Welcome to Alabama Dance Council

2007 Alabama Dance Festival Guest Artists And Faculty

COMPANY IN RESIDENCE

River North Chicago Dance Company (Jazz Technique and Jazz Combinations) Founded in 1989 by four visionary dancer/choreographers, has grown from a local dance troupe to a professional national touring company. Over its sixteen-year history, the Company has created a varied, eclectic, and entertaining repertoire that constantly challenges and enriches its dancers and audiences. The repertoire features a core of works by Frank Chaves and Sherry Zunker and the works of such choreographers as Randy Duncan, Daniel Ezralow, Ginger Farley, Kevin Iega Jeff, Harrison McEldowney, Ashley Roland, and Sam Watson. Each season, the Company brings "energetic, marvelously trained performers and a gutsy, entertaining repertoire..." (Chicago Sun-Times) to thousands of new fans.

Frank Chaves (Jazz Repertory) joined River North Chicago Dance Company in 1992 as a choreographer and, in 1994, became co-artistic director. In May 2001, Mr. Chaves assumed sole artistic directorship of River North Chicago. An international choreographer and teacher, Mr. Chaves has created numerous works for River North Chicago and other companies including Spectrum Dance Theatre, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Point Park College for the Performing Arts, Barat Repertory Dance Company, Kaleidoscope Dancers, Pori Dance Company (Finland), and Ballet Pacifica’s Choreographer’s Workshop. Mr. Chaves’s theatrical commissions include work for Steppenwolf Theatre and the Cleveland Playhouse. As a performer, Mr. Chaves has danced with Ballet Concerto of Miami, New York’s Ballet Hispanico, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and six years with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

FACULTY ARTISTS

Winthrop Corey (Ballet Repertory), Artistic Director of the Mobile Ballet Company and summer faculty member of the Joffrey Ballet School in New York, holds the distinction of having been a principal dancer with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada. He is especially well known for his classical roles in The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Cinderella and Coppelia. Corey is also noted for dancing opposite Rudolph Nureyev in José Limon’s classic work The Moor’s Pavane. Mr. Corey has been a guest teacher for Dance Masters of America, Boston Dance Teachers Club, Professional Dance Teachers Association of New York and has taught master classes throughout the United States and Canada. He has choreographed full-length productions of The Nutcracker, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet and Swan Lake. His original productions include Dracula and A Streetcar Named Desire. Corey is also known for his design and construction of the classical tutu through his company Winthrop Corey, Ltd.

Elizabeth Ferell (Ballet) was a member of American Ballet Theatre from 1985 to 1998 performing leading roles in Agnes DeMille’s Rodeo, The Informer and Three Virgins and a Devil; Paul Taylor’s Airs; Merce Cunningham’ Duets; Twyla Tharp’s The Elements; Sir Anthony Tudor’s Undertow; and Sir Keneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet. Her musical theater credits include the New York City Opera productions of Brigadoon, Candide, La Rondine, and Cinderella. Ms. Ferell also appeared in Herbert Ross' film Dancers and Frederick Weisman's documentary Ballet as well as several PBS Dance in America productions: Peter Martins’ The Magic Flute, David Gordon’s Murder, Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Anthony Tudor’s Dark Elegies and American Ballet Theater Now. Ms. Ferell’s teaching credits include: Ballet Hispanico, creative movement and pre-ballet at the Manhattan Treehouse, master classes at the Alexandra Ballet and staging Agnes DeMille's Rodeo for the St. Louis Symphony's "Ballet Pops" series.

Megha Gavin (American Tribal Style Bellydance) is a Birmingham, AL native who received her initial training from Carolena Nericcio, director of FatChanceBellyDance and originator of American Tribal Style Bellydance in San Francisco, CA where she studied from 1996 to 1998. She is now certified by Carolena to teach the FatChanceBellyDance format and is the exclusive partner of FatChanceBellyDance. Megha is also a certified personal trainer with FiTour. After moving back to Alabama in late 1998 she performed briefly in Birmingham, AL before moving to New Orleans in the Summer of 1999 where she started teaching the first American Tribal Style classes in the area. From those classes emerged Devyani Dance Company. Megha returned to Birmingham in 2003 and opened Devyani Dance Center, the new permanent home of Devyani. She has taught workshops across the United States both individually and with her partner, Carolena Nericcio on the "Tribal: Pura" tour celebrating the partnership of FCBD and Devyani Dance Company. Additionally, Megha has taught workshops in Glastonbury, England and Milan, Italy. Under Megha's direction, Devyani Dance Co. was nominated for "Best Ethnic Dance Performance of 2002 and 2003" by the Gambit Weekly's Big Easy Committee as part of the New Orleans Tribute to the Classical Arts and Off Beat Magazine's Best of the Beat Award for "Best Emerging World Band or Performer" in 2002 & 2003.

