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MELT Winter 2008 faculty bios

DD Dorvillier is a dance maker and performer whose works have been shown in places like The Kitchen, PS122, and Danspace Project in NYC, as well as internationally. She was awarded a NYFA Choreography Fellowship (2001), a “Bessie” Award (Dressed for Floating, 2002), and a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Fellowship (2007).

Irene Dowd is on the dance faculty of the Juilliard School and Canada’s National Ballet School. Author of Taking root to Fly, she has maintained her own studio and private practice for almost 40 years in NYC. Irene has choreographed for Peggy Baker, Margie Gillis, and other solo dancers. Her work has been taught in schools and dance companies across the US and Canada.

Ori Flomin was a member of the Stephen Petronio Dance Company from 1991 to 1999, and recently rejoined the company as rehearsal director. He also danced in the works of Neil Greenberg, Mollisa Fenley, Chamecki/Lerner, Kevin Wynn and Michael Clark among others. His own work has been seen in NYC at DTW, PS122, Joyce Soho and Movement Research at the Judson Church as well as in Japan, Austria and Israel. He was a 2004-05 Artist-in-Residence at Movement Research. He teaches dance and Yoga as a guest artist for several companies and schools in Europe such as PARTS, ROSAS (Brussels), Sasha Waltz Company (Berlin), ImpulsTanz (Vienna), and the Ballet of Marseille as well as Dance New Amsterdam and Movement Research in NYC.

John Jasperse has been making dances in NYC and elsewhere since 1985. His work has been presented in festivals and venues throughout the U.S., Brazil, Chile, Israel, Japan, and Europe including BAM’s Next Wave Festival, La Biennale di Venezia, Cannes International Dance Festival, EuroKaz, Kampnagel, The Flynn, Montpellier Danse, MCA Chicago, On the Boards, Tanz im August, TanzQuartier Wein, Mousonturm, The Walker, The Wexner, VEO Festival and Yerba Buena. Jasperse has created commissioned works for Baryshnikov's White Oak Project, Batsheva Dance Company, and Lyon Opera Ballet.

Nicholas Leichter, Artistic Director of nicholasleichterdance, has taught throughout the United States, at festivals in Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, and Canada. Recent commissions include the Brooklyn Philharmonic, The Duncan Theater at Palm Beach Community College, and others. Leichter’s work has received support and awards from NYFA, (2 BUILD grants and fellowship), Jerome Foundation, Greenwall Foundation, the NEA, The Joyce Theater Foundation, NYSCA, and others. Leichter premieres Spanish Wells at DTW in June.

Barbara Mahler has been teaching daily classes in NYC for upwards of 27 years, as well as workshops across the US and Europe. She had been on the main faculty member of the Susan Klein School of Dance since ‘79, and is currently teaching as an adjunct at Hunter College, with MR, and other NYC studios. Mahler dances, teaches and makes dances keeping in mind the power of movement, space and gravity as abstract formal elements of choreography. Her approach is rigorously contemporary. Her approach to teaching is inspired by the endless potential and possibility for change in the body, and teaches from the foundation of Klein Technique, and her own process in re-educating her body. She has worked with many noted choreographers, but primarily pursues her own choreographic vision. A teacher and performer of international repute, her work has been seen worldwide. She was guest artist at the Yard, adjudicated by Patricia Nanon, a recipient of a Sage Cowls Land Grant at the University of Minnesota, an ’01-’02 and 06’-08 MR A.I.R., on the BAX Advisory Committee, has an MFA from UWM and maintains a private practice in body work and Zero Balancing. www.barbaramahler.com

Juliette Mapp is a dancer, choreographer and teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. Over the years Juliette has danced for many choreographers including John Jasperse, Deborah Hay, Vicky Shick and Stephanie Skura. She received a “Bessie” Award in ‘02. Juliette has choreographed solo and group pieces that have been presented throughout NYC. Juliette was a MR Artist-in-Residence (‘04-’05). She has taught throughout the world and frequently teaches at Movement Research. Juliette’s teaching is informed by her studies of The Alexander Technique™, Kinetic Awareness™, Body-Mind Centering® and Skinner Releasing™.

Sara Pearson and Patrik Widrig have gained an international following for dance theater work that transforms the familiar into the mysterious, the subversive, and the intimate. They have been touring extensively throughout the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia since 1987. Supported by the NEA, NYSCA, NPN, the ACC, Arts International, and the Rockefeller, Jerome, and Altria Foundations, their work has been produced annually by the major dance venues in NYC. They have become well known for their site and video works as well as community performance residencies combining dance, music, text, and video. Their upcoming NYC season will take place at the Thalia Theater at Symphony Space April 10-12, 2008.

Ann Rodiger has been teaching the Alexander Technique™ in NYC for over 25 years. She is the founder and director of Balance Arts and the Balance Arts Alexander Technique™ Teacher Training Program in NYC. She has also taught dance at universities including U. of Illinois, U. of Hawaii, and U. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She choreographed and performed her own work in the late 80’s in NYC. She makes regular trips to Europe to teach the Alexander Technique™. Her private practice includes dancers, actors, singers, painters, and students from all walks of life.