Spring Dance

Department of Theatre and Dance 

Daniel Gurskis, Dean, College of the Arts

Kathleen Kelley, Chair, Department of Theatre and Dance 

Artistic and Cast Biographies 

Stefanie Batten Bland (Rehearsal Director), the global maker, and 2023 Dance Magazine Cover Artist, is a captivating figure straddling the artistic scenes of NYC and France. Born to a jazz composer father and a writer mother, she was raised in SoHo when it was led by artists. Batten Bland’s work profoundly explores contemporary and historical cultural symbolism, cultural identifiers, and their influence on our global human relationships. SBB creates immersive worlds that answer the quest for belonging. As the Artistic Director for Company SBB, Creative Casting & Movement Director for Life & Trust,Performance-Identity liaison for Sleep No More, and the Artistic Director of the inaugural 2024 immersive theatre summer intensive CONCRETE, she is constantly pushing the boundaries of interactive art. SBB’s work has been recently presented at BAM Next Wave, Spoleto Festival in Italy, Lincoln Center, and Bates Dance Festival, and she has recently received Creative Capital, Dance Advancement Fund, NYSCA, and NEFA grants—she is an assistant professor at Montclair State University. IG: @sbb_land

Ansel Brasel (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be a part of this project. Previous MSU stage management credits include Jesus Christ Superstar (ASM), Sophisticated Ladies (ASM), and Spring Awakening (PA). Other relevant experience includes being a dresser (Oklahoma) and as a sub crew member (Fall Dance 2024). Outside of MSU, Ansel served as a PA for The Twisted Christmas Show at Green Room 42. He was also the PSM for A Christmas Carol at Nutley Little Theater. Connect with him at anselbraselsm.com!

Camille A. Brown (Choreographer) is a prolific Black choreographer whose work taps into both ancestral and contemporary stories to capture a range of deeply personal experiences and cultural narratives of African American identity. Through the medium of dance, she is successfully balancing careers in Stage, TV, and Film.  As the Artistic Director of Camille A. Brown & Dancers, her acclaimed trilogy on race and culture, including ink (2017), Mr. TOL E. RAncE (2012) and BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play(2015), has earned multiple accolades. Camille is a 4 time Tony nominated Director and Choreographer. In 2022, she made her Broadway Directorial debut with for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. The production earned 7 Tony nominations- including 2 for Brown (Best Direction and Best Choreography). The other Tony nominations she has received were for Choir Boy (2019) and Hell’s Kitchen (2024). She choreographed the Broadway revival of Gypsy starring Audra McDonald- directed by George C. Wolfe- which opened Dec 2024. Most recently, her company returned to The Joyce Theater with her latest work, I AM, after its successful premiere at Jacob’s Pillow.

Roderick George (Choreographer) was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He spent his formative years training at Ben Stevenson’s Houston Ballet Academy, The Alvin Ailey School, and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA). George was a bronze winner of the Youth America Grand Prix in 2005 and a YoungArts Winner and Presidential Scholar of the Arts in 2003. He has danced for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Basel Ballet/Theater Basel, GöteborgsOperans Danskompani, and The Forsythe Company. He has performed the work of choreographers such as Marie Chouinard, Peeping Tom, Jorma Elo, Jacopo Godani, William Forsythe, Johan Inger, Jiří Kylian, Sharon Eyal, Ohan Naharin, Benoit Swan-Pouffer, and Richard Wherlock. George was recently named a YoungArts Fellow 2021-2022, and is the recipient of the Mertz Gilmore Foundation Dancer Award 2023, Jacob’s Pillow 2024 Inaugural Fitzpatrick Award, and Princess Grace 2024.

