IN THE THEATER
FORZA DANCE
PERFORMANCES BEGIN AT 7PM AND 7:45PM
Choreographer and Director: Michaella Barron
Company Artists: Gabrielle DiNizo, Maddy Hall, Araya Morris, Micah Mckee, Jade O’Connor
Vita Viva (2025)
A playful ode to our shared humanity — the quirks, the joy, and the connections that keep us dancing through life’s obstacles.
Performed by: Full company
Music: Ma Quale Idea by Pino D’Angiò
Arachnidism (2024)
Excerpt from the evening length work, La Tarantella
Performed by: Gabrielle DiNizo, Micah Mckee
Live accompaniment by award-winning composer Quinton Nennig
Intuitiva (2023)
Program notes
Performed by: Full company
Original composition: Luissa Bressan
Breaking Bonds (2025)
Work-in-progress by Michaella Barron
Program notes
Section 1: Full company
Music arranged by Luissa Bressan
Section 2: Maddy Hall, Araya Morris
Music: Unknown Mortal Orchestra
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTS
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTISTS
MICHAELLA BARRON
Choreographer, Founder, Director
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 Italian. Founder of Forza Dance, she fosters artistic expression and community collaboration. Michaella's choreographic repertoire spans staged works, music videos, and acclaimed films like “Maria” and “Outside In,” featured at prestigious festivals including Booking Dance and DUMBO Dance. Her works have graced numerous NYC venues such as Teatro Latea, Triskelion Arts, and The Tada Theater. Forza Dance's acclaim extends nationally, with recent performances at the Luminaria Arts Festival in San Antonio. Michaella is dedicated to sharing her art to cultivate empathy and inspire societal connection.
QUINTON NENNIG
Composer, Arachnidism (La Tarantella)
Quinton Nennig is from the small town of Sherwood, Wisconsin and teaches a large piano studio based in New York City. He has performed throughout the United States and internationally in Italy, South Africa, and China. His most memorable performances have been in Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall, Carnegie Hall, and National Bohemian Hall. He has participated and performed in some of the leading music festivals around the globe including Montecito’s International Music Festival, Miami Music Festival, Beijing’s International Keyboard Festival, and the International Keyboard Institute in Manhattan. At the young age of fourteen, he left home to pursue piano performance at Interlochen Arts Academy, graduating in 2016. He has since earned his bachelor's degree with honors and his master's degree with a significant scholarship from Mannes School of Music. Although this is Quinton’s first full-length score, he has previously achieved notable success by placing first in WMTA composition competition and has internationally premiered his works at the prestigious Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Italy.
GABRIELLE DINIZO - Dancer
Gabrielle DiNizo is originally from Dayton, Ohio. She graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance and English from Fordham University/The Ailey School, where she performed works by Robert Battle, Earl Mosley, Brice Mousset, Adam Barruch, and Manuel Vignouelle. Gabby was a member of Jon Lehrer Dance Company from 2021-2023, touring both nationally and internationally with the company. Additional professional credits include Parsons Dance, Forza Dance, and her recent performance in XY, an evening length duet under the direction of Xiang Xu.
ARAYA MORRIS - Dancer
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Araya Morris began her dance training at age 3. After graduating high school, Morris attended the University of Colorado at Boulder from 2018-2022, where she received a BFA in dance. Since making the move to NYC in March 2023 and alongside dancing with Forza Dance Company, Morris has danced in work created by Cindy Brandle and the KoDaFe Dance Festival.
MADDY HALL - Dancer
Maddy Hall is a NYC-based contemporary dancer, originally from Northern VA, where she began her dance training at the age of two. Maddy then went on to attend George Mason University and received her BFA in dance May of 2020. While at George Mason she had the pleasure of studying under the direction of Susan Shields, allowing her to hone her technique in ballet, contemporary and modern and it was there that she truly realized her love for theatrical and incredibly athletic movement. In addition to being a performer, she is also a personal trainer, dance fitness coach and dance teacher! Maddy feels quite lucky to be working with such beautiful artists and is very excited to perform with Forza Dance!
MICAH MCKEE - Dancer
Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Micah McKee received her BFA from George Mason University School of Dance. Since graduating, she has performed with Gin Dance Company under Artistic Director Shu Chen Cuff, been featured in the production of The Barbarosa with Go! Contemporary Dance Works, and joined Forza Dance Company.
JADE CONNOR - Dancer
Jade Connor (Alberta, Canada) is a graduate of The Ailey School’s Scholarship Program, completing her training in the summer of 2023. During her time at The Ailey School, she was invited to join the Ailey Student Performance Group (ASPG), where she performed leading roles in works choreographed by Alvin Ailey, including excerpts from Revelations, The Lark Ascending, and Night Creatures. Jade has also performed in works by notable choreographers such as Darrell Moultrie, Ronald K. Brown, Levi Marsman, Freddie Moore, and Brice Mousset.
Photos of Forza Dance by Molly Youngstrom
