ARTISTS IN ResiDANCE
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DIVERSITY AND EXCELLENCE, THUS WE INTERMITTENTLY CURATE OUTSIDE CREATIVES TO JOIN OUR TEAM SEASONALLY. OUR ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM DELIVERS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHOREOGRAPHERS AND DIRECTORS TO CREATE ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING HERE IN THE DESERT.
Mathew and his company ARENA DANCES will be visiting Palm Springs from Minneapolis with their snowBIRD creative residency in January to undergo a week-long incubator resulting in a work-in-process studio showing and audience dialog with the director.
ARENA DANCES is an internationally-renowned contemporary dance company founded in 1995 by artistic director and choreographer Mathew Janczewski. Over the past 28+ years, Janczewski has created over 35 works for ARENA performed nationally and internationally to critical acclaim. ARENA has toured extensively throughout the US including presentations at the Skirball Theater of NYU, City Center, and the Joyce SoHo in New York, The Repertory Project of Cleveland, and the SCUBA network in Philadelphia among others.
Adam was born in Nairobi, Kenya and lived in other African cities for 14 years before moving to the United States (Maryland). In Blantyre, Malawi, he attended a British Boarding School, packed with international students , beginning a bonding to other cultures, foods, and people. After moving to the United States, Adam did gymnastics, studied languages and computer programming, all in the hopes of being able to travel and visit his friends from all over the globe. He worked happily as a computer programmer and accountant in Georgetown, Washington D.C., until one day, his sister asked him to drive a friend to dance class. When they arrived, he heard the music, saw the dancers and was hooked. He started taking dance class at 26 years old and has been in the performing arts industry as a dancer, choreographer, producer and artistic director. Always curious,
Adam recently acquired his FAA sUAS Drone Pilot's license, to further expand his choreographic reach. Adam continues to grow and expand his art, through travel, education and interaction.
Shea New is the founder and Artistic Director of The McCallum Theatre Institutes Choreographic Festival. The nationally known festival has awarded over a half million dollars directly to choreographers, presenting over 600 choreographers since its inception. Lifetime Achievement Awards have been presented to Savion Glover, Nigel Lythgoe, Daniel Ezralow, Suzanne Farrell, Jacques D'Amboise, Colleen Neary and Thordal Christensen, Donald McKayle, Lula Washington, Joe Tremaine, Carmen de Lavallade, Marc Breaux, Dee Dee Wood, George Chakiris, Rudy Perez, Julie McDonald, Alan Johnson, Lois Greenfield, Grover Dale, Glen Tetley and Eugene Loring.
She got involved with us to star as the lead in our feature dance film The Anniversary and following her collaboration as an artist with The Palm Springs Dance Project Shea joined our board!
Deborah Brockus has been labeled ‘the single most important person in Southland dance” an “impresario”, ‘ the mother superior of LA dance” and ”tireless” by the Los Angles Times for her involvement in establishing the local dance scene as a producer, choreographer, teacher. “Followers of L.A.’s modern-dance scene know that, when it comes to talent Deborah Brockus is a big name, with a great company (Brockus Project Dance Company) and a keen eye for talent” City Beat.
She has been on the judging panel for the Fosse Scholarship Awards, Festival Under the Stars in Palm Springs, and the Imagination Celebration of OPAC. She has received awards for teaching, choreography and producing. Brockus has served on the board of the Dance Resource Center, and Jazz Dance LA Foundation where she was instrumental in helping produce shows for two seasons.
Director and choreographer Douglas Graham draws from years as a successful Broadway and television performer bringing his own high-calibre professionalism and versatile productions to stage and screen.
Douglas has choreographed a sizable volume of convention shows for such prestigious companies as Tupperware, Rotary International, Texaco and Midas. With repeat production contracts for Williams-Gerard and Gettings Productions, his résumé includes work for the Walt Disney Company and choreography for EPCOT's hugely successful New Year's Eve Celebration.
Performing in shows by choreographers Bob Fosse, Ron Field, Gillian Lynn and Michael Bennett, Doug has been seen on Broadway and in National Tours of CHICAGO (with Chita Rivera), Bob Fosse’s DANCIN', CATS (as the Rum Tum Tugger), PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, Radio City with the Rockettes, and starred in Italian TV’s “To Paradise.”
Doug got involved with us to star and choreograph in our feature film The Anniversary and following her collaboration as an artist with The Palm Springs Dance Project.
JOE ISTRE
2022 DANCER / MENTOR
Joe Istre’s cutting-edge, stylized movement and unique approach to teaching combined with his understanding of the art...keep him in demand nation wide. His NY credits include 42nd St., Chess, Contact, and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular to name a few. He assisted with London’s West End production of Hot Mikado, the Tony nominated Broadway show Ain’t Broadway Grand and the German version of Beauty and the Beast.
Choreography credits include shows for HBO, commercials, and trade shows for companies such as American Express, Midas Muffler, and Merle Norman. Joe has taught at the International Ballet Festival; had his piece ‘Hunter’ won the bronze metal in the Helsinki Ballet competition. His piece ‘Come Together’ was also placed on the National Art’s Choreography Plan. Joe was also one of the finalists in Leo’s Jazz Dance competition.
BROCKUS RED
Founded in 1994 by artistic director Deborah Brockus, this company has toured the US and Internationally. The company is know for it’s big energy, innovative and accessible work that leaves audiences inspired and happy. Formerly know as Brockus Project Dance Company, BrockusRED is a new launch in 2014 with a sharp edge that reflects today’s fast paced diverse society.
BrockusRED is based in Los Angeles with access to some of the leading dancers in the world who are able to do just about any style of dance. This gives BrockusRED the ability to change it up for audiences. BrockusRED is in essence multiple companies in one package able to bring the wide spectrum of dance into one show.
LUMINARIO BALLET
Luminario is a contemporary ballet company also presenting classic modern dance repertory and aerial dance. Our dancers live in LA, but come from everywhere, representing the region's diversity and excitement.
Our choreographers range from classically inspired such as San Francisco Ballet's Michael Smuin and Polish ballet Maestro Stefan Wenta, to edgy contemporary choreographers such as Josie Walsh and Jamal Story. 2013 guest choreographer was Debra Lynn Brown.
Debra Lynn Brown's piece, "Brace...Yourself" was seen in our Season 4 Rep Shows at the El Portal. at the Ford Amphitheatre, at the LA/SoCal Dance Invitational, and at the World Dance Awards.
LULA WASHINGTON BALLET
The founding mission is to build a world class contemporary modern dance company that travels worldwide with contemporary modern dance works that reflect african-american history and culture.
Our education mission is to create a school in the inner city where young people can learn the art of dance, launch careers in dance, and where dance is used to motivate, educate, inspire, challenge and enrich the lives of young people so they can become successful, productive and competitive citizens.
Lula Washington is Founder and Artistic Director of the Lula Washington Dance Theatre. Today, Lula and her Company are revered across the United States and around the world. The Company has danced in over 150 cities in the United States, as well as abroad in Germany, Spain, Kosovo, Mexico, Canada, China, and Russia.
VERTICAL SHADOWS
Established in 2009, Vertical Shadows quickly became one of Australias most respected independent dance companies. Performing at many of Melbourne's landmark theaters to sold out audiences and five star reviews. We deliver full length productions that are unapologetically musically driven.
When viewing vertical shadows you will find a remarkable balance of restraint and ease. An extremely heavy theatrical atmosphere whilst keeping the movement dramatic, this allows the piece to be rich with beauty and depth.
Vertical Shadows currently performs across the United States and is based in New York City.