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The Night Before Christmas
Principles
Daniel Ezralow - Choreographer
A native of Los Angeles, Daniel Ezralow studied dance at U.C Berkley. He has performed with 5X2 Plus, Lar Lubovitch, Paul Taylor, Pilobolus and was one of the original dancer-choreographers to create Momix. As a founding of member of ISO Dance, Ezralow has toured worldwide both directing and choreographing over thirty dances and events for critically acclaimed international galas and festivals. Ezralow created original works for Paris Opera Ballet, Batsheva Dance Company of Israel, Rudolf Nureyev, London Contemporary Dance Theatre, Maggio Musicale Florentine, Helsinki City Dance Theatre, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, American Repertory Ballet and La Fete l'Humanite in Paris. Mr. Ezralow works extensively in film and television in the U.S. and Europe collaborating most recently with such directors as Julie Taymor (The Green Bird, Broadway, The Flying Dutchman: Los Angeles Opera & Houston Grand Opera,) most recently with Ron Howard (The Grinch Who Stole Christmas) Nakano Hiroyuki and Lena Wertmuller. In the music world, he has created choreography for the artists: Andrea Bocelli, U2, Ricky Martin, Sting, Pat Metheny and David Bowie. Ezralow has choreographed for numerous television specials and received an EMMY award for the KCET PBS special "Episodes" that he created with ISO Dance and an EMMY nomination for choreographing the 1998 Academy Awards. He conceived and choreographed the program "Windows" which was shown extensively on Bravo. He is the recipient of the "American Choreography Award" for outstanding alternative choreography, the "Positano Award" for outstanding choreography as well as a NEA Fellowship Grant. He recently toured Europe performing his one-man multi-media show "Mandala" and choreographed the Broadway production of Julie Taymor's "The Green Bird." Currently he is creating a new dance theatre show Romanian Olympic Gymnastic Federation entitled "Aeros" which will open in Los Angeles January 2001. Mr. Ezralow is also the subject for a feature documentary that explores his life and work entitled "The Journey of a Dancer."
Joan Myers Brown - Executive/Artistic Director
Ms. Brown is the founder of the Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) and the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts. She serves as honorary chairperson for the International Association of Blacks in Dance, an organization she established in 1991. She is also founder of the International Conference of Black Dance Companies. She is a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of the Arts, which bestowed upon her the honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, and is a member of the dance faculty at Howard University in Washington, DC, and has conducted lectures at Drexel University, University of Virginia, etc. Ms. Brown was recently honored as one of the "Dance Women; Living Legends" during a four-day series sponsored by New York area presenters, in tribute to five African-American pioneer women who founded distinguished modern-dance companies with deep roots in black communities around the country. Ms. Brown's efforts on behalf of dance excellence belie a much larger contribution to the arts and the community. She remains a tireless advocate and spokesperson and is a model of tenacity, hope and discipline. She is the proud mother of daughters Marlisa and Dannielle, who teach at her school, The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts, and grandmother of Jade Greene.
Francisco Gella - Bacolod City, Philippines
Francisco graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Dance. He performed with the Chamber Dance Company, Leaving/Ground Dance, Spectrum Dance Theater, Seattle Opera Company and the Repertory Dance Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah. Francisco has performed works by many prominent choreographers: David Parsons, Shapiro and Smith, Zvi Gotheiner, Yacov Sharir, Bill Evans, Margaret Jenkins, Lucinda Childs and Susan McClain. In 1998, he performed at the Nagano Olympic closing ceremonies. This is his second season with PHILADANCO.
Warren B. Griffin, III - Camden, New Jersey
Warren began his dance training under the direction of his uncle, Stephen Love. Mr. Griffin later continued his studies and performed with 'D/2' [Danco II] - formerly The Next Generation Dance Company. Mr. Griffin attended the High School of Creative & Performing Arts. Upon graduating, Warren toured the United States as a dancer with Princess Cruise Lines. Warren also attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. He has worked with world-renowned choreographer George Faison on several projects and performed with the Eleone Dance Theater. This is Warren's first season with PHILADANCO.
