BIOS

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ISADORA DUNCAN (1877-1927), born in San Francisco, revolutionized dance with her groundbreaking approach to movement and expression. Rejecting the rigid structure of classical ballet, she shed traditional costumes like ballet slippers and corsets, opting instead for simplicity and natural movement that echoed the rhythms of nature. Duncan sought to develop a dance vocabulary that would illuminate the human spirit and its connection to the world around us. She was among the first choreographers to create dances set to music that wasn’t composed specifically for dance, drawing from composers like Chopin, Brahms, Schubert, and Scriabin. Her bold, unrestrained style shocked American audiences, who found her bare limbs and unconventional approach daring. Unfazed by controversy, Duncan set off for Europe, and later Russia, where her boundless spirit inspired visual artists, poets, and choreographers.

DORIS HUMPHREY (1895-1958) is renowned for her groundbreaking choreography and her innate sense of musical ability and form. She began her career early, opening her own dance school in Chicago in 1913 at the age of 18. In 1917, she joined the Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts in California. Denishawn, the dynamic duo of Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, recognized Humphrey’s talents and she became one of their primary teachers and performers touring with the company throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. It was here she met Charles Weidman who became her partner in dance.

Humphrey and Charles Weidman left the Denishawn School in 1928 and started the Humphrey-Weidman Company in New York City. Humphrey developed a new style of dance around the principles she called “fall and recovery,” utilizing the body’s potential to travel between the polarities of balance and imbalance. She elevated dance to a theater art believing in its power to communicate and her need to express the human condition with all its complexity and range of thought. Her work also reflected current events and concerns, capturing the American spirit.

Jose Limón’s apprenticeship with Humphrey-Weidman lasted over 10 years, during which time he was increasingly featured in their concert work. He left the Humphrey/Weidman Group in 1940 to start his own dance company and in 1945 invited his mentor, Doris Humphrey, to become the artistic director of the Limón Dance Company. While serving in this capacity with Limón, Humphrey choreographed the masterpieces “Day on Earth,” “Night Spell,” and “Ruins and Visions.” Her various works reflect her mastery of the intricacies of large groups and emphasis in dynamic phrasing. Humphrey’s book, The Art of Making Dances, in which she shared her observations and theories on dance and composition, was published after her death and is still used as a guide for all choreographers. dorishumphreyfoundation.org

CLAUDIA GITELMAN (1936–2012), dancer/choreographer/teacher/writer, was part of an early generation of dancers who worked with pioneering choreographer Alwin Nikolais at the Henry Street Playhouse in the early 1950s. Given the moniker “Golden Claudia” by Murray Louis, she later danced in the Murray Louis Company and taught at the Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab. She also appeared in the original production of Camelot on Broadway, performed internationally on the concert stage, and choreographed for her own group from 1973 to 1990.

A graduate of University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1958, Gitelman first attended Hanya Holm’s summer intensive in Colorado Springs 1959. She later performed as a soloist in Holm’s work and continued to be associated with Holm until her death in 1992. Gitelman taught modern dance and dance history at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts from 1985 to 1997, continuing to serve as Professor Emerita until her death. She has also taught at Adelphi, Sarah Lawrence College, and Columbia University Teachers’ College, where she earned her MA.

Gitelman was the author and/or editor of the books Dancing With Principle: Hanya Holm in Colorado , 1941–1983 (University Press of Colorado), Liebe Hanya: Mary Wigman’s Letters to Hanya Holm (University of Wisconsin Press), On Stage Alone: Soloists and the Modern Dance Canon (University Press of Florida), and The Returns of Alwin Nikolais: Bodies, Boundaries and the Dance Canon (University Press of New England), as well as author of many articles for Ballet Review, Dance Chronicle, and other publications. Gitelman was active in the Society of Dance History Scholars. She often reminded colleagues that modern dance is not solely an American creation, but was also pioneered in Germany by Mary Wigman and her disciple, Hanya Holm.

