2007 Faculty

2008 Faculty

BOB BOROSS

The performance career of Bob Boross has spanned dancing in both musical theatre, including the Broadway revival of "Can-Can" choreographed by Roland Petit, and important dance companies throughout the country. He has choreographed revivals of "Annie Get your Gun," "Victor/Victoria," "Blood Brothers," “The Pirates of Penzance” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". Most recently, Bob’s evening length jazz/theatre piece EMPTY SKY…THE RISING, set to twelve songs from THE RISING by Bruce Springsteen, garnered rave reviews in its debut performances at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ. Other recent choreography include Sweet Release and Send Your Love for the Just Jazz Dance Company of Tampere, Finland; Love Come Quick for the Kannon Dance Company of St. Petersburg, Russia; The Music and the Mirror for the 34rd International Jazz Dance Forum in Paris, France; and Mercy Street for Jazz Dance LA.

Bob is currently Associate Professor of Dance and Chairperson of the Dance Department of Stephens College in Columbia, MO. He has given master jazz dance classes in Finland, France, Russia, England and Mexico, as well as from coast to coast in the USA. For New York University, he devised a program in the study of jazz dance history and performance. As an author he has published in all the major dance magazines in the US. He is one of the few jazz dance teachers worldwide who are sanctioned to teach the intricate and demanding technique of Matt Mattox. Bob has authored “Image of Perfection – the Freestyle Jazz Dance of Matt Mattox,” the first in-depth examination of the career achievements of this noted jazz dance legend.

Bob Boross si è espresso nella sua carriera di danzatore sia nel musical (includendo la rivisitazione di Broadway del "Can Can" coreografato da Roland Petit) sia lavorando come interprete in importanti compagnie di danza attraverso tutto il paese. Ha creato nuove coreografie per "Annie Get your Gun", "Victor/Victoria", "Blood Brothers," “The Pirates of Penzance” e “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". Più recentemente lo spettacolo EMPTY SKY…THE RISING, ispirato dalle dodici canzoni di The Rising di Bruce Springsteen, ha ricevuto plauso dalla critica alla prima al Two River Theater in Red Bank, NJ. Altre recenti coreografie sono Sweet Release e Send Your Love per la Just Jazz Dance Company di Tampere, Finland; Love Come Quick per la Kannon Dance Company of St. Petersburg, Russia; The Music and the Mirror per il 34° International Jazz Dance Forum di Paris, France e Mercy Street per Jazz Dance LA.

Bob è attualmente Professore Associato di Danza e capo del Dipartimento di Danza dello Stephens College in Columbia,MO. Ha insegnato in Finlandia, Francia, Russia, Gran Bretagna e Messico e naturalmente "coast to coast" negli USA. Per il New York University, ha sviluppato un programma di storia dello studio della danza jazz e dello spettacolo. Come autore è stato pubblicato in tutte le più grandi riviste di danza degli USA. E' stato pubblicato il suo libro "Image of Perfection - The Freestyle Jazz of Matt Mattox", una ricerca sulla carriera di Mattox. Bob e' considerato uno dei pochi insegnanti di danza jazz a livello mondiale esperti per la tecnica Mattox.

DAVID CAPPS

David Capps recently returned to New York City to join the faculty of the Hunter College Dance Department, after 13 years with the University of Colorado at Boulder. Before going to Boulder, he danced, taught and choreographed in New York City for 15 years, performing with a variety of choreographers, including David Gordon, Gus Solomons, Jr., Bertram Ross, Clarice Marshall and Elise Long/Spoke the Hub Dancing.

His modern training has been very diverse, including Graham, Cunningham and Limon techniques, as well as balletic partnering, ideokinesis and contact improvisation. He has taught at the New York University School of the Arts, the 92nd Street Y, Hunter College, Sarah Lawrence College, the University of Arizona, the American College Dance Festivals, and across Colorado.

