ARTISTIC STAFF

Shirley Ubell, Founding Executive Director, began teaching dance in her home in the 1950s, and incorporated CMDE in 1962 as a non-profit community organization. Ms. Ubell has a BA in Psychology and a Master of Science in Movement Therapy from Hunter College. She took her first modern dance lesson at the late age of 19 from Maya Kyla, and continued at The Martha Graham School and at The Mary Anthony Dance Studio. She has now been dancing, teaching, developing dance programs, and training teachers for over 50 years, always with the aim to have everyone experience the joy of modern dance.

Elissa Machlin-Lockwood, Artistic Director, began dancing at age 3 with Shirley Ubell, and began teaching dance at the age of 16. She attended The Martha Graham School, Jacobs Pillow Summer Dance Festival, Bennington College, Simons Rock College, and the New School for Social Research. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Dance/NJ. In her role as Artistic Director she manages all of CMDE's artistic programs, while continuing to teach and develop programs that promote the CMDE spirit, mission and vision.

GUEST ARTISTS

Sandra Antagnazzi is the Founding Director of the Latin-modern dance company Fusion Tango. She is a native of Argentina, where she was a recipient of the Gold Medal and award for Best Soloist in Modern Dance. She has taught modern dance and performed in operas and dance productions throughout Argentina. In NYC, she has danced with Jennifer Muller/The Works, as a principal with Doris Humphrey Repertory Company, and with Mary Anthony Dance Theater, and toured in the US and Germany with Ensemble Antagnazzi. She began as guest artist at CMDE in 2001, and joined the faculty as Director of CMDE Junior Repertory Company in 2002.

Irving Burton trained at the New Dance Group with Martha Graham, Charles Weidman, Louis Horst, and Doris Humphrey, and currently studies with Claire Porter. He taught dance and improvisation at New Dance Group Studios and Bennington College, for Claire Porter, and at CMDE. His vast performing career includes numerous television appearances, including Saturday Night Live, Comic Relief with Robin Williams, David Letterman, and The Today Show, among many more. Mr. Burton was a member of the Paper Bag Players for 25 years, touring Europe and the Far East. He now dances with Dudley-Jaslow-Bales Trio, New Dance Group, Pearl Lang, Mary Anthony, and Charles Weidman, and received a NJSCA grant in 1980 for a piece about stuttering, which was performed for “Speak Easy” symposiums, on a U.S. college tour, and at World Stuttering Conferences in West Germany and California. He has been a guest artist at CMDE since 2000.

Ronnie D. Carney currently teaches dance full-time at Newark Arts High School, and has a Masters from NYU in Dance Education and a BFA from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. He is trained in Horton and Taylor technique, ballet, and three styles of jazz, and has performed with Phildanco and Dance Theatre of Harlem, among others. His own work will be presented as part of the New Jersey Performing Art Center's "Off-Center Series" in October.

Stuart Hodes began his dance training with Martha Graham, and eventually became her partner. He has performed and choreographed in Broadway musicals, on television, in nightclubs, and with major modern dance and ballet companies. He is on the faculty of Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in NYC. Mr. Hodes has known CMDE founder Shirley Ubell for decades, and performed with her in Claire Porter's piece, "It's About Time."

Candace Hundley-Kamate, the Artistic Director of the 7th Principle Company, is a multi-disciplinary artist and choreographer. Originally from Newport News, Virginia, she is currently a resident of South Orange, NJ. Mrs. Hundley-Kamate earned a BFA in 1991 from Tyler School of Art / Temple University, in Philadelphia, PA , and has been developing her work in the visual arts and choreography since 1992. She is a licensed instructor in Umfundalai, a contemporary African dance technique and philosophy created by Dr. Karimu Welsh Asante for professional dance training, pedagogy, and research. She has also studied with artists such as Ron Brown, Kevin Jeff, Karen Bamonte (Zero Moving Dance Co.), Peter McCoy (Jubilation/Bejart), Craig “Spider” Moore, Mamadou Dahoue, and Youssouf Koumbassa, among others. She has performed with Ariamu and Company, Ibeji, African Art in Motion, New World African Dance Theater, Urban Bushwomen, and the Arthur Hall Reunion Ensemble. Her teaching credits include Columbia University in NYC, Seton Hall University in NJ, University of the Arts in PA, New Jersey City University, the Annenberg Institute for Arts in Education in PA, Manhattanville College in NYC, NJPAC Dance Academy in NJ, New York Sports Clubs, and the Ailey School in NYC. She was a 1999 fellowship recipient from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation in the interdisciplinary category. Ms. Hundley-Kamate has been a guest artist at CMDE since 2000, and was Artist in Residence in 2002 through a Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation Artists and Communities Grant.