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PAMELA LEVY is a dance educator with over two decades of experience teaching, directing, and creating choreography for dancers in all phases of their development. She received her early dance training in Princeton, NJ, and then received her BFA in Dance from Mason Gross School of the Arts, studying with Claudia Gitelman, Don Redlich, Paulette Sears, Laura Glenn, and Pat Mayer. She holds a Master’s Degree in ABT Ballet Pedagogy from American Ballet Theatre/New York University, and is currently the Director of that program. At ABT she has been a faculty member of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School Children’s Division, ABT’s Summer Intensives, and ABT’s Outreach Programs. Pamela has also previously served as the Director of the Princeton Ballet School, Director of the ABT Certified School at Mason Gross Extension Division, Director of the Mark Morris Student Company II, and Washington Rock Youth Ballet. Her university teaching includes Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Marymount Manhattan College, Princeton University, Rider University, and Teacher’s College at Columbia University. Pamela danced professionally with Murray Louis & Nikolais Dance Company, Claudia Gitelman Dance Theatre, Don Redlich Dance Company, and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.

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DANCES WE DANCE/PERFORMING ENSEMBLE (DWD) was formed in 2020 under the artistic direction of Francesca Todesco, carrying forward a rich legacy originally established by legendary dancers, teachers, and choreographers Betty Jones and Fritz Ludin in New York in 1970. Betty and Fritz’s mission of nurturing new generations of dancers led to over 50 years of dedicated teaching and choreographing around the world. Upon their retirement in 2019, they entrusted Francesca with the leadership of the organization, ensuring the continuation of their vision.

DWD's mission encompasses training dancers in presenting repertory works, commissioning new choreography, and providing educational workshops and classes. Since its season debut in 2022, DWD has offered classes and workshops in New York, London, and Greece and performed at the 2023 Battery Dance Festival. This season marks Dances We Dance's third New York season. www.danceswedance.org

FRANCESCA TODESCO (Artistic Director, DWD) is a New York–based dancer and educator with extensive training in the Sokolow, Humphrey-Limón, and Duncan techniques. She credits her artistic formation to esteemed teachers including Jim May (recipient of the Martha Hill Award for Lifetime Achievement), Catherine Gallant, Loretta Thomas, Betty Jones, Fritz Ludin, Gail Corbin, and Deborah Carr. Since joining Catherine Gallant/DANCE & Dances by Isadora in 2000, Francesca has performed and taught Isadora Duncan’s works internationally. She has also collaborated with numerous choreographers and companies in New York City, among them Deborah Carr Theatre Dance Ensemble and Rae Ballard’s Thoughts in Motion. A founding member of the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble, she danced with the company for over sixteen years and continues to contribute to the preservation and reconstruction of Anna Sokolow’s repertory and archives.

Dedicated to passing on the legacy of historical modern dance, Francesca has organized workshops featuring master teachers, and for more than a decade directed her children’s program, Every Little Movement, in Hoboken. An internationally sought-after teacher and coach, she has recently worked with groups in London, Paris, and Athens. In 2020 she founded her own company, Dances We Dance, as a platform for both preservation and innovation—launching a new generation of Duncan dancers while continuing to create and perform new works. Alongside directing DWD, Francesca teaches Isadora Duncan exploration classes for adults in Manhattan and regularly leads workshops in Paris and Athens.

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GUEST ARTISTS

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​GAIL CORBIN is a leading exponent and master teacher/director in the technique and repertory of American Modern Dance pioneers, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. Her longtime association with Ernestine Stodelle, an original member of the Humphrey/Weidman Company, began with Ernestine’s reconstructions of two of Doris Humphrey’s early works - “Two Ecstatic Themes” and “Air for the G String” for the Jose Limon Company. Gail assisted her in these early Humphrey reconstructions and served as a model for the solo roles.

She was a featured performer and soloist for Deborah Carr Theatre Dance Ensemble under the artistic direction of Beatrice Seckler, dancing the repertory of Charles Weidman.

