands, Tour of Comedy in Germany and the Korea International Festival in Seoul. She performed at the opening of the Peter Eisenman Building at the University of Cincinnati, was the hostess-comedienne-scene changer for the Minnesota Composers Forum's New Music Concert and has appeared on staircases, boats, backyards, gyms, classrooms, airports, humor festivals, museums and soapboxes. Claire has received several NEA and NJ Choreography Fellowships (including a 2002 NJ Fellowship), commissions from DTW's First Light Project, Art Matters, University Dance Companies and Domino's Pizza Company. She has an MA in Dance from Ohio State, a BA in Mathematics, is a Laban Movement Analyst and taught Choreography at Columbia Teachers College NYC.

CLAIRE PORTER's MISSION STATEMENT

For the past several years I have been pursuing a mix of language and movement which has resulted in a strong theater/dance relationship. I have also been mixing subjects such as science, art, gardening which has broadened the appeal as well as possible venues for the work, from new music concerts to gardening events to art gallery openings.

My strength in teaching is in fostering creativity and expressiveness. I am committed to developing the skill of discovery, both in the creation of work and in the performance of it. I am committed to bringing the life out in the work, whether it's in a character portrayed or in an abstract exploration. I find that limiting the material and then delving into it, riding it, amplifying and developing it, leads one on a path of satisfying and surprising discovery.

Hubbard Street -- Master Class -- Spring 2009

As Chicago’s leading contemporary dance company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago serves as an emblem of the city’s international cultural profile. One of the only American dance companies to operate year-round, HSDC continues to produce bold and passionate performances for Chicago, national and international audiences, always changing and evolving while maintaining the highest artistic standards.

HSDC was founded in 1977 by dancer and choreographer Lou Conte. For the next 23 years, Conte served as artistic director until his retirement from HSDC in 2000. Originally the company’s sole choreographer, he developed relationships with emerging and world-renowned choreographers as the company began to grow, adding bodies of work by a variety of artists, including Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Margo Sappington, Daniel Ezralow and Twyla Tharp. These relationships transformed HSDC into the internationally acclaimed repertory company it is today. Conte further expanded the company’s repertoire to include European choreographers Jirí Kylián and Nacho Duato.

In March 1998, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago merged with the Lou Conte Dance Studio (LCDS), Conte’s original studio and the predecessor to HSDC founded in 1974, and relocated to a permanent facility in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. This facility, renamed the Hubbard Street Dance Center in fall 2006, houses five dance studios equipped with state-of-the-art floors and audio systems, including two stage-sized spaces; production shops for building and maintaining sets and costumes; storage space for the company’s advanced sound and lighting system; a sound-mixing studio; and administrative offices and meeting rooms. One of the most comprehensive dance centers in the United States, the Hubbard Street Dance Center, which unveiled a new façade designed by award-winning architects Krueck & Sexton in fall 2006, is the home of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s main company, Hubbard Street 2, LCDS and HSDC’s Education & Community Programs, serving as one institution dedicated to performance, dance training and community education.

Cirque de Soliel -- Ballet Master Class -- Spring 2009

                     Adam Miller

                     Artistic Director - Saltimbanco

Adam Miller trained on scholarship at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre School and graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts.  As a child, he had the opportunity to perform with The Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, The Australian Ballet and Joffrey Ballet.  Mr. Miller began his professional career at Pennsylvania Ballet, and has been a principal dancer with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Hartford Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. He has danced in the works of over 40 choreographers including Rudi Van Danzig, Lew Christensen, James Kudelka, Michael Smuin, Lucinda Childs, Paul Taylor, Victoria Marks, Choo San Goh, and 20 works by George Balanchine.  He has danced major roles in most of the full-length classical ballets, including The Nutcracker, Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Mr. Miller has performed as a guest artist in the USA, Asia and South America, including tours with Cynthia Gregory and Mikhail Baryshnikov, and has collaborated on special projects with Pilobolus, National Theatre of the Deaf and Christopher D’Amboise’s Off-Center Ballet.  As Director of the Ballet Project, he spent two years at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.  Mr. Miller has served as Associate Artistic Director for Garden State Ballet and Artistic Director of Ballet South in Savannah, Georgia.  In 1999, Adam was appointed ballet master and later associate artistic director of Dance Connecticut where he was responsible for setting repertory and choreographing for the company. After founding Adam Miller Dance Project in 2003, Mr. Miller’s work was one of eight chosen for the Connecticut Dance Alliance’s Choreographic Preludes Project and he was a recipient of the Connecticut Commission on the Arts 2003 Artist Fellowship Award.

Additional choreographic credits include works created for Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Carlisle Project, Montgomery Ballet, Ballet Pensacola, The Garden State Ballet, Cynthia Gregory’s Ballet USA, Boston Dance Company, Vassar Repertory Dance Theater and BalletNY in New York City.  Mr. Miller was invited to teach and choreograph a new ballet for the Veronezh Ballet while in Russia in 1993 and was an artist-in-residence at Duke University in 1995.  He choreographed the full-length ballet, Dracula, for Carolina Ballet Theater, and The Nutcracker for Ballet South in Savannah, Georgia.

Teaching credits include guest and resident positions at Boston Ballet, Garden State Ballet, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Princeton Ballet, Duke University, Lyon Opera Ballet, Vassar College, Basel Ballet, The North Carolina School of the Arts, school of Dance CT, and the Hartt School of the University of Hartford.

Adam is also the artistic director for Eastern Connecticut Ballet in East Lyme, CT. Eastern Connecticut Ballet performs his full-length Nutcracker at the Garde Performing Arts Center in New London, CT, with the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra. He serves on the faculty of the Hartt School, is on the board of directors of the Connecticut Dance Alliance and is Artistic Director of the Provincetown Dance Festival.

