NOW: Premieres

Ephrat Asherie

Ephrat Asherie Dance Artistic Director // Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie is a NYC based b-girl, dancer, and choreographer and a 2016 Bessie Award Winner for Innovative Achievement in Dance. Asherie received Dance Magazine’s Inaugural Harkness Promise Award in 2018 and in 2017 she received a National Dance Project award. Asherie is a 2019 New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow and a 2018-2019 City Center Choreography Fellow. She is a 2020 MAP Fund Awardee and a 2021 Jerome Hill Artist Fellow. Her new work, UnderScored: Live and Direct, is currently in development and was awarded a 2019 Creation and Development Award from the National Performance Network. It is set to premiere in 2021 at Works & Process at the Guggenheim. Her company, Ephrat Asherie Dance, has been presented at the Apollo Theatre, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Joyce Theater and FIraTarrega, among others. She is honored to have worked and collaborated with Michelle Dorrance, Rennie Harris, Bill Irwin, Gus Solomons Jr., and Buddha Stretch. Asherie received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee where she researched the vernacular jazz dance roots of contemporary street and club dances. She has taught and set work at many university dance programs including Smith College, University of Richmond and University of California, Santa Barbara.  Immersed in NYC’s underground dance community for two decades, a space where the collective consciousness energizes and celebrates the unique interactivities and movements of each individual, she is forever grateful to the club for giving her the confidence to pursue a life as an artist.  

Manon Bal

Manon Bal (Dancer) is a versatile professional dancer from Marseille, France. She has trained at the IFPRO Centre de International de Dance Rick Odums in Paris and at the prestigious Ailey School in New York City. As a choreographer, Manon is the co-founder of Mozaik Dance in collaboration with Janine “J9” Micheletti and Sun Kim. The company has presented their work “Sad Hope” at Jacob’s Pillow, San Francisco Hip Hop Dance Fest, and as a part of the New Victory Dance Series. As a performer, Manon has danced with PMT Dance Company at Barclays Center for the Nets Halftime Show, and worked for respected choreographers such as Ronald K Brown, Tweet Boogie, Jon Rua, and Miki Tuesday.  

Lil Buck

Lil Buck is a movement artist who began jookin at age 13. Named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch, he gained international notoriety after an impromptu piece with Yo-Yo Ma went viral. Since then he has collaborated with artists including JR, Damian Woetzel, the New York City Ballet, Madonna, Benjamin Millepied, and Spike Lee. Buck is an avid arts education advocate, recipient of the WSJ Innovator Award. He has collaborated with brands like Glenfiddich and Louis Vuitton, and launched a capsule collection with Versace.​

India Bradley

India Bradley is a member of New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she began her dance training locally at the age of four. She received additional training from Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Professional Training Program before entering the School of American Ballet in 2014. She was named an apprentice in 2017, and joined the Company in 2018. Her repertory includes leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Kyle Abraham, Andrea Miller, Justin Peck, and Pam Tanowitz. 

Preston Chamblee

Preston Chamblee was born in Wendell, North Carolina and began his dance training at the age of 14 at the Raleigh School of Ballet under Mary Legere and Pablo Perez. He continued his training at the International Ballet Academy in Apex, North Carolina from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Chamblee studied at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, during the 2012 and 2013 summer courses, and enrolled as a full-time student in 2013. Mr. Chamblee was named an apprentice with NYCB in August 2014 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in February 2015. Mr. Chamblee was promoted to the rank of soloist in January 2022.

Herman Cornejo

Herman Cornejo was born in Villa Mercedes, San Luis province, Argentina, and began his ballet studies at the age of eight at Teatro Colón’s Instituto Superior de Arte, Buenos Aires. At fourteen he received a scholarship from the School of American Ballet, the dance school of New York City Ballet and on his return to Buenos Aires he joined Julio Bocca’s Ballet Argentino. In 1999 Herman joined American Ballet Theatre, New York, was promoted to Soloist in 2000 and was appointed Principal Dancer in 2003. Herman has participated in numerous galas and has performed as Principal Guest Dancer with Ballet del Teatro Argentino de La Plata, Boston Ballet, Compañía de Danza Contemporánea de Cuba, Corella Ballet Castilla y León, New York City Ballet and Sapporo Ballet.

