Program
SHOW WILL INCLUDE A SHORT INTERMISSION
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Choreographer's Bios
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Megan Theobald
Megan Theobald of Wall, New Jersey, began her training at Dance For Joy and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a teaching certification in K-12 Dance Education from Montclair State University. At Montclair, Megan has performed in works by Ohad Naharin, Mark Harootian, Nancy Lushington, Kathleen Kelley, Maxine Steinman, and Jessica DiMauro. As a freelance dancer, she has performed with Muhammad Moves and Artists and Jessica Totaro. Megan attended David Parson’s Choreography Workshop and her own work has been presented at Montclair State’s 2019 Dance College and the Dance UP series in New York.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Lorna Fontana
Lorna Fontana is a Brooklyn native, currently pursuing a BFA in Performance and Choreography at Montclair State University. Lorna has worked as a Choreographer and Assistant Choreographer for multiple performances at Edward R Murrow high school in Brooklyn, both while attending the school and after her graduation. She has worked choreographically on various renditions of musicals such as West Side Story as well as other dance showcase performances. At Montclair Lorna has performed works by Nancy Lushington, Robert Mark Burke, Jessica DiMauro Marks, Maxine Steinman, and Christian Von Howard. Outside of the modern dance world, Lorna has worked professionally on the Brooklyn Cyclones “Surf Squad” , the cheerleading team for a minor league baseball team located in Coney Island, Brooklyn. She had also trained with commercial choreographers such as Theresa Stone, KC Castellano, Jona Biddle, and Tyce Diorio. Lorna has also been working with Quasheria Muhammad as her Rehearsal Director and partner of Muhammad Moves since 2019.
Jules Rasmussen
Jules Rasmussen has trained at Dance Stop Dance Education Center for 12 years in her home state of New Jersey. There, she had the privilege to work under Al Blackstone, Juan Rodriguez, Thang Dao, Katie Drablos and Jennifer Golonka. She is currently at Montclair State University seeking a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and minor in Communications. During her time at MSU, Rasmussen performed in works choreographed by Ohad Naharin, Frederick Earl Mosley, and Joshua Manculich. She also participated in the New Dialect Virtual Intensive and BUILD dance series.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Kaylyn Alston
Kaylyn Alston is a native of Brooklyn who expanded her love for the arts while training at the Brooklyn High School of the Arts, Restoration Youth Arts Academy and Dwana Smallwood’s Performing Arts Center. Kaylyn is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at Montclair State University. She has worked with professionals such as Jessie DiMauro, Nancy Lushington, Robert M. Burke, Maxine Steinman and Christian von Howard. Kaylyn has also had the opportunity to study abroad in Stockholm, Sweden where she trained with DOCH University and Balletakadimen
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Briana Bolt
Brianna Bolt began her dance training at the Watson Johnson Dance Theatre. As a teenager, she began serious training through Ballet, Modern and Jazz Dance at Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School under Maureen Glennon and Sheila Buttermore. Bolt is currently at Montclair State University pursuing Bachelor degrees in Dance and Psychology. At Montclair, she has trained under Christian von Howard, Fredrick Earl Mosely, and Maxine Steinman. While attending school, Bolt taught modern and jazz at Watson Johnson Dance Theatre. In 2018, Bolt attended the Debbie Allan Dance Academy Summer Intensive where she trained in Ballet, Dunham, Graham, Horton, Flamenco, Tap, African Dance and Hip Hop. She has also trained under Debbie Allan, Karen McDonald, Vivian Nixon, and Lyric Cruz.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Samantha Barraco
Samantha Barraco is a 21 year old New Jersey native, who is currently pursuing her dance career by earning her BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography from Montclair State University. Born and raised in Flemington, New Jersey, under the instruction of HealthQuest Dance Academy, she performed with their prestigious Q~Dynamics Dance Co. as the foundation of her dance training, as well as training at The Mill Ballet School. Ms. Barraco has also had the opportunity of performing pre-professionally with the Elisa Monte Dance Co. at their Summer Series Concert in Lake Placid, and DiMauro Dance & the Dancespace Project’s I’m not done yet. at St. Mark’s Church. She has also had the pleasure of choreographing for the current dancers of Q~Dynamics Dance Co. in the styles of Contemporary, Modern, Jazz, and Hip Hop.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Sahai Heyward