David Capps recentemente e' tornato a New York per unirsi alla facolta' dello Hunter College Dance Department, dopo 13 anni trascorsi presso la University of Colorado a Boulder. Prima di trasferirsi a Boulder, e' stato danzatore, insegante e coreografo a New York per 15 anni, lavorando con vari coreografi tra cui David Gordon, Gus Solomons, Jr., Bertram Ross, Clarice Marshall e Elise Long/Spoke the Hub Dancing.

Il suo modern training e' stato molto diversificato, includendo le tecniche Graham, Cunningham e Limon, tanto quanto balletic partnering, ideokinesis e contact improvisation. Ha insegnanto presso la New York University School of the Arts, the 92nd Street Y, Hunter College, Sarah Lawrence College, University of Arizona, American College Dance Festivals e in tutto il Colorado.

His choreography has appeared in New York at St. Mark's Danspace Project, the 92nd Street Y, the Gowanus Arts Exchange, the Living Room, the Cunningham Studio and in Prospect Park. In Colorado, he has received an Artist Fellowship from the Colorado Council on the Arts, the Colorado Federation of the Arts Innovation Award, and his work has been produced at the University of Colorado, the Space for Dance, the Montrose Pavilion and in showcases in the Denver metropolitan region. La sua coreografia e' apparsa a New York presso il St. Mark's Danspace Project, 92nd Street Y, the Gowanus Arts Exchange, the Living Room, the Cunningham Studio e in Prospect Park. In Colorado, ha ricevuto un Artist Fellowship dal Colorado Council on the Arts, il Colorado Federation of the Arts Innovation Award e le sue composizioni sono state eseguite presso la University of Colorado, lo Space for Dance, il Montrose Pavilion e durante esposizioni nella region metropolitana di Denver.

AMY CHAVASSE

AMY CHAVASSE, choreographer, performer and teacher, founded "Chavasse Dance & Performance" in 1998 to collaborate with her sister Caroline, who was then a New York based writer, performer and actor. Since then, the Company has functioned as a vehicle for solo and group projects and collaborations with a diverse range of artists, including Peter Schmitz, Lisa Gonzales, everything smaller, Pat Graney, Paul Matteson, and many other talented colleagues.
During her career, she has worked with numerous independent choreographers and performed with the companies of Bill Young and Dancers, Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, Maida Withers and others. Her own choreography has been presented in Cuba, Lithuania and Austria. AMY CHAVASSE, coreografa, danzatrice ed insegnante, ha fondato la compagnia "Chavasse Dance & Performance" nel 1998 per collaborare con sua sorella Caroline, che era all'epoca una scrittrice e attrice newyorchese. Da allora la compagnia ha rappresentato un veicolo per progetti solisti e di gruppo e per collaborazioni con un variegato insieme di artisti, tra i quali Peter Schmitz, Lisa Gonzales, everything smaller, Pat Graney, Paul Matteson e molti altri talentuosi colleghi.
Durante la sua cariera, ha lavorato con numerosi coreografi indipendenti e danzato nelle compagnie di Bill Young and Dancers, Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, Maida Withers. Le sue coreografie sono state rappresentate a Cuba, in Lituania ed in Austria.

Working as a guest artist/faculty at many schools and universities, including North Carolina School of the Arts, UNC Greensboro, Arizona State University, Bennington College, Cornish and Middlebury College has offered numerous opportunities to make and show dances with student dancers. In the fall of 2006, she was invited to join the faculty of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where she now teaches contemporary technique, improvisation, movement and text, repertory, composition and Social Issues and Dance. Amy uses text, story-telling, video and voice in the creation and performance of her work. Finding ways to comment on compelling current issues and stories often drives her passion to choreograph and perform. She received her BFA from North Carolina School of the Arts and her MFA from the University of Washington. Il fatto di operare in qualita' di guest artist/faculty presso molte scuole ed universita', tra cui North Carolina School of the Arts, UNC Greensboro, Arizona State University, Bennington College, Cornish e Middlebury College ha offerto numerose opportunita' per creare e mostrare danze con gli studenti. Nella seconda meta' del 2006, e' stata invitata ad unirsi ala facolta' della University of Michigan presso Ann Arbor, dove adesso insegna tecnica contemporanea , improvvisazione, movimento e testo, repertorio, composizione e Social Issues and Dance. Amy utilizza il testo, la narrativa, il video e la voce nella creazione e nella messa in scena del suo lavoro. La ricerca di modi di commentare storie ed impellenti problematiche attuali spesso guida la sua passione per la coreografia e la performance. Ha ricevuto il suo BFA dalla North Carolina School of the Arts ed il suo MFA dalla University of Washington.