Chun Wai Chan

Born in Guangdong, China, Chun Wai Chan trained at Guangzhou Art School and joined Houston Ballet in 2012, becoming Principal in 2017, joined as soloist with New York City Ballet 2021. He danced Prince Siegfried in Stanton Welch’s Swan Lake and lead roles in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated and Reflection by Justin Peck many other lead role in both classical and contemporary repertoire by renowned choreographers. 

  Chan has had many successes, including being featured in Dance Magazine’s “Top 25 to Watch” in 2016 and Pointe Magazine’s “The Standouts of 2017” and performing in the Ninjinsky-Gala XLI in Hamburg, Germany, New York’s 2015 Fall for Dance Festival and 2018 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, among others. 

Patricia Delgado

Patricia Delgado (she/her), first generation Cuban-American, was born in Miami, Florida. She was a principal dancer with the Miami City Ballet where she worked for almost 20 years and is currently a freelance artist living in NYC and a member of the faculty at The Juilliard School, where she is also part of their mentorship program. She began her dance training, under cuban tutelage at 5 years old. She spent summers training in NYC at the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. In 2000, she was the Princess Grace Nominee and Edward Villella invited her to join his company as an apprentice.

Delgado has performed works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Anthony Tudor, Richard Alston, Christopher Wheeldon, Edward Villella and Trey McIntyre as well as classical works such as Coppelia, Giselle, and Don Quixote. One of her most memorable performances was performing the role of Juliet in John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet. Delgado has also been incredibly fortunate to have created feature works with choreographers Alexei Ratmansky, Justin Peck, Pam Tanowitz, Jamar Roberts, Lauren Lovette, John Heginbotham, among others.

She has performed at The Bolshoi, in Moscow, at the Theatre du Chatelet, in Paris, France, at the Chicago Dancing Festival, at the Vail Dance Festival in Colorado and in New York City; at Fall for Dance at City Center, at the Joyce Theater and at the Koch Theatre at Lincoln City among others.

She has written several essays for dance publications. One entitled “Why I Dance” in January of 2015 for Dance Magazine and one for Dance Spirit Magazine in April of 2013.

She performed as Maggie Anderson in the musical Brigadoon, directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon at Encores! City Center, she starred in the music video “The Dark Side of the Gym” for The National and also appeared as a guest performer on The Tonight Show. She is a repetiteur for Justin Peck. She staged In Creases on Boston Ballet, Ballet Arizona, and for members of American Ballet Theatre and Heatscape in Dresden, Germany at the Semperoper Ballett. She was an Associate Producer on the 2020 Broadway revival of West Side Story and she is an Associate Choreographer on the feature film West Side Story, directed by Steven Spielberg.

She is devoted to creating a nurturing and positive environment for diversity, authenticity, inclusivity, vulnerability, and belonging in all that she embarks upon, especially as she ventures into producing work for artists she admires, most recently Adriana Pierce’s #QueerTheBallet.

She and her husband, Justin Peck welcomed their daughter, Lucia Isabella into this world in March 2021.

Michelle Dorrance

Michelle Dorrance (Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dancer) is a New York City–based artist. Mentored by Gene Medler (North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble), she studied under many of the last master hoofers. Career highlights include: STOMP, Derick Grant’s Imagine Tap!, Jason Samuels Smith’s Charlie’s Angels/Chasing the Bird, Ayodele Casel’s Diary of a Tap Dancer, Mable Lee’s Dancing Ladies, and playing bass for Darwin Deez. Company work includes: Savion Glover’s Ti Dii, Manhattan Tap, Barbara Duffy and Co., JazzTap Ensemble, and Rumba Tap. Solo work ranges from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to commissions for the Martha Graham Dance Company and American Ballet Theatre. A 2018 Doris Duke Artist, 2017 Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellow, and 2015 MacArthur Fellow, Dorrance is humbled to have been acknowledged and supported by United States Artists, the Joyce Theater, New York City Center, the Alpert Awards, Jacob’s Pillow, Princess Grace Foundation, The Field, American Tap Dance Foundation, and the Bessie Awards. Dorrance holds a B.A. from New York University and is a Capezio Athlete.

She was the Festival’s Artist-In-Residence in 2017.

Philip DuClos

Philip Duclos is nineteen years old and will be joining The Royal Danish Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet this upcoming August. He has performed with the New York City Ballet in over 130 performances including roles in, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, La Sylphide, The Sleeping Beauty, and The Firebird. He has guested with companies such as the New Jersey Ballet in their production of The Nutcracker. He was also the scholar in residence at the 2021 Vail Dance Festival.

