Title: WELCOME

Description of work: The making of Forza Dance

Choreographer bio: Michaella Barron, a Detroit native, began her artistic journey at Interlochen Arts Academy before graduating summa cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program in NYC, with a double major in International Political Economy and an Italian Language concentration. Founder of Forza Dance, she fosters artistic expression and community collaboration. Michaella's choreographic repertoire spans staged works, music videos, and dance films like “Maria” and “Outside In,” featured at distinguished festivals including Booking Dance and DUMBO Dance. Her works have graced numerous NYC venues such as Teatro Latea, Triskelion Arts, Arts on Site and The Tada Theater. Forza Dance's acclaim extends nationally, with recent performances at the Luminaria Arts Festival in San Antonio. Michaella annually produces Forza’s evening-length show, “Shindig,” showcasing diverse new works to sold-out audiences. She is dedicated to sharing her art to cultivate empathy and inspire societal connection.

Dancer: Gabrielle DiNizo
Music: Classical Gas by John Williams, Boston Pops Orchestra

Title: i want them to decide

Description of work: This work is not finalized and probably never will be. This work is built from small bits of choreography that can be interchangeable because I enjoy making work that is not permanent and can be witnessed multiple times but never be the same. This version of the piece will only be viewed this one time as is. This is because I want the audience to decide the order of the piece (i want them to decide) and tune into how the piece is making them feel or how they interpret the piece. Originally I was viewing the small phrases as puzzle pieces, but a puzzle is something that is meant to be solved and there is no one solution to this work. I want to find more appreciation for how an audience interprets my art rather than give it a hard meaning and use that feedback as building blocks for the next iteration of the work.

Choreographer Bio: Originally from Denver, Colorado, Araya Morris began her dance training at Gayton Dance Studio. After graduating high school, Morris attended the University of Colorado at Boulder from 2018-2022 where she received her BFA in dance. Since relocating to New York in March of 2023, Morris performed in the KoDaFe dance festival with Cindy Brandle Dance Company, performed in “Shindig” an evening length work put on by Forza Dance Company, worked on a dance for film project Nomadic Mythologies with Laura Perdrizet, participated in Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet summer program, performed in Power and Grace with Vashti Dance Theater, performed in HOME with TORCH Dance Theater. Morris has also gotten to present her own solo in various stages at the Unkempt dance festival, Borne Dance company’s annual showcase, as well as at the Spark Theater Festival.

Dancer: Araya Morris
Music: Chant from a Holy Book, composed by George Gurdjieff, by Anja Lechner and Vassilis Tsabropoulos

Title: "This..."

Description of work: "This..." is a duet that aims to encapsulate the feeling of seeing the view for the first time once you reach the peak of a mountain, a feeling of both deep peace and empowerment. And while taking it all in, the trees changing color, the breeze all around, the sun peaking through the clouds, you think about where you’ve come and where you’ll go.

Choreographer Bio: io Ermoli is an artist and recent graduate of Florida State University with a BFA in Dance. Her passion for dance has grown throughout the years and expanded to include dance film, conditioning, projection work, music composition, and administration. She lives for the little moments that come up unexpectedly, like stumbling upon a perfect pinecone. io hopes to boogie into the future!

Choreographer: io Ermoli, in collaboration with Bailey Sill
Dancers: Bailey Sill and io Ermoli
Music: “FTA” by Whitney, “Just Give Me One More Day” by Alejandro Vargas, Alej, and “My Friend and the Forest” by Nils Frahm (edited by Io Ermoli)

Title: Mother, May I sleep with my demons?

Description of work: « Mother, May I sleep with my demons? » relate the daughter’s journey, as she realizes the depth of traumas her mother may carry. Born under the feverish overprotection, only the shadow of adulthood could bring her to understand how much she is fated to carry. Only, now can she truly fathom a black woman purpose. 

Choreographer Bio: Solenn Etienne was born in Guadeloupe, surrounded by her generous Caribbean culture, as a result, she inherited a profound, yet pure connection to nature and spirituality.  Attracted by the vibrating energy of New York City, she, then, joined the Ailey school in 2021 and graduated in May 2024. Solenn learned repertory from Hofesh Shechter company, Martha Graham company, Cleo Parker Robinson Ensemble and worked with choreographers such as Juliano Nunes, Florian Lochner and Alice Klock, Ronald K. Brown and Norbert De La Cruz. Solenn aspire to evolve and to assert herself in the modern dance world, by freeing her unique expression while transcending her physical limits.

Dancer: Oxanna Etienne.

Music: “Rumination” by BAANDIT!, “Home” by WILLOW, Jon Batiste, “As Time’s Flies” by Ty’s Music

Title: Spirit

Description of work: “Spirit” is an enthralling contemporary-ballet work that illustrates how the freedom of dance comes from the spirit within. Each dancer moves with fiery passion, showcasing intricate technique, explosive movement, and the pure joy of dancing with people you love.