Since July 2008, Adam Miller is the artistic Director on Saltimbanco from Cirque du Soleil

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Webster University in St. Louis, Katie segued into personal training and group fitness instruction.  She has taught at dance studios in the Midwest and Southern California as well as for the Kinesiology Dept. at Cal State L.A.  Katie has worked with culturally specific youth in a study done at USC to prevent diabetes through exercise and nutrition modification.  Among Katie’s occupational explorations, she has sold wedding gowns, coached gymnastics, waited tables, and lead group psychotherapy sessions for 5th graders.  She has also been employed as a massage therapist at a chiropractic center, a Physical Therapy Aide at a Pain Management and Rehabilitation Center, and a Graduate Assistant at Pepperdine University.  She has interned for Dance Camera West, MaDonna Grimes’ Dance Fitness Theatre Company, New Directions for Youth, and Tarzana Treatment Center.  She’s assisted a Talent Agent, been a dance model for photographers, and a stand in for a double amputee in an independent short film.  Katie has been a hostess for Macaroni Grill, a dance teacher, a judge for national dance competitions, and with all this random experience, has now written a book.

The Midwesterner’s Guide to Living in L.A. by Katie Martin

http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/search.php?search=katie+martin

Katie Martin -- Master Class -- Spring 2009

Sally Brayley-Bliss ---- Master Class -- Spring 2009

Executive Director of the Tudor Trust

National Advisory Board of RDA

Sally Bliss was principal dancer with the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera. She performed as a guest artist with American Ballet Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet.

In 1969 Robert Joffrey appointed Sally Bliss associate director of his Apprentice Program. She developed the plan for the Joffrey II Dancers which was designed to give young dancers professional performances in addition to classroom coaching. She was artistic director of the Joffrey II for 16 years. She is co chairman of the Board of Visitors for the North Carolina School of the Arts. Sally has adjudicated four regional ballet festivals. As Executive Director of the Tudor Trust, Sally has traveled the world re staging and overseeing productions of Tudor's work.

She resides in St. Louis.

(www.alexandraballet.org)

Michael Uthoff ---- Master Class -- Fall 2009

Michael Uthoff, internationally renowned artistic director, choreographer, teacher and dancer, assumed the newly titled post of artistic and executive director of Dance St. Louis on July 1, 2006.

Uthoff was born in Santiago, Chile, to former dancers, Ernst Uthoff and Lola Botka, both of the Jooss Ballet and founders of the Chilean National Ballet. He started dancing after high school and a year later arrived in New York to attend the Juilliard School of Music, School of American Ballet, and Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. He danced with the José Limón Company and was a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet.

In 1972, Uthoff established the Hartford Ballet in Hartford, Connecticut. For the next 20 years, as artistic director, he developed the company into a national institution that toured throughout 49 states. He commissioned works by both new and established choreographers, and created more than 100 ballets for the company himself. In 1992, Uthoff accepted the position of artistic director of Ballet Arizona, a post he held until 1999. From the time that Uthoff created his first dance for the Joffrey Ballet in 1967, his ballets have entered the repertory of companies all over the world. His large-scale works include The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Hansel and Gretel, Alice in Wonderland, Awakening, Dias de Muertos, and Romeo and Juliet. He has directed opera and choreographed for opera companies internationally, and has served on the Board of Dance/USA and panels of the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Uthoff's recent career as guest teacher, choreographer, and artistic advisor includes entities such as the government of Chile, the Shanghai Ballet of China, the California Ballet of San Diego, Portland Opera Performing Institute, Andanza Dance Company of Puerto Rico, the Ballet Estable of the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he held the post of artistic director, and his own Michael Uthoff Dance Theatre, which premiered in 2003. 

Uthoff’s most recent dance works are Galleria, premiered in February 2007 by Boston Conservatory, and Honorable Sky, which he created in August 2007 for 30 X 30, the 30th anniversary celebration of BalletMet Columbus. In October 2007 he received the Chilean North American Institute’s Distincción Ernst Uthoff award for his distinguished 40-plus-year career and outstanding contributions to dance.

Uthoff is married to Cynthia Uthoff, and is the proud father of Michelle Uthoff-Campbell and grandfather of Owen and Ivy.

Adam Sage ---- Master Class -- Fall 2009

Adam Sage is the founder and artistic director of Missouri Ballet Theatre

Adam Sage has enjoyed a three-decade performing, teaching, coaching and choreographic career that spanned four continents.

Mr. Sage most recently served as Artistic Director of Virginia School of the Arts after directing the School of Nashville Ballet for more than seven years, where he also served as Ballet Master and Company Teacher.

He began his twenty years on stage at the age of seventeen with the California Ballet in his hometown of San Diego, before moving on to dance with Ballet West, Ballet Memphis and as Guest Artist with Nashville Ballet.  Internationally, he has danced with such companies as Hong Kong Ballet, Ballet Philippines, N.A.P.A.C. Dance Company and the National Dance Company of Bophuthatswana in South Africa.

Mr. Sage has performed principal roles in all the great classics, including Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, La Bayadere, and Cinderella, and in works by dance luminaries such as John Cranko, Kenneth McMillan, George Balanchine, Ninnette de Valois and Frederick Ashton.  He has had the honor of dancing at some of the most prestigious theatres in the world including the Opera House at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Hong Kong Cultural Center and in command performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Mr. Sage has coached dancers who have participated in the prestigious “Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition” in Switzerland as well as the “American Ballet Competition” in Miami, for which he served on the jury panel for the 2007 and 2008 competition.  He was inducted into the “Who’s who among America’s Teachers” in 2005 and 2006 and the “National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers” in 2006 for his exemplary teaching and dedication to the youth of America.

