Sunday, December 10th, 2023 at the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY
A Choreography Showcase brings together notable professional choreographers and artists along with pre-professional dancers from across the region in this unique performance designed to highlight new, innovative work in a culturally driven community. The Showcase is held at The Emelin Theatre a renowned, Westchester-based theater, in the vibrant city of Mamaroneck, NY. As part of our audience development programs we hold a Q&A after the show with all the dancers and choreographers. This is a great opportunity for both the audience and the choreographer to gain feedback and insight into the choreographic process and audience perception of the work.
Founded in 1972, the Emelin Theatre is a non-profit organization that brings world class performing arts to Westchester County.
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Named by Dance Magazine as “One of 25 to Watch in 2016,” Caitlin Trainor is a dancer, choreographer, entrepreneur and the artistic director of Trainor Dance. Driven by music and imagination, Trainor creates and performs highly physical, intensely human dances.
She has made dance for site, game-based audience interactive work, and extravagant group dances for the concert stage. Trainor is the founder of Dancio.com, which provides world class on demand dance classes and is in use in 175 countries.
To learn more click here.
Gabriella Mittenthal grew up in the Chicago metropolitan area where she trained at the Academy of Dance Arts under the directorship of Sherry Morray and Ricky Ruiz. Mittenthal graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2023, with a BFA in Dance and Choreography, and a minor in Graphic Design. Mittenthal received the coveted Gold Key for Choreography at MMC, and performed works by Andrea Miller, Mary Ann Lamb, Caleb Teicher, Belinda McGuire, and many more. Mittenthal has showcased her work at events around New York City Including American Heart Associations Go Red for Women 2022 Gala, Earl Mosly’s Dancing Beyond 2023, and the 2023 NYSDEA/NDEO conference. Recently, her work “LOLA” was featured at the 92Y virtual Future Dance Festival run by Harkness Dance Center.
McKenzie Brewer (Jacksonville, FL) is a Douglas Anderson School of the Arts alumni and is currently studying at Montclair State University pursuing her BFA in dance. She has performed works by Jesse Obremski, Frederick Earl Mosley, Jennifer Archibald, Stefanie Batten Bland, Christian Von Howard, Paul Taylor, and more. Her choreography has also debuted at Montclair State University’s DanceMakers Show 2022 and 2023 along with Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts Emerging Choreographer Show 2022. She has also taught many different styles and has had the opportunity to teach young dancers from intensives in Jacksonville.
To watch a performance click here.
Lisa Peluso began her career as a pre-professional performing in dance competitions, various cruise lines, and throughout Disney World theme parks. She graduated summa cum laude from Montclair State University with a BFA in Dance and received several scholarships throughout her studies. While attending MSU, she was invited into the company in residence, Donna Scro/Freespace Dance and performed extensively with the company for about 7 years with seasons in NYC and domestic touring. Lisa was a scholarship apprentice/understudy for Jennifer Muller/The Works in NY for several years and has additionally performed with Flexicurve, project: Smith, BEINGs dance, and KDNY amongst other project based contemporary modern companies. She joined Elisa Monte Dance in 2011 and enjoyed 3 years of performing Ms. Monte’s signature works as a soloist. She recently was asked to rejoin the company in a special alumni performance celebrating the company’s 35th anniversary season.
Lisa’s original choreography has been commissioned by several dance companies throughout New Jersey. Choreographic highlights include: International Dance Festival in Hawaii, the 2010 American College Dance Festival Gala concert in Virginia, Bryant Park, Merce Cunningham theater, the Fringe Festival Edinburgh, UK. Her work has received acclaim nationally and internationally.
Lisa has enjoyed adjunct dance faculty positions at Montclair State University, Rutgers University, College of St. Elizabeth, Union County College, and County College of Morris (8 years). She continues to guest teach through out New York and New Jersey. Lisa had been a guest artist for many years at the Morris County Vocational School District’s Academy of Visual and Performing Arts since its inception under former dance director Ruth Clark. She is thrilled to continue the tradition of excellence and passion for dance education as a faculty member and Artistic Director of the Dance Academy.
Natalia Sanchez was born and raised in Monterrey Mexico. She is a visual and movement artist that explores and plays with dance, photography, and graphic design. Natalia credits the Martha Graham School, Universidad de Monterrey, Comunidad de Danza Urbana and The Certificate Program at Peridance Center for her artistic education. She has worked with artists Yara Travieso, Cesar Brodermann, Assaf Salhov, Catherine Correa, amongst others. She has presented both on stage and film work at Universidad de Monterrey Theater, Triskelion Arts and KNJ Theater. Natalia’s movement work is heavily influenced by the act of play and collaboration, she explores the relationships people build amongst each other and how surroundings and situations shape them over time.
https://www.youtube.com/@nataliasancheez/videos
New York City based dance artists, Olivia Passarelli and Sophie Gray-Gaillard, began collaborating in 2021 to form five two Dance Company. five two’s work has been featured in both the 2021 and 2022 Steffi Nossen Dance Showcases, White Wave’s SoloDuo Dance Festival, KoDaFe International Dance Festival, American Dance Guild Performance Festival, and Spark Theater Festival. Additionally, they have performed in various showcases at Ailey Citigroup Theater, Mark Morris Dance Center, the Emelin Theater, Peridance’s KNJ Theater, Studio 3R at Arts on Site, Triskelion Arts, Tufts University, KYL/D’s Dance Center, 28th Street Theater, Dixon Place, Green Space, i KADA Dance Center, and Balance Arts Center. The company appeared in Kai Tsao’s “Red” music video titled Anything You Want and has been collaborating with the women-led, global fashion brand, Hope Sews. They have set works on the Paul Taylor School Professional Division as well as the Steffi Nossen Pre-Professional Division. Most recently, five two was awarded the Directors’ Choice Award at the Spring for Spring Dance Festival and participated in the SharedSpace Program at Mark Morris Dance Group in 2023.
https://fivetwodance.com/
TAYLOR TEEN ENSEMBLE: The Paul Taylor Teen Ensemble, is a pre-professional performing company that offers young dancers an opportunity to perform excerpts of Mr. Taylor’s diverse choreography. By audition only, the Ensemble, directed by Amanda Stevenson, has toured throughout the tri-state area performing in festivals, K–12 public and private schools and has performed in larger venues such as Symphony Space, Peridance Capezio Center, SUNY Purchase. The Taylor School, the educational wing of the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation, is committed to providing high quality dance education to students of all ages, from introductory classes to rigorous professional classes. Through a wide range of classes, the school seeks to nurture, sustain, and advance the field of dance by sharing Paul Taylor’s rich repertory, fostering the talents of budding dancers and choreographers.
