Rebekka Nodhturft, Artistic Director
Rebekka is a NYC-based teaching artist who “excels at storytelling and creating different emotional levels” (CriticalDance.) Using bold movement to present clear narratives about important social issues, Rebekka specializes in a unique blend of contemporary ballet and classical modern techniques. She has performed extensively with Broadway-legend Sue Samuels’ Jazz Roots Dance Company, and tapped with Bessie-award winning Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards at the world-renowned Cotton Club. She earned acclaim touring internationally as a soloist with Keen Dance Theater, and performed at venues including Symphony Space and the National Cultural Center in Guyana. Rebekka trained with the Professional Division of The Ailey School, Orlando Ballet and Boston University, where she graduated Magna cum Laude. She earned her MFA in Dance from Montclair State University, while continuing to choreograph and teach at various studios and universities throughout the tri-state area.
Rebekka is a NYC-based teaching artist who “excels at storytelling and creating different emotional levels” (CriticalDance.) Using bold movement to present clear narratives about important social issues, Rebekka specializes in a unique blend of contemporary ballet and classical modern techniques. She has performed extensively with Broadway-legend Sue Samuels’ Jazz Roots Dance Company, and tapped with Bessie-award winning Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards at the world-renowned Cotton Club. She earned acclaim touring internationally as a soloist with Keen Dance Theater, and performed at venues including Symphony Space and the National Cultural Center in Guyana. Rebekka trained with the Professional Division of The Ailey School, Orlando Ballet and Boston University, where she graduated Magna cum Laude. She earned her MFA in Dance from Montclair State University, while continuing to choreograph and teach at various studios and universities throughout the tri-state area.
Christine Jordan, Rehearsal Director
Christine hails from the DC area and grew up dancing at her local studio, The Loudoun School of Ballet, eventually joining both their ballet and jazz companies. She attended Florida State University and graduated with a BFA in Dance. At Florida State she had the privilege of performing in several shows and working with many amazing and accomplished artists and teachers such as Gerri Houlihan, Anjali Austin, and Dan Wagoner. She also joined the Tallahassee Ballet Company under the direction of Rick McCullough. In 2012, she moved to NYC and began freelancing as a dance artist for several different companies and choreographic works, including the Umbrella Collective and TogetherWorks Dansgroep.
Christine hails from the DC area and grew up dancing at her local studio, The Loudoun School of Ballet, eventually joining both their ballet and jazz companies. She attended Florida State University and graduated with a BFA in Dance. At Florida State she had the privilege of performing in several shows and working with many amazing and accomplished artists and teachers such as Gerri Houlihan, Anjali Austin, and Dan Wagoner. She also joined the Tallahassee Ballet Company under the direction of Rick McCullough. In 2012, she moved to NYC and began freelancing as a dance artist for several different companies and choreographic works, including the Umbrella Collective and TogetherWorks Dansgroep.
Charles E. Scheland, Artistic Associate
Charles is a native of Alexandria, Virginia and grew up in Germany, Austria, and the Washington DC metropolitan area. He received formal dance training in all three countries, and is a senior in the Ailey/Fordham BFA in Dance program, pursuing a double major in Dance and Economics. Charles is an alumnus of the Contemporary Program of the School at Jacob’s Pillow. He currently dances for Michael Mao Dance and other NYC choreographers. Charles danced for Awaken Dance Theater for 2 years and served as Company Manager as well as a guest choreographer. He still assists Artistic Director Rebekka Nodhturft with administrative and company functions.You can follow him on Instagram @cschels.
Charles is a native of Alexandria, Virginia and grew up in Germany, Austria, and the Washington DC metropolitan area. He received formal dance training in all three countries, and is a senior in the Ailey/Fordham BFA in Dance program, pursuing a double major in Dance and Economics. Charles is an alumnus of the Contemporary Program of the School at Jacob’s Pillow. He currently dances for Michael Mao Dance and other NYC choreographers. Charles danced for Awaken Dance Theater for 2 years and served as Company Manager as well as a guest choreographer. He still assists Artistic Director Rebekka Nodhturft with administrative and company functions.You can follow him on Instagram @cschels.
Dancers
Asia Bonilla is from Trabuco Canyon, California. She started her formal dance training in Orange County, California under the guidance of Marlene Hall whom she assisted at the 24th Annual Conference of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) in Basel, Switzerland. Asia is currently in the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, pursuing a major in dance and a minor in mathematics. She has performed internationally at the Sydney Opera House during the 29th Youth Musicale Concert. She has danced with JUNTOS Collective and recently joined VISIONS Contemporary Ballet. Asia has supplemented her training with summer intensives at Ballet Hispánico, Joffrey Ballet, The Ailey School, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet. She has performed works by choreographers Robert Battle, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Henning Rübsam, Martin Losfnes and Andrea Guajardo, among others.
Darrigan DeMattos received her BFA from The Hartt School, University of Hartford in Dance Performance along with dual minors in Marketing & Performing Arts Management. She trained at her home studio, Marya Kennetts Dance Center in Goshen, NY. Darrigan has performed in works by Adam Barruch, Stephen Pier, Jose Limon, George Balanchine, and more. She has recently worked along side The End Ensemble, One Day Dance, and The Dance Collective. Her own choreography has been performed throughout NYC, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Shoko Fujita graduated with highest honors from Japan Women’s College of Physical Education with a Bachelor’s degree in Movement Science specializing in Dance Studies. She performed in the 10th Anniversary performance of Studio ARCHITANZ and Lausanne GALA 2013, and worked with Juanjo Arques of the Dutch National Ballet. After moving to the USA in 2012, she continued her studies at University of the Arts and Joffrey Ballet School, where she worked with the Joffrey Concert Group. As a company member, she worked with guest choreographers including Dwight Rhoden, Africa Guzman, and Larry Keigwin. She currently works with Eryc Taylor, Joyce King and Yuka Kawazu, and has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, MoMA and Whitney Museums, and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.
Marisha Johnson, originally from St. Paul, MN, trained at Classical Ballet Academy of Minnesota and the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. While in Minnesota she worked as an apprentice with Ballet Minnesota and choreographers Sally Rousse, Uri Sands, and Myron Johnson. In 2013, she graduated from The University of Iowa with a BFA in Dance and a BBA in Marketing. Since moving to New York City, Marisha has danced with JT Lotus Dance Company, N Squared Dance Company, and Awaken Dance Theater. She has also assisted Larry Keigwin with a project for Dancing In The Streets, and shown her own choreographic work in and around NYC.
Sydney Keir is from Toronto, Canada. She started her formal training at the National Ballet of Canada. She has performed with Cadence Contemporary Ballet, Karpov Ballet and Ballet Jorgen. Currently she is in her senior year of the BFA program at The Ailey School and Fordham University. She is completing a double majoring in dance and communications/media studies. Sydney has performed work by Robyn Mineko Williams, Hope Boykin, Tom Gold and James Kudelka. She has also attended intensive programs with Hubbard Street Chicago, USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, National Ballet of Canada, and the Saint Petersburg Dance Open Festival.
Mollie Sharples is a recent graduate of the Hartt School Dance Division at the University of Hartford, where she earned her BFA in Dance Performance. A native of Maine, she has trained with the Maine State Ballet and Bossov Ballet Theater at Maine Central Institute where she frequently teaches during the summer. At Hartt, she has had the opportunity to work with esteemed choreographers such as Gemma Bond, Adam Barruch, and Autumn Eckman. Mollie would like to thank her family and friends for their incredible support of her passion for dance.
