Friday
Improvisation: Lisa Nelson’s Tuning Score
College/Pro level - Courtney Greer
Lisa Nelson’s Tuning Score helps the dancer clarify an image while exploring improvisation.
Contemporary Ballet
College/Pro level - Jen Guy Metcalf
This class will include traditional ballet structure with contemporary movement ideas. Movement will challenge the dancer’s physicality with aerobatic sequences and extreme deconstruction of classical ballet form.
Tap
High School level - Gene Medler
A holistic approach to learning tap including technique, integration of rhythm, movement patterns , nurturing of performance skills and musicality.
Jazz
Middle School level - Rachel Teem
An upbeat, high-energy class that incorporates basic ballet technique and fundamentals with contemporary jazz movement. Students in this class will enjoy an engaging full body warm-up, followed by center and moving contemporary jazz techniques. A fun movement combination will be taught at the end of class incorporating all fundamentals from the class!
Bharata Natyam
Highschool & College/Pro level - Asha Bala
Teach a master class in the Indian classical dance form called Bharata Natyam. Participants will be given a brief overview of the history of the dance before getting a hands-on exposure to its technique. They will get to see a professional performance of the piece on DVD to get an idea of the costume, music, etc.
Ballet Technique
High School level - Cherie Bower
This class is a mixture of contemporary and traditional ballet techniques. Dancers will move from barre warm-up exercises into center and across-the-floor combinations with focus on movement quality and expressiveness.
Contact Improvisation
Middle School level - Christine Fisher
Contact Improv is a dance form where points of physical contact provide the starting point for movement improvisation and exploration based on the laws of gravity, momentum, friction and inertia. Basic skills of Contact Improv will be covered in this class. No experience necessary, willingness for weight sharing is!
Tap
College/Pro level - Gene Medler
A holistic approach to learning tap including technique, integration of rhythm, movement patterns, nurturing of performance skills and musicality.
Pilates
High School & College/Pro level - Lauren Kearns
The Pilates (pih-LAH-teez) Method of Body Conditioning is the art of strength, flexibility and control. Legendary physical trainer Joseph H. Pilates developed this unique exercise program in the 1920’s. It is a full body conditioning system designed to develop and improve strength, flexibility, posture, and coordination. In this class, we will focus on the beginning mat sequence. Unlike many conditioning training programs, Pilates works the whole body and mind, emphasizing control, precision and concentration. Movements are not performed rapidly or repeated excessively - the focus is on quality not quantity. The low impact nature of the Pilates Method is ideal for injury prevention, rehabilitation, and enhanced physical performance. The six principles of classical Pilates – concentration, control, centering, breathing, fluidity and precision – train the body and the mind to move efficiently with minimal impact on the body. A balance is created between strength and flexibility, creating a healthy, vigorous and symmetrical workout for all the muscle groups resulting in a leaner, more balanced, and stronger body. Excellent for every level of dancer and even non-dancers!
Class Levels:
M = Middle School
H = High School
CP = College/Professional
* = Scholarship Classes
Class Descriptions
Teacher Bios
Asha Bala
An accomplished Bharata Natyam dancer, Ms. Bala has been training aspiring students in this beautiful dance form since 1984. She began her teaching career in Mumbai, where she established a school of dance, Nritya Shala,wherein students received meticulous instruction in the demanding technique of Bharata Natyam. Having trained extensively under eminent gurus, Asha received her Master’s in Bharata Natyam from the University of Mumbai, India. In addition, she received a second Master’s in modern dance at American University under the mentorship of Dr. Naima Prevots. A versatile performer herself, Asha has received worldwide recognition for her performances at prestigious theatres such as The Bolshoi Theater in Moscow,The Smithsonian in Washington DC, Music Academy in Chennai, and The National Center for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, to name a few. Asha is currently based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA. Besides providing instruction in Bharata Natyam, she also teaches specially designed dance classes to children with physical or mental disabilities at India Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that is committed to enriching lives through the practice of the arts. Through a collaborative alliance with Natya Academy, Asha teaches Bharata Natyam in Cary, North Carolina, as well.
