OUR TEAM
Founded in 2001 by Alexandra Wells & Susan Alexander, Springboard has evolved from a three-person to a five-person, part-time, grassroots team. We are actively seeking support from donors and foundations in order to strengthen our infrastructure.
LEADERSHIP + TEAM
LEADERSHIP + TEAM
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She/Her
Founder & Artistic Director
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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(she/her)
Executive Assistant + Manager of Communications, Media & Choreographic ProgramsSBDM Dancer 2017 & 2022
Piper Makenzie Dye is a dancer, yoga instructor and arts administrator. She holds a BFA in Dance from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase with a Minor in Arts Management. Piper performed most recently for Twyla Tharp and Suzzane Ponamarenko, and was previously a dancer with ZviDance, Hard/Femme Dances, TORRENT, A-Y Dancers, and Ballet Nepantla. Piper attended Springboard in 2017 and 2022, where she performed works by Shannon Gillen, Jasmine Ellis, Crystal Pite and Kelly Ashton Todd.
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(she/they)
Program Manager
Erin McElhone is an arts administrator with over five years of experience dedicated to supporting and strengthening the contemporary dance field. Working across organizational strategy, education, and artistic operations, Erin excels at building the systems and infrastructure that allow artists to thrive. They currently serve as the Program Manager for Springboard Danse and as the Registration Specialist for Artists Simply Human, a national dance convention.
Erin's administrative journey began early, starting with work-study programs in high school. This foundation continued through internships with organizations like Moving Forward by Madi Hicks, the Dallas Arts District, Bombshell Dance Project, and The School at Jacob's Pillow. Their core professional experience was built over four years at Gibney Dance in New York City. There, they held progressive roles on the education team that ultimately led to becoming Company Manager for the Gibney Company.
Holding a BFA in Dance with a minor in Business from Adelphi University (summa cum laude), Erin combines a deep artistic understanding with operational rigor. They are passionately committed to fostering bold collaboration and thoughtfully shaping the future of dance through sustainable, artist-centered infrastructure.
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Director of Marketing & Creative DesignAlaya Oni was born and raised in Chicago, IL, where she began her studies in dance with Homer Hans Bryant. She attended Northwestern University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Dance, Art Theory/Practice and Communications. While in college, Alaya expanded her love of movement, and became a scholarship student at the Lou Conte Dance Studio in 2012, under the mentorship of the late Claire Bataille. She has since relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her career in the dance and entertainment industry.
Alaya is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative, currently working as a freelance dancer, model, photographer/retoucher, graphic designer and media director. She has worked with many non-profit arts organizations including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Dance Resource Center, The LA Philharmonic & The Hollywood Bowl, and Donna Sternberg & Dancers. Fascinated by artistic modalities and their various forms, Alaya also considers herself a curator. Whether it’s her capsule wardrobe, the magic of a meticulously curated playlist, or a collection of great literature, she is not only creating art, but constantly curating a world full of expression and inspiration.
Photo by: Alaya Oni
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(she/her)
Financial Strategy & Management Consultant
Jessie Kardos Ely is a performing arts administrator and educator passionate about advancing sustainability and equity in the dance field. With over a decade of experience, she has developed expertise in dance education, financial management, and programming designed for pre-professional and professional dance artists.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Jessie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tulane University in New Orleans with BA degrees in Dance and French. After graduating, she performed and presented dance works across New York City while discovering a passion for arts administration. She gained experience at Gibney Dance, where, as Director of Education, she curated and led internationally recognized dance training programs encompassing weekly classes, professional development workshops, full-time training, international visa programs, and more. Jessie first collaborated with Springboard Danse at Gibney as the organizational partner lead for the first SpringboardX NYC workshop in 2016.
In 2023, Jessie earned an MA in Arts Administration at the Weissman School of Arts and Science at CUNY Baruch College. She worked with Springboard Danse on her consultancy-based thesis, "Re-envisioning a Multinational Dance Nonprofit Through a Program Budget Model: Springboard Danse Montréal & Friends of Springboard Danse," which received an honorable mention for the Marlow Prize in Arts Leadership. This thesis evaluated the organization’s financial and programming models during its hiatus and relocation, encouraging a deeper integration of mission and finances to more sustainably and intentionally serve the Springboard community.