Robbie Fairchild

Robbie Fairchild was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began his dance training at Dance Concepts. His formal ballet training began at the age of ten at the Ballet West Conservatory. Mr. Fairchild attended the 2002 and 2003 summer courses at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, and enrolled as a full time student in the fall of 2003. In June 2005, Mr. Fairchild became an apprentice with NYCB, and the following June, he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. He was promoted to soloist in May 2007, and in October 2009 was promoted to principal dancer.

Jovani Furlan

Born in Joinville, Brazil, Mr. Furlan started dancing at the age of 11 at The Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil.

In 2010 he participated in the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and was offered a full scholarship to attend the Miami City Ballet School by Edward Villella.

Mr. Furlan began his training at the MCB School in 2011 and joined Miami City Ballet in 2012. He was promoted to soloist in 2015 and was named an MCB principal dancer in 2017.

At MCB, his repertory of featured roles included George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Ballet Imperial, Episodes, Jewels, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^®, Serenade, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Square Dance, Swan Lake, Symphony in Three Movements, Theme and Variations, and La Valse; Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering, West Side Story Suite, and The Concert; as well as works by Richard Alston, John Cranko, Peter Martins, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, Liam Scarlett, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and Christopher Wheeldon.

Mr. Furlan was joined NYCB as a soloist in August 2019 and in Feburary 2022 he was promoted to principal dancer.

Christopher Grant

Christopher Grant was born in Jamaica, Queens. He began his dance training at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, in 2002. Additional training includes summer courses at Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) and the New York State Summer School of the Arts.

In August 2015, Mr. Grant became an apprentice with NYCB. As an apprentice with the Company, Mr. Grant originated a featured role in Nicolas Blanc’s Mothership. He joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in August 2016.

HONORS

Mr. Grant was a recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in 2014.

Kennard Henson

Kennard Henson was born in Baltimore, Maryland and began his ballet training at the T.W.I.G.S. after-school program at the Baltimore School of the Arts at age 11 with Samantha Ordaz, Paula LeVere, and Norma Pera.

He attended the summer course at the School of American Ballet, NYCB’s official school, in 2013 and enrolled full-time for the 2013 winter term.

In August 2016, he became an apprentice with NYCB. As an apprentice, Mr. Henson originated a corps role in Lauren Lovette’s For Clara. He joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in August 2017.

_{Photo © Erin Baiano}

Lauren Lovette

Lauren Lovette is a principal ballerina who danced with the New York City Ballet from 2010-2021 while alsogrowing herself as an independent and acclaimed choreographer. In her time with the NYCB she has earned boththe Janice Levin Award and the Clive Barnes Award for dance.

She has created works for the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre’s StudioCompany, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Nevada Ballet Theater, among others. Her collaborators include musicianKate Davis, poet Andrea Gibson, and fashion designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim of Oscar de laRenta/MONSE, Zac Posen, Narciso Rodriguez and Victor Glemaud.

In 2019 Ms. Lovette was named Artist-in-Residence for Damian Woetzel’s prestigious Vail Dance Festival. In2018, she was awarded a Virginia B. Toulmin Fellowship for Women Leaders in Dance at The Center for Balletand the Arts at New York University.

Lauren is now the Executive Director of her new company Lauren Lovette Studio, Inc. that will bring moreawareness to the aspects of classical ballet that she believes must be preserved and celebrated. Lauren LovetteStudio, Inc. has developed an initiative named Why It Matters and has plans to bring Live performance events tovarious cities around the US and abroad. These Live experiences will all exist for the sole purpose of showcasingwhy the art form of dance matters so dearly to her and her fellow dance lovers.

Sara Mearns

Sara Mearns was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and began her dance training at the age of three with Ann Brodie at the Calvert-Brodie School of Dance, also in Columbia.

At the age of 13, Ms. Mearns trained with Patricia McBride at Dance Place, the School of North Carolina Dance Theatre, in Charlotte. She continued her studies at age 14 with Stanislav Issaev at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities in Greenville.

Ms. Mearns entered the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, full time in the fall of 2001. In the fall of 2003 Ms. Mearns became an apprentice with New York City Ballet.

As an apprentice, Ms. Mearns danced a featured role in Michel Fokine’s Chopiniana, performed by SAB as part of New York City Ballet’s 2004 winter season.