Autumn Mist Belk is a choreographer, dancer, filmmaker, and graphic designer and is the artistic director of Code f.a.d. Company in Raleigh, NC. Autumn also serves as the assistant director of the Dance Program at NC State University, where she teaches
improvisation, modern and post-modern technique, and acrobatic conditioning. She earned her B.A. in dance and studio art from the University of Alabama and her M.F.A. in dance from the University of Maryland. For more information about Autumn and her work, please visit codefadcompany.org.
Cherie Bower is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Elon University. She teaches all levels of ballet/pointe, dance technique for men, choreography I and is the director for Elon’s fall dance concerts. Additional teaching credits include the Finis Jhung Studio, Broadway Dance Center, Marymount Manhattan College, and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She worked extensively with Agnes de Mille as a member of the Agnes de Mille Heritage Dance Theatre and in the Broadway Revival of Brigadoon. She performed in the Off Broadway production of Eternal Love choreographed by Miguel Godreau and productions directed by Ron Forella. She received her BFA in Dance from the UNC School of the Arts and an MFA in Choreography from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Chasta Hamilton Calhoun Originally from Tennessee, Chasta relocated to North Carolina as a full scholarship student at North Carolina State University where she graduated with a degree in Arts Applications (Theatre) and a minor in Film Studies. Her dance training includes tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary styles, and hip-hop, which were expanded upon by attending regional conventions, workshops, and competitions across the east coast. Chasta has spent her summers studying in Atlanta, GA, Los Angeles, CA, and New York City, NY where she has taken from Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Shane Sparks, and Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo—to name a few! Chasta's performance experience ranges from local stages in Tennessee and North Carolina to Disney World, the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, DC, and the Lord of Mayor's Day Parade in London, England. And, while performing will always remain a passion, Chasta found her true niche in choreography and dance instruction. Chasta began instructing and choreographing in North Carolina in 2005. From her first competition piece, which received the "Best Overall Choreography" Award, she knew that she had found her talent! Chasta proceeded to teach at several dance schools throughout the Triangle area where she was mentored by some of the best instructors in the industry. During this time, she choreographed A Chorus Line for Shaw University and Annie, Jr. for Centennial Middle School. She also founded and coached the Ravenscroft Dance Team, created a successful and innovative contemporary company, and served as the founder and artistic director of the Sightless Rhythm Tap Project at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind. Chasta serves as a judge for several dance competitions, ranging from Indian fusion competitions to traditional dance competitions, and has choreographed several award-winning competition pieces. Chasta is also the founder and director of the dance program at the Carolina Country Club and serves at the technique coach for the NC State Dance Team. Chasta is currently a member of Dance Masters of America, where she is certified by exam to teach ballet, tap, jazz, and acrobatics. Chasta is known for her energy, enthusiasm, and devotion to her students. This will be her second year teaching at the NCDA Annual Event, and she can't wait to meet all of the fabulous students!
Jody Cassell, M.F.A., M.S. is a Teaching and Performing Artist in Dance and author of the children’s book Where’s Leon? a story designed to be danced. She has over thirty years of experience helping people learn and grow through creative movement/dance. Jody is listed on the rosters of the North Carolina Touring Artists and Level 1 Arts in Education Artist Rosters, United Arts Council of Raleigh & Wake County and the Durham Arts Council CAPS rosters. She has also taught the dance and music components of ‘Fine Arts in the Schools” to undergraduate teaching majors at Elon University, Elon, NC. As a Master Artist for the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts, Jody provides professional development training to those working in early childhood settings throughout the country. Recent presentations include workshops at Educating the Creative Mind, An International Conference on Arts-Based Education, Developing Capacities for the Future at Kean University, Union, NJ; SYNERGY – North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs, Greensboro, NC; Family Day Workshop at the Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, NC; after school programs at The ArtsCenter, Carrboro, NC; professional development workshop for gallery teachers at the Ackland Museum, storytelling adventures for the young at Kidzu Museum, Chapel Hill, NC and the American Dance Festival Community Projects, Durham, NC. Jody believes that the more movement possibilities we have in the life, the more possibilities we have in our life.
