Dance Makers

Department of Theatre and Dance 

Daniel Gurskis, Dean, College of the Arts

Kathleen Kelley, Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance 

It is with such pleasure that we welcome you to Through The Thick - DanceMakers 2025 . 

The works this year call forward a reckoning and urgency of expression. They range from meditations on connection, to examinations of artistic rebellion; from intimate self-portraits to loud calls to action. As writer and activist Katherine Anne Porter wrote in 1940:

In the face of such shape and weight of present misfortune, the voice of the individual artist may seem perhaps of no more consequence than the whirring of a cricket in the grass, but the arts do live continuously [...] They are what we find again when the ruins are cleared away.

We are delighted to support this year’s creators, especially at a moment when art-making feels more vital than ever.

With love,

Leah and Stefanie

Artistic Biographies 

Heidi Berry is from Hagerstown, Maryland, and found her love for performing and creating at a young age. She is now in her third year at MSU, pursuing her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. She has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Stefanie Batten Bland, Christian Von Howard, Maxine Steinman, Jessie Diamuro Marks, and various student choreographers. With improvisation and individualized movement at the core of her beliefs, she seeks to find new ways of abstracting human experiences through dance. Heidi hopes to expand her artistic knowledge in ways that challenge the body and mind. 

Laura Barbieri (Fair Lawn, NJ) began dancing at three years old and trained in multiple styles at MVMT Dance Center. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education with a concentration in PreK-12 education at Montclair State University. At MSU, Laura has performed works by Michelle Manzanales, Gaspard Louis, Stefanie Batten Bland, Maxine Steinman, Meredith Rainey, Jessica DiMauro Marks, and Donna Scro Samori. She has experience teaching creative movement, ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary and is currently deepening her exploration of choreography.

Estefanía "Stef" Forero is a choreographer and performer born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. She began her training at a young age at Nuova Ballet Studio in Chía, Colombia, and later on, looking for better opportunities, she moved to the US, where she is currently pursuing her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography at Montclair State University. Estefanía has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Stefanie Batten Bland, Michelle Manzanales, Cameron McKinney, Meredith Rainey, Xián Martínez Miguel, Maxine Steinman, Jessica Dimauro Marks, Jenna Riegel and Winston Dynamite Brown among others. Estefanía continues to explore innovative ways to create and exchange ideas with fellow artists, all while staying deeply connected to her roots. She aims to engage both her audience and other makers through her work.

Hysm dives into the subconscious, where dreams are untethered by logic or reason. The intertwining of familiar and unknown blur the line between what is real and what is not.

Laila Garrett is a Junior pursuing a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Philosophy. Laila has been dancing since the age of 7. From 2011 to the present Laila joined the Usaama Dance Company, under the direction of Karen Love. Laila also attended Arts High School in Newark, New Jersey where she trained for 6 years as a Dance Major under the direction of Ronnie D. Carney and Krystal Hall-Glass. Laila has spent ample time exploring different street dance styles that she’s been brought up in as a part of the culture of her family (Jersey Club, Hip Hop, House Dance, etc.). Inspired by these styles and her strong connection to music, she’s been

immersed in a very musical environment of people who connect movement to music in all styles. Laila seeks to combine her love for dance, music, and the study of knowledge in order to create meaningful choreographic work as well as enhance her own performance quality.

Variant is an exploration of what it means to be a part of humanity. It explores the acts of relating and supporting each other through this complex reality we’re all attempting to figure out. What does it mean to honor the complexities within each other whilst honoring ourselves as individuals? Why is human reality so catastrophic? Why does the beauty of existence get lost in our will to survive? How can we foster beauty in experience?

Colin Sheeley is in his third year at Montclair State University, pursuing a BFA in Dance with a minor in Sports Nutrition. during his time, he has performed works by Stephanie Martinez, Stefanie Batten Bland, Cat Cogliandro, Maxine Steinman, and Jessie DiMaurio Marks. Sheeley also teaches colorguard and is in his second year as a staff member at Ridgewood High School. This summer, he will be on a performance contract with the World Champion Drum & Bugle Corps, The Bluecoats. 

Delise Fusaro is a third year student at MSU getting their BFA in Dance. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, they trained at the Academy of Nevada Ballet Theater before relocating to New Jersey. Fusaro has performed in works by Stephanie Batten Bland, Yusha Marie Sorzano, Maxine Steinman, and Hollis + Nattie. Fusaro has presented work at Dancemakers 2024, Koresh Choreographers Festival, and premiered a full length work with Evolve Student Theatre. They are also presenting original work entitled, “heavy focus” at the inaugural Montclair Dance Fest this May. 

Jumai Boxton is a dynamic and evolving artist currently in her second year as a Dance major in the BA program at Montclair State University. With an innate passion for movement, she has dedicated herself to exploring the intersection of dance and expression, seeking new ways to convey emotions and stories through movement. Her dance journey is rooted in a deep appreciation for both modern dance and her West African culture, allowing her to fuse tradition with innovation. She is inspired by the power of performance to connect individual and transpire empathy within the viewer. 