In June of 2004, Ms. Mearns joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet.

In March of 2006 she was promoted to soloist and in June 2008, Ms. Mearns was promoted to principal dancer. Learn more about Sara at her website, saramearns.com.

Roman Mejia // Artist-In-Residence

Roman Mejia was born in Fort Worth, Texas and began studying ballet at age 3 with his mother and father. At age 13, he entered the Mejia Ballet Academy. Mr. Mejia attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet, New York City Ballet’s official school, in 2014 and 2015 before entering SAB full-time for the 2015 winter term. In August 2017, Mr. Mejia became an apprentice with NYCB, and he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in November 2017. Mr. Mejia was promoted to the rank of soloist in October 2021.  In 2019, Dance Magazine featured Mr. Mejia as one of their “25 To Watch” picks and he became a recipient of the prestigious Princess Grace Foundation – USA Dance Fellowship. In 2020, Mr. Mejia was named a Clives Barnes finalist. His repertory includes leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon among many others. Most recently, he starred in Twyla Tharp’s TWYLA NOWand Tiler Peck’s Artists at the Center at New York City Center. Mr. Mejia will be Vail Dance Festival’s 2022 Artists in Residence. 

Miriam Miller

Miriam Miller was born in Iowa City, Iowa, and began her dance training in 2001 at University of Iowa Youth Ballet and School of Dance under the direction of Kathryn Smith. In 2006, she began studying with Sarah Barragan at City Ballet of Iowa.

Ms. Miller attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, in 2011 and 2012, enrolling as a full-time student during the 2012 winter term.

In January 2015, she became an apprentice with NYCB. While still an apprentice with NYCB, Miller performed the role of Titania in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as featured roles in Balanchine’s Harlequinade (La Bonne Fée) and Peter Martins’ Swan Lake (Princess). She joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in January 2016.

Ms. Miller was promoted to the rank of soloist in January 2022.

HONORS

Ms. Miller is a recipient of a 2017 Princess Grace Award.

_{Photo © Paul Kolnik}

Dario Natarelli

Dario is a 2016 graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music & Art and Performing Arts and a 2020 Cum Laude graduate of The Pennsylvania State University’s BFA Musical Theatre Program. Credits include: Vail Dance Festival (2016-present), Tap Dance Kid (NYCC Encores!), DanceCaptain & Swing for Justin Peck (Broadway Labs), Tappin’ Thru Life with Maurice Hines (Off-Broadway), Funny Girl (Broadway Pre Production), The Radio City Christmas Spectacular(National Tour), A Salute to the Presidential Scholars at The Kennedy Center directed by Debbie Allen, Breaking Brooklyn (film), Vail Dance Festival (performer/soloist), Assistant Choreographer to Michelle Dorrance at Vail Dance Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, national commercials, and more. Dario is a tap dance teacher at the acclaimed Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Dario is grateful to all of his teachers and supporters, at Penn State and throughout his training -especially his late tap dance mentor, Robert L. Reed, who always reminded him to “Respect the dance.”

Justin Peck

Justin Peck is a Tony Award-winning choreographer, director, and dancer based in New York City. He is currently the acting Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet.  Peck began choreographing in 2009 at the New York Choreographic Institute.  In 2014, after the creation of his acclaimed ballet Everywhere We Go, he was appointed as Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet.  He is the second person in the institution’s history to hold this title.

Peck joined New York City Ballet as a dancer in 2006.  As a performer, Peck has danced a vast repertoire of works by George Balanchine , Jerome Robbins, Alexei Ratmansky, Benjamin Millepied, Christopher Wheeldon, and many others.  In 2013, Peck was promoted to the rank of Soloist, performing through 2019 with the company. Peck has created over 40 ballets– 20 of those for New York City Ballet.  His works have been performed by Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, LA Dance Project, Dutch National Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Pennsylvania Ballet, to name a few.  His collaborators include composers Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner (The National), Dan Deacon, Caroline Shaw, M83; visual artists Shepard Fairey, Marcel Dzama, John Baldessari, George Condo, Steve Powers, and Jules de Balincourt; and fashion designers Mary Katrantzou, Humberto Leon (Kenzo, Opening Ceremony), Tumori Chisato, and Dries Van Noten.

