BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our Team
Our Board of Directors is comprised almost entirely of Springboard artists who have contributed to our programming at various junctures throughout their flourishing careers.
We are actively seeking new members to join us on our evolutionary journey.
SPRINGBOARD DANSE LTD
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PRESIDENT
Alexandra Wells is the Founder and Artistic Director of Springboard Danse and the creator of IMAGE TECH for dancers.
From 2017 – 2020 she served as the Director of Artist Training at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and under her direction, the Hubbard Street Professional Program (HSPro) responded to the needs of dancers entering the current job market. In 2020, Alexandra was invited to join Gibney Dance as Senior Director of Education and Company Advisor. She held both positions until May 2024, during which time she built GibneyPRO, a professional certificate program unique to Gibney Company. By curating relevant methodologies, techniques, choreographers, and mentors, these programs connect emerging artists to leaders in the field who, in turn, empower them to become advocates within an evolving professional landscape.
Alexandra mentors many emerging and established dance artists. Additionally, she serves on the Artistic Advisory Council for MOVE|NYC and is the Artist Curator for and an Honorary Board Member of The Legacy Project, which celebrates the work of iconic Canadian artist and choreographer Margie Gillis.
Alexandra was a full-time faculty member and rehearsal director at The Juilliard School for 18 years. She was also the Concept and Artistic Director of the Movement Invention Project from its inception through 2017. She was on faculty at SUNY Purchase College, served as the Interim Director of l’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec, and was the Rehearsal Director for Ballet Hispanico, all proceeding an extensive international performance career. As Principal Ballet National de Nancy dancer, Alexandra toured internationally and formed lasting partnerships with the late Rudolf Nureyev and Patrick Dupont.
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VICE PRESIDENTMerryn Kritzinger is a performer, dancer, teacher, and freelance coach, and has been dancing on Quebec, Canadian, American, European, and Asian stages since 2006. She is proud to be represented by Agence Kik. Merryn has been involved with Springboard Danse Montreal as a dancer, Assistant to the Artistic Director, and now as Vice- President of the Board.
Photo by: Marjorie Guidon
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BOARD MEMBERMargie Gillis has been at the forefront of modern dance for more than 47 years. She is an internationally acclaimed dance artist who has created a rich repertory of more than one hundred and fifty creations, solos, duets, and group works, which she and others have performed around the globe. She has received numerous awards including; Officer of the Order of Canada, Chevalier de l’Ordre du Québec, the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award Foundation, and recently an Honorary Doctorate from Concordia University. Margie has been with Springboard since its inception as a teacher, choreographer, mentor, board member, and advocate. Alexandra Wells has been a valued advisor to Ms Gillis and has assisted in the curation and founding of the Margie Gillis Legacy Project.
For more information visit, margiegillis.org
Photo by: Desdemona burgin
FRIENDS OF SPRINGBOARD LTD
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PRESIDENT
Alexandra Wells is the Founder and Artistic Director of Springboard Danse and the creator of IMAGE TECH for dancers.
From 2017 – 2020 she served as the Director of Artist Training at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and under her direction, the Hubbard Street Professional Program (HSPro) responded to the needs of dancers entering the current job market. In 2020, Alexandra was invited to join Gibney Dance as Senior Director of Education and Company Advisor. She held both positions until May 2024, during which time she built GibneyPRO, a professional certificate program unique to Gibney Company. By curating relevant methodologies, techniques, choreographers, and mentors, these programs connect emerging artists to leaders in the field who, in turn, empower them to become advocates within an evolving professional landscape.
Alexandra mentors many emerging and established dance artists. Additionally, she serves on the Artistic Advisory Council for MOVE|NYC and is the Artist Curator for and an Honorary Board Member of The Legacy Project, which celebrates the work of iconic Canadian artist and choreographer Margie Gillis.
Alexandra was a full-time faculty member and rehearsal director at The Juilliard School for 18 years. She was also the Concept and Artistic Director of the Movement Invention Project from its inception through 2017. She was on faculty at SUNY Purchase College, served as the Interim Director of l’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec, and was the Rehearsal Director for Ballet Hispanico, all proceeding an extensive international performance career. As Principal Ballet National de Nancy dancer, Alexandra toured internationally and formed lasting partnerships with the late Rudolf Nureyev and Patrick Dupont.
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BOARD MEMBER
Springboard alumni, Justin De Bernardi (he/him) stands at the intersection of artistic innovation and business acumen, leading the charge in revolutionizing the dance entertainment industry. As the co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer (2013-2022) of VIEW Dance Challenge, Justin played an instrumental role in transforming the company into a global powerhouse, recognized for its unparalleled impact on dance culture.