Anne Green Gilbert (Dance Education) is Director of the Creative Dance Center and Kaleidoscope Dance Company, which she founded in Seattle, Washington in 1981. When not teaching creative dance at CDC or choreographing for Kaleidoscope, Anne trains teachers through her Summer Dance Institute in Seattle, for Seattle Pacific University and Seattle University, and has conducted hundreds of workshops across the United States and in many other countries. Anne is the author of Teaching the Three Rs Through Movement, Creative Dance for All Ages, Brain-Compatible Dance Education, Teaching Creative Dance (DVD) and BrainDance (DVD), as well as numerous articles. Anne has been involved since 1990 in writing National and State Dance Standards and is an active member of the National Dance Association, National Dance Education Organization, and Dance and the Child International. Anne has received numerous awards including the 2005 NDA Scholar/Artist Award.

Derick Grant (Tap), a native of Boston, has been tapping for 30 years. Under the direction of two-time Tony Award winning director George C. Wolfe, he was an original company member and Dance Captain for Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk at both The Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, and on Broadway. Mr. Grant recreated Savion Glover's choreography and starred in the role of 'da beat for the first National Tour of Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk. Mr. Grant began his training at the age of two at The Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts, and by the time he was eight years old, he had learned the " hoofin' " style of tap from the master tap dancer Dianne Walker. Mr. Grant furthered his training in Los Angeles at Universal Dance Design Studio under the tutelage of the late Paul Kennedy. Mr. Grant spent three years with the Jazz Tap Ensemble touring the world. He is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Upcoming Young Artist as well as The Helen Hayes Award (Washington D.C.) for Outstanding Featured Actor for his role in Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk. Mr. Grant also received two Los Angeles Ovation Awards for the recreation of Noise/Funk's original choreography and for best Ensemble performance. Mr. Grant was featured at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' African Odyssey program, part of the Expresiones Latinas Festival. His own creation, a review of the history of tap, A Night Out: Tap! toured the country for three months in 2002. Of his choreography and performance with Jazz Tap Ensemble at the Joyce Theater in NYC, The New York Times said, "Mr. Grant let gusts of rhythm propel him with remarkable velocity!" In the summer of 2003, Mr. Grant had the honor of representing the US in the master tap class festival in Portugal followed by a personal invitation from John N. Palmer, Ambassador of the US in Lisbon, to perform at the Embassy. He was featured in Mr. Tony Waag's Tap City NYC’s week-long festival of classes and superb performances along with the late Gregory Hines and other hoofers from all around the country. In November, 2004 Mr. Grant reunited with Mr. George C. Wolfe along with Broadway composer Jeanine Tesori in Project Rebirth, a celebration hosted by The NY Times Foundation for the 911’s neediest cases. Mr. Grant was also featured in Riverdance (National Touring Company). In the summer of 2006, Mr. Grant's musical review Imagine Tap, which he also directed and choreographed, was produced at the Harris Theatre in Chicago. For his choreography he has been nominated for The Alvin Ailey Award by the Black Theater Alliance Awards. From his review by the Chicago Sun Times: "Grant, the most inventive principal choreographer and director, expertly showcases his dancers' strengths." He is a faculty member of Steps On Broadway in NYC and also teaches private lessons and master classes around the country.

Mary Halverstadt (Liturgical Dance) has been an active dance artist for over thirty years performing, choreographing and teaching. After receiving her Master’s Degree in Dance from the University of Colorado-Boulder, she served on the dance faculties of the University of Kansas/Lawrence, KS; University of Colorado/ Boulder, CO; and Lamar University/Beaumont, TX. She has also been Artistic Director of her own dance company (CONNECTIONS/Concepts in Contemporary Dance,) an artist-in-residence for over twenty years in the public schools and has served on the Board of Directors for various dance service organizations including the Alabama Dance Council. She currently is Director of Outreach for the Alabama Youth Ballet in Huntsville, AL, which includes directing a children’s creative company (FOOTPRINTS) & an inter-generational, inter-faith liturgical dance company (CROSSROADS.) Her work as a master teacher/choreographer continues as she also conducts movement/dance workshops around the country.

Fabrice Lemire (Floor Barre, Ballet Technique for Male Dancers, Variations for Male Dancers) was born in Paris, France. He received his training at the Paris Opera Ballet School and at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Fabrice has been a principal dancer and a guest artist with numerous ballet, modern and opera companies in Europe, the United States, Asia and North Africa, including Ballet National de Nancy et de Lorraine, Concordanse, Oregon Ballet Theatre and New York City Opera. Mr. Lemire has choreographed and directed works for Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Opera, Larry Peck Dance Company, Labayen Dance, Donald Byrd Dance Foundation, San Francisco Chamber Singers, Champaign/Urbana Theater Company, University of Illinois Dance Department and Alabama School of Fine Arts. From 1993 to 2000, he has been a choreographic assistant for Donald Byrd, has acted as Rehearsal Director for the production of the Harlem Nutcracker and has served as Ballet Master for Donald Byrd/The Group during their 2000/2001 season. In 1993 he made his acting debut in Independent Film’s Unsettled Dreams. Recently located in Birmingham, Fabrice is pursuing his career as an Artist in Residence with for the Alabama School of Fine Arts, a Ballet Master for les BJM_danse (Montreal), a guest teacher for the Celine Dion show A New Day in Las Vegas. He is also an independent stage director, choreographer and teacher in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan and the Philippines. Upcoming engagement: Cedar Lake Ensemble and Peridance International, both in New York City.

