artists
BALASOLE DANCE COMPANY'S roster includes artists from renowned companies such Martha Graham Dance Company, Limón Dance Company, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Parsons Dance, Lucinda Childs Dance, Les Ballets Trocadero De Monte Carlo, Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble, Philadanco, Ballet Hispanico, Elisa Monte Dance, Armitage Gone! Dance, The Isadora Duncan Dance Company, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Tulsa Ballet, Giordano Dance Chicago, San Francisco Ballet, Romanian National Ballet, as well as graduates from The Juilliard School, New York University, SUNY Purchase, The Boston Conservatory, Columbia University, Harvard University, Duke University, Ailey School/Fordham University, Barnard College, Long Island University, Rutgers University, Hunter College, University at Buffalo, Muhlenberg College, North Carolina University, East Carolina University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Marymount Manhattan College, University of the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, George Mason University, California Institute of the Arts, and University of Oklahoma. Many have received undergraduate/graduate degrees in Dance, Education, Neuroscience, Psychology, Exercise Science, Business Management, Music Technology, English Literature, Political Science, and American Studies. Some also performed in Broadway musicals West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Fame and Cabaret, Hamilton, M. Butterfly, as well as in music productions of pop artists Celine Dion and Nicki Minaj.
ALEX BAR is from Northern Virginia and was a dance major at The University Of Akron University. While in Akron, Alex performed works by Nick Carlisle, Jennifer Lehaney, Kara Stewart and Neos Dance theatre at E.J. Thomas Hall and Paul A. Daum Theatre. He has taken master classes from dance companies such as Koresh, Groundworks, Neos Dance Theatre, and Christopher K. Morgan & Artists. He also received training at NYCDA summer dance intensive, Earl Mosley's Institute (EMIA), Christopher K. Morgan summer dance intensive, a Musical theater & Tricia Miranda hip hop intensives at Broadway Dance Center and Steps On Broadway's Summer Study program. This summer his choreography was selected by Fredrick Earl Mosely to set on peers for a charity performance at Joan and Donald Schaeffer. In addition to dance, he also trained in vocals with a wide variety of repertoire within the Broadway, Classical, and Cabaret styles of music. In 2018, Alex performed with BalaSole as part of it’s Emerging & Re-Emerging Artist program. This year Alex is returning to BalaSole as a featured soloist.
ALYSSA BAR currently attends George Mason University as an elementary education major, dance minor, and special education minor. While going to school and teaching dance, she also trains in various intensives in Washington DC and New York. She performed with two professional dance companies such as Capital Movement (DC) and Kista Tucker Insights (VA). Her choreography has been selected and performed by Earl Mosely’s Institute of the Arts, DanceArtTheater and Koresh Dance Company. In 2018, Alyssa performed with BalaSole as part of its Emerging & Re-Emerging Artist program. This year Alyssa is returning to BalaSole as a featured soloist.
KAT BARK started her dance training at New York Dance Center in Chester, NY. She then continued her training at the University at Buffalo where she graduated with a BFA in Dance. While at the University at Buffalo, Kat was a part of the Zodiaque Dance Company. Throughout Kat’s college training she worked with choreographers such as Tom Ralabate, Jennifer Golonka, BAIRA, Danielle Lydia Sheather, and Rich Ashworth, as well as performed in many student choreographed pieces. She has attended Broadway Dance Cente’s Professional Semester Intensive where she worked closely with Phil Orsano, Nick Kenkel, and Rachel M. Hettinger. She also received training with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel. She also worked with Rami Be’er, Nadav Gal, David Warren, Yamit Kalef, Gali Kalef Hayun, Albert Galindo, and Nat Wilson, along with performing in the Zichri Theater.
JONALYN BRADSHAW began her formal dance training in Brockton, MA at The Gold School, formerly Sherry Gold Dance Studios where she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern andMusical Theater under the direction of Rennie Gold. She attended Marymount College in New York City studying dance before transitioning to The University of Massachusetts at Amherst under the Chancellors Talent award. While pursuing her B.F.A Jonalyn performed works by choreographers including Camille A. Brown and David Dorfman. During the summer of 2011 Jonalyn was invited to perform Pearl Primus’ “Strange Fruit” at Jacob’s Pillow during the coveted festival’s Inside/Out series celebrating African-American heritage in the Berkshires. After graduating with her B.F.A in dance from the University of Massachusetts, Jonalyn performed with Dayton Contemporary Dance’s (OH) second company under the tutelage of Shonna Hickman-Matlock and with Cleo Parker Robinson’s Second Company (CO). Her additional performance credits include Dancing with the Denver Stars, The International Association of Blacks in Dance, and Dance Africa. Further training includes Jose Mateo Ballet Theater in Boston, Massachusetts and The Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Summer Intensive in New York City. Most recently Jonalyn performed with Hard Candy Dancers, Davis Contemporary and Edgar L. Page Feel the Movement.
YU FUJIWARA, from Kanagawa, Japan graduated Japan Women's College of Physical Education.