The noted dancer and choreographer, David Dorfman, has said of Amy - "...she possesses all of the qualities of an important teacher and an important artist....Amy is clearly one of the most exquisite dancers of our generation."

Jack Anderson in THE NEW YORK TIMES has written - "Ms Chavasse commands the stage with the authority of a high priestess."

ARATI

PUNWANI-SUNAWALA

ARATI PUNWANI-SUNAWALA is a freelance choreographer who shot to national fame in India as one of four finalists on the reality dance show DANCE DANCE. Arati took her degree in dance at the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography and is trained in Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Belly Dancing, Bollywood and Indian Contemporary dance. She is founder artistic director of her own dance troupe, Tarantismo Creative Dance Company.

In reviewing her original show “SEVEN” – conceived and directed by Arati - Utkal Mohanty in “THE HINDU”, an important newspaper in Bangalore, had this to say: “….SEVEN ….offered the pleasure of pure dance, but also ….thought and humour….it established the possibility of dance being used as a mode of contemporary creative expression, not having to limit itself to telling ancient tales or blindly imitating Western movements removed from their culture context….a perfect evening of intelligent entertainment....a delightful showcase of the possibilities of a new language that is being created and moulded by young artists committed to experimentation".

ARATI PUNWANI- SUNAWALA e’ una coreografa freelance molto famosa in India – una dei 4 finalisti nel reality dance show DANCE DANCE. Arati si e’ laureata in danza presso l'Instituto Natya nel Kathak Dance e Coreografia ed e' diplomata in diversi stili inclusi Kathak, Bharatnatyam, Belly Dancing, Bollywood and Indian Contemporary Dance. E' fondatrice e direttore artistico della sua dance troupe, Tarantismo Creative Dance Company.

Nel suo commento sul pezzo originale di Arati intitolato “SEVEN”, Utkal Mohanty in THE HINDU, un giornale importante di Bangalore, disse: “....SEVEN....offre il piacere di vedere danza pura, ma anche....riflessione and umorismo....ha definito la possibilita’ dell'utilizzo della danza come modalita' di espressione contemporanea non limitata al racconto di antiche storie o cieca imitazione di movimenti di derivazione occidentale rimossi dal loro contesto culturale....una serata perfetta di spettacolo intelligente....un gioioso showcase delle possibilita’ di una lingua nuova creata e modellata da artisti giovani e dedicati alla sperimentazione".