Now based in Washington, D.C., Jessie is thrilled to continue supporting professional dance education as a Financial Consultant with Springboard Danse. In this role, she implements strategies developed through her thesis, applies her expertise and education, and supports the organization's overall financial management.
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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.
SUMMER PROJECT TEAM
SUMMER PROJECT TEAM
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(she/her)
Technical Director & Lighting DesignerAndrea Sala is a Latina Lighting Designer and Production Manager currently based in Boston, MA. She holds a BFA in Lighting Design and Production from Boston University with a minor in Electrical Engineering. She is currently the Production Manager at The Theater Offensive, Boston’s oldest LGBTQ+ theater, as well as freelancing as a Lighting Designer and Production Manager around the Northeast Coast. Andrea has had the privilege to work as a lighting designer, production manager and more with incredible companies and institutions, including Dance Theater of Harlem, The Theatre Offensive, Urban Bush Women, Springboard Danse, Jacob’s Pillow, The Yard, Central Square Theater, Fresh Ink Theater Company, and multiple local dance/theater artists at the Boston Center for the Arts and New York City Arts. She is also a freelance dancer and performer.
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Choreographic Programs CoordinatorKevin J. Shannon is a freelance artist, dance educator, artistic facilitator, stager, and potter based in Chicago, Illinois. He received his early training at the Baltimore School for the Arts, the School of American Ballet, and Miami City Ballet, among others. He is a graduate of The Juilliard School and is a Springboard Danse alumnus.
Shannon was a member of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for fifteen seasons, performing principal roles in works by Kyle Abraham, Aszure Barton, Alejandro Cerrudo, Peter Chu, Sharon Eyal, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, Victor Quijada, and Twyla Tharp, among many others. He continues to dance with choreographers, artists, and companies such as Brian Brooks, FLOCK, Hélène Simoneau Danse, Danielle Russo, kNonAme/Roderick George, and Robyn Mineko Williams and Artists.
As an educator, Shannon has led and programmed the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Summer Intensive and was faculty for the Gibney Pro Certificate Program in New York City under the direction of Alexandra Wells. He is currently a guest teacher for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, José Limón Dance Company, Gibney Company, Chicago Movement Collective, The Joffrey Ballet School, and Studio High Tek 22.
Shannon has been a visiting artist for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a guest educator for the University of Chicago. He has staged the works of Robyn Mineko Williams, served as Dance Captain for Hélène Simoneau Danse, and taught repertoire and master classes for FLOCK around the world. In 2022, he worked as the artist liaison for Springboard Danse Montréal, where he facilitated a community of 120 dancers, 10 principal companies, 4 emerging artists, 2 resident choreographers, and 1 fellow from around the world, In 2025 he was the Resident, Fellow, and Emerging Choreographer Coordinator and a guest teacher for Springboard Danse Pittsburgh.
Shannon has been awarded the 2023 Grum Fellowship at The Williston School in ceramics and choreography. In 2025, Shannon was invited to choreograph a new work for the Senior Dancers of Northwestern University. He is a proud certified IMAGE TECH for Dancers™ teacher.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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
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
ARTISTIC CONSULTANTS
ARTISTIC CONSULTANTS
Our Artistic Consultants are Springboard artists who have contributed to our programming through the many iterations of their flourishing careers as movers, makers, and facilitators.
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KYLE ABRAHAM (Founder and Artistic Director, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham) He/Him/His: has been profiled in Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue & Vogue UK, W Magazine, among many others, and is the proud recipient of a National Dance Critics Award for Choreography (2024 – Are You in Your Feelings / Alvin Ailey Dance Theater); Dance Magazine Award (2022); and The MacArthur Fellowship (2013). In addition to performing and developing new works for his company, Abraham has been commissioned by several renowned companies, including American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet, and The Royal Ballet. In 2024, Abraham premiered three celebrated new works, 'Cassette Vol. 1' in Hamburg, Germany; 'Mercurial Son' for American Ballet Theater, and most recently, 'Dear Lord, Make Me Beautiful' for The Park Avenue Armory -- The New Yorker called “An extraordinary dance memoir."
