Encore (2009)

The Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, a New York-based nonprofit organization has demonstrated a commitment to education since its inception in 1998.  Celebrating its tenth anniversary last year, a decade of programming without pause, the Company has stayed true to its mission of cultivating the creation of innovative art and presenting this to the public in interactive, accessible, and meaningful ways.  This is achieved through classes, workshops, lecture-demonstrations, residencies, performances, the website, and instructional videos.  Programs encourage audiences to be active participants, as part of the Company’s effort to integrate communities into the dance-making and performing process. Striving to teach people how dance can play a meaningful part of their physical and overall well-being is central to the programming. The Company holds regular seasons in New York, tours regionally, nationally and internationally, and participates in festivals. Since its inception, the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company has been transforming diverse populations of all abilities and ages into dancers.  The company has been contracted with the New York City Department of Education since 1999, teaching more than 10,000 students within the City’s public schools to learn and create dances, improvise, collaborate and perform, and conducting professional development workshops for NYC DOE dance educators.  

Hometown: Rochester, New York

Daniel Gwirtzman directs, choreographs, and dances for the New York-based Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, a nonprofit performing and teaching organization.  Since 1995 his work has been received to critical acclaim.  Known for its entertaining flair, stylistic diversity, musicality, innovation, and accessibility, his choreography has been performed at venues throughout the country and abroad.  As a dancer he has been described as a willowy John Travolta, sensual, playful, a rag doll, unusually supple, and one who moves like the wind.  He has toured nationally and internationally with Garth Fagan Dance and the Mark Morris Dance Group, among other companies and has been a guest choreographer at various institutions including the North Carolina Dance Theater, the University of Michigan, the North Carolina School of the Arts, Fordham University/The Ailey School, Princeton University, New York University, Barnard College, Duke University, The University of the Arts (Philadelphia), The Interlochen Center for the Arts (Michigan), and the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts.  Gwirtzman helped to develop the Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts, the NYC arts curriculum mandated by Mayor Bloomberg.  His solo Character (excerpted from ENCORE) was presented at the National American College Dance Festival’s Kennedy Center season in 2006.  In January 2008 he was one of twenty-five artists from fifteen countries invited to attend the Rural Retreat near London, an international think tank/leadership conference for future leaders in dance sponsored by DanceEast, one of the UK’s leading dance organizations.  Last year, his essay Fan The Flames was published in Dance/USA’s spring journal and he choreographed Kiss Me, Kate for the Muhlenberg Summer Music Theater Festival.  Gwirtzman holds a BFA from the University of Michigan, and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI

Cary McWilliam is an original DGDC member, as both performer and teaching artist. She joined the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company at its inception in 1998 but has danced with Daniel since 1991 when students at the University of Michigan.  Cary has toured with DGDC to Finland, much of the northeast and many teaching and choreographic residencies to The Yard on Martha’s Vineyard. She has been teaching for DGDC for many years and leads the Company’s professional development, Parent as Arts Partners workshops and participates in facilitating professional development for New York City dance specialists.  Cary has also performed with Artichoke Dance Company, Rosa Mei Dance, Anita Cheng Dance, Racoco Productions and most recently the Kinesis Project Dance Theater.  Cary also teaches for Lincoln Center Institute and Music for Many.  Cary is an original cast member of ENCORE.

Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

Christian von Howard, affectionately known as “Cakey”, is one of the senior members of DGDC, not to mention a long time friend and colleague.  Danny and Christian’s artistic history reaches back some twelve years and continues to grow on a day-to-day basis. Christian’s contribution to the Company is never ending and will always be full of laughter, warmth and of course dynamic dancing.  Christian is an international performer, choreographer, teacher and the Artistic Director of the VON HOWARD PROJECT. He is an Assistant Professor of Dance & Choreography at Virgin Commonwealth University and concurrently teaches at the Alvin Ailey School in NYC. In 2006, Christian received a Choreographic Fellowship from the NJ State Council of the Arts. His choreographic work has been commissioned by various dance companies, colleges and universities including Columbia College (SC), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Jacksonville University, The Power Company and various others. Christian is an original cast member of ENCORE.

Hometown: Great Falls, Virginia

Jamie Scott began studying dance in her hometown, and continued training in the pre-professional division of the Washington School of Ballet and moved to New York in 2001 to attend Barnard College.   While in school, Jamie began her relationship with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company.  After graduating with high honors from Barnard in May of 2005, she began her studies at the Merce Cunningham Studio. She joined DGDC in the fall of 2006, the Cunningham Repertory Understudy Group in January 2007 and Merce Cunningham Dance Company in July 2009.  Jamie is an original member of ENCORE, going back to its first New York performance in the fall of 2006 at Long Island University's Kumble Center for the Performing Arts, and, in the winter of 2007, at Manhattan's West End Theater.  