Sahai Heyward is a native from Newark, Delaware where she began training at the age of 5. After moving to NYC, she began her training at Dance Theater of Harlem and later attended the Professional Performing Arts High School, where she continued her studies at the Ailey School. She is currently a Senior at Montclair State University with a focus in Dance and a minor in Psychology. Sahai has had the privilege of dancing in the works of Jessie DiMauro, Nancy Lushington, Maxine Steinman, and many more.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Elena Dalla Torre
Elena Dalla Torre began her dance training at the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble. She is currently pursuing her undergraduate degrees at Montclair State University, seeking both a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media Arts. Dalla Torre has had the privilege of dancing in works choreographed by Sidra Bell, Shannon Gillen, and Ohad Naharin. She has attended numerous dance programs including intensives with Vim Vigor, Movement Invention Program, and Force Majeure Festival. Noteworthy awards include 6 consecutive semesters on the Montclair State University’s dean’s list.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Jessica Lavenda
Jessica Lavenda began her dance training on Long Island, New York. She has taken part of the Alvin Ailey summer intensive, Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, and the Peridance Blueprint
intensive. Lavenda will graduate in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Montclair State University. She has performed works by Ohad Naharin, Sidra Bell, Nancy Lushington, and Maxine Steinman. Lavenda has had the opportunity to perform at New York Live Arts, St. Mark’s Church, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and the Contemporary Dance Series at Bryant Park. She was awarded the Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar-Artist award in 2017.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Kayla Fleming
Kayla Fleming has trained at Harmony Dance Center since the age of two. She received a scholarship at the age of ten to attend New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble (NJDTE), where her training in dance advanced. She has had the wonderful privilege of working with Nancy Turano, Bradley Shelver, Belinda McGuire, Katarzyna Skarpetowska as well as many other artists within her time there. Kayla is currently pursuing a BFA in Dance as well as a minor in Business at Montclair State University. During her time here, she has performed in works by Nancy Lushington, Maxine Steinman, Jessica DiMauro, and Christian von Howard.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Gabrielle Colella
Gabrielle Colella has trained at New Jersey Ballet and attended the Morris County School of Technology where she was in the dance academy and part of the theatre program. Colella currently attends Montclair State University where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. At Montclair, she trained under Maxine Steinman, Frederick Earl Mosley, Christian von Howard, and Lynne Grossman.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
Quashierra Muhammad
Quashierra Muhammad started her formal dance training at age 14 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey. Muhamamd attends Montclair State University pursuing a B.F.A degree in Dance Performance and a B.A. in Entrepreneurship. Aside from that, she has furthered her studies at Gibney Dance, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, The Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and Earl Mosley's Institute of the Arts. Quashierra has had the opportunity to perform repertory by Merce Cunningham, Matthew Rushing, Isadora Duncan, Kyle Abraham, Rennie Harris, Peter Chu, Steffanie Batten Bland, among many others. Muhammad currently dances with Liz Gerring Dance Company.
Skylar Rienert
Skylar Rienert began her dance education at New Hampshire School of Ballet. She pursued her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance for 2 years at SUNY Purchase, and is finishing her degree at Montclair State University. At Montclair, she has had the privilege to dance in works by Maxine Steinman, Christian von Howard, Ohad Naharin , a nd Stefanie Batten Bland. Miss Rienert has choreographed numerous pieces for NH studios, as well as Montclair State University. She is co-owner of Inception Dance Intensive. She has won several choreography and performance awards, and continues to work as an artist throughout New England.
Photo Credits: Nir Arieli