Alyson Colwell-Waber has been a strong presence in the North Carolina dance community since joining the faculty of Meredith College in 1984. She served as founding artistic director of Meredith Dance Theatre and as director of dance at Meredith for sixteen years before moving into higher education administration as Dean for Special Academic Program. In 2007 Alyson returned to her full-time teaching responsibilities and is enjoying teaching her “old favorites” as well as developing new courses as the program’s curriculum evolves and expands. Alyson received her undergraduate degree at the Pennsylvania State University and her MFA in dance at Arizona State University. She has trained with contemporary dance masters Hanya Holm, Daniel Nagrin, Ruth Currier, Clay Taliaferro, Robert Small, Betty Jones, Liz Lerman, and Douglas Nielsen. More recently, Alyson has expanded her interests to include yoga and has completed the EmbodiYoga Teacher Training with Lisa Clark, David Beadle, and Julee Snyder. Exploring how yoga supports and enriches dance training is a new-found passion of hers. As a performing artist, Alyson produced and performed several solo and duet concerts including, in 1995, Soloflight, an evening of solos choreographed by Jack Arnold, Liz Lerman, Mark Taylor, and Jan Van Dyke. She has been the recipient of two Dance Artist Project Grants from the North Carolina Arts Council, a Raleigh Arts Commission Emerging Artist Award, and a Perry Artistic Achievement Award. Alyson has served the dance community as a board member, officer, and President of North Carolina Dance Alliance from 1989-1994 and more recently, as a board member for Raleigh Dance Theatre and Even Exchange Dance Theater. She lives in Cary with her husband Art Waber.
Christine Fisher is co-founder and treasurer of Shape Shifters. A choreographer, performer, arts administrator, educator, theater tech, etc… Christine has performed with The Power Company, John Gamble Dance Theater, 2B Tribe, Jan Van Dyke Dance Group and Informall Theater Company. She has served on the faculties of Columbia College, UNC Greensboro, and is presently teaching at Durham School of the Arts. Her choreography has been seen in The Greensboro Fringe Festival, ADF’s Acts To Follow and around the southeast. She has stage managed, designed lights and/or served as technical director for various shows at UNCG, The Greensboro Fringe Festival and Informall Theater Company.
Robin Gee , Associate Professor of Dance at UNCG holds an MFA in Dance Choreography and Performance from Sarah Lawrence College and specializes in African dance techniques, Caribbean dance forms, and Modern dance techniques. Robin teaches African and Modern dance classes at UNCG, and conducts residencies throughout the country in Dance Appreciation and Dance History. Ms. Gee has performed with several New York based dance companies, including Les Ballet Bagata directed by Yousouff Koumbassa, Maimouna Keita Dance Company directed by Marie Basse Wiles and the Cinque Folkloric Dance Company where she served as Choreographer and Artistic Director for 15 years. She is the recipient of the West African Research Associations’ Post Doctoral Fellowship in African Research and the Central Piedmont Regional Artists Hub Grant in 2005 for her work on dance documentation in Guinea, West Africa. She is most recently the recipient of the American Association of University Women’s Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for her work on The Mande Lagacy – A Multimedia Dance Documentation Project. She is also co-creator of Feche an interactive DVD-Rom that documents the dance forms of Senegal and the Casamance. Her choreographic credits include works developed on both student and professional artists, the most recent of which is a walk to beautiful which premiered in NY at the Skirball Theater in April 2010.. She has co-directed and choreographed a production of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange, Death and the King’s Horseman by Wole Soyinke and Evil Dead: The Musical by George Reinblatt.
Courtney Greer graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Contemporary Dance, holds a certification in Pilates (Bodyworks The Treatment and Prevention Center, Physical Mind Institute). She serves as a National Board Certified Dance Educator at Enloe High School (Raleigh, NC) where she directs the Enloe Dance Ensemble. Her other teaching credits include NC Governor's School, NC State University and the NC School of the Arts. She has performed with Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers, Tiffany Rhynard And Dancers, Amy Chavasse Dance and Performance, Immediate Theatre Collective with artistic director, Katherine Ferrier and Joan Nicholas-Walker’s NickWalk Dance Project. Her choreography and performance work has been produced at American Dance Festival’s Acts to Follow, dance festivals across North Carolina, West Virginia ’s Goose Route Dance Festival, Cuba and Brussels, Belgium.