Hometown: Cockeysville, MD 

Stacy began her dance training at The Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2006, she graduated from The North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. Upon graduation, Stacy moved to NYC and began working with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company. Martorana also dances as a member of the  Repertory Understudy Group of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and The Kazako Hirabayashi Dance Theater.

Hometown: Worcester, MA

I was hired as a teaching artist for DGDC in the fall of 2006.  It was my first job in New York.  I was a confident teacher, but quickly craved to reach new heights in my work.  Early in 2007, I joined the cast of ENCORE. After a year-long hiatus from dancing, it was incredibly challenging, but my reward was the joy of working with stupendous people and performing this razzle-dazzle show.  I was hooked; DGDC had expanded me for the better in so many ways.  What I hope to give back to my students and the performance Company is the exuberance I feel for moving through life.

With DGDC Madeline has performed at Joyce SoHo, Times Square, and schools throughout NYC.  With Kinesis Project she has performed at the Cunningham Studios, Philly Fringe Festival, Ailey Studios, La Mama, and West End Theater. Madeline has performed aerial work at SLAM, Embody Studios, La Mama, South Street Sea Port and upcoming with Above and Beyond Dance at The Flea Theater.  Her own choreography has appeared at BAX and Abron Arts Center.  Madeline received BAs in Theater and Dance from Muhlenberg College.

Hometown: Rolling Meadows, Illinois

Michael recently graduated with high honors and phi beta kappa from Columbia University with a B.A. in Dance, where he studied at Barnard College and performed featured roles in works by Bill T. Jones, Stephen Petronio, Paul Taylor, and Vaslav Nijinsky.  He has also trained at Springboard Danse Montréal, Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, and recently joined Gina Gibney Dance.  This is Michael’s third season with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company.

Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA

I discovered my love for dance while watching Mikhail Baryshnikov demonstrating "up" and "down" on Sesame Street. While it took years for me to come around (age 17), art through any medium had always been a means of expression. Speaking specifically about dance, it is the versatility of the art that is most appealing to me. The exploration of physically emoting and creating moving art so closely intertwined with present (or non-present) emotion is addictive. Shapes, lines, curves, cutting through space. So fulfilling. I believe that there should be a three-part harmony between the dancer, the message (or concept) and the audience and I wish to convey and transpose a passion that fuels that belief through performance, choreography, and instruction.

In May of '07 I joined DGDC and it became the perfect venue for supporting my habit.

Corey began his professional career as a member of the Louisville Civic Ballet in Louisville, KY under the direction of Donald Tolj and Patrick Hinson.  Corey's love for dance infused itself with a love for acting and singing as well and as a result he found himself involved in musical theatre. He has performed in many stage productions including Pippin, School House Rock, Much Ado About Nothing, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Dreamgirls, and The Van Driver Experience which premiered at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York, NY. He has also worked in the television world (Law & Order, 24, As the World Turns, and Eebee's adventures) and can be seen in several national commercials.  Corey toured with CHICAGO the Musical from December '07 - June '09. While on hiatus from the tour in the summer of '08, he performed in Orunmila: The Adventures of the Father of Ifa Divination at the National Black Theatre in New York, NY.

Hometown: Normal, IL

From the first day, about two years ago in the studio with DGDC, I knew that it would be a journey of amazing friends and innovative creativity, with an atmosphere that is always moving with wild momentum. I joined the company for the ENCORE project and immediately became attached. I find it imperative as an artist to be able to express and share the joy and passion that I have for movement and music.  Daniel is effortlessly able to inspire the creative individual inside me to come out and play while maintaining technical excellence. I love how we work as a team to create something so challenging and seemingly impossible, then feel it become so musical and organic with the energy of the moment. I will always be a part of the Gwirtzman family and am looking forward to many more creations with DGDC! 

Jonathan Alsberry aka "Jojo" joined DGDC in 2007.  He is a graduate of Chicago Academy for the Arts and The Juilliard School.  After graduation, he began touring with Baryshnikov’s Hell’s Kitchen Dance and is currently a member of Aszure Barton & Artists and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company.  He has preformed with the Met Opera Ballet as a solo dancer, has appeared on MTV dancing along side Madonna and recently choreographed commercials for LG. Jojo is also a choreographer/director/editor for his own company KDT.  He would like to thank his parents for the greatest love and support of all.