Choreographer Bio: Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Claire Pennington graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance, a Minor in Sociology, and Departmental Honors from Fordham University and The Ailey School. Touring domestically and internationally, Claire has performed extensively as a company member with the American Swiss Ballet, Pangea Dance Collective, and as a principal guest artist for Metropolitan Ballet at the historic Fitzgerald Theater. Claire is currently a choreographer in residence for Pangea Dance Collective. At Pangea Dance Collective, we believe in the power of dance as a universal language that can transcend race, religion, gender, geographical borders, and everything that divides humanity. We are committed to respecting the whole artist and regard the dancer’s body as an archive that holds incredible stories. As such, our works reflect and rely on the unique experiences of our dancers in the hopes that we can make connections with diverse audiences.

Dancers: Avery Berlowski, Reese Desaulniers, Emelyn Urdahl
Music: “Awake and Alive” by Cellofourte

Title: Go Figure

Description of work: “Go Figure” is a poignant exploration of loneliness in its contrasting forms—feeling isolated amid a crowd versus the aching stillness of true solitude. Dancers navigate this emotional terrain through syncopated, pedestrian movements, capturing the quiet disconnection of being surrounded yet unseen. As the piece shifts from the chaos of crowded streets to the hush of an empty home, fluid contemporary choreography, tinged with ballet-like grace, reveals the haunting beauty in both kinds of aloneness. Over seven minutes, Go Figure transforms loneliness into something romantic, reflective, and deeply human.

Choreographer/Company bio: ECAT is an avant-garde experimental dance project based in New York City, founded by choreographer Anna Ecaterina Limberea. A first-generation Russian/Romanian American, Anna's work is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage. After graduating from Gibney's Independent Training Program, she dedicated herself to creating and performing while developing ECAT.

The company explores the complexities of human existence, focusing on the theme of "existing in the obscure." ECAT embraces the enigmatic aspects of life, examining how obscurity shapes our identities. Through innovative choreography and unique movement language, the company invites audiences to reflect on the beauty and rawness of vulnerability.

Anna’s creative process is influenced by her father's work as a jazz pianist, inspiring the musical elements of her choreography. ECAT is committed to pushing boundaries and examining the full spectrum of the human condition. Follow their journey on Instagram @ecat.nyc

Dancers: Anne Hart, Cecilia Mitchell, Courtney Holbrooks, Liz Westbrook, Tiernan McKay

Music: Los Tres, Harry MacInnis

Company media coordinator: Victoria Rice

Title: Fire in the Attic

Description of work: Fire in the Attic is an expression of female strength and resilience.

Choreographer Bio: Julia Lawton is a New York-based dancer and choreographer, and the Artistic Director of Lawton Dance Collective. She graduated with her BFA in Dance from Adelphi University in 2024, where she performed works by choreographers including Paul Taylor, Orion Duckstein, and Frank Augustyn. Julia has danced professionally with Chutzpah Dance and SHIFT Dance, Arts, and Media. She is the Taylor School Associate for the Paul Taylor Dance Company and a Community Director at Arts On Site. In her choreographic practice, Julia emphasizes creative investigation through collaboration and conversation with dancers. Her work has been presented at numerous venues, including Arts On Site, The Workroom Theater Northampton, American College Dance Association Northeast Conference, Adelphi University Scholarship and Creative Works Conference, 14th St. Y, The Emelin Theatre, The Tank, Balance Arts Center, Hofstra Choreography Seminar, and Mashup Dance International Women’s Day Dance Festival.  

Choreographer/Dancer: Julia Lawton, in collaboration with the dancers
Dancers: Sarah Baghdadi, Erica Caruso, Katie Jaffie
Music: "Here Comes the Badger" by Hang Massive; “Circular Translation” by Christophe Zurfluh; "Water Falls" by René Aubry; "Dinner at the Sugarbush" by Brent Lewis

Title: Interconnected

Description of work: "Interconnected" is about the relationship between interdependency and dependency. The dancers are riding the wave of life, together, yet apart.

Choreographer(s) bio:  Jazlyn Tan and Lily Santana are dance artists, trained in various genres such as ballet, contemporary, modern techniques, jazz, street styles, etc. Jazlyn and Lily are both working towards earning their BFA in Dance at Temple University, Boyer College of Music and Dance. Jazlyn also trains with Philadelphia-based Hip-Hop company, Creative Reaction. Lily is a graduate from the Steps on Broadway Pre-Professional Program and is a company member of the Jim Bunting Dance Company in Philadelphia. Jazlyn and Lily look forward to expanding their professional careers in dance performance and choreography.

Choreographers/Dancers: Jazlyn Tan and Lily Santana
Music: “Riverbank” by Sable and Cendres

Title: Transcendent Waves

Description of work: Transcendent Waves (2022) emulates a musical performance that synchronizes bodies and music to foster social connectedness. This is done by accentuating the relationship between audience and performer by breaking down the fourth wall as the performer travels through various physical and emotional states.