Gabriele Tesfa Guma - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Gabriele was raised in Italy, where together with intensive musical studies in guitar, he began to dance. When he arrived in the United States, he continued his dance training, focusing on modern and ballet. He attended American University and later was awarded scholarships to the David Howard Dance Center, Ballet Academy East, Joffrey Ballet School and STEPS. Gabriele has performed with Mirabilandia Group in Italy, Ajax Moving Company, Takoshi Watanabe (Japan), Joffrey II the Dancers and others. He is also a professional guitar player and was in the movie "Beloved". This is Gabriele's third season with PHILADANCO.
Romnee Marisa Hayes - New York, NY
Romnee studied ballet extensively with Barbara Walczak who is a soloist with New York City Ballet. For three consecutive summers, Romnee had the pleasure of attending Pennsylvania Ballet School on scholarship. In 1996, Romnee graduated from LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts. In spring 2000, she earned a B.F.A. from Ohio State University. At OSU she had the joy of performing some of her own choreography, choreography of her peers and also her faculty. Romnee has also performed works by Roger C. Jeffrey, Nathan Trice and Laila Sales. She is delighted to be in her first season with PHILADANCO.
Kristen J.S. Irby - Chicago, IL
Kristen began his theater and dance training at the age of thirteen while on scholarship at the ETA Creative Arts Foundation. He later became a scholarship student at the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre, Columbia College Chicago, Houston Ballet Academy, Homer Hans Bryant Ballet, Deeply Rooted Productions and the Barat College Conservatory of Dance where he received his BA in Dance in May of 1999. Mr. Irby can also be seen in the upcoming feature film The Visitors as featured dancer opposite Tara Reed and Christian Clavier. Kristen has performed with companies such as Deeply Rooted Productions and the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. This is Kristen's first season with PHILADANCO.
Ahmad Maverick Lemons - Brooklyn, NY
Ahmad began his dance training at the age of sixteen at the Harlem School of the Arts. Ahmad continued his studies in Philadelphia with PHILADANCO's Instruction & Training Program. Mr. Lemons also attended Fordham University on scholarship and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Ahmad has appeared in several music videos and worked with Eleone Dance Theatre and OPUS Dance Theatre. This is his first season with PHILADANCO.
Roxanne Lyst - Annapolis, MD
Roxanne began her training at the Joy of Motion in Washington, DC. She received a fellowship from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and later became a member of the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble. This is Roxanne's second season with PHILADANCO.
Willia-Noel Montague - Baltimore, MD
Willia-Noel began her studies at her family's Flair Dance Studio, and continued with Stephanie Powell, her mentor and teacher at the Baltimore School of the Arts. She won an NAACP Gold Medal in the National Act-So competition, subsequently performing on the nationally televised "Image Awards." Willia-Noel received scholarships to study dance at the Dance Theater of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. She performed with Diversity in Dance. This is Willia's third season with PHILADANCO.
Odara Nefertiti Jabali-Nash - Oxon Hill, MD
Odara began her training at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC under the direction of Ms. Lynne B. Welters. After graduating she attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. In 1996 Ms. Nash moved to New York City where she continued her dance training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. She was awarded a scholarship and shortly thereafter became a member of the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble [Ailey II]. Ms. Nash has worked with such artists as Jessye Norman, Ronald K. Brown, Kevin 'Iaga Jeff, Laura Glenn, Shapiro & Smith and Francesca Harper. This is Odara's first season with PHILADANCO.
Marc Aurel Nelles - Hanover, Germany
Marc received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Dance Academy of Rotterdam/The Netherlands. He received scholarships from David Howard Dance Center, the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service. He has performed and worked with Randall Scott, Conny Janssen, Pieter de Ruiter and Colin Connor in the Netherlands and Avila Weeks/Dance and Ray Tadio in New York. This is Marc's second season at PHILADANCO.
Antonio Sisk - Arkansas, NE
Raised in Texas, Antonio began his training at Brookhaven College in Dallas where he later returned to instruct and choreograph. After two semesters, he auditioned for Dallas Black Dance Theater under the artistic vision of Ms. Ann Williams. He continued his education at Southern Methodist University on scholarship, majoring in dance and communications. Mr. Sisk has performed with Fort Worth Ballet, Lula Washington Dance Company, Jubilations/A Deeply Rooted Production and Bruce Wood Dance Company. He has also worked with many choreographers such as; David Brown/Elisa Monte, Kevin Jeff, George Faison, Max Stone, Hope Clarke, and Sabrina Madison-Cannon. This marks Antonio's first season with PHILADANCO.