Civic Light Opera Academy and the Creative and Performing Arts High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He continued his dance studies in New York, receiving a BFA from SUNY Purchase, an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from Washington Jefferson College. He has served as a visiting professor in residence at UCLA’s World Arts Cultures in Dance program from 2016 to 2021. And in 2021, he was named the Claude and Alfred Mann Endowed Professorship in Dance at The University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. Abraham currently sits on the advisory board for Dance Magazine and the artist advisory board for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. In 2020, he was selected to be Dance Magazine’s first-ever Guest Editor.
For more information visit, aimbykyleabraham.org/
Photo by Tatiana Wills
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Chelsea Bonosky LMSW is an artist, activist, and psychotherapist. She received her initial training from the Draper Center for Dance Education, BFA, New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and her MSW from The Fordham Graduate School of Social Service.
She is honored to continue to work alongside Adam Barruch since their initial meeting at Springboard Danse in 2009. Together, they have created and performed in works nationally and internationally- in theaters, festivals, site-specific spaces, and renowned films. Chelsea regularly assists Barruch in his teaching (Dynamic Sequencing) and company/ school commissions. Chelsea’s artistic credits include Punchdrunk’s “Sleep No More,” Stephen Petronio, Margie Gillis, Sarah Elgart, and Joshua Beamish. Dance film credits include the Lincoln Center Dance for Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival.
Chelsea is an LMSW/ psychotherapist. Her areas of focus are women's reproductive rights, sexual trauma, and conflict resolution. She believes in advocating for change, aims to inspire action, and aggravates conversations for reflection and contemplation. Chelsea is also a visual artist, with her work being curated in prominent New York City galleries on the Lower East Side, featured in influential art magazines, and recently accepted into the Edward Hopper House Spring Exhibition.
Chelsea is a counselor in the Special Victims Division at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Before this position, Chelsea was a High-Impact Practices Coordinator for the United Nations Foundation's FP2030. She was part of the logistical team, coordinating the Postpartum and Post-abortion Family Planning Workshop in Nepal. She has spoken and been awarded at the New York Academy of Medicine, highlighting the importance and benefits of movement interventions for youth, youth relationships, consent, and mental health. Chelsea is a published author, writing and bringing awareness to the field of child sex trafficking and the mental health required to combat this trauma.Chelsea is honored to be a member of The Margie Gillis Legacy Project. Performing alongside prominent American and Canadian artists, she participates in Ms. Gillis’ Conflict Transformation Workshops, which utilize Margie’s influential and forward-thinking method of transformation through dance and its powerful impact on social change.
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PETER CHU (he/him) is a movement artist whose versatile roles encompass director, choreographer, stager, performer, educator, and mentor. Driven by a deep curiosity and a passion for learning, he generously shares his experiences and insights with others. Chu's love for the arts fuels his vivid imagination and creative expression.
Born in the Bronx and raised in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Peter’s interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine deepened his understanding of his Chinese identity and influenced his artistic and individual values. This healing approach informs his creative process and shapes the movement experiences he cultivates.
Peter began his journey as a competitive gymnast and further developed his artistry at Dussich Dance Studio. As a BFA student at The Juilliard School, he honed his technical skills and embarked on a path in choreography, earning the Hector Zaraspe Prize for Choreography upon graduation.
With over two decades of experience in both concert and commercial dance, Chu has performed with esteemed companies such as Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Crystal Pite's Kidd Pivot, EZdanza, Aszure Barton and Artists, and Celine Dion's A New Day. His choreography has been featured in numerous organizations, including Ballet Augsburg, Backhaus Dance, Charlotte Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Cirque du Soleil, DART Dance Company, Gibney Dance Company, Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Kansas City Ballet, MØN festival,and the Paul Taylor Dance Company. In 2008, he founded the project-based company chuthis., where he explores innovative lighting and sound alongside live contemporary movement, delving into the depths of his identity and artistry as a director, choreographer, and educator.
