By irene maslowski
The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company (www.cddc.info) is pleased to announce the addition of four new dancers, who have joined CDDC for the 2013-2014 season along with returning dancers Associate Artistic Director, Jacqueline Dumas Albert, Caroline Dietz, Ashleigh Hunter, Brandon Jones, Ae-Soon Kim, Louie Marin, and Katlyn Waldo
Jenny Gillan-Powell, originally from Scotland, was raised in Houston, Texas. She received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance, Cum Laude with Departmental Distinction from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and later taught and choreographed for the Prodanza Festival in Castiglioncello, Italy. Jenny joined the Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre in 2008, and has performed with Salvatore LaRussa Dance Theatre, kerPlunk Dance, and Bob Boross Freestyle Jazz Dance.
Born in Turbo Antioquia, Colombia, Wilberto Gonzales Denis began his studies in classical ballet at the Priscilla Welton Dance School then later studied at the Anna Pavlova Dance School. In 2009, he performed in The Lion King in Paris then traveled to New York to continue his studies at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Denis has danced with the Pajarillo Pintao Traditional Colombian Folklore & Modern Dance and Patricia Kenny Dance Collection. He is also part of the founding group of the Urzúa Center of Performing Arts in Queens, New York.
Rian Maxwell is from Stone Mountain, Georgia. She trained at Phusion Performing Arts Alliance and attended high school at Dekalb School of the Arts where she graduated in 2008 with a concentration in dance and technical theatre. In 2012 she graduated from Point Park University where she received her BA in Jazz dance. Rian has performed works from Sidra Bell, Darell Grand Moultrie, Doug Varone, and Kate Skarpetowska.
Justin Mock, a native of Pittsburgh, PA graduated from Point Park University in 2011, and has danced with The Merce Cunningham Trust, the Pillow Project, Peridance Contemporary Dance Co., and Hubbard Street II. He is also a founding collaborator of The Electric Sea, a New York based performance collective.
Highlights of the company’s 2013-2014 season include a new commission work by the multi-faceted artist and award winning choreographer, Peter Chu; a unique art gallery experience, “You’ll be Surprise,” at Aljira in Newark, NJ featuring CDDC and visual artist, Carl E. Hazlewood; and a gala benefit performance at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on a shared program with choreographer Randy James and his all male company, 10 Hairy Legs. This season features performances and residencies throughout NJ, NY, nationally and internationally.
About the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company: The Union-county based company is led by the dynamic vision of Artistic Director Carolyn Dorfman and her creative drive to communicate human experiences, interactions, perceptions, and truths. CDDC’s eleven members (“with a four octave range” (Doug Elkins)) comprise a uniquely talented contemporary dance ensemble. The Company described as “ingenious” (Star-Ledger) and “emotionally resonant” (New York Times) presents the works of Carolyn Dorfman, and nationally known choreographers. With bold athleticism, dramatic nuance, and musical range, CDDC’s high-energy and technically demanding repertory uses movement as metaphor to take audiences on intellectual and emotional. CDDC appears at major theaters, dance festivals, and universities regionally, nationally and internationally and is lauded for its artistry and exceptional arts education and community programming.