Gail has taught and directed Humphrey/Weidman technique and repertory, as well as performance skills and pedagogy, for decades. The demand for her skills as master teacher has brought her to universities, dance companies and individual performers throughout the U.S., Europe and Australia and is a featured dancer in two films - “The Technique of Doris Humphrey” and “Charles Weidman- On his Own”.

Gail is the Director of the Doris Humphrey Foundation. She is a frequent guest director for the Sokolow Theatre Dance Ensemble in NYC. Gail recently staged and directed the Limon Dance Company in "Air for the G String" as part of their 75th anniversary celebration and “Two Ecstatic Themes” as part of their Joyce performance series. She is a graduate of the Hartford Conservatory of Music.

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RAE BALLARD In addition to performing and choreographing works for her Thoughts in Motion dance company, Rae Ballard has danced with Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project and also performed pieces created by Isadora Duncan, Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman and Jose Limon. Ms. Ballard’s choreography has been described by Jennifer Dunning in The New York Times as having “the quality of a short story," and this choreography and related scripts written by Ms. Ballard for dance/theater works have provided the artistic direction for Thoughts in Motion, a non-profit company that was founded in the 1980s. The company has performed at venues throughout New York City and Westchester County, and Ms. Ballard's choreography has also been performed in Finland, Brazil and Italy. Ms. Ballard teaches dance and movement to a variety of age groups and was selected by Arts Westchester for its Artist Roster for over 10 years.

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CATHERINE GALLANT is the director and co-founder (with Patricia Adams in 1989) of Dances by Isadora which performs, teaches, and collaborates with dancers throughout the world. She began her study of the technique of Isadora Duncan with Julia Levien, (a student of Anna and Irma Duncan) in 1982. She is a founding member of the Duncan Archive, an online repository for the Duncan legacy. Catherine is the US performer of Jerome Bel’s Isadora Duncan, part of his dancer series. Ms. Gallant is a retired NYCDOE dance educator. She taught at PS 89 in Manhattan from 1998-2023. She and her students were featured in the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary, PS DANCE! She is currently on the faculty of Hunter College and the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) Catherine creates new works for stage and film with her company Catherine Gallant/DANCE. Their latest dance film project was screened at the East Coast Dance Festival in Wicklow, Ireland and at the Mobile Dance Film Festival in NYC. She is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory and holds an MFA in Dance from Temple University.  Catherine is proud to have shared the study and practice of Duncan's work with Francesca Todesco (Dances We Dance), Loretta Thomas (Moving Visions Dance), Sandra Kelson and Kelli Edwards (New Duncan Dance Project), Marie Carstens (Putnam County Dance Project) and many others who have gone on to enrich and explore the work in unique ways.

LAUREN NASLUND began her modern dance studies in Chicago with Frances Allis. She holds degrees in biology from the University of Chicago and Harvard. Lauren danced in Cambridge, MA with the Performing Arts Ensemble and the Massachusetts Dance Ensemble, and in New York with the theater/dance company Plath/Taucher Productions, Alan Danielson, and Andrew Jannetti & Dancers. She has performed the works of Charles Weidman and Doris Humphrey with Deborah Carr’s Theatre Dance Ensemble, and of Doris Humphrey under the direction of Gail Corbin. She also performs with Rae Ballard’s Thoughts in Motion. She was a member of Anna Sokolow’s Players’ Project for 15 years and is Associate Artistic Director of the Sokolow Theatre/ Dance Ensemble. Lauren reconstructs and stages Anna Sokolow’s repertory for the company and for schools and professional dancers.

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IAN SPENCER BELL is a dancer and a poet who has performed at the 92nd Street Y, Boston Center for the Arts, Jacob’s Pillow, Poetry Foundation, and Queens Museum. In addition to his own work, he has danced historic solos by Merce Cunningham and Isadora Duncan.