In 2014, Peck was the subject of the documentary Ballet 422, which followed him as he created NYCBallet’s 422nd original dance, Paz de la Jolla. In 2015, his ballet Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes won the Bessie Award for Outstanding Production. Peck directorial and choreographic work on film includes 20th Century Fox feature film RED SPARROW (starring Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton), the New York Times GREAT PERFORMERS Series (starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke Emma Stone, Glenn Close, and others), and the remake Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film WEST SIDE STORY.

Peck choreographed the 2018 Broadway revival of Carousel.  The production was directed by Jack O’Brien and stars Jesse Meuller, Joshua Henry, & Renée Fleming.  Peck has been awarded the National Arts Award (2018), the Golden Plate Honor from the Academy of Achievement (2019), and the Tony Award for his choreography on Broadway’s Carousel (2018).

Tiler Peck

Tiler Peck has been a Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet since 2009. She made her Broadway debut at age 11 as Gracie Shinn inThe Music Man and was seen on Broadway as Ivy Smith in the Tony Nominated On The Town.She originated the title role in Susan Stroman’s newest musical Little Dancer at the Kennedy Center and is attached to star in the Broadway production. Tiler made her choreographic debut at the Vail Dance Festival in 2018 and has gone on to choreograph and appear in episodes of Tiny Pretty Things and Ray Donovan, and she recently choreographed the box office smash hit film John Wick 3. She has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars, the Kennedy Center Honors and Live From Lincoln Center’s The Nutcracker and Carousel. As a guest star, she was the first ballerina ever to appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In film she has starred in “Ballet Now”, a Hulu documentary that followed her as she became the first woman to curate and star in The Los Angeles Music Center’s presentation of BalletNOW, “Ballet 422”, “A Time for Dancing”, and “Donnie Darko”. She is a recipient of the Princess Grace Statue Award, The Dance Magazine Award and was named one of Forbes 30 under 30.

To keep the dance world connected during the pandemic, Tiler developed a free ballet class #TurnItOutWithTiler that airs on her Instagram. She is the designer of Tiler Peck Designs for Body Wrappers, a studio-to-streetwear clothing line and is also the designer of the capsule collection Tiler Peck X STATESIDE in collaboration with the popular Los Angeles-based clothing company. She has released two children’s books with Simon & Schuster, Katarina Ballerina and Katarina Ballerina & The Victory Dance.

@tilerpeck

Unity Phelan

Unity Phelan is a Principal Dancer with New York City Ballet. Born in Princeton, NJ, she began her dance training at age 5 at the Princeton Ballet School and came to the School of American Ballet in 2009. Named an NYCB apprentice in 2012, she joined the NYCB corps de ballet in 2013, was promoted to Soloist in 2017, and to Principal Dancer in 2021. Her repertory includes leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Robert Binet, William Forsythe, Lauren Lovette, Peter Martins, Andrea Miller, Matthew Neenan, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, Jamar Roberts, and Christopher Wheeldon. 

Caili Quan // Artist-In-Residence

Calvin Royal III

Calvin Royal III began his formal dance training at the Pinellas County Center for the Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida under the direction of Suzanne Pomerantze􀀁 and Patricia L. Paige. He was a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix Competition, and was awarded the Ethan Stiefel Scholarship to train at American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT) Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in 2006. Royal joined ABT II in 2008, ABT main company as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2011. In September 2017 he was promoted to Soloist and in September 2020 Royal was appointed Principal Dancer with ABT. He has soared across stages worldwide with ABT in productions of Swan Lake, Manon, Fancy Free, Apollo, Giselle, and Romeo & Juliet. Royal has been featured in works by Twyla Tharp, Christopher Wheeldon, Alexei Ratmansky, Kyle Abraham, Justin Peck, Wayne McGreggor, Michelle Dorrance, Jamar Roberts, and many more. He was nominated for numerous awards including the Clive Barnes Award, the winner of the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in 2014, a $50,000 grant to further his artistic development working with private coaches at the Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet and Royal Danish Ballet. Royal was named the July 2020 cover star of Dance Magazine, and continues to expand his outreach in mentorship as well as conducting masterclass series for young dance students worldwide. Royal is represented by IMG Models and has been featured in global campaigns for GAP, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Canali, starred in the 2019 Pirelli Calendar alongside Misty Copeland, and named the 2020/21 Artist-in-Residence here at the Vail Dance Festival.

Follow Calvin on Instagram @calvinroyaliii and to learn more visit calvinroyaliii.com.