Jackie Hand, MA (University of Oregon), BFA (Ohio State University), Certified (Laban) Movement Analyst, Registered Somatic Movement Therapist/Educator, Certified Teacher in Labanotation, Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB), Connective Tissue Therapist, and a Techniques Certified CranioSacral Therapist through the Upledger Institute, Inc. has taught ballet, modern dance and Laban Movement Analysis for many years. She has been on the dance faculties at Emory University in Atlanta and at Gettysburg College in PA. On the Certificate Program Faculty at LIMS® in New York City for 27 years, currently teaching in their Module and Bartenieff Intensive formats, she has also taught Laban Movement Analysis/Bartenieff Fundamentals at New York University, Teacher’s College at Columbia University, in Berlin, Germany and in Budapest, Hungary. She has a private practice in Movement Re-education, Connective Tissue and CranioSacral Therapies. www.embodyment-itm.com
Lé Brandi Johnson has studied a variety of dance styles since her dance career began at age five. She has a B.S. in Education and Business Management from NCSU; during her college career, she was a member of the African inspired dance team, DanceVisions, and of La Raza de mil Colores, a multicultural Latin dance team. She was also a guest member of the Duke University Dance Ensemble and performed with them in June 2004 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in a new work by renowned choreographer Ronald K. Brown of Evidence Dance Company. LeBrandi is a semi-professional cheerleader and is Zumba-certified; she teaches adult hip-hop, Zumba and AfroFusion classes, as well as children’s classes, at Ninth Street Dance, Durham Arts Council and Sertoma Arts center.
Photo by Steve Clarke
Saturday
Jazz
High School & College/Pro level
Audition class - Nina Lucas
Nina’s Jazz style is influenced by West Coast and Lyrical Jazz and includes basic jazz technique along with more complex center floor and across the floor combinations. Emphasis is placed on performance qualities and musicality.
African
High School & College/Pro level - Robin Gee
Introduction to West African Dance. In this class students will be introduced to learn several dances from a number of different ethnic cultures in West Africa. The historical, social, cultural, and/or religious contents of each dance will be presented. Focus will be given to mastery of the texture, effort, shape, and dynamics within the choreography. This is a physically rigorous and challenging class and students must be injury-free and physically fit to participate.
Dance Improvisation: Creating Meaningful Phrases
College/Pro level - Jane Wellford
This class will explore the use of body, energy, space and time into meaningful dance phrases using music, sound effects, and photographs. After a brief warm up, the class will explore structured individual work, improvised partner and trio work towards the goal of short dance compositions. The most fun you can have while being inventive!
Tap
High School & College/Pro level - Gene Medler
A holistic approach to learning tap including technique, integration of rhythm, movement patterns , nurturing of performance skills and musicality.
Tap
Middle School level - Rachel Teem
An exciting rhythm tap class that will explore musicality, syncopation, strong tap technique, rhythmic sequences, and a genuine approach to performance.
Bartenieff Fundamentals℠ (BF): Pelvis and Hip Joint Stability/Mobility
College/Pro level - Jackie Hand
This body awareness and movement workshop based upon BF principles and classic BF exercises is designed to facilitate individual ease in dancing and teaching. Awareness of our own unique movement patterns shows how we ourselves create or choose effective or ineffective ways of moving. The objective is to give each participant a new or deeper awareness and experience of the interconnected relationship of their own pelvis and hip joints in stabilizing and moving, no matter the dance style.
Hip-Hop
Middle/High School level - LeBrandi Johnson
This class teaches a fast-paced, high-energy "MTV-style" dance. After a short warm-up, classes will focus on learning aerobic dance combinations done to "pop" and hip-hop music. Wear sneakers and be prepared to sweat!
Contemporary Ballet
High School & College/Pro level
Audition Class - Jen Guy Metcalf
This class will include traditional ballet structure with contemporary movement ideas. Movement will challenge the dancer’s physicality with aerobatic sequences and extreme deconstruction of classical ballet form.