After moving to New York, she studied at the Ailey School and Jennifer Muller/The Works. She is currently a member of Drye/Marinaro Dance Company and Brooklyn Royals Dance Team, a choreographer for A&Y duo, as well as a dance and sports teacher at Japanese Children's Academy. Her work had been performed for Collective Thread at Dixon Place, A Piece of KAKE at Brooklyn CPR, Sans Limites Dance Festival at Hudson Guild Theater. Her latest work will be performed for KoDaFe and Queensboro Dance Festival this year.
EZRA GOH trained in various dance styles, including bboying, hip hop and jazz. He started his ballet training at the age of 21, enrolling into the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Singapore. He received his BFA in Dance from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, SUNY. He currently performs with Alison Chase/Performance and has been a company member of H.T. Chen & Dancers and Kizuna Dance Company. His original work has been presented by Chen Dance Center's NewSteps Series, the Queensboro Dance Festival and the Brooklyn Ballet. Outside of dance, Ezra is a GYROTONIC® teacher trainer, a muay thai student and a photographer, all of which informs his personal movement style and choreography greatly.
MCKENZIE MULLAN grew up dancing competitively in South Jersey. At 16, she moved to
New York to attend the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet while continuing her academic studies through George Washington University Online High School. Mckenzie then attended New York University, where she received a BFA in dance from the Tisch School of the Arts and a BA in journalism from the College of Arts and Science. While at Tisch, she had the opportunity to perform works by Paul Taylor, Ron K Brown, Jeremy Nelson, and James Martin, as well as her fellow students. Mckenzie also was selected to study abroad in Berlin, where she trained with Johannes Wieland, Ayman Harper, Meg Stuart, and Dominique Duszynski and attended b12. After graduating summa cum laude, Mckenzie was a cast member for RWS Entertainment Group traveling on Holland America Line’s Eurodam before returning to New York and working as a freelance artist.
LEIGH SCHANFEIN is a freelance dancer, choreographer, and teacher as well as an independent researcher in the fields of kinesiology and biomechanics, based in NYC. She has trained and performed across the USA and abroad in ballet, modern, and contemporary dance, performing with companies such as City Ballet of San Diego, Indelible Dance, Emotions Physical Theatre, and the Park Avenue Armory, and has guested with various schools, New American Youth Ballet, Lafayette Ballet, and CONNetic Dance. She has performed in commercial productions including on stage with comedian Hannibal Buress, during Fashion Week NYC for designers such as Malan Breton, and for brands such as Xerox, Oreo, Suave, and Estee Lauder. Leigh received her M.S. degree in kinesiology with a specialization in biomechanics from Purdue University, and her B.S. degree in animal physiology and neuroscience with a minor in dance from the University of California San Diego. As a graduate student, she received multiple awards for her research with dancers including two awards through the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, and worked for five years as the research associate at Harkness Center for Dance Injuries. She is adjunct professor of biomechanics in the department of dance at Barnard College, Columbia University, and is a contributing journalist for Dance Informa Magazine.
CAROLINE SHEEHAN was born in Rochester NY, where she began her dance training at age five at Articul8 dance studio and New York State Ballet. She both competed at dance competitions and performed full length ballets including Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. She is entering her senior year in the BFA in Dance program at the University at Buffalo, where she studies various styles of dance including ballet, modern, jazz and tap. Caroline has performed with Zodiaque Dance Ensemble, Emerging Choreographer’s Showcase, and Dancer’s Workshop. She is currently a member of Zodiaque Dance Company.
TYREEL SIMPSON is a former dance performance major at East Carolina University. He also trained in Heels technique and styles. He has been a hip hop soloist for 6 years, with a strong background in freestyle and improvisation, and has been in the commercial dance world working with artists including Dannielle Polanco.
ROBERTO VILLANUEVA (Executive & Artistic Director) - See STAFF page.
STEPHANIE RAE WILLIAMS (Guest Soloist) began her training at Dallas Dance Academy with Lyndette Galen and Fiona Fairrie. She is currently in her tenth season with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. She has danced with The Francesca Harper Project, Complexions Contemporary Dance Company, Ballet Black, and Texas Ballet Theatre, where she made her professional debut. She trained summers at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Springboard Danse Montreal, The Juilliard School, Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, and Houston Ballet Academy. Ms. Williams received the 2017 Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence, was featured in Dance Magazine's "On the Rise" in the August 2013 edition, and she was an Oprah Winfrey Fellowship recipient at the Ailey School, a 2006 National Foundation for the Arts Award Winner, a 2006 Youth America Grand Prix Finalist, and a 2004 Texas Commission on the Arts Young Master. Stephanie Williams is here courtesy of Dance Theatre of Harlem.
SARAH OLSEN is from Wappingers Falls, NY. She holds a bachelor's degree from SUNY Potsdam where she majored in dance and anthropology. At SUNY Potsdam she trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, musical theater, composition, improvisation, and pedagogy. She has performed in numerous student and faculty concerts at SUNY Potsdam. Sarah has also choreographed many original works and have had her choreography presented at the American College Dance Associate conference for adjudication. She has completed summer training at the Perry-Mansfield performing arts school in Steamboats Springs, Colorado. She also worked with choreographers such as Peter Chu and Christopher K. Morgan. She is currently a member of WellBeing Dance, under the direction of Katie Binder.