Cory Stearns

Born on Long Island, New York, Cory Stearns began his classical training at the age of five with Mme. Valia Seiskaya at the Seiskaya Ballet. At age fifteen, he participated in the Youth America Grand Prix and was offered a full scholarship to The Royal Ballet School in London. Stearns performed in Madrid, Moscow, Milan, Düsseldorf and London while at The Royal, and appeared with Kylie Minogue in her music video Chocolate in 2004. Upon graduating from The Royal Ballet School with honors, he received, for the second year consecutively, the Dame Ruth Railton Award for excellence in dance. Stearns joined the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in September 2004, the main Company as an apprentice in January 2005 and became a member of the corps de ballet in January 2006. He was appointed a Soloist in January 2009 and a Principal Dancer in January 2011. Stearns won the 2009 Erik Bruhn Prize for best male dancer.

KJ Takahashi

KJ Takahashi is a member of New York City Ballet’s corps de ballet. He was born in Dallas, Texas, and began his ballet training at age 8 at Ballet Academy of Texas and continued his training at Mejia Ballet International and Ballet Tech. He entered the School of American Ballet in 2016, was named an apprentice in 2019 joined the Company in 2021. His repertory includes leading roles in works by George Balanchine, Kyle Abraham, Sidra Bell, and Lauren Lovette. 

Devon Teuscher

Devon Teuscher began her ballet training at the age of nine under Deanna Doty of the Champaign Urbana Ballet Academy in Champaign, IL.  When her family moved to Vermont, she continued her training at the Vermont Ballet Theatre School in Essex, Vermont under the direction of Alex and Kirsten Nagiba.  At the age of eleven, Teuscher attended The Kirov Ballet Academy summer intensive.  She also attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet summer intensive on full scholarship for two years.

From 2002 to 2006 Teuscher attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive, and was a National Training Scholar from 2003 to 2006.  In January 2005 at the age of 15, Teuscher relocated to New York City to dance at American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School on full scholarship.

Teuscher joined ABT Studio Company in 2006.  She joined American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in December 2007 and the corps de ballet in June 2008.   She became a Soloist in August 2014 and Principal Dancer in September 2017.

Teuscher was nominated for the Clive Barnes Award in 2014 and received the Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship in 2016.

Byron Tittle

At a young age, Byron Tittle began tap dancing with David Rider and the American Tap Dance Foundation in his hometown of New York. Determined to be a multi-faceted artist, he trained weekly at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in other disciplines: ballet, jazz, hip-hop foundations, modern, and dancehall. Byron is a co-captain of Dorrance Dance, touring with the tap dance company for the last decade. He is humbled to have been a featured dancer with Hugh Jackman’s 2019 “The Man, The Music, The Show,” touring The United States, Australia, and New Zealand, and in Jon M. Chu’s soon-to premiere feature film “In the Heights.” He is also a recipient of a 2019 Princess Grace Foundation Dance Fellowship Award.

Melissa Toogood

Melissa Toogood is a New York Dance and Performance Award winning Performer. She is Dancer, Rehearsal Director and Artistic Associate for Pam Tanowitz Dance. Melissa was a member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, has taught Cunningham Technique internationally since 2007, is a 2013 & 2015 Merce Cunningham fellow, and is an official stager for the Merce Cunningham Trust. She has performed with Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion, Kimberly Bartosik, Wally Cardona, Rosie Herrera Dance Theater, Stephen Petronio Company, Miro Dance Theater, Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Reiner, Sally Silvers, Michael Uthoff Dance Theater, Christopher Williams, The Bang Group:Tap Lab, and others. She has made work for New York Theater Ballet, Boston Ballet, Vail Dance Festival and created her own show titled Set A|Part in collaboration with her sister Jodie Toogood and visual artist Kenneth E. Parris III. Dance Magazine named her in their 25 to watch (2014) and featured her in the inaugural episode of Behind the Curtain. Toogood is originally from Sydney, Australia, is a proud mom, and holds a B.F.A in Dance Performance from New World School of the Arts, Miami, FL.

Matthew “Megawatt” West

Matthew West (Dancer) started dancing at the age of sixteen in Queens. Megawatt is an active part of NYC’s underground dance community and teaches youth classes throughout the five boroughs. Megawatt is a regular guest artist with Dorrance Dance and can be seen in Baz Lurhman’s Netflix series The Get Down and battling with his crew, the Mellow Animals.