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OSCAR ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ was born and raised in Venezuela. He began his professional training at Warehouse Dance Complex in Costa Rica. He has participated in the Chuthis Movement Intensive (Costa Rica), the b12 Dance Festival (Germany) and the VIM VIGOR Intensive (New York) where he received training from choreographers Helder Seabra, Luke Murphy, Judith Sánchez Ruíz, Shannon Guillen and Peter Chu. Oscar holds an MFA Dance degree from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. As a member of the Second Avenue Dance Company, he performed works by Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Christina Jane Robson, and Jeremy Nelson. Theater credits: Aida (Metropolitan Opera House); The Return of Eva Perón: Momia en el Closet (Ensemble); Evita (Swing); On Your Feet! (Swing); In the Heights x 2 (Ensemble/Jose); West Side Story x 3 (Bernardo, Pepe); Saturday Night Fever (Ensemble/Salsation Choreographer); Chicago (Fred Casely/Ensemble); Encores! The Life (Pre-Production The Life and Once Upon a Mattress); Immersive experience ‘FX: A Murder at the End of the World (Feat. Performer). Oscar traveled to Saudi Arabia to be part of Mu’allaqatna, the first Saudi Arabian musical. He was featured in Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story, Rebecca Miller’s latest film She Came to Me, Dancing with The Stars Costa Rica, Dancing Through… produced by the TANK NYC and Theatre Dance Vietnam. His work has been featured in the Earl Mosley’s Dancing Beyond, A Benefit for Dance Against Cancer event at the Manhattan Movement Arts Center. Oscar has performed with Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance and recently with Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre and Lydia Johnson Dance. He is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and currently represented by The Movement Talent Agency | @oscarantonio0704.

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FAITH KIMBERLING is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in NYC, performing, collaborating, and/or choreographing in the last few years with various companies and artists such as Las Danzas, Putnam County Dance Project, Loretta Thomas/Moving Visions Dance, Catherine Gallant, and Mark Bankin. Faith is deeply passionate about exploring and nurturing the connection, truth, clarity, beauty, understanding, expression, and meaning that dance reveals. Faith danced with Lori Belilove & the Isadora Duncan Dance Company from 2004-2021 and with WHITE WAVE: Young Soon Kim Dance Company from 1997-2014. She has led company and open and master classes, presented lecture demonstrations in NYC public schools, was a teacher of the junior resident company of the Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation, the Beliloveables, and has taught at the Dance World Stuttgart Dance Fair 2024 and 2025 in Germany. Other choreographers with whom she has danced are her sister Erin Jennings, Linda Diamond/ Anna Sokolow on  her last works,  Marie Carstens, Molissa Fenley, Stephanie Tack, Edisa Weeks, and Caron Eule. She teaches dance  at Bridge for Dance and  the Y and is a student of Laban Kinetography. Her choreography has been presented at UMBC, Bucknell University, New Moves and Spark Festivals, and at Arts on the Lake in Kent, NY.  As a student, she learned and performed works of Doris Humphrey, Martha Graham, Nacho Duato, Doug Varone, Mark Morris, Colin Connor and Jose Limon. Faith is thrilled to perform again with Dances We Dance and thanks her family for their love and support, Francesca and dancers, and Loretta and the Corvinos for their teaching/coaching. 

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DANCES WE DANCE/PERFORMING ENSEMBLE

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KATHLEEN CARAGINE is a New York City based modern/contemporary dancer who began her dance training at the age of three in Danbury, Connecticut. Her training continued at Hofstra University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in Exercise Science. Currently, she is teaching dance and Pilates in Connecticut and NYC/Brooklyn. Kathleen has had the pleasure to perform works throughout NYC and abroad by Isadora Duncan, Doris Humphrey, Ted Shawn, Catherine Gallant, Rae Ballard, Annmaria Mazzini and Francesca Todesco. She is a founding member of Dances We Dance under the direction of Artistic Director Francesca Todesco.