Ting - Ting Chang ---- Master Class -- Fall 2009

Ting-Ting Chang is a dancer/choreographer/Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow and faculty member in dance at Washington University in St. Louis. She specializes in modern/postmodern dance technique, Chinese dance, composition, and dance studies. Her research focuses on contemporary dance development in Asia and is interested in gender, postcolonialism, nationalism, transnationalism and Chinese diaspora studies. She has presented papers in such international dance conferences as PSi, CND, CORD, and SDHS. Her most recent article, based on the Chinese model ballet: Red Detachment of Women, was commissioned by Paris Opera and Centre National de la Dance. Ms. Chang’s creative journey has taken her through Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe. She has worked with such renowned choreographers as Victoria Marks, Donald McKayle, Takuya Muramatsu, Cheng-Chieh Yu, Li-Hua Tsai, among others. As the artistic director of DreamDance Contemporary Arts, she explores the aesthetics, visual images, and spiritual strengths of her Chinese ancestry and movement disciplines in a creative process that is both tradition and postmodern. She has received numerous awards, including the Choreography Excellence Award in the 2004 China National Dance Competition for her Chinese classical dance, and the Bette & Bill Pattis Grand Award in the 2007 Dance under Stars Choreography Festival at McCallum Theater for her contemporary choreography. Her work was also selected for the 2009 American College Dance Festival Gala. Ms. Chang holds a Ph.D. in Dance History & Theory from University of California, Riverside, an M.F.A. in Dance from University of California, Irvine, and a B.A. in World Arts and Cultures from UCLA. She was the Gerald E. Myers scholarship recipient and intern at the American Dance Festival during 2002-08. In the summer of 2009, she taught the Guangdong modern dance summer camp and was the panelist for the Guangdong Modern Dance Festival’s Dance Symposium.

Anne Thomasson ---- Master Class -- Fall 2009

Anne Thomasson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri Columbia, and went on to study massage therapy in 1993. She completed her Gyrokinesis training in Lenox, MA in 2003 and Gyrotonic training in 2004 in Chicago. She completed her Gyrokinesis & Gyrotonic certification with Juliu himself in Feb 2005.

Anne has trained in many massage modalities. These include: sports massage, deep tissue and swedish massage, Myofascial Release, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Lymphatic Drainage and Reflexology.

Anne believes in the efficacy of integrated therapies to maintain overall health and wellness. An exercise enthusiast for many years, she has personally experienced the benefits of the work she now offers.

Anne is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist and currently serves on the board of the American Massage Therapy Association. She is a chairperson for the Missouri AMTA National Massage Therapy Awareness Week activities. For more information please visit: www.AMTAMO.org

Anne is extensively trained on all of the specialized equipment . Anne Thomasson's original training in Gyrokinesis was with Young-ah Kim, Master Trainer, and her training in Gyrotonic was with Juergen Bamberger, Master Trainer.

Anne has trained with Paul Horvath, Juliu's brother in Therapeutic Applications for Gyrotonic. She also has special knowledge of Therapeutic applications for Osteoporosis and Scoliosis for Gyrotonic training.

Visit: http://www.bodyfusionstl.com/about.html

The GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM® is a method of movement derived from Yoga, dance, swimming and gymnastics. This system of movement originates from the spine and follows the natural energy lines in the body building internal and external strength.

Meghan McLyman ---- Guest Artist Master Class ---- Spring 2010

MEGHAN MCLYMAN is the dance program coordinator and professor at Salem State College in Salem, MA where she has co-developed the dance concentration within the Sport and Movement Science Department. She graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in dance from Point Park University and a Masters of Arts in dance and arts management from American University. Recently, she continued her studies in the Hollins University Masters of Fine Arts program in partnership with the American Dance Festival. Meghan has taught courses at various dance programs including The Colleges of the Fenway, The College of the Holy Cross, James Madison University, North Quincy High School, Green Street Studios, and Avery Ballet. She has held master classes at the American Dance Festival, the American College Dance Festival, and at the Massachusetts Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Meghan co-founded and co-directs Accumulation Dance, a contemporary company with two other Boston-based female choreographers. Her choreography has been presented throughout the East coast and received recognition from Crash Arts/World Music, Green Street Studios, Concord Academy's Summer Stages, the American Dance Festival, the Somerville Arts Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. She has performed with The Caitlin Corbett Dance Company, The Falling Flight Project, Digby Dance, The Moving Laboratory, Flip Side Dance Theatre, Sister's Trousers, and with The Avery Ballet.

Carolina Marquez ---- Guest Artist Master Class --- Spring 2010

Carolina Marquez was born in Madrid, Spain. In 2001 she finished her studies in Drama and Dance at the Triangulo Theatre School in Madrid, following by achieving a place in The Curro Dance-Theatre Company also in Madrid.  In 2003 she moved to London where she graduated with a Professional Diploma in Dance Studies from Laban. In 2006 she relocated to NYC where she gained a Professional and Teaching Training Certification in the Martha Graham Contemporary Dance School. Carolina has taught and choreographed for The Curro Dance-Theatre Company, Laban Center, Martha Graham Contemporary Dance School, New York Theatre Ballet School and Madrid Contemporary Dance Conservatory.