Kathleen Kelley (Videographer) is a choreographer, media artist, and Associate Professor of Dance Technique and Technology here at Montclair, and serves as Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. She is the Artistic Director of the dance company Proteo Media + Performance, which produces art that explores the intersections between technology and the body. Her creative practice integrates the logic of dance performance into fields such as film, interactive technology, poetry, sculpture, and software design in addition to live performance. At the root of her creative work is a commitment to mutual support structures, collective practices, and feminist and anti-racist approaches to making art. At Montclair, Kelley runs the Digital Technology and Dance courses for both the MFA and BFA programs and the interdisciplinary Dance Film course for filmmakers and dancers. Additionally she teaches contemporary dance technique and has created numerous dance works and dance films featuring MSU dance students. She has developed the Sweden Study Abroad program and serves as the chair of the Office of Faculty Advancement's Advisory Council.

Stephanie Martinez, (Choreographer) a Chicago-based choreographer, takes audiences on dynamic journeys driven by the kinetic energy of her award-winning works spanning 15+ years. Her creations have been commissioned by top companies including Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, BalletX, Bruce Wood Dance, Kansas City Ballet, South Chicago Dance Theatre and Milwaukee Ballet, with theater credits at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and American Repertory Theatre. Martinez’s bold, contemporary voice pushes the boundaries of ballet, crafting over 70 works for professional and collegiate programs nationwide. Recognized for her contributions as a female artist of color, she has received numerous grants and acclaim, with the Chicago Tribune hailing her as a “chameleon” of choreography. Martinez is the founder and artistic director of PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, established in July 2020.

Tori Opitz (Lighting Designer) is presently working to complete their BFA in Theatre Design, Technology, and Management with a concentration in lighting in sound from Montclair State University. Previous design credits for dance include lighting designer for Senior Dance Projects Fall 2024 directed by Christian von Howard as well as Intonation 2024 and Jump the Turnstile 2024 with Maxine Steinman. Tori was also assistant lighting designer on Senior Dance Projects Fall 2023 and Sophisticated Ladies.

Mora-Amina Parker (Répétiteur) is currently the rehearsal director and restager for Camille A. Brown and Dancers. She has performed with the Savage Jazz Dance Company, Robert Moses’ Kin, Philadanco II, Dallas Black Dance Theater, and Philadanco. In 2009 Ms. Parker was invited to perform with Camille A. Brown and subsequently joined her company. In 2014, Ms. Parker was a member of Ms. Brown’s Mr. Tol E. RanCE which received a Bessie Award for outstanding production. Ms. Parker has assisted Ms. Brown in staging her choreography for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (2019), and on the Broadway revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, nominated for seven Tony Awards including best choreography. Alongside her dedication to dance practice, Ms. Parker is a PhD candidate drafting her dissertation, The Expressive Black-Life Worlds of Talley Beatty’s Choreographies: Embodiments of Afropessimism and Afrofuturism at Temple University.

From Meredith Rainey’s (Choreographer) humble beginnings in Fort Lauderdale, a remarkable journey unfolded for this talented dancer and choreographer. Starting with a simple suggestion during his teenage years, he ventured into ballet and choreography, eventually making history as the first African American dancer in the Milwaukee Ballet. Alongside his performing career, while dancing for Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet X, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Complexions he delved into choreography, earning prestigious grants and fellowships from organizations like the PA Council on the Arts and winning accolades such as The Joyce Theater Foundation’s The A.W.A.R.D. Show! Philadelphia. His commissioned works have graced stages worldwide, showcased by renowned companies including Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet (formally known as Pennsylvania Ballet), American Repertory Ballet, Ballet X, Brandywine Ballet, Delaware Ballet, Hubbard Street 2, Incolnballet, and Phrenic New Ballet. Beyond Meredith’s choreographic achievements, he’s an adjunct professor at University of the Arts, Swarthmore College, Bryn Mawr College, and Drexel University. 

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Yusha-Marie Sorzano (Choreographer) is a dynamic performer, choreographer, and educator. As a YoungArts alumni and graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, she performed principal roles with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and toured nationally and internationally with companies such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, BODYTRAFFIC, and Camille A. Brown & Dancers. She has performed the works of choreographers including Dianne McIntyre, Kyle Abraham, Jermaine Spivey, and Spenser Theberge. Yusha was one of eleven choreographers featured in Edges of Ailey at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the first large-scale exhibition to celebrate the life, dances, influences, and enduring legacy of visionary artist and choreographer Alvin Ailey — and she is the choreographer of Wu- Tang Clan founder RZA’s A Ballet Through Mud, a poignant coming-of-age story that delves into the complexities of love, the bonds of friendship and personal growth. She is co-artistic director of Zeitgeist Dance Theatre and director of the collective Sorzano Dance Works. 