Hometown:  Marshfield, Wisconsin

I met Daniel Gwirtzman in June 2005, at graduate school, and fell in love.  During our second year, I began working more closely with "Danny" on a suite of jazz songs; this choreography eventually grew into ENCORE. Though I am happily married, I have continued this affair and have continued performing with the Company.

Jessica Vokoun is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Tulsa.  She has performed internationally with the dance-theatre company NC5, and nationally with Li Chiao Ping Dance, Kanopy Dance Company, and the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company.  In 2006, Ms.Vokoun completed her MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from UW-Milwaukee. She has directed and choreographed three touring shows for the Harwelden Institute for Arts in Education, of Tulsa, OK. As a video artist, she has worked with Alexandra Beller, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Tulsa Ballet, and Ko-Thi Dance Company.

Hometown: Pennington, NJ

Becky Chaleff studied at the Princeton Ballet School until she turned twelve and forfeited training in favor of “cooler” activities like horseback riding and puberty.  She resumed dancing after a brief hiatus, compensating for lost time with a gusto that carried her to Barnard College.  There, she earned her BA in Dance and English and first met Daniel Gwirtzman.  Since graduating in 2008, Becky has performed with danceTactics, Pat Catterson, and Douglas Dunn, and studied on scholarship at the Cunningham Studio, where she continues to be involved in workshops and performances with the Repertory Understudy Group.  Becky was delighted to reconnect with Daniel Gwirtzman and begin work with his Company in 2009.

Hometown: Harlem, NY

Mia earned her BFA in Contemporary Dance from The North Carolina School of the Arts in 2007 where she was awarded the Chancellor’s Excellence Scholarship. She has performed works by, as well as worked with, Camille Brown, Brenda Daniels, David Parsons, Amy Marshall, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.  She would like to thank her Mom for all her love and support.  She is excited to have recently begun working with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company in ENCORE.

Hometown: London, England

I am extremely privileged to have the opportunity to dance with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company.  I come from a musical theatre background, so it is refreshing for me to be part of a dance company. The unique style of this company challenges me in a way I have not before experienced and has opened my vocabulary and outlook on how I perceive dance. The energy from being a part of this company when you perform is very exciting and I can’t help but have a huge smile on my face. For me, dance is about being completely free in the moment and for an audience to get lost in the energy we give them and feel the complete abandonment we get to experience as a performer. 

Chloë hails from London, England. She trained for 3 years in Musical Theatre at Millennium Performing Arts. Her theatre credits include: On The Town (Theatre Du Châtelet, Paris and London Coliseum), Desperately Seeking Susan (Novello Theatre, West End), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre, West End), Our House (UK Tour), Carmen Jones (Old Vic, West End) Shafrika, The White Girl (Vineyard Theatre, Off-Broadway).

Hometown: Nyack, New York

George graduated from the Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College, receiving an Honors Degree in Dance. He has since had the privilege of dancing for Artichoke Dance Company, David Capps/Dances, Eva Dean Dance, Regina Nejman and Company, and GoCo in addition to working with DGDC. 

Hometown: Bloomfield, New Jersey

Tony Bordonaro is a graduate of Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. He is ecstatic to be dancing with Daniel and be in the company of so many wonderful dancers and genuine people. Among dancing for other concert dance companies in the NY area Tony is no stranger to theatre, TV, and film. As a choreographer, his work was performed at DTW, the Aliey Citigroup Theatre and was presented by the newsteps, emerging artists serious at the Mulberry Street Theatre.  He was just seen last on Broadway, “Hailing a Cab.”

Hometown: Cork City, Ireland

In May 2009 Luke gained a BFA in Dance and English from Point Park University where he performed works by Martha Graham, Agnes DeMille, Bill T Jones, Robert Battle, Heidi Latsky, Edgar Zendejas and Lauri Stallings amongst others. Luke also furthered his education as an Apprentice with Bill T Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company and attended The American Dance Festival in 2007 and 2008. He has worked with Sean Curran Company, The Erick Hawkins Dance Company, Heidi Latsky Dance, and is delighted to work with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company.  Luke would like to thank Doug Bentz, Judith Leifer-Bentz and Jason McDole for teaching him how to dance.