Cecil Slaughter ---- Master Class ---- Spring 2010

Cecil Slaughter is a Senior Lecturer in Dance at Washington University and Artistic Director of Washington University Dance Theatre.  He was a featured dancer with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company under the direction of Jeraldyne Blunden for fourteen years.  During his professional career he has worked with such notable choreographers as Alvin Ailey, Ulysses Dove, Talley Beatty, Doug Varone, Donald McKayle, Eleo Pomare and Kevin Ward.  His choreographic accomplishments include a collaboration between the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company,  and the Grammy Award winning vocal group, Sweet Honey in the Rock, on the premiere of his 1993 work “Colours”. He has received several accolades for dance and choreography including a Patricia Roberts-Harris Fellowship from the University of Iowa (1995), where he received a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Choreography.  His classes at Washington University include all levels of jazz and modern (Horton Technique).  He has created works for several professional, university and studio companies.  Cecil is the Founding Artistic Director of THE SLAUGHTER PROJECT, a collective of dancers and choreographers.

Borracha (Wellington Porto) was born in Bahia, Brazil.  He began his Capoeira training with Jelon Vieira, renowned Capoeira master and dance choreographer, at the Capoeira Academy, in Boco do Rio, at the age of thirteen.  Borracha started performing with The Capoeiras of Bahia, a dance company for teenagers, directed by Jelon Vieira.  With The Capoeiras of Bahia he performed in Brazil and participated in several exchange programs with the Capoeira Foundation, Inc. in the United States.  While in the United States, he performed and participated in demonstrations.  He also lectured and taught in college, public, and private schools.  Borracha made a special appearance at the Camai Arts Festival in Bethel, Alaska.

In 1997, he joined DanceBrazil as an apprentice.  One year later, he became one of the principal members of DanceBrazil.  With DanceBrazil, he has toured throughout the United States and has performed in many important venues such as: City Center, New York City; The Joyce Theater, New York City; Lincoln Center, New York City; Kennedy Center, Washington, DC.  Borracha was featured in “The Egg,” a program produced and aired by PBS.  He also participated in the New Millennium Celebration in Times Square on December 31, 1999, with DanceBrazil.  Borracha performed Capoeira in Nike’s showing in San Francisco to promote their merchandise.

Borracha has also traveled to many cities throughout the United States giving workshops on the art of Capoeira. Currently, he is instructing classes in Gainesville, FL    www.bcaeonline.org

In addition to  Borracha’s talk, he will teach an hour and twenty minute movement class, focusing on Capoeira, in the Wells and Jean Hobler Dance Center.  This will also be open to the entire Webster Community and the Greater St. Louis area.

Borracha ---- Master Class ---- Spring 2010

Diana Barrios (Co-artistic and Managing Director, aTrek Dance Collective) received her BA in Dramatic Arts, Dance from the University of California, Berkeley where she founded the Annual Outdoor Festival of the Arts, a one day interdisciplinary collaboration of artists designed to generate support and visibility for the arts in a science dominated university environment. After college, She went on to become the senior producer and managing partner of Web Zeit, a small Internet development firm located in Manhattan. Ms. Barrios has choreographed eight works that have been shown in both Berkeley, California and New York City. She danced from 1994-1997 with the Bay Area Repertory Dance Company, touring throughout California and Mexico. Additionally, Ms. Barrios has extensive experience as a stage manager and lighting designer. Ms. Barrios has had the opportunity to study dance with Mark Morris, Merce Cunningham, Bill T. Jones, Susan Marshall, Margaret Jenkins, Joe Goode, Stephen Petronio and Robert Moses, and with company members from Alvin Ailey, Margaret Jenkins, Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, Trisha Brown, Oberlin Dance Company, Elizabeth Streb, and Isaacs/McCaleb & Dancers.

Diana Barrios ---- Master Class -- Spring 2010

Redd Williams ---- Master Class -- Spring 2010

Redd Williams brings significant performance, choreography, and teaching experience to his role as hip-hop instructor at COCA. He has performed on tours, in music videos, and in television commercials for some of hip-hop’s biggest recording artists, including Marques Houston, Beyoncé, Corbin Bleu, and Angela Winbush. His choreography has been performed by such legends as Nelly and featured at such venues as Showtime at the Apollo and the Missouri Black Expo. In 2004, he won the U Got Served Dance Off for choreography. Williams has taught hip-hop at the Millennium Dance Complex and the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, both in Los Angeles.

Jimena Paz ---- Artist in Residence ---- Spring 2010

Jimena Paz was born during a big storm in the rainy city of Buenos Aires. She's been working in New York since 1996 and founded XYZeta Projects in 2005. Artist in Residence at Movement Research (2007/09) and at DTW's Outer/Space creative residency (2008) and Dance House (Ireland, 2009), she has shown work at venues including Jacob's Pillow, Dance New Amsterdam, Joe's Pub, Judson Church, 92nd Street YHMA, John Jay Theater, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, SUNY Purchase, Stadkino (Austria), and Centro Cultural Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires). She's worked with the Stephen Petronio Company (1999–2006) Martha Clarke (2002–2007), Constanza Macras (Berlin), Iris Scaccheri (Buenos Aires), Liz Gerring, Molissa Fenley, Todd Williams, Toni Ramos and Jonah Bokaer, and also with video/film artists Burt Barr, Anja Hitzenberger, Edward Ratliff, Sabrina Fraji, Virginie Yassef and Amy Greenfield. Distinctions include a UNESCO International Dance Council prize for choreography and performance, professional training at La Scala in Milan and a two-year consecutive Antorchas Foundation Grant. Teaching activities at the American Dance Festival, Dance New Amsterdam, Trisha Brown Studio, Movement Research, the 92nd Street YHMA, Barnard College, the New School, Tisch NYU, University of California Irvine, Hunter College, SEAD and the Australian Dance Theater. MFA Holllins University, 2009.

photo credit: Alex Berg

Alicia Graf Mack ---- Master Class -- Spring 2010

Ms. Graf is a former principal dancer of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Her guest appearances include Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, the Balanchine Celebration at Central Park SummerStage, and the Fashion Rocks Awards with Andre 3000 and Beyonce at Radio City Music Hall.