Maxine Steinman (Rehearsal Director), a performer, teacher, and choreographer, has presented her choreography in festivals and theaters in the US and abroad and has had numerous artistic residencies.  She traveled to Taiwan, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Lebanon and Cyprus to teach, choreograph and perform. Jack Anderson and Jennifer Dunning (NY Times) have called her work “ingenious” and “a jewel,” and  twice she was awarded grants from the O'Donnell-Green Foundation for Music and Dance. Maxine has  created works for, and has taught at Montclair State University, Hofstra University, Marymount Manhattan College, the Ailey School, Institut del Teatre, Centro Andaluz de Danza, University of Colima, among others.  She holds a BFA in dance (Adelphi University), an MA in Dance and Dance Education (Teachers College Columbia University), an MFA in Dance/Performance (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), and is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for the BFA Dance Division at Montclair State University.

Christian von Howard (Artistic Director/Choreographer/Rehearsal Director) is the Founder/Artistic Director of the VON HOWARD PROJECT. As an international dance artist, he has worked with many iconic artists and his own choreography has been produced in venues across the globe including Europe, South America, Asia, and throughout the US. Christian’s guest artist highlights include Rambert Dance (UK), American Dance Festival, Dance It! Festival (Bulgaria), Peridance Dance Center, to name a few. He is an Associate Professor at Montclair State University, part of the teaching faculty at the Ailey School, and served as the Northeast Regional Director of the American College Dance Association (2016-2023). He holds advanced dance degrees from Texas Christian University and Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, as well as being a Fulbright Specialist (2019-2021) for the United States. Christian is the company manager/artistic team member for Company SBB, under the direction of Stefanie Batten Bland and MoBBallet, founded by Theresa Ruth Howard.

A Philadelphia native, Hollie Wright (Choreographer) began her career at The Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco!). Going through the ranks, Miss Wright joined the training program while in high school, was selected to join Danco II, and after 2 seasons, left and finished her Bachelor’s in Dance Education. A week to the day of graduation she had her first performance with Philadanco. She has worked with and performed work by numerous choreographers at Philadanco including Elisa Monte, Ron Brown, George Faison, and Talley Beatty to name a few. Miss Wright’s Broadway debut was in Maurice Hines’ Hot Feet as a featured member in the ensemble and doing the leading role. Wright has performed The Color Purple, Sophisticated Ladies and has done television and film work including Beloved, The Great Observer, A Bridezilla Promo, and a podcast go project. With her Bachelor’s in Education, Miss Wright has been a lecturer at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has also taught and choreographed stateside and abroad. While in New York, Miss Wright has choreographed for the Universoul Circus, for Party City (commercial), and a production of Dreamgirls. Currently Miss Wright is on faculty at The Ailey School, Montclair State University and New York University. 

Taylor Yocum (Rehearsal Assistant) began her dance career in Spokane, Washington studying ballet at Spokane Ballet Studio under the direction of Sara Donnelly. She graduated in December of 2021 with a BFA from SUNY Purchase College where she attended on a merit scholarship. During her time at college, she was selected to study abroad in Beijing, China at Beijing Dance Academy. Taylor is a company member and co-rehearsal assistant of PARA.MAR Dance Theatre. Taylor also serves as the choreographic assistant to  Founder and Artistic Director, Stephanie Martinez. Yocum has previously performed with South Chicago Dance Theatre and the Lyric Opera of Chicago as “Maneulita '' and as a dancer in the production of Carmen. Taylor has choreographed for Danceworks Chicago and Thodos Dance Chicago’s New Dances, COMMON Conservatory and Trifecta Dance Festival and she was the Associate Movement Director alongside Stephanie Martinez for A.R.T’s world premiere of “The Odyssey”