Chu's accolades include the 2010 A.C.E. Capezio Award and recognition as the 2008 Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival choreographer. In 2018, he was honoured with the Harvard Blogett Award for Distinguished Artist for his impactful creative work at the Theater, Dance, and Media Department at Harvard University, where he served as a guest faculty member for three years. He has also been the Rehearsal Director for Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and served as Guest Rehearsal Director for NDT1.
Currently based in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Peter travels frequently for freelance choreographic commissions and teaching opportunities. He is honoured to be a Choreographic Mentor for one of the Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellows and the Upsurge Dance Festival. This past summer, chuthis. enjoyed a residency at Orsolina 28, where they premiered a new work and chuthis. ended dancing a mini tour to Germany and the Netherlands featuring a duet evening called SHIFT. chuthis. concluded the summer with a residency at Perry Mansfield in Steamboat Springs, CO.
As the director of chuthis. Perspectives and co-director with Jess Hendricks of Creating WAVES, Chu continues to push the physical boundaries of dance, earning respect as a sought-after artist in the industry.
For more information visit, peterchuthis.net
Photo by Levi Walker
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Materials Coming Soon
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Kate Hilliard creates through movement, digital media, written, and spoken word. Her performances look closely at narratives of loss and transformation. In an effort to understand her own relationship to the moment, she embodies states of being that are slow and attuned to an inevitable process of change. Hilliard’s desire to code in many areas of expression has led to a practice that is deeply collaborative and rooted in immersive discovery. Her work has been presented in The United State, Germany, Mexico, Australia, and Canada.
For more information, katehilliard.net/about.html
Photo by Sean Rees
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Stephan Laks is a Canadian dance artist who works as a director, curator, and consultant for a wide range of dance organizations. He works as the Dance Manager of the Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (OBV), in collaboration with Jan Vandenhouwe (Artistic Director of OBV) and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Artistic Leader of Dance of OBV). Since 2020, Stephan has been part of the curating council for Dansens Hus (Sweden’s International Scene for Contemporary Dance) in Stockholm. He is a frequent collaborator with the choreographer and director Alan Lucien Øyen, working in a variety of roles with Øyen’s company Winter Guests and related projects.
Stephan worked as rehearsal director with the GoteborgsOperans Danskompani from 2010 – 2018, assisting and collaborating with many of the dance and theatre world’s leading contemporary artists, makers, and directors. He has also worked in a similar capacity with the Royal Swedish Ballet, Sasha Waltz & Guests, and the Staatsballett Berlin. He worked in collaboration with Emily Molnar at the Banff Centre as the program head of the Creative Gesture dance program from 2016 to 2018, developing professional development programs with invited artists including Fernando Melo, Alan Lucien Øyen, Michael Schumacher, Jermaine Spivey, and Ruth Little.
During his time as a student at the Juilliard School, Stephan was a participant in Springboard’s first two years of existence and was contracted as a dancer with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens from exposure through the program. Since 2011, he has participated as a Principal Company repetiteur and choreographer. He strongly believes in the mission, culture, and energy of Springboard, as well as its’ relevance to the dance world.
He lives with his family between Berlin and Belgium.
For more information visit, www.stephanlaks.com
Photo by Jubal Battisti
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Brooklyn-born dancer-choreographer, educator, and artist organizer, Alanna Morris began their dance career as a company member with TU Dance (St Paul, Minnesota) under artistic directors Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands. From 2007-2017 they were featured in works by Kyle Abraham, Gioconda Barbuto, Camille A. Brown, Ronald K. Brown, Greggory Dolbashian, Katrin Hall, Francesca Harper, Dwight Rhoden, and Uri Sands. In 2020 they served as the company's Artistic Associate, offering administrative and artistic guidance to the company. For over 10 years Alanna spearheaded youth dance education at TU Dance, developing the current curriculum for the youth dance program for ages 5-9 years old.