In addition, Alicia graduated magna cum laude with honors in History from Columbia University and interned with JPMorgan Chase and Essence magazine. She is currently a guest writer for several dance publications including Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, and Dance Spirit. In 2007, Smithsonian Magazine named Alicia one of 37 young American innovators of the arts and sciences. Ms. Graf is a recipient of the Columbia University Medal of Excellence, an award given each year to one alumna who has demonstrated excellence in their field of work. In 2008, she had the honor of delivering the keynote address to the graduates of Columbia University’s School of General Studies.

Alicia resides in St. Louis, MO and earned her M.A. in Nonprofit Management at Washington University in May 2010. She is currently the marketing coordinator for the Performing Arts Department of Washington University and the Assistant Director of COCADance.

Ryan Blackwell Rose ---- Master Class -- Spring 2010

Ryan Blackwell Rose hails from New York State. Ryan realized at a young age that

he wanted to perform and share his creative talents with the world. He started by

figure skating at the age of 8. Two years later he was accepted to The School of the

Arts in Rochester. Ryan also began dancing at the Garth Fagan School of Dance at the

age of 9 and continued his study there for the next 8 years. His passion for dance

soon took over and became a full time commitment. Ryan later joined the Little Red

Dancing School while continuing to perform at school. During his high school

career, Ryan attended many regional and national competitions winning numerous

Judge’s Awards and Scholarships.

After graduating from The School of the Arts in 1998, he was accepted to the

University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Ryan instead decided to accept a role in

Sesame Street Live! earning him his Equity card. He toured with the production for 3

years.

After leaving Sesame Street Live! Ryan moved on to join the Canadian production of

The Lion King where he was an ensemble member and Simba understudy. He

performed in the production for 3 out of the 4 years it ran in Toronto.

Upon the closing of The Lion King in Toronto, Ryan moved back to Rochester and

took a position in the Garth Fagan Dance Company. He performed for a year and

half all over the country, including a season at the Joyce Theatre in New York City.

Ryan had the opportunity to have many featured roles in several of Garth’s pieces.

Ryan then moved to St. Louis, MO where he was offered a position as Assistant

Dance Captain/Dancer at the Eye Candy Dance Revue at Harrah’s Casino. During this

time Ryan also began his teaching career at the Best Talent Center creating award

winning pieces at dance competitions nation‐wide. Most of his students have gone

on to receive scholarships at highly respected dance colleges. Ryan also

choreographed many pieces for high school dance teams around the St. Louis area.

In 2006, Ryan was cast in the touring production of Wicked. He joined the

production in the familiar town of Toronto and continued performing with it for the

next 2 years. While travelling around the country, Ryan taught Master Classes at

some of the country’s top dance studios.

Now Ryan has begun a new chapter of his dancing career by moving back to St

Louis bringing his keen sense of musicality and passion for dance to the dance

community here. Ryan’s approach to dance is to allow the dancer to be able to feel

their passion for dance, the same that has driven him to pursue his career and to be

able to express this in their performance and everyday lives.

Master Class - Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 10:00am - 11:20am - Jay Staten

Jay Staten began his training at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts is Washington, DC under the direction of Lynn B. Welters.  He graduated with a BFA in dance with a concentration in ballet from Marymount Manhattan College .  Jay has also trained at  The Rock School, Washington Ballet and Australian Ballet. Jay has danced with Spectrum Dance Theatre under the direction of Donald Byrd in Seattle Washington and was a principle dancer with The Philadelphia Dance Company(Philadanco). While at Philadanco Jay was also the Artistic director of D3. Philadanco 's performing Children's Dance Ensemble.  Jay has also been seen in commercials and in  a musical called Virtuosity with performer/director Vivian Reed.  Jay has had the privilege to perform works by many choreographers including Mark Morris, Donald Byrd, Sean Curran, Hinton Battle, Christopher Huggins, Ronald K. Brown , Danny Ezralow, Lynn Taylor Corbett, Milton Myers, Christopher D'Amboise and Geofrey Holder.

Ballet Master Class - Thursday, December 2, 2010, 11:30am - 12:50am

Paula David

St Louis Dance Theatre (StLDT) is led by artistic director, Paula Young David. Her extensive credentials

include a performing career with Lakeshore Dance Theatre, Lynda Martha Dance Company, and the

world renowned, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.  Twenty - five years of teaching in the Chicagoland

area and throughout the United States, as well as owning and managing her own dance studio and

semi-professional dance company. 

    While dancing with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the company toured extensively throughout the

United States, Canada and South America.  Ms. David had the privilege of working with and performing

dances by some of the great choreographers of her time, such as Lou Conte (HSDC’s founder and artistic director), Lynn Taylor-Corbett, David Parsons, Margo Sappington, John McFall, Richard Levi, Rick Hilsabeck and Claire Bataille.

     After leaving the company, Ms. David focused on her teaching and eventually owned and managed her own studio in the Chicagoland area.  The studio grew to a successful 650 students in just two years, and under new management continues to educate and create fine dancers to this day.  Her studio was home to the Terpsichore Dance Ensemble, a semi-professional dance company, of which Ms. David was the artistic director from 1997-2002.  During this time the company performed five seasons of repertory concerts featuring choreography by guest artists such as Frank Chaves (Artistic Director of River North Chicago Dance Company), Jeff Hancock,  Marc Wayne, Jay Franke, Wilfredo Rivera, Yuri Niedas and several original works choreographed  by Ms. David.   The company performed at other venues such as Disney World Epcot Center, “Tango 21” at the Ravinia Festival  1998, Dance for Life benefit performance, Ela Festival for the Arts, Youth in Action benefit concert and Lake Forest Retirement Center.  The company featured guest artists from Joffrey Ballet, Dance West Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Sao Paulo Ballet, and Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company.