COLLEEN EDWARDS (she/her) is a dancer and teaching artist based in Brooklyn, NY.  She graduated from Hofstra University where she studied Dance and English Literature and has since had the opportunity to perform across NYC, internationally, and on live national television. As a founding member Dances We Dance, she has had the pleasure of performing works by Isadora Duncan, Ted Shawn, Doris Humphrey, Francesca Todesco, Catherine Gallant, Rae Ballard, and Annmaria Mazzini, while learning and exploring the techniques and works of early American modern dance pioneers under the artistic direction of Francesca Todesco. Colleen also performs with Mark Bankin Dance Theatre and The NeoPolitical Cowgirls, and studies Argentine Tango. As a teaching artist, Colleen shares her love of movement with the students at WR Arts and the School at Peridance. 

ROSY GENTLE Originally from Spokane Washington, Rosy began studying dance at the age of three and received a BA in dance and environmental studies from the University of Washington. She has studied ballet, modern dance and most recently Argentine tango. Since moving to New York, she has danced with Moving Visions Dance, Dances by Isadora, Rae Ballard, Douglas Dunn and Dancers, Heidi Latsky Dance, Cross Move Lab, Studio Apartment, SMUSH gallery, and Mark Bankin. She has also performed internationally in Athens, Paris, and Berlin. As a founding member of Dances We Dance Rosy has studied the movement of Isadora Duncan and had the opportunity to assist in teaching Duncan technique and repertoire in Athens and Paris. She is excited to present her work as a choreographer in Dances we Dance fall season. 

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HALEY WOLFERSBERGER (she/her) is a New York City based dancer and teacher. Originally from Ocean City, Maryland she began dancing at the age of four and received a BFA in Dance from Montclair State University in 2019. There she had the opportunity to perform works by Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. Most recently, she has enjoyed expanding her knowledge of Isadora Duncan and her technique as a company member with Dances we Dance. Outside of performing, Haley enjoys teaching musical theater and creative movement with DZ Arts and Ballet Tech. 

SOKOLOW THEATRE/DANCE ENSEMBLE

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SOKOLOW THEATRE/DANCE ENSEMBLE is the living legacy company dedicated to presenting Anna Sokolow’s vast body of emotionally riveting work. Over a 70 year career, Ms. Sokolow continuously broke the boundaries of modern dance, focusing on the human experience and drawing upon whatever genre best served her artistic purpose. Her masterpieces remain relevant to our times and touch the hearts of all people as we struggle with the universal issues of living, regardless of differences in place and culture. The company’s projects include reconstruction, reimagination, deconstruction, historical performance, teaching, lectures, archiving, and partnering with contemporary choreographers—all modes through which we step inside Sokolow’s masterworks and draw from this perspective to better frame our future. ST/DE was founded by Sokolow protege Jim May and is currently under the artistic direction of Samantha Géracht.

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MARGARET MIGHTY OAK BRACKEY is an NYC-based dancer/choreographer/artist. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, she grew up studying Graham Technique, Ballet, and Dance Composition at Kanopy Dance Company. In 2022, Margaret graduated with a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University. Her Honors Thesis, “Birds Into Bodies: Synthesizing Research and Dance”, which mitigated bird/window collisions on campus, was awarded the Levermore Prize for Best Senior Thesis. A collaborative choreographer, Margaret has shown works around NYC and Wisconsin, and holds open monthly Playdays to generate new ideas. Besides dancing, Margaret is the Sokolow T/DE Media Manager. She was introduced to the work of Anna Sokolow in 2017 by Jim May and Samantha Géracht and joined Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble in 2022.

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ILANA RUTH COHEN is from Portland, Oregon, where she grew up dancing in the rain. She graduated from Pomona College with a BA in Modern Dance and Chemistry and is currently a PhD student at the City University of New York where she investigates how aquatic plants and microbes can help to clean our water resources. Ilana’s dance training included study at the Limón Institute and the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. Ilana has performed in works by Anna Sokolow, Doris Humphrey, Jose Limón, Isadora Duncan, Matthew Nelson and John Pennington. Additionally, she has performed with New York Baroque Dance Co. and with Shadow Box Theater. In 2021, Ilana assisted in setting Anna Sokolow’s Rooms, working both virtually and in person, and has taught modern dance to children at Bay Ridge Ballet and through the Limon4Kids program. Ilana has been a member of the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble since 2018.