Modern: Martha Graham Technique
College/Pro level - Kim Jones
Martha Graham technique class will involve an emphasis on proper alignment of the body, dynamic timings, an awareness of breath, he class format will begin seated on the floor working on breath, alignment, and the basic Graham exercises. The second part of class will be center-standing work where we will incorporate the principles of the floor work to an upright body. Here we work on balance, shift of weight, and center combinations. The last part of class will incorporate the previous sections of class while traveling across the floor. We will also work on jumps, moving off our center, and the use of opposition within the body.
Flow Yoga
College/Pro level – Lauren Kearns
Vinyasa Flow Yoga will focus on creating heat in the body by linking Sun Salutations, standing postures, inversions and breath work. Expect to sweat and have fun!
Informal Showing
The NCDA Informal Showing is a public showing of choreographic work at any stage of development. The performance will be followed by a moderated feedback session with the artists and audience. This showing is open to any NCDA member and is not adjudicated, but space is limited. To show work, sign up in advance on a first-come, first-service basis by contacting Bridget Kelly at bridget.b.kelly(at)gmail(dot)com, with the approximate length of your work (10 minutes max; excerpts of longer works are welcome).
Teaching K-8 Dance with Other Curriculum
College/Pro level - Jody Cassell
Those who teach dance in the schools or intend to teach may feel that their art form is compromised when the goals of reading, etc. are being “forced” into the dance class. This participatory workshop will demonstrate how effectively dance can serve reading, mathematics and critical thinking skills with no compromise to the art form of dance.
Hip-Hop
Middle/High School level - LeBrandi Johnson
This class teaches a fast-paced, high-energy "MTV-style" dance. After a short warm-up, classes will focus on learning aerobic dance combinations done to "pop" and hip-hop music. Wear sneakers and be prepared to sweat!
Modern Technique
High School/ College/Pro level
Audition class - Alyson Colwell-Waber
Alyson’s technique classes integrate the clear articulation and extension in the lower body found in classical training with a lyrical, fluid, and expansive upper body found in many modern dance traditions. She draws on her many influences, especially that of Limon technique, to provide dancers with a challenging, yet extremely satisfying dance experience.
Code f.a.d Company Repertory Class with Autumn Mist Belk – 2010 Choreography Fellow
College/Pro level
Autumn Mist Belk, director of Code f.a.d. Company (and NCDA Choreography Fellowship recipient), will teach class participants 2-3 short dance sections from her choreographic works, including a phrase from her newest work Julep, which will premiere on the Saturday night NCDA Choreographers Showcase. Students will focus on learning the choreography and performing the sections with special emphasis on character portrayal in the dances.
Teaching Dance Conditioning
College/Pro level - Heather Tatreau
This class will expose dance teachers to a variety of somatic practices used to condition and train dancers. We will draw from Yoga, Pilates, Bartenieff Movement Fundamentals, and Ideokinesis. There will be time to experience the exercises as well as discussion on how to incorporate them into a variety of dance classes.
Musical Theatre
Middle & High School level - Chasta Hamilton Calhoun
Musical Theatre class will begin with a warm-up to heighten awareness of the alignment of the body. Dancers will work on isolations, lunge sequences, strength, and flexibility to popular and classical show tunes. A small ballet section will be introduced, as well as floor stretching and an abdominal strength exercise. After warm-up, students will proceed across the floor doing progressions that incorporate kicks, turns, and leaps. A fun, lively, theatrical performance combination will be taught at the end of the class. All students are guaranteed to have a great time in this fun, engaging, and enthusiastic class!
NC Dance Panel
Facilitator - Lauren Kearns
The NC Dance Panel will feature panelists from the statewide dance community discussing the current state of dance in North Carolina.
Teacher Bios, Continued
Kim Jones, a native New Yorker, received her Master of Fine Arts Summa cum Laude from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Marymount Manhattan College. Most notably, she has danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company (2002-2006), the Metropolitan Opera Ballet (1998-2003) and performed in the US National Tour of the King and I as a principal dancer (2005). Kim is a Regisseur for the Martha Graham Resource Center restaging Grahams’ work globally. As a choreographer, Kim co-created an evening-length performance entitled Signs of Awakening that combines American Sign Language, text and dance in Santa Barbara, CA (1997), the Joffrey Midwest Workshop (2004), Swing Space NYC (2007) Imprint, Florida (2008) North Carolina Dance Festival (2009-2010) Currently, Kim is a full time Lecturer at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her teaching experience includes: Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, The Ailey School, Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus. Internationally at Arke, Italy, Laban, Middlesex University, Bird College, Roehampton University and The Place in London, UK.