Choreographer Bio: Sydney Marsh (she/her) is a NYC/NJ based performer from Connecticut who received her BFA in Dance from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts. While in school, Sydney received the prestigious Margery J. Turner Award for choreography and was chosen for her work to be showcased at the American College Dance Association adjudication. In addition to her college education, Sydney has trained at Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, Bates Dance Festival, and the Centre National de la Danse in Paris and Lyon, France. She continued her studies overseas to work with Flockworks at Orsolina28 Art Foundation in Italy where she focused on partnering and collaboration. Alongside performing in works by Florian Lochner and Alice Klock, Sydney has worked with renowned artists such as Gerald Casel, Kun-Yang Lin, John Evans, and Earl Mosley. She currently dances for Bart.Co Dance.

Dancer: Sydney Marsh
Music: “Intro (Live),” “Poolhouse (Live),” “Kilby Girl (Live)” by The Backseat Lovers

Title: Disembodied

Description of work: Disembodied is a contemporary modern dance piece exploring the fragmentation of self and the tension between presence and absence. the piece blurs the line between the physical and the ethereal, inviting the audience into a world where bodies seem to dissolve and reform in an endless cycle of transformation.

Choreographer Bio: Tomislav Nevistic is an internationally touring artist from New York City. He trained at The Ailey School, Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance, and ABT. He danced for Graham II, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, Ziel Dance Theater, and other modern companies. Nevistic is the recipient of the Oscar of Knowledge in Dance from the Agency for Education under the auspices of the President of Croatia and the Croatian Parliament. He is a Graham-certified teacher and faculty member at Broadway Dance Center. Previous choreographic commissions include the spring artists in residence for The Baryshnikov Arts Center, Mare Nostrum Elements emerging choreographers series, and Ziel Dance Theater film projects.

Dancer: Madeline Kuhlke
Music: Metamorphosis by Philip Glass

Title: Untitled (Dance)

Description of work: Originally inspired by his artwork Untitled (Dance), the piece explores the many works of late artist Keith Haring and how they can be interpreted. With an upbeat score and movement of the same caliber, “Untitled (Dance)” seeks to unveil odd, inspiring, and sometimes unnerving truths behind some of his most iconic artworks. 

Choreographer bio: Lexi Utter (East Brunswick, NJ) started her formal dance training at 13 years old, studying under pre-professional dance companies Koin and Co Dancers and Kinections Dance Group. Lexi will graduate May 2025 from Montclair State University where she will receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a minor in Communications. While attending Montclair State University, Lexi has performed works by Hollie Wright, Leslie Kraus, Hollis Bartlett, Nattie Trogdon, André Tyson, Maxine Steinman, Cameron McKinney, and Jessica DiMauro Marks. Her second choreographic work, “On the Brink of Achievement”, will premiere May 2nd-4th at Montclair State University’s Studio Black Box Theater. In conjunction with pursuing her degree, Lexi has also been an intern at Fusion Dance Centre (NJ).

Dancers: Laura Barbieri, Aurora Donato, Sophia Fiumano, Isa Santiago, and Isabella Verma

Music: “Circuit Current” by 1tbsp

Title: Harmonic Fusion

Description of work: Harmonic Fusion is a contemporary dance piece that delves into the evolving relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence. Blending fluid human movement with the precision of technology, this work explores the tension and harmony between organic and digital worlds. With live music enhancing the dynamic interplay, Harmonic Fusion invites the audience to contemplate the future of this intricate relationship.

Choreographer Bio: Kayla Laufer, a graduate of Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory with a BFA in dance, is a contemporary dancer and choreographer whose artistry transcends conventional boundaries. She passionately explores the intersection of technology and dance. Her work has been chosen to be performed at the Young Choreographer Festival, Koresh Artist Showcase, Dance Studio Alliance Spotlight Series, and American College Dance Association. She received the 2024 Eryc Taylor New Choreographer Grant and premiered her work at the Martha Graham Studio Theater. This past summer, Kayla joined the inaugural class at the Jacob's Pillow ChoreoTech Lab, where she enhanced her repertoire by integrating AI and AR into her movement practice. Kayla was a member of the Chutzpah Dance Company. She is currently the cofounder of Melody in Motion and is pursuing her Master's in Computer Science at Fordham University. 

Music: Live music performed by Anna Jarboe

Original composition “Cyber Serenade” by Anna Jarboe
Dancers: Kayla Laufer and Harry Sukonik

Title: La Vie en rose

Description of work: Set to my favorite song of all time, this piece is simply my choreographic take on the tune. Inspired by an icon and idol of mine Grace Jones, striking yet simple dynamics pair together with the music to display my most genuine movements and feelings.

Choreographer Bio: Luke Biddinger is a dancer and choreographer in NYC. Luke’s love of dance started with a single dance class at the age of 10. He has strong technique in many styles of dance, and a vast amount of creativity and optimism. Luke is currently dancing with Parsons Dance, and when not busy dancing and performing, he hopes to uplift all through his choreographic work!

Dancers: Luke Biddinger, Lana Zecchino, Sammi O’Connor, Alyssa Foglia, Paulie Bedus
Music: “La Vie en rose” by Grace Jones