     Since moving to St Louis six years ago Ms. David was busy settling in her family but still found time to guest teach and choreograph for  Ballet Theatre Illinois, Boca Ballet Theatre, and Lindenwood University.  Her recent endeavor to produce St Louis Dance Theatre, the city’s first professional jazz dance company, was motivated by her new found love for the city of St Louis and its dancers.  Ms. David is committed to sharing her expertise with the collaboration of artists from St Louis and around the country to create and maintain this exciting St Louis based dance company.  “Having no professional jazz dance company to represent St Louis leaves a huge hole in the arts culture of the city.  St Louis has deep roots in jazz music and StLDT will be proud to honor this history through the energy and talent of professional dance.”

Master Class - Friday, November 19, 2010,            10:00am - 11:20am

                        Jennifer Medina

Jennifer Medina began her early training at Dance Project. She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, where she studied on scholarship. She performed with the Wylliams/Henry Dance Theatre, the Shoji Tabuchi Show in Branson, and Webster Dance Theatre, among others. She received her MFA in Choreography from the University of Iowa on scholarship. Jennifer taught at Webster University, and was a guest teacher/choreographer at Washington University in 2003. She was also on the Dance faculty at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri at Kansas City before moving to New York City to pursue a career in teaching and choreography. Jennifer is currently based in St. Louis, and travels around the country to guest teach and choreograph for University dance programs, professional companies, and theater productions.

DANCE WORKSHOP open to students ages 13 & up

SUNDAY, December 5th, 2010

Registration Noon - 1:00pm

Beckah Reed - - Modern Workshop     1:00pm - 2:00pm

  Maggi Dueker - - Jazz Workshop        2:00pm - 3:00pm

Raii  Saleems Morehead - - Hip-Hop Workshop        2:00pm - 3:00pm

Raii Saleems Morehead has been teaching hip hop since 2003 at Dance10 at Alameda California.  He has performed with Avatar Flux Dance Company and has guest starred with Body Rock Hip Hop and Performance Company and with Culture Shock in the San Francisco Bay Area.  He has also danced with Oakland Breakers and trained with members from Forever We Rock and Rock Force Crew.

ABOUT CEDAR LAKE

Founded in 2003 by Nancy Laurie, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet has distinguished itself through both its exceptionally talented corps of sixteen dancers and its concurrent emphasis on acquiring and commissioning new works by the world’s most sought-after emerging choreographers. Under the Artistic Direction of Benoit-Swan Pouffer, Cedar Lake offers a wide-ranging spectrum of both American and international repertory, including works by Alexander Ekman, Crystal Pite, Jacopo Godani, Stijn Celis, Angelin Preljocaj, Ohad Naharin, Didy Veldman, Jo Strømgren, Luca Veggetti and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. Through their daring, athletic movement and integration of ballet into contemporary and popular forms, the dancers of Cedar Lake take audiences on a choreographic journey that explores the infinite possibilities of movement and multimedia. Upcoming works for 2010-2011 include second creations by Crystal Pite and Hofesh Shechter.

MISSION

Cedar Lake is a contemporary ballet company dedicated to the continued development of dance by providing choreographers a comprehensive environment for creation as well as curating work for presentation to a worldwide audience.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011,  10:00 -11:20am

Stacey West, Artistic Director of Modern America Dance Company

MADCO was co-founded in 1976 by Alcine Wiltz and the Australian born Ross Winter under the name Mid America Dance Company.  The mission was to provide a place for professional dancers to live and work in the Midwest while also providing entertaining dance performances by local artists and educational opportunities for the community.  Touring throughout the Midwest in the 80’s, the company primarily performed work by Wiltz, who explored and drew inspiration from his work with Erick Hawkins, as well as Winter, who was known for his witty and humorous style and his ability to create stunning architectural images. Winter also premiered one the country’s first spoofs of the Nutcracker called “Madcracker” which gained national attention in an article in Newsweek Magazine.

Wiltz left the company in the mid 1980’s to accept the position of Director of Dance at the University of Maryland.  The company continued to thrive under the direction of Winter until he lost his life in a tragic car accident in 1994.  Long-time company member Stacy West was appointed Artistic Director in his place and she began to pull from her business background to re-structure the organization, preparing it for the future.  She hired a wealth of guest artists to create new works for the company and worked towards bringing the best dancers from throughout the country, resulting in a  company that was artistically stronger than it had ever been. 

In 2003 the company was chosen to perform at DanceNow NYC at the Joyce Soho in Manhattan.  In 2005 the company traveled to Toronto, Canada to perform at the International Fringe Festival for Independent Dance Artists where it was named “Best of the Best” at the two-week long festival. In 2005 West also modified the name of the company to Modern American Dance Company to reflect the scope of the company’s work and their new national and international focus. The company soon moved to the Center for Creative Arts (COCA), which put MADCO in an urban location with state of the art facilities.  In 2007 MADCO was invited to become the Professional Dance Company in Residence at the prestigious Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the campus of University of Missouri St. Louis.  The Touhill is the home for the company’s daily activities including rehearsals, internship programs and its concert season.

Sunday, March 13, 2011,  10:00 -11:20am  -- Modern Dance Master Class with Hope Boykin

Hope Boykin is a three-time recipient of the American Dance Festival’s Young Tuition Scholarship. She attended Howard University and while in Washington, DC she performed with Lloyd Whitmore’s New World Dance Company.  Ms. Boykin was a student and intern at The Ailey School. She was assistant to the late Talley Beatty and an original member of Complexions.  Ms. Boykin was a member of Philadanco and received a New York Dance and Performance Bessie Award.  In 2005, Ms. Boykin choreographed Acceptance In Surrender in collaboration with Abdur-Rahim Jackson and Matthew Rushing for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  Most recently she choreographed Go In Grace with award-winning singing group Sweet Honey In The Rock for the Company's 50th anniversary celebration.  Ms. Boykin joined the Ailey Company in 2000.