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SAMUEL HUMPHREYS received his initial training from Brynar Mehl, and then from Larry Ensign, Lori Belilove, the Gelsey Kirkland Ballet conservatory, and the Martha Graham School. He has performed in New York City with the Isadora Duncan Dance Company, Anabella Lenzu, Ballet for Young Audiences, and Shadow Box Theatre. He currently also dances with Dance Visions/NY. A long time student of Jim May, Sam performed with the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble in 2007 and 2008 and rejoined the company in 2019.

KRISTA JANSEN is a dancer and choreographer born, raised, and based in New York City. She is one half of the duet company Jansen & Holm, where she performs and choreographs alongside CJ Holm. Her own choreography has been performed at Dixon Place, Triskelion Arts, the Flea, STUFFED! at Movement Research, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the 92nd street Y, and for an award-winning film with director Bat-Sheva Guez. She was an original cast member and Assistant Rehearsal director for the critically acclaimed “Doug Elkins & Friends’ Fraulein Maria”, and for seven years performed and toured with that production around the United States and Canada. Krista is also a teaching assistant with Ellen Robbins, and choreographs for the Theater program at Beacon high school. Krista joined Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble in 2022.

MARGHERITA TISATO began studying dance in Italy at the age of eight. Her background is rooted in the Humphrey–Limón, contemporary, and dance therapy traditions. Her practice encompasses a wide range of movement forms, including Butoh, somatic movement, yoga, and, more recently, the exploration of body suspension. Margherita moved to New York City in 2006 and has since worked with several dance groups. She was a founding member of Dances We Dance under the artistic direction of Francesca Todesco and remains a favorite guest artist with the ensemble. From 2008 to 2017, she was a principal dancer with the Vangeline Theater and has presented her own work both in New York and internationally.

A teacher for the New York Butoh Institute, Margherita also leads Butoh workshops around the world. She lives in Brooklyn, where she teaches yoga and mindful movement in studios, jails, and substance abuse recovery facilities, and coaches individuals in embodiment and PTSD recovery. Margherita has been dancing with the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble since 2008.

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GUEST DANCERS

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GWEN APPENFELLER (they/them) is a gender-queer dance artist trying to find their way in a crumbling capitalistic cis-gender society. Their environmental activism work exploring plastic has been shown at the Tank’s Trashfest 2023, in January 2024 at both Green Space (Fertile Ground Performance Series) and Spoke the Hub (Winter Follies ‘24), and at Triskelion Arts during the WAXworks February 2024 show. Their work exploring gender in heavily binary dance forms was shown at Arts on Site as part of 7MPR’s Pride Showcase in July 2024. Much of their inspiration comes from growing up in the Midwest, constantly exploring nature as a child, and always being underestimated when they were growing up. Professionally Gwen currently dances in their own work and with Alexandra Bilodeau. They first encountered Dances We Dance last fall through taking part in the company’s Water Study Workshop and are excited for the opportunity to perform alongside them again. Instagram: @gwen.ith

Originally from Atlanta, JEWEL CAMERON is a New York based dancer and choreographer. Jewel studied dance at Oberlin College, where she received the Distinction in Dance award. Jewel has performed and had work showcased at the La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, Trinity College’s Performance Lab, the Ohio 5 Dance Conference, and Oberlin’s Warner Theater.

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CAMILLE CONSTANTI is a dancer and teacher based in NYC. She studied in the Independent Program at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance where she was instructed by Amélie Bénard, Miriam Barbosa, Marnie Thomas Wood, Ellen Graff et al. Camille received her B.A. in Literature and Philosophy from St. John’s College, where she founded the St. John’s Dance Collective and taught contemporary and ballet classes to adults. Her formative dance training was in ballet, contemporary and hula at Hawaii State Ballet, the Movement Center and Punahou School. She has learned and performed the repertory of Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham and Jacqulyn Buglisi. Camille has performed for Mark Bankin Dance Theater since 2023. In 2025 she became a certified Classical Pilates instructor.