Nyquee Lott is a passionate dance artist and transfer student currently studying in the BFA program at Montclair State University, where they are honing their craft and expanding their artistic expression. A member of the graduating class of 2026, Nyquee’s journey in dance is marked by a deep commitment to movement, performance, and the power of storytelling through the body. Their experiences and training encompass a diverse range of styles, from contemporary to classical techniques, each informing their unique artistic voice. With an innate dedication to growth and creativity, Nyquee is excited to continue exploring new ways to connect with audiences and fellow artists alike, using dance as a vehicle for both personal expression and shared emotion. 

Jada Coughlin, from Boston Massachusetts, is a freshman at Montclair State University where she has had the privilege of working performing the works of Christian Von Howard and Jessie DiMauro. Jada is studying at Montclair to pursue her career as a choreographer and movement director for films. Additionally, Jada has had the opportunity to perform Anne Plammondon’s repertoire “Yearn To Make A Difference” as well as showcasing her own choreography at different events, including Choreo Lab at NYU.  Making her way into the film world, Jada was featured in Brian Nicholson’s concept video “Scream” and the senior film “Drift” by Karilyn Farr. 

Vanessa “Nessa” Martinez is a junior BFA dance major at Montclair State University. Martinez trained in various styles at For Dancers Only NJ, as well as attending a pre-professional training program based in NYC. Martinez has performed in venues such as Madison Square Garden, Prudential Center, NJPAC, and many more. She’s had the pleasure of working closely with and performing works by Al Blackstone, Cat Cogliandro, Elisabetta Spuria, Kristilee Maiella, Olivia Alboher, Stefanie Batten-Bland, Jessie Dimauro-Marks, Maxine Steinman, Stephanie Martinez, and many more. Martinez most recently is a company member of KM Dance Collective as well as Opus// the Company, and works with Capezio Dancewear as a Capezio Athlete. As for choreography, she debuted her first work "Clue" at MSU's Dancemakers 2024 showcase. 

Juliana Martins (Trumbull, Connecticut), a junior, is studying for her BFA in Dance with a minor in Psychology. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old and received her previous training at Rockwell Dance Center, formerly Performing Arts Center of Connecticut. At Montclair, she has had the privilege of performing works by Roderick George, Stefanie Batten Bland, Christian Von Howard, Maxine Steinman, Jessica Dimauro Marks and more! She has performed for NYCDA at the Joyce Theater, ACDA at Rutgers, Bridge for Dance NYC, along with Fall and Spring Dance, Senior Projects and Dancemaker’s at Montclair. In the previous summers, she has trained at Movement Invention Project with Jason Reese, Nicole Von Arx, and Adam Barruch and is thrilled to be training with Vim Vigor this summer. 

Obscura delves into the depths of the unconscious, inspired by Carl Jung’s concept of the shadow self. My dancers confront, embody, and overtake the chaotic, repressed parts of themselves as they go through their journey in this piece. This relationship to one's shadow brings to light the chaotic aspects of one’s psyche, eventually culminating in the process of self acceptance.

Mo Spiecker (Boiling Springs, PA), will graduate summa cum laude from Montclair State University in May of 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. They received classical ballet training under the guidance of Marcia Dale Weary at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Mo also trained with CONCRETE-Immersive Theatre Intensive, Pennsylvania Ballet Academy, Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, ABT, and Morgantown Ballet Company. They have had the honor of performing works by George Balanchine, Stefanie Batten Bland, Alan Hineline, Davit Karapetyan, Dan Karasik, Leslie Kraus, Garfield Lemonius, Stephanie Martinez, Cameron McKinney, Maxine Steinman, and Andre Tyson. Mo currently instructs ballet at Dance World Academy in New Jersey.

THEM captures Mo Spiecker’s personal journey through poetry and expressive movement, shedding light on the non-binary experience. It articulates the internal struggle of feeling uncomfortable in one’s own skin and the societal pressures to conform to others'’ expectations. By exploring the rich duality of femininity and masculinity, this work invites audiences to reflect on the importance of embracing onesone's true self. It celebrates the transformative journey toward confidence in one’s identity, appearance, and inner spirit.

Ondi Ondishin Ribon is a BFA dance major from north Jersey. Before transferring to Montclair State, Ribon attended Marymount Manhattan College for a semester. She has a lot of experience in performance, dancing in works by Cameron Mckinney, Michelle Manzanales, Paul Taylor, Maxine Steinman, Stefanie Batten Bland and Yusha Marie Sorzano. She has also performed in the Koresh Artist Showcase, as well as ACDA in the spring of 2023. Through these experiences, Ondi has also found a passion for choreography and sharing her concepts with others through performance. Her choreographic goal is to break barriers of societal standards and expectations, creating an environment of passion, communication, and acceptance; she hopes to speak to everyone in one way or another. 

Conor Kimlicko (Lighting Designer)  is a senior at Montclair State University studying Lighting as a part of the Design, Technology, and Management Program. He has found his home behind the lightboard. Previous designs include The Birds, Oklahoma!(Followspots), and Spring Dance. Over the summer he will be working as the Electrics Intern at Sharon Playhouse, and hopes to take his skills abroad as he starts his professional career. He is excited that Dancemakers 2025 is the final project he will be working on at MSU, and is grateful for this opportunity.

Allison Hancox ( Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be making her MSU production stage management debut with Dancemakers. Allison is a stage manager, IATSE stagehand, Bergen Community College Alum and founding member of Bergen Alumni Theatre. Currently a junior B.A Theatre Studies major at Montclair State, her MSU credits include assistant stage managing Jesus Christ Superstar and Oklahoma!.