Allyson Triplett - San Diego, CA
Ms. Triplett studied dance at Long Beach State University, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center as a certificate and scholarship student. Her musical theater credits include "The Pajama Game", "Sophisticated Ladies", "The Wiz" and "St. Louis Woman". She has also appeared in music videos, films, commercials and magazines. Allyson has performed with Momix, and Forces of Nature Dance Theater. Most recently she performed with Urban Bush Women and assisted the Company's Director, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Currently Ms. Triplett is the company assistant to the Artistic Director/Joan Myers Brown at PHILADANCO.
Tracy Vogt - Erie, PA
Tracy began her training at the Erie Civic Ballet School. She attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center as a fellowship student. Professionally she has worked with Erie Bayfront Ballet, Wylliams/Henry Danse Theatre in Kansas City, MO, and Footprints Dance Company in New York City. This is Tracy's fourth season with PHILADANCO.
Dawn Marie Watson - Brooklyn, NY
Dawn Marie began studying at the Fournier-Grego Performing Arts Center. She also studied with Marla Hirokawa at Covenant Dance Studio. She is a graduate of the New York High School of Performing Arts and studied at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, The Dance Theater of Harlem, with Francis Patrelle at Ballet Academy East and at the Usdan Center for Performing Arts, where she also taught. She earned a B.F.A. in dance from The Purchase Conservatory and apprenticed with the Jubilation! Dance Company. She is the recipient of the Helen Tamiris Award for Excellence in Dance from the High School of Performing Arts and the Faculty and Deans Award for Excellence in Dance from Purchase College. In 1994, Dawn Marie was a finalist in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search. This is Dawn Marie's third season with PHILADANCO.
Hollie Wright - Philadelphia, PA
Hollie began her training at the Arthur Hall African Dance Theater. Her mentors are Pat Thomas and the late Marion D. Cuyjet. Hollie is a recent graduate of the University of the Arts with a B.F.A. in Dance Education. She received the Marion D. Cuyjet Scholarship Award, the Stella Moore Award and the Most Outstanding Achievement Award in 1997 & 1998. She also performed with Freedom Theater and 'Danco II, and appeared in the movie "Beloved". This is Hollie's third season with PHILADANCO.
Debora Chase Hicks - Rehearsal Director
After early dance training in Denver, Debora studied at the Philadelphia School of Dance Arts and joined PHILADANCO in 1974, working with Gene Hill Sagan, Talley Beatty and Billy Wilson, remaining for seven years and finishing as a soloist. In 1981, she joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and toured with them for 11 years. Debora had feature roles in the Ailey ballets "Cry" and "Witness". She also reset "Witness" on the Royal Danish Ballet. In 1992 she retired from the Ailey Company and returned to Philadelphia and Philadanco. She also serves on the faculty of Freedom Theater. She was a 1997 recipient of the International Congress of Black Women-Shirley Chisolm Award and a 1998 recipient of the Outstanding Young Americans Award. Debora is currently Rehearsal Director and Coach at PHILADANCO.
William H. Grant, III - Lighting Designer
Mr. Grant has designed for Dance, Opera and Theater throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and the Middle East. He has designed extensively for the Milwaukee Repertory Theater Company, the Philadelphia Drama Guild, The Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The New Federal Theater, and the New York Shakespeare Festival and many other Regional and Off Broadway companies. Bill has been the resident lighting designer and technical director for The Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILADANCO) for over twenty-six years. He also designed for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theater and has taught lighting design at the City College of New York. Mr. Grant is the author of A Basic Handbook of Stage Lighting and is the recipient of the 1993 Monarch Merit Award presented by the National Council for Culture and Art. In his spare time he is an accomplished harpist.
Vanessa Thomas - Managing Director
Vanessa received a B.F.A. in Dance Performance/ Education from Temple University. After performing with PHILADANCO, she spent three years as a singer/dancer and supervisor at Walt Disney World in Florida. She later joined Ringling Bros. & Barnum Bailey Circus and Circus Vargas, before joining the New York based Big Apple Circus. She was a part of their resident company for many years and performed a wide variety of responsibilities while attending New York University - Graduate School in Arts Administration. In 1997, Vanessa joined the administrative staff of the UniverSoul Circus as Talent Coordinator and Performance Director. Upon returning to Philadelphia in 1998, she joined PHILADANCO as Managing Director.
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