MORENO MOSTARDA

"I don't consider myself a ballerino. I'm a dancer. A dancer who was born in the streets. At 13 years old I carried my boombox to Piazza Colonna and began my dancing career, there, on the streets of Rome. The term ballerino makes me think of an artist who was born and raised in academies, instead, my passion comes and goes beyond that of dance: HipHop is a total culture that has always fascinated me and influenced my way of thinking and of living. I interpret meanings while swimming the waves of a break dance, with the impulses of "popping" and the clicks and sudden movements of electric boogie. It is my way of communicating the energy that the music gives me." Moreno Mostarda's style is a fusion of street dancing and funk/HipHop in which improvised sequences on the ground and fragments of electric boogie mix up between pirouettes and videoclip steps. While developing his HipHop technique, at a very young age, Moreno began studying and practicing Judo, and in 1984 he finished second place in the Italian National Championships. After exploring the martial arts, he decided to devote himself completely to his great passion - dance and especially break dance. He studied with the Crazy Gang and appeared with them in TV transmissions of DISCO RING in Italy. In 1991 he refined his New Style technique studying with two of the most noted teachers in the USA, Gus Bembery and Dante Harper. In 1999 Moreno organized his own group - 2BNAKED - and with his choreography, the group began appearances in theatres, festivals and competitions throughout Italy and Europe. WITH 2B NAKED Moreno has appeared with the noted dance critic Vittoria Ottolenghi and TV personalities Lorella Cuccarini and Fabrizio Frizzi.	"Non mi piace considerarmi un ballerino, ma piuttosto un danzatore, perche' sono nato "in strada" quando a 13 anni partivo con lo stereo per andare a ballare a Piazza Colonna, e per questo non posso rinnegare le mie origini. Il termine ballerino mi fa pensare piu' ad un artista nato e cresciuto in accademia, invece la mia passione andava e va al di la' del semplice ballo: e' tutta la cultura hip hop che mi ha sempre affascinato e ha influenzato il mio modo di pensare e di vivere. Io ne interpreto il significato attraverso le onde della break dance, con gli impulsi del popping e gli scatti dell'electro boogie.... e' il mio modo di comunicare l'energia che la musica mi trasmette." Moreno Mostarda nasce artisticamente attraverso l'hip hop e la break dance. Il suo stile particolarissimo e' il risultato di una contaminazione tra la street dance e il funk / hip hop, in cui improvvise sequenze a terra e frammenti di electric boogie s'intrufolano tra piroette e passi da videoclip. Il suo personale modo di sentire ed interpretare le vibrazioni suscitate dalla musica, cosi' come l'attenzione nella scelta delle sonorita' Jazz HipHop, Soul Funk e R'n'B costituiscono il principale motore delle sue creazioni coreografiche che sviluppa negli spettacoli dei gruppi da lui creati - i 2BNAKED ed i FUNK ELEMENT - nelle esibizioni dei "THE FABULOUS", durante le sue lezioni, ma anche semplicemente quando balla con gli amici.

DANAH BELLA

Danah received her MFA in Performance from the Ohio State University and her BA in Dance from the University of California, Santa Barbara which she studied under Bebe Miller, Tere O'Connor, Christopher Pilafian and Jerry Pearson. She has performed with Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, Umoja Dance, Pearl Ubungen Dancers and Musicians, Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre and Dancing Earth and has performed the works of Doug Elkins, Karen Love, Donald McKayle, Bebe Miller, Doug Varone and Edisa Weeks. In 2004 founded d a n a h b e l l a Dance Works with longtime collaborator Salvador Barajas. Her choreography has been presented in festivals throughout the US and Mexico and her teaching credits include the Bates Dance Festival, Monterey Dance Fest and the American College Dance Festival. She is currently on the Dance Faculty at Radford University in Virginia.
Ha conseguito il suo MFA in Performance dalla Ohio State University ed il suo BA in Danza dalla Universita’ di California, Santa Barbara, dove ha studiato con I noti coreografi Bebe Miller, Tere O’Connor, Christopher Pilafian and Jerry Pearson. Si e’ esibita con il Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, Umoja Dance, Pearl Ubungen Dancers e Musicians, Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre e Dancing Earth e ha presentato coreografie di Doug Elkins, Karen Love, Donald McKayle, Bebe Miller, Doug Varone e Edisa Weeks.
Dal 2004 lavora con la sua compagnia d a n a h b e l l a Dance Works con Salvador Barajas, il suo collaboratore. La sua coreografia e’ stata presentata in tutti gli Stati Uniti ed in Messico. Ha insegnato danza al Bates Dance Festival, Monterey Dance Fest e presso l'American College Dance Festival. Attualmente fa parte del Dipartimento di Danza presso la Radford University in Virginia.