The Webster University’s Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts Department of Dance presents Witness, the senior Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance Concert. Witness features eight premiere works by Raii Saleems Morehead, Julie Opiel, Matthew Schmitz and Audrey Simes.  The concert displays the individual growth of each of these choreographers through eclectic dance that stimulates the senses. The production propels the audience to actively witness the perspectives of each of the choreographers through their individual artistic viewpoints. The performances will be Thurs. and Fri., Nov. 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. and Sat., Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. in Stage III, the lower level of Webster Hall, 470 E. Lockwood Ave., 63119.  Tickets are free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Doors open one half hour prior to curtain. For more information, Contact: The Fine Arts Hotline:  314/ 968-7128; dance@webster.edu or visit: webster.edu/dance.

Raii Saleems Morehead was born and raised in Oakland, California. His family’s strong connection to the arts led him to discover dance at the age of 16, when he began to study at the Oakland School for the Arts. Mr. Morehead’s movement vocabulary is influenced by martial arts, gymnastics, break dancing, social dance, jazz dance, and ballet. His choreography exhibits varying aspects of the human condition. In his work, “Can You Act React,” he brings attention to the hypnotizing control media has on society by using actual news broadcasts as his sound score.  In “Do No Do Some” Raii explores the human will and how ones’ actions can affect others, through fusion of a modern and break dance vocabulary using the sound accompaniment of a poem he composed.

Julie Opiel was born and raised in Memphis, TN, where she studied ballet at the Ballet Memphis School. After performing with the Ballet Memphis Junior and Professional Companies, she moved to St. Louis to study dance at Webster University. She has also studied at the Alvin Ailey and LINES Ballet summer intensive programs. While at Webster, she has performed with the Webster University Dance Ensemble in works by Alvin Ailey, Antony Tudor, Michael Uthoff, Iyun Harrison, Beckah Reed, Maggi Dueker, and Christine Kardell. Last summer, she performed with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in Don Giovanni and The Daughter of the Regiment. Ms. Opiel’s two premiere works investigate human relationships.  Her solo displays the relationship an individual has with herself, and the journey she takes toward self-acceptance, and utilizes both English and French vocal self-accompaniment of verse selected from the poem, “The Journey” by Mary Oliver. Her group piece witnesses the discovery and breakdown of relationships and questions why people are drawn together if they are ultimately pulled apart.

Matthew Schmitz, a native of St. Louis, began his training at Krupinski Academy of Dance. He has received scholarships from the Boston Ballet, Joffrey Chicago, and Kansas City Ballet schools, and has trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.  He is a member of Webster University Dance Ensemble, dancing in the regional gala performance of the American College Dance Festival at Hendrix College in Arkansas, and in the St. Louis Dancing in the Streets Festival. Professionally, Matthew has danced with Dawn Karlovsky and Dancers and with The Muny. Matthew is also a founding member of Ashani Dances, directed by Iyun Harrison, in Seattle, Washington.  Mr. Schmitz is premiering two works, which explore both human and architectural connections by contrasting fluidity and sharpness. He uses a strong and direct movement vocabulary, that explores weight and momentum, juxtaposed against contemporary pointe work, to find balance in his choreography.

Audrey Simes was born and raised in Southern California. She has performed and choreographed throughout the United States, and overseas in Hong Kong, China, and Thailand. She has performed at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 60 X 60, and collaborated on an installation and choreographic project for Artica festival in St. Louis. She is designing an interdisciplinary performance art major, encompassing a range of her artistic capabilities. Audrey will present an excerpt of her concept entitled Third Nature that discusses human evolution and its impact on the environment. The piece is an abstract illustration of energy flowing freely without restriction of form, expressing harmonious synchronization with nature through organic movement and the use of a natural projection to transform the space. Ms. Simes exhibits how our society, based on human goals of manipulating the land, leads to the industrialization that takes us far from our connection to Earth and leads to the ultimate demise of man.

Come witness a concert full of images, poetry, and technical precision that will inspire and transform audience and performers alike.  Witness takes place in Stage III of Webster Hall (470 E. Lockwood Ave. 63119) November 3, 4, and 5.

Nile H. Russell - Master Class - Fall ’11

Tuesday, Nov. 22 - 1:00pm

                TEBOGO SCHULTZ ---- Fall 2011

Tebogo was born Botswana, a small country in southern Africa. His first experience with capoeira came nine years ago at the University of Illinois. In the summer of 1998, Tebogo studied Brazilian Portuguese and Economics at the University of Sao Paulo (USP). The son of his host family trained capoeira, causing him to begin his official training.

Upon his return from Brazil, he co-founded the University of Illinois Capoeira Club with friends in 1998.

He graduated from the University of Illinois School of Architecture with his Masters Degree in 2004.
Tebogo has been a student of Contra-Mestre (under-master) Denis for the last four years. He has traveled to Brazil on two occasions to learn from the great masters of the art. Tebogo has recently received his blue-yellow cord and has achieved the rank of Monitor, which allows him to teach Capoeira under the supervision of a master. It is under the guidance of Contra Mestre Denis and Master Suassuna that he continues to share the gift of Capoeira with others.