Lauren Kearns is the artistic director of the kearns dance project, a professional project oriented company based in Burlington, NC. She has choreographed over forty professionally produced concert pieces nationally and internationally. Her company premiered at the 2007 American Dance Festival Acts to Follow Series and has been actively performing in the Southeast region since. Kearns received the 2008 NC Dance Alliance Choreography Fellowship for her artistic excellence. She holds her M.F.A. in Choreography and Performance, and an M.A. in Dance Education and Theory from UCLA. Kearns holds national certifications in Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Classical Pilates and a master level certification in Alignment Based Yoga. Kearns is also an Associate Professor of Dance and the Head of the Dance Program at Elon University.
Bridget Kelly is a dance artist and a trained facilitator in the Fieldwork method of providing feedback for artists. She is the former director of The Field/NC, a network site of The Field, an artist service organization based in New York. She has facilitated workshops in support of the creative process for artists at all levels, from independent artists to middle school students, and has also conducted training in using the Fieldwork method. She is trained in ballet, modern, and African dance and was awarded a Hutchinson Fellowship in fine arts for her work in choreography as a student at Williams College. Early in her career she performed with the Albany Berkshire Ballet, the Arthur Hall International Dance Ensemble in Camden, Maine, Hojarasca Danza Teatro in Burgos, Spain, and the Contemporary American Theater Festival Dance Ensemble in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. She then spent ten years In the Triangle area of North Carolina, where she was a co-director of Choreo Collective and participated in collaborations with artists in a wide variety of disciplines. In addition to Choreo Collective, she has danced in the work of Laura Thomasson, Five Chick Posse Productions, Joan Nicholas-Walker, Niki Juralewicz, and Amy Beth Schneider's Thread Dance Theater based in Brooklyn, NY and has shown her work in venues throughout the Triangle as well as in New York and Washington, DC. She is a founder of the Triangle Dance Forum and former Vice-President of
the North Carolina Dance Alliance, where she currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board. In addition to her work in dance and grassroots nonprofit arts management, she currently works in health and science policy at the Institute of Medicine in Washington, DC.
the North Carolina Dance Alliance, where she currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board. In addition to her work in dance and grassroots nonprofit arts management, she currently works in health and science policy at the Institute of Medicine in Washington, DC.
Nina Maria Lucas is currently is an Associate Professor, Program Director and the Artistic Director of the Dance Company. Her first love is performing and she began her dance training at a young age in Dayton, Ohio and after graduating from The Ohio State University she continued her training in ballet, modern and jazz in New York City at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Martha Graham Studio and Phil Black Jazz Dance Studio. She went on to receive her MFA and as a professor of dance she brings knowledge from study and performance with dance artist like Bill T. Jones, Carol Scothorn, Ronald Brown, Shapiro and Smith, Risa Steinberg and the Los Angeles Arts Festivals’ The Dance Collective under the Direction of Peter Sellers and producer Neil Barkley. Her teaching credits include UCLA, Illinois State University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Kingsport Ballet, Greensboro Ballet Queen City Jazz and the Boyles School. For years she has served as an instructor for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Summer Dance Program teaching and setting choreography for their Summer workshop. As a choreographer she has created 18 new works for the Wake Forest University Dance Company, and severed as a choreographer for 9 musicals and plays for the University’s Mainstage Theatre Productions. Nina continues to dance and has performed works by choreographers Brenda Daniels, Andre Tyson and Dwight Rhoden. She continues to stay connected to the dance community serving as the Arts Council Campaign Co-chair in 2010, on the Board of the North Carolina Dance Alliance and she currently serves as a board member for the North Carolina Dance Project. Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from The Ohio State University (OSU) in Dance Performance and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Performance and Education from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). ME Certified Metabolic Effect Personal Trainer. Ms. Lucas is the recipient of the 2005 Women of Color Award Appreciation Award Wake Forest University, 2001 Reid-Doyle Award for Excellence in Teaching at Wake Forest University and the recipient of the 2000 Excellence in Teaching of Dance in the State of North Carolina from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Gene Medler is founder and director of the highly acclaimed North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble (NCYTE) founded in 1982 and director of the NC Rhythm Tap Festival.