Under Justin's visionary leadership, VIEW emerged as the premier destination for dancers and enthusiasts alike, hosting the largest and most prestigious dance competitions, conventions, and events across Canada. Beyond its borders, Justin recognized the untapped potential for VIEW to expand its reach and impact on a global scale. With meticulous planning and strategic partnerships, he successfully scaled the company's operations to Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, ushering in a new era of international growth. Justin's efforts didn't just stop at expanding the company's footprint; he also focused on enhancing brand recognition and positioning VIEW as a trailblazer in the dance entertainment industry.
Justin's artistic prowess shines through his work as an Executive Producer & Producer, where he led the development and execution of a diverse range of creative projects. From captivating short films to compelling commercial advertisements, his projects garnered international acclaim, earning accolades at prestigious events such as the Toronto International Film Festival, MoMA, and Cannes Court Métrage.
Justin's impact extends far beyond VIEW, as he remains a passionate advocate for the arts and a driving force for positive change within the industry. Currently acting as President of the Board of Directors for Rock Bottom Movement, a Toronto-based interdisciplinary performance company, Justin is committed to supporting the organization as it continues to grow.
Currently, as Chief Operating Officer at E2, a nationally recognized EdTech charity sponsored by Google, on a pioneering mission to revolutionize the educational system, Justin is charting a course for sustainable expansion in the EdTech sector. Under his leadership, E2 is growing, expanding its user base and solidifying its position as an industry leader. In every endeavor, Justin De Bernardi embodies the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and creative excellence, leaving an indelible mark on both the business world and the arts community.
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BOARD MEMBER
Laja Field (she/her) is an international dance-theater creator, educator and performer who works in the U.S, Canada, Central America and Europe. Highlights include premiering her solo, Breaking Bread, at the b12 festival in Berlin, a commission by Project InTandem in Calgary and choreographing with GibneyPro. Her latest work, Votes 4 Mars, premiered on the Second Avenue Dance Company at NYU | Tisch where she was also an adjunct professor. As a sought-after teacher, Laja has shared her workshops widely from Mexico to Luxembourg, notably for Deltebre Dansa Festival in Spain, and Danse à la Carte’s Transformation in Montréal. Most recently, Laja served as a Performance Admissions Workshop Leader for the Place | London Contemporary Dance School.
From Salt Lake City Utah, Laja was raised in a culturally rich and food-centric household from the Côte d’Azur, France and a very Jewish Brooklyn. Laja’s education in creative dance began with Ms. Pearl under the belief that “the child is the artist.” In high school, Sofia Gorder ignited her passion into a serious pursuit that led Laja to join RawMoves Dance Company, directed by Nicholas Cendese and Natosha Washington.
Laja’s professional trajectory took flight after performing for guest artist Johannes Wieland at the University of Utah, BFA magna cum laude 2012. That same year she joined Staatstheater Kassel in Germany diving into immersive dance-theater for close to four years. She performed in six original productions by Wieland as well as work by luminaries Hofesh Shechter, Stella Zannou, and Chris Haring in a work that toured to the Volkstheater in Vienna at ImPulsTanz. Inspiring influences from that time include, Ryan Mason, Evangelos Poulanis, Michael Langenekert, Sita Ostheimer and her remarkable colleagues.
In 2015, Laja relocated to NYC as a founding member and rehearsal director with Vim Vigor. Laja quickly became faculty at both Peridance and Gibney 280 bringing a new wave of floorwork (a style influenced by Breaking and Capoeira) to the contemporary scene. With Martin Durov, LajaMartin was co-founded in 2017 and toured their work from Panama to Croatia and beyond, with their final commission on Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company in 2022. Since then, Laja has been creating independently, intertwining real life scenarios with physical ferocity, and cinematic landscapes through a human dream-like lens.Photo by: SentientForms
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VICE PRESIDENTSidra Bell is an internationally renowned choreographer and educator, commissioned most recently by New York City Ballet as the first Black woman ever to create a new work for their fall 2020 season. She is the Artistic Director of Sidra Bell Dance New York and has won several awards, most notably 1st prize at the Solo Tanz Theater Festival and a National Dance Project Production Grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts. She is currently a Master Lecturer at the University of the Arts and an Adjunct Professor at Ball State University. At Springboard she has been commissioned as a Principal Company and an Emerging Choreographer, and has been both a Friends of Springboard Board Member and Artistic Consultant since 2015.
For more information visit, sidrabelldanceny.org
Photo by: Umi Akiyoshi
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(He/Him)
Development Consultant, Friends of Springboard Board Member
Nico Rodriguez is a dedicated arts and culture management professional, who specializes in fund development, marketing/communications, and programmatic project management. Following his enrollment in Columbia College of Chicago's Dance Center, Nico redirected his commitment to the arts through employment at such celebrated Chicago institutions as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Joffrey Ballet, and the Chicago International Film Festival (Cinema Chicago). With dance as his first love, he also enthusiastically brought his skill set to River North Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theater, and Visceral Dance, amongst other dance organizations. In 2018 he relocated to New York to work for the James Beard Foundation, where he found opportunities to forge collaborations with BC/EFA's Dancers Responding to AIDS and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.