Hometown: Jerusalem, Israel

Born to a Japanese father and Australian mother, Hanna Lee started dancing at the age of four and soon realized she had a dream of becoming a professional dancer. Moving to NY to train at the Alvin Ailey Dance School as part of the International Student program, Hanna-LEE has trained in a range of dance styles  Her credits include both commercial and non commercial projects, including working with Kazuko Hirabayashi, Nejla Yatkin, Shir Dance, Jerboa Dance and appearances in Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance.”  She is thrilled to be a part of ENCORE.

Hometown: The Bronx, NY

Before Dwayne's professional dance career began he trained at Vassar College with Stephen Rooks, Kathy Wildberger, Jeanne Czula, Abby Saxon and John Meehan.  Dwayne was also a fellowship student at the Ailey School and a Young Artists Scholar for American Dance Festival.  After earning his B.A. in Psychology from Vassar College in 2007 he moved back to NYC.  Dwayne has worked with Pascal Rioult, Donald McKayle, Anouk Van Dijk, Sean Curran, Marijke Eliasberg & Jana Hicks of The Next Stage Project, Chamber Dance Project and was featured in an Italian magazine, XL, in early 2009. 

Elise King graduated with high honors from Barnard College, Columbia University in 2007. She is a scholarship student at Jennifer Muller/The Works and also dances with Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company.   In addition to dance, she is very involved in two non-profit organizations—nycTIES and Career Gear.  She is thrilled to be in Encore.

Carrie Wood (Lighting Designer): Is extremely thrilled to be joining Daniel Gwirzman Dance company with Encore!  Select design credits include: Dover Beach: Sarah Michelson (The Kitchen), Sonya and Layla go Camping (The Kitchen), Daniel Charon: Conduit (Joyce Soho), Helen Simoneau (Joyce Soho), VIA Dance: Lullaby in Surrealism (Ailey Citigroup Theatre), Lines (TBG Theater- 2008 NYMF Participant), A Dream Play (St Ann’s Warehouse), Ivy Baldwin: Could be nice (La Mama), The Boy in the Bathroom (2007 NYMF Design winner), Ivy Baldwin: Its only Me (Dance New Amsterdam), The Siege of Corinth (Baltimore Opera), New York is Here! (Sitelines NYC), The Money Show (Dance New Amsterdam), Wonder of the World (The Lion Theatre), The Geranium on the Window Sill just Died (Urban Stages), Stones in his Pockets (Penguin Rep), Snake in Fridge (14th Street Y), Dr. Faustus and the 7 Deadly Sins (Chocolate Factory), Beyond the Horizon, Burning the Old Man (Center Stage), Naked (Gene Frankel Theatre), The Substance of John (Center Stage).  Carrie has been the assistant lighting designer on various shows including: West Side Story (Palace), Cry-Baby (Marriot Marquis), Wicked (Pantages Theatre, LA), The Threepenny Opera (Studio 54).  Carrie is a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts.

Jennifer began sewing as a child.  She developed her skills making pieces for her own wardrobe dresses for her Chrissy dolls and costumes for her dances.  She began more formal design training while earning her M.F.A. at California Institute of the arts.  In 1995, she moved to New York, began sewing costumes for Downtown choreographers and taking classes at F.I.T. Daniel was her second client in New York, and they have been collaborating on productions for the last ten years.  She is delighted to be working with him again on this production of Encore.

Hometown: Ehime, Japan

Ayumi Manabe received her BA from The University of Tulsa.  She has performed with Harwelden Institute and LOOK. This is her first season with DGDC and she is thrilled! She wants to thank her family and friends for their support and love.

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Hester Kamin is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and the Jacques Lecoq International School of Theatre in Paris, and has led theatre and dance projects throughout France, England, Norway, Hawaii, and Samoa.  She has written shows for the Honolulu Symphony, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, the Hawaii State Art Museum, Eclipse Dance Theatre, and Drama Ties Theatre in France, where her plays have been touring since 2001.  Most recently, Hester was dance choreographer for the Hawaii Shakespeare Festival and was the first Director of Education of the 1400-seat Hawaii Theatre, where she produced an international performing arts series and created a statewide arts education program.  Her newest play, The Snow Queen, will be produced there in March 2010. Hester is delighted and honored to be working with the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company.

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Patrick Paris heads up Paris Public Relations, a NY-based PR and marketing firm with  emphasis on entertainment and the arts. Current and past clients include theater, musicians, dance companies, authors, fashion designers, non-profit organizations and personalities.  More information available by visiting www.ParisPublicRelations.com.

LB-Graph-X is a proud sponsor of the Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company and ENCORE and wishes the Company the best in its NYMF run.  For all of your printing needs, contact LB-Graph-X, the official printer of Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company.