His teaching credits include: Elon University (currently), Duke University, Meredith College, St Louis Tap Festival, American Dance Festival, Tap Encontro (Rio de Janeiro), The Hot Shoe Show (Vienna, Austria), Feet Beat (Helsinki, Finland), Berlin Tap Festival (Germany), Saratov Music Conservatory (Russia), Heidelberger Steptanz-Festival (Germany), NY City Tap Festival, Chicago Human Rhythm Project. Selected performances include: Squirrel Nut Zippers (vintage jazz band), Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker, Ellington’s “David Danced” from his sacred music, Rising Stars of Tap (Colorado Dance Festival), Great Tap Reunion (Boston), World Dance Festival (duet with tap legend Brenda Bufalino, Town Hall Theater, NY). Awards and honors include: Indy Award (contribution to the arts, Independent Magazine, 1998), Featured in Dance Teacher Now Magazine, 1998, Tar Heel of the Week (News and Observer, Raleigh, NC), Can be seen in the PBS special JUBA, Master of Percussive Dance, 2000), Featured in Southern Living, 2001, NC Dance Alliance annual award, 2003, Legacy Award (Third Coast Rhythm Project, 2009), JUBA Award (Chicago Human Rhythm Project, 2010).
Jen Guy Metcalf received a Master of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Point Park University. She has trained at New World School of the Arts, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Ballet Met, Jacksonville Ballet Theatre, Ballet Regent and Victoria School of Contemporary Dance. Jen performed with Bodiography Contemporary Ballet, Playhouse Dance Company, kearns dance project and for countless independent artists/choreographers. She currently teaches ballet at Elon University, UNCG, and has served as a guest teacher and choreographer for a few regional ballet companies on the east coast and at the Jacksonville University Summer Dance Intensive. Her work has been performed in the US and in Vancouver, BC. Jen is in the process of establishing a company called Terranova Dance Theatre that specializes in contemporary dance for the stage, site-specific dance, and dance films.
Heather Tatreau received her MA in Dance Education from New York University in 2002 where she had an opportunity to study with master teachers in a variety of somatic practices. She has been teaching dance, yoga, and Pilates on the faculty at NC State University since 2003. During this time, Heather has been active in adding to the somatic offerings in the Physical Education Department by creating new courses in the curriculum. Heather also teaches company classes for UNC-Chapel Hill’s Modernextension Dance Company and has been their resident guest choreographer for 6 years.
Rachel Teem is a Wake Forest native and began her dance education at the Dance Attic. In May 2009 she graduated from Elon University with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. While at Elon, Rachel was a member of the Elon Dance Company and had the privilege of performing works of several applauded choreographers including Lauren Kearns, Jane Wellford, Linda Sabo, Amy Beasley, Lila York, Rebecca Hutchins, Gene Medler, Nina Wheeler, and Ava Vinisett. Rachel has also performed at adjudication concerts at the American College Dance Festival at the University of Mississippi in 2007 and Goucher College in 2008. Rachel was co-director of Elon University’s all tap show, “Tapped Out”, in 2008 and 2009 as well as a performer and choreographer. Rachel is currently the assistant director of the internationally renowned North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble under the direction of tap master Gene Medler. She teaches a variety of dance styles and levels at Carolina Dance Center in Raleigh and The Dance Attic in Wake Forest.
Jane Wellford is Associate Professor of Performing Arts at Elon University, teaching in the areas of Dance History, Dance and Gender, Improvisation, Sacred Dances of the World, and Movement Education. Professor Wellford received her Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and danced professionally in modern and ballet for many years. Wellford is founder and director of Moving Liturgy Dance Ensemble, a professional liturgical dance troupe in Burlington, N. C. Moving Liturgy has performed and traveled extensively throughout the United States, offering a repertory of 250 dances of worship to hundreds of churches, conferences and arts festivals for 22 years.