Nico currently serves as Manager and Producer for The Lilly's Lorraine Hansberry Initiative, a project that honors the prolific American playwright through the tour of a figurative sculpture in her likeness and invests in those following in her footsteps through a fellowship for women of color in their pursuit of graduate degrees in dramatic writing. In 2021 he successfully completed the Executive Program in Arts and Culture Strategy Certification from the University of Pennsylvania/National Arts Strategies. He is a champion of emerging talent across the performing arts, with a special focus on underrepresented populations and an eye toward increasing diverse representation, both in the spotlight and behind the scenes.
Nico is thrilled to support Springboard Danse as the organization moves in exciting new directions to help cultivate the future of dance, dancers, and dance-making both across the US and internationally.
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SECRETARYJenna Pollack (she/her), MUPP, MA, is a versatile professional in community-engaged research, dance, cultural organization, urban planning, and education, focusing on integrating cultural, communal, and civic infrastructure beyond capitalism. Currently, she serves as a Researcher and Organizer with the Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Jenna recently earned her second master's degree in Urban Planning and Policy from UIC, specializing in economic and community development.
For more information visit, jennapollack.com
Photo by: David Gonsier
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BOARD MEMBERAhmad Simmons is a NYC-based performing artist, director, choreographer, and producer working across theater, television, film, and digital media. He has appeared on stage and screen in productions such as “Maestro” on Netflix, “Fosse/Verdon” on FX, “Better Nate Than Ever,” and the Broadway companies of “Hadestown,” “West Side Story,” “Carousel,” and “Cats.” Ahmad serves as a founding advisory member of Black Broadway Men Inc. and on the board of Springboard Danse. He is a co-founder of the production company Arterial Projects.
Photo by: Ambe J. Williams
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BOARD MEMBERJonathan E. Alsberry is an educator, creator, and coach focused on inspiring excellence and joy with a constant dedication to the exploration of artistry and the creative process. Currently the Sr. Rehearsal Director & Director of Summer Intensives at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Jonathan, aka Jojo, received his BFA from The Juilliard School where he was first introduced to Aszure Barton and Lar Lubovitch. After graduation, he joined Aszure Barton & Artists and the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company and remains a performer, stager, and teaching artist for both companies. Since 2007 he’s been coaching and creating work at various institutions including Arts Umbrella, The Juilliard School, Springboard Danse Montreal, the University of Southern California, and The School at Jacob's Pillow.
Photo by: Steven Trumon Gray
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BOARD MEMBERLakey Wolff founded Lakey Wolff & Company after 14 years at CESD Talent Agency, New York, where she was a top agent and respected leader in her field. She focuses on the development of artists, tailoring a team to fit each client individually using her deep resources, relationships and contacts in every area of the entertainment industry. Lakey is the Founder of her own full-service company concentrating solely on artists that are ready to focus on their career in any stage. Her strong interests and experience in theatre, film, TV and dance gives Lakey a unique ability to position her elite roster of clients for success.
Photo by: Jordan Matter
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SECRETARYTroy Ogilvie (she/her) has danced for and collaborated with choreographers - Roy Assaf, Sidra Bell, Antonio Brown, Itzik Galili, Shannon Gillen, Margie Gillis, Gallim Dance, Patricia Noworol, Zoe Scofield, and Idan Sharabi; theater company - Punchdrunk (as Lady Macbeth in Sleep No More NYC); and directors - Sophie Bortolussi (McKittrick Masquerade parties), Susan Misner (Bend, FOSSE/VERDON), Kate Douglas (Extinct), and Peter Sellars (The Gospels According to the Other Mary, LA Philharmonic). She has also curated, produced, and performed in solo shows RESET (2011), PRISM (2017 - with producer Ron Black), and BITE (2019). Troy teaches Emergent Improvisation and is on faculty at SPRINGBOARDX Skills + Process, Gibney, Peridance, The Joffrey Jazz & Contemporary Program, Limon, and Adelphi University, and is a team member of The Dance Union Podcast. Most recently, Troy’s choreography has been performed by Bare Opera (Maria de Buenos Aires and Exercises on the Presence of Odradek with director Malena Dayen), and as a part of Met Live Arts (The Ninth Hour: A Beowulf Musical with director Kevin Newbury). Troy is also involved with KWTMA (Kensington-Windsor Terrace Mutual Aid), working towards ending food insecurity and houselessness. Dance Magazine’s 2011 Top 25 to Watch. Juilliard B.F.A. www.troyogilvie.com
Photo by: Franziska Strauss