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AMY CHAVASSE
AMY CHAVASSE, choreographer, performer and teacher, founded "Chavasse Dance & Performance" in 1998 to collaborate with her sister Caroline, who was then a New York based writer, performer and actor. Since then, the Company has functioned as a vehicle for solo and group projects and collaborations with a diverse range of artists, including Peter Schmitz, Lisa Gonzales, everything smaller, Pat Graney, Paul Matteson, and many other talented colleagues. During her career, she has worked with numerous independent choreographers and performed with the companies of Bill Young and Dancers, Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, Maida Withers and others. Her own choreography has been presented in Cuba, Lithuania and Austria.	AMY CHAVASSE, coreografa, danzatrice ed insegnante, ha fondato la compagnia "Chavasse Dance & Performance" nel 1998 per collaborare con sua sorella Caroline, che era all'epoca una scrittrice e attrice newyorchese. Da allora la compagnia ha rappresentato un veicolo per progetti solisti e di gruppo e per collaborazioni con un variegato insieme di artisti, tra i quali Peter Schmitz, Lisa Gonzales, everything smaller, Pat Graney, Paul Matteson e molti altri talentuosi colleghi. Durante la sua cariera, ha lavorato con numerosi coreografi indipendenti e danzato nelle compagnie di Bill Young and Dancers, Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, Maida Withers. Le sue coreografie sono state rappresentate a Cuba, in Lituania ed in Austria.

Working as a guest artist/faculty at many schools and universities, including North Carolina School of the Arts, UNC Greensboro, Arizona State University, Bennington College, Cornish and Middlebury College has offered numerous opportunities to make and show dances with student dancers. In the fall of 2006, she was invited to join the faculty of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where she now teaches contemporary technique, improvisation, movement and text, repertory, composition and Social Issues and Dance. Amy uses text, story-telling, video and voice in the creation and performance of her work. Finding ways to comment on compelling current issues and stories often drives her passion to choreograph and perform. She received her BFA from North Carolina School of the Arts and her MFA from the University of Washington.	Il fatto di operare in qualita' di guest artist/faculty presso molte scuole ed universita', tra cui North Carolina School of the Arts, UNC Greensboro, Arizona State University, Bennington College, Cornish e Middlebury College ha offerto numerose opportunita' per creare e mostrare danze con gli studenti. Nella seconda meta' del 2006, e' stata invitata ad unirsi ala facolta' della University of Michigan presso Ann Arbor, dove adesso insegna tecnica contemporanea , improvvisazione, movimento e testo, repertorio, composizione e Social Issues and Dance. Amy utilizza il testo, la narrativa, il video e la voce nella creazione e nella messa in scena del suo lavoro. La ricerca di modi di commentare storie ed impellenti problematiche attuali spesso guida la sua passione per la coreografia e la performance. Ha ricevuto il suo BFA dalla North Carolina School of the Arts ed il suo MFA dalla University of Washington.

DANAH BELLA

Danah received her MFA in Performance from the Ohio State University and her BA in Dance from the University of California, Santa Barbara which she studied under Bebe Miller, Tere O'Connor, Christopher Pilafian and Jerry Pearson. She has performed with Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, Umoja Dance, Pearl Ubungen Dancers and Musicians, Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre and Dancing Earth and has performed the works of Doug Elkins, Karen Love, Donald McKayle, Bebe Miller, Doug Varone and Edisa Weeks. In 2004 founded d a n a h b e l l a Dance Works with longtime collaborator Salvador Barajas. Her choreography has been presented in festivals throughout the US and Mexico and her teaching credits include the Bates Dance Festival, Monterey Dance Fest and the American College Dance Festival. She is currently on the Dance Faculty at Radford University in Virginia.	Ha conseguito il suo MFA in Performance dalla Ohio State University ed il suo BA in Danza dalla Universita’ di California, Santa Barbara, dove ha studiato con I noti coreografi Bebe Miller, Tere O’Connor, Christopher Pilafian and Jerry Pearson. Si e’ esibita con il Santa Barbara Dance Theatre, Umoja Dance, Pearl Ubungen Dancers e Musicians, Alleluia Panis Dance Theatre e Dancing Earth e ha presentato coreografie di Doug Elkins, Karen Love, Donald McKayle, Bebe Miller, Doug Varone e Edisa Weeks. Dal 2004 lavora con la sua compagnia d a n a h b e l l a Dance Works con Salvador Barajas, il suo collaboratore. La sua coreografia e’ stata presentata in tutti gli Stati Uniti ed in Messico. Ha insegnato danza al Bates Dance Festival, Monterey Dance Fest e presso l'American College Dance Festival. Attualmente fa parte del Dipartimento di Danza presso la Radford University in Virginia.