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THANDI NYAMBOSE, native of Boston, MA, began dancing at the age of twelve with the Deborah Mason School of Dance and continued her professional training through her time at Barnard College. She has lived and worked in NYC for ten years and performed at venues including the Kennedy Center in DC and been featured in dance roles by brands such as Converse. With movement, Thandi aspires to fulfill the highest expression of herself as a human being and an artist.

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HANNAH SCHAYES is originally from Syracuse, New York, where she began dancing at a young age at the Syracuse School of Dance. She attended summer intensive programs across the country, including the Syracuse Summer Dance Program, Saratoga Summer Dance Intensive, Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program, American Ballet Theatre, and workshops with Paul Taylor and José Limón. In 2020, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mercyhurst University with a B.F.A. in Dance and a minor in Sociology. Now based in New York City, Hannah dances and teaches professionally. She is also the co-host of Abun(dance) Podcast, where she explores a wide range of dance-related topics. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work at New York University and working toward certification in Dance/Movement Therapy through the Alternate Route Program at the 92Y. She began her Duncan training with Lori Belilove in 2020 and is a company member of Moving Visions Dance, directed by Loretta Thomas. She is thrilled to perform this season with Dances We Dance directed by Francesca Todesco.

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NIRA SOLÉNE from childhood at Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory in Torrington, Connecticut, to discovering the timeless rhythm tradition at the early modern dance & movement system of the Noyes School of Rhythm in Portland, Connecticut I’ve danced through life. A pivotal summer introduced me to the artistry of Isadora Duncan, whose free-spirited, soulful movement transformed my understanding of dance. Studying her techniques with various Duncan teachers, I embraced her philosophy of connecting the body to the heart’s emotional flow. In 2019, I deepened my practice with Egyptian dance (Raqs Sharqi), also known as belly dance, and began performing and teaching in NYC. 

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MARY GARRETT TURNER is thrilled to be dancing again with Dances We Dance. Recent credits include the role of Witch in Weird Sisters, a wild romp in the woods inspired by Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Queen Margaret in She-Wolves, Peaseblossom in The Dreamer, and as a company member of Rising Sun Performance Company. Notably, she has performed off-Broadway and regionally in A Chorus Line, There’s A Marquee…, The Will Rogers Follies, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and as a Radio City Rockette. She can also be seen in the films The Producers, The Stepford Wives, Summer of Sam, and as Brenda in the short film Last Dance directed by Malene Schjoennin. Mary Garrett graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, receiving her BFA in dance, and currently studies Meisner Acting Technique at Matthew Corozine Studio with Matthew Corozine. Beyond theater, Mary Garrett is deeply passionate about supporting arts advocacy and education. She serves on the boards of Neo-Political Cowgirls and Atlantic Theater Company and has previously served with organizations WomanKind, Parents-In-Action, and The Chapin School. She is extremely grateful to Francesca for the opportunity to recreate Isadora’s repertoire and to create original works alongside her talented company. She is grateful for the support of her husband, Jason, and her two children, Virginia and Allen.

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BEHIND THE SCENES

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MAGGIE CASS (Stage Manager) Originally from upstate New York, Maggie graduated from Hofstra University in 2017 with a BA in Dance and Political Science. After graduating, she worked on political campaigns before becoming special assistant to an elected official on Long Island. Now residing in Brooklyn, NY, she works as Executive Assistant to the President of a strategic communications firm. Maggie is grateful for the opportunity to have supported this dance company over the past few years and is excited to be part of this year's program.

New York City–based IVANA DRAZIC has collaborated with numerous choreographers and dance companies since moving from Belgrade, Serbia, in 2009. Her costume designs have been featured in productions by Catherine Gallant/DANCE and Dances by Isadora, the Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble, Moving Visions, Francesca Todesco’s Every Little Movement, and Dances We Dance, among others. Guided by a deep sensitivity to movement and material, Ivana allows fabric itself to shape and inspire her creative process.

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