Nile H. Russell is originally from Baltimore, MD. He received a B.A. in Dance from Connecticut College in 2004, where he was fortunate enough to have the guidance of wonderful dancers and teachers such as Dan Wagoner, Lan Lan Wang, Jeff Rebudal, Robyne Watkin and Jeremy Nelson. Connecticut is also where his love for Indian culture began and in 2002, Nile traveled to India to study Temple and Architecture studies and Bharatanatyam dance. Since moving to New York in 2004, Nile has danced with Silver-Brown Dance, LeeSaar TheCompany, Luis Lara Malvacias, Stefanie Nelson Dance Group, and Naganuma Dance. He has also had the opportunity to choreograph and teach throughout the United States, Canada, Israel, and Uruguay. He will forever thank his friends, family, and mother, Sharon, for their love and support. Nile is currently dancing with Pilobolus Dance Theater and also serves as the Associate Dance Captain. He blissfully joined the touring company in August 2009.

Webster University Department of Dance welcomes

Visiting Professor / Choreographer, Kathy Diehl

Fall 2011 / Spring 2012

Webster University Department of Dance welcomes

Alumna and Guest Choreographer

                                      Heather Brown

                                                        Spring 2012

Heather Brown, originally from St. Louis, MO, is currently in her 4th season as a tap dancer with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s performance and education ensemble, BAM! With BAM!, Heather has performed at the International Dance Festival in Beijing, China, and throughout Chicago and the Midwest in such venues as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Harris Theater and the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago’s Millennium Park.  She also had performed and taught several classes in Spain at the annual Tap on Barcelona tap festival and in Reus, Spain. In St. Louis, Heather has performed with BAM! at the Spring to Dance Festival, through Dance St. Louis. As an individual artist, she has also performed at The Joyce Theatre in NYC with the NYC Tap Festival, and as a guest artist with local dance companies in different venues, including jazz clubs in St. Louis.  While living in St. Louis, Heather taught tap classes and private lessons at several dance studios.  She continues to teach tap classes around Chicago and in St. Louis as a guest choreographer and teacher. Heather graduated from Webster University in St. Louis where she received her B.A. in Marketing and a minor in dance. www.heatherbrowntaps.com

Webster University Department of Dance welcomes

Mariko Kumanomido

Spring 2012

Mariko Kumanomido, originally from St. Louis, MO, studied at Alexandra School of Ballet under Alexandra Zaharias. She attended Washington University in St. Louis for two years, where she studied dance with Christine O'Neal, Mary-Jean Cowell, David Marchant, and Cecil Slaughter, and finished her degree at University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she trained with Paula Weber, Jennifer Medina, and Michael Simms, earning her BFA in Dance. She moved to New York City, and received a Fellowship at the Ailey School. In New York she danced professionally with Buglisi Dance Theater, Jessica Danser/Dansfolk, and C.Eule Dance. In 2010-2011 she studied at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, training in Graham Technique, and completing the Graham Teacher Training Program, and performing with Graham II. While in NYC, she also taught beginning ballet and creative movement at Ballet Hispanico. She recently moved back to St. Louis to dance with Common Thread Contemporary Dance Co, under the direction of Jennifer Medina. She is currently teaching beginning ballet at Washington University, creative movement at St.Louis Ballet, and modern dance at COCA. She loves teaching and dancing, and is thankful for the love and support of family and friends.

Webster University Department of Dance welcomes

Leonard Cruz

Spring 2012

Webster University Department of Dance

welcomes Adam Sage

Spring 2012

Adam Sage founded Missouri Ballet Theatre after enjoying a nearly three-decade performing, teaching, coaching and choreographic career that spanned four continents.  Mr. Sage served as Artistic Director of Virginia School of the Arts, School Director of School of Nashville Ballet and Ballet Master for Nashville Ballet.

He began his career with California Ballet in his hometown of San Diego, before moving on to dance with Ballet West, Hong Kong Ballet, Ballet Philippines, N.A.P.A.C. Dance Company and Nashville Ballet. Mr. Sage has performed principal roles in all of the great classics and has had the honor of dancing at the Opera House at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Hong Kong Cultural Center and in command performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines for President Ferdinand Marcos & First Lady Imelda Marcos.

Mr. Sage has coached dancers that have competed in the first “Beijing International Ballet Competition” in China and the prestigious “Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition” in Switzerland as well as the “American Ballet Competition” in Miami, for which he served on the jury panel for the 2007 & 2008 competitions.

He most recently served as guest faculty for the Performing Arts Department at SEMO in Cape Girardeau, MO and staged “Masquerade Waltz” for their dance department.

Leonard Cruz was born in Pampanga, the Philippines and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He started dancing at the age of four learning Filipino and Hawaiian Folk Dances, as well as Ballet. In 1983 he was a Finalist in the Arts Recognition Talent Search sponsored by the NFAA in Miami, Florida and was later named Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Master's of Arts Degree in Dance from U.C.L.A.

He has performed with Robert Wilson, Kei Takei's Moving Earth, Shapiro and Smith Dance, Sally Silvers, and for five years with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane and Co. He can be seen in Jone’s “Into the Promise Land” documentary as well as in his book “Last Night On Earth.” In 1993 Cruz moved to Germany and was a guest with Pina Bausch in Wuppertal and a member of the Folkwang Tanz Studio in Essen-Werden. From 1994-2001 he danced in the Bremer Stadttheater under the Directorship of Susanne Linke and Urs Dietrich. He is Artistic Director of Leonard Cruz Tanztheater which has performed at various venues internationally; such as the Yard in Martha’s Vineyard, MA to the Pumpenhaus Theater in Munster, Germany.

Dr. Leonard Cruz (ABD) is presently writing his PhD dissertation in Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee where he also received his MFA degree in Performance/Choreography in 2009. He has been a Guest Assistant Professor in Dance at Duke University 2008-2009 and recently guest faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2009-2010 and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2010-2011.

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