In 2017 Alanna left TU Dance to further develop her creative voice. In 2018 they were named one of Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch!" In 2019, Minneapolis City Pages’ Artist of the Year and Best Choreographer for their solo, “Yam, Potatoe an Fish!” The project also made Minneapolis’ Star Tribune’s Best of Dance in 2018. Alanna is the recipient of fellowships from The McKnight Foundation in Dance (2015), Choreography (2021) and Springboard Danse Montréal (2022). In 2022, Alanna Morris’ Black Light a re:Search performance was named Best of 2022 by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
For more information visit, https://iamartss.com/bio
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SHAMEL PITTS (Brooklyn, NY), a 2024 MacArthur Fellow & 2024 Doris Duke Artist Award recipient, is a performance artist, choreographer, conceptual artist, dancer, spoken word artist, director, and teacher. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Pitts began his dance training at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and, simultaneously, at The Ailey School. He is a first prize winner in The National Arts Competition from YoungArts. Pitts went on to receive his BFA in dance from The Juilliard School and was awarded the Martha Hill Award for excellence in dance. He began his dance career in Mikhail Baryshnikov’s Hell’s Kitchen Dance and BJM_Danse Montreal. Pitts danced with Batsheva Dance Company for seven years under the artistic direction of Ohad Naharin and is a certified teacher of Gaga movement language. Pitts has created a triptych of award-winning multidisciplinary performances, with his arts collective TRIBE, known as his “BLACK series,” which has toured extensively to many festivals & performance spaces around the world since 2016. He is an adjunct professor at The Juilliard School, a guest faculty member at Princeton University, New York University, Wesleyan University and has been an artist in residence at Harvard University. He is the recipient of a Princess Grace Award in Choreography, a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow, a Jacob’s Pillow artist-in-residence, and a 2020 Guggenheim Fellow.
For more information, visit www.shamelpitts.com or www.itsatribe.org.
Photo by Scott Shaw
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Ami Shulman is a movement artist - a rehearsal director, an artistic advisor, somatic practitioner, and an educator who likes to straddle the worlds between art and science.
Ami has choreographed for the National Theatre of London, UK; the Shakespeare Theatre Company, and has co-created works with the Cirque Du Soleil, assisting creations with the National Ballet of Canada; Ballet BC, and Grand Theatre Junction. Ami has been Artistic Director-on-tour for Compagnie Marie Chouinard, an Associate Choreographer to Maxine Doyle, and has staged works for Johannes Wieland. Ami has been a rehearsal director for several companies including the GöteborgsOperans Danskompani.
Ami has taught throughout Europe, Canada, and the USA including for Nederlands Dans Theater; Venice Biennale; the Juilliard School; Jacob’s Pillow; National Theatre School of Canada; BANFF Centre for the Arts; Staatstheater Kassel; Cedar Lake; Sleep No More; B12; CODARTS; Alvin Ailey School; Hollins University; Boston Conservatory; School of Toronto Dance Theatre; Munich DANCEPAT; Tanzfabrik; EDCMTL; Circuit-est; Concordia University; UCSD; Brown University and UQAM amongst others and she is an Artistic Associate of the Springboard Project Montreal/New York.
Ami has an invested interest in the healing arts, she is a Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, trained in Hypnotherapy, and has studied Cranio Sacral therapy. She has presented her work at conferences internationally including Brain, Body, Cognition at Oxford University; the International Society for Gesture Studies at the Nouvelle Sorbonne University; Embodied Design in Interaction at the Utrecht University; Neurofrontiers 2021; FutureLife 2021; MACAS 2022; RITMO 2022 and Embodied Design Research Lab at UC Berkeley. Ami has co-written articles on embodied cognition and co-authored the anthology Back to the Dance Itself.
For more information visit, amishulman.com
Photo by Mats Backer
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Bret Yamanaka is a New York City-based multi-disciplinary artist with experience in movement direction and immersive performance. He first attended Springboard Danse in 2018 and has since worked alongside Alexandra as Rehearsal Director for the Gibney Professional Development Program and now Artistic Consultant for Springboard Danse. Prior, he was a Guest Teaching Artist and Teaching Fellow at The Juilliard School in their Dance Division under Alicia Graf Mack, where he taught modern repertory, anatomy, and kinesiology. He presented work at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in collaboration with The Juilliard School and Paul Taylor American Modern Dance, and in 2023, he choreographed and directed RE/Pair, an immersive circus experience. As a performer, he has worked for Akram Khan and was most recently part of the closing cast of Punchdrunk’s critically acclaimed off-Broadway production Sleep No More.