Rebecca Ryals (Yoga) has been teaching yoga since 1999. She earned her certification through the Southern Institute for Yoga Intructors and is a registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She has studied with Ramanand Patel, Patricia Sullivan, Rodney Yee and Erich Schiffmann. Rebecca owns Sun Ray Yoga and teaches full time at her studio in Montgomery. She is also a licensed massage therapist.

Keith Sabado (Modern) was born in Seattle and moved to New York City in 1978. From 1980-1984 he performed with several New York modern dance companies, among them the companies of Pearl Lang, Pauline Koner, Hannah Kahn, Jim Self and Rosalind Newman. From 1984 to 1994 he was a member of the Mark Morris Dance Group, and in 1988 he received a New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie) for his work with that group. From 1994 to 1997 and again in 2001 he was a member of Mikhail Baryshnikov’s White Oak Dance Project. In 2000 he danced with the Lucinda Childs Dance Company during its 25th anniversary year. Most recently he has performed with Richard Daniels, Johannes Wieland and with Paradigm. He has also danced leading roles in opera productions directed by Peter Sellars and Martha Clarke. Keith teaches ballet, modern dance and Pilates and is currently on the faculty at Sarah Lawrence College.

Roger Van Fleteren (Scholarship Audition Classes), Associate Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer of the Alabama Ballet, is a native of Michigan and began his dance training at the age of twelve with Charmaine Schick. Two years later, he was offered a scholarship to study with Madame Nathalie Krassovska in Dallas. In 1982 he joined ABT and became soloist in 1990, where his repertory included works by Antony Tudor, Kenneth Macmillan, Twyla Tharp, George Balanchine, Mikhail Barishnikov, Yuri Killian, and Frederic Ashton among other. He was chosen by Agnes de Mille to dance the principal role in her final ballet, The Other. Van Fleteren has appeared as a guest artist with companies throughout the United States and in Europe at major Opera Houses including the Paris Opera and the Coliseum Theatre in London. He has also performed in productions of 42nd Street, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, the television series The Equalizer and in the film Dancers starring Mikhail Baryshnikov. Van Fleteren joined the Alabama Ballet company from the London City Ballet in 1996 where he served as principal dancer at the renowned Sadler’s Wells Theatre. While at the Alabama Ballet, Van Fleteren co-choreographed Dracula and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and choreographed the Alabama Ballet’s one-act full-length Romeo & Juliet and the full length Cinderella, Be Major, and created original choreography for Swan Lake.

Dianne Walker (Tap), artistic director of Tappin’ in Boston, is one of the few internationally recognized women in the field of tap dance. Dianne defines rhythm tap as a style of tap dance that "combines rhythm and syncopation with a strong emphasis on individual style". She gracefully enhances this unique style of jazz tap, more commonly known as "hoofin" or "story dancin", and is often referred to as a "dancer with real style" who demonstrates a multitude of intangible improvisation which clearly reflects her skill and personality. For over 20 years, her career has taken her to Broadway, television, theater and numerous universities and jazz performance venues throughout the world. Ms. Walker holds a Master's degree in Education, and was a participant at the Dance USA/National Task Force on Dance Education. She has been awarded grants from the New England Foundation for the Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council and The National Endowment of the Arts. In 1996, she represented the United States as an adjudicator for the World Tap Dance Championships, held in Dresden, Germany. In Boston, 1997, she received the "Tapestry Award" for excellence in teaching. In 1998, she received the "Living Treasure In American Dance Award" from Oklahoma City University. Ms. Walker was a featured dancer in the movie Tap with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr. She was a featured dancer (and chorus girl) in the original Paris production of Black and Blue. In the Broadway production of Black and Blue, she was the Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain. During those two years, she also had the prestigious honor of being the only female dancer in the famed "Hoofers Line" with Lon Chaney, Jimmy Slyde, Chuck Green and Bunny Briggs. She has been featured in documentaries such as "Songs Unwritten....Leon Collins"; "Honi Coles.....The Class Act of Tap"; "Black and Blue".....(Robert Altman/PBS) and "Great Performances-Tap Dance in America"....( Gregory Hines/PBS).

Johannes “Jomo” Xulu (South African Dance), Artistic Director of the Umdabu Dance Company, brings more than twenty-five years of experience to his company. He has performed and choreographed for professional companies in South Africa, Great Britain and the United States. He has worked with several companies in his homeland of Kwa-Theme Springs, South Africa, such as Umthaki, Mmathari and Wings of Change. In 1986, Jomo formed Vuka to teach Zulu dance, songs and drumming to the Ballet Company at Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. This collaboration helped to develop a cultural relationship between black and white in South Africa during Apartheid. Jomo also danced and choreographed for the Adzito Pan Africa Ensemble in Great Britain and in 1993, he came to the United States with the famous Soweto Street Beat Dancers.