Claire Porter performs her “comedic movement monologues” for special events and in her own concerts. She has performed in Holland. Germany, England, and Korea, and in NYC venues such as Symphony Space, Joyce Theater, The Kitchen, Dance Theatre Workshop, PS 122, Joyce Soho, The Bottom Line, and the New York Horticulture Society. She received a 2002 Choreography Fellowship from NJSCA. Ms. Porter first worked with CMDE in the 1980s, and in 2002 she created a piece commissioned by CMDE for older dancers, called "It's About Time," as part of the Center's Open Door Dance Project funded in part by NJSCA.

Alice Tierstein has been choreographing, performing and teaching dance in New York since the early 1970s, and was co-artistic director of Nimbus Dance Theater company. She is director of the Dance Program at the Fieldstone School in NYC, and co-founder and director of Young Dancemakers Company, a free, city-wide summer project for students in NYC public high schools. Ms. Tierstein performed in "It's About Time, and has been sharing her expertise with CMDE for many years.

Jason Warley, a former CMDE faculty member, received his training at Lehman College, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and Broadway Dance Center. He was the recipient of the Harkness Choreographer’s Space Grant, and has performed with Joan Miller’s Dance Players and Peter Pucci Plus Dancers. Mr. Warley has toured extensively in the US and abroad, and has choreographed for recording artists such as The Backstreet Boys and En Vogue.

FACULTY

Lateefah Fleming began her dance career at the age of seven, as part of the Afro-Caribbean group, LaRocque Dance Company in Harlem NY. She earned her degree from the City College of New York. She is certified in Personal Training, Group Fitness, Pilates for Mat and Reformer and Pre- and Post-natal Fitness, and started her own fitness firm, empowerfit. She has performed with Millennium Dance Company, The Perry Dance Co., Middle Eastern Dance Company’s Rainbow Essence, Oasis, and is now a member of the world dance fusion experience, Raqs La'Majali. She has trained in numerous dance techniques at Broadway Dance Center, The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Steps, and with various masters of Oriental dance. She joined the CMDE faculty summer of 2005.

Silinea Lucius has performed with companies in Washington, DC; Dallas, TX; Kansas City, MO; and New York, NY. A graduate of Howard University, she also trained with the Broadway Dance Center in New York, NY and British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England. She has taught dance at Hudson Repertory Dance, Dance & Body Works and the Dance Institute of Washington.

Alexis Marnel is a professional dance educator, social worker, and a founding member of the Artist Collective for Social Change. She has had extensive experience working with children and teen at risk.

Genaro Martinez is a graduate of Montclair State University. He is a teacher with the Irvington, NJ school system. He has performed in films and on the stage including the Kennedy Dance Center in Washington, DC. He currently dances with The Seventh Principle Performance Company and Kim Whittam & Co.

Karen Francesca Silvano graduated from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and from Hunter College, where she earned a B.A. in Romance Languages & Literature. She is director and choreographer of CMDE’s Repertory Company. After moving to the U.S. from Rome, Italy, Ms. Silvano has been performing with various dance companies and independent choreographers, among them Mary Anthony Dancer Theater, Rakas Dance and Kun Yang Lin. She is working with Guillari Di Piazza, a company that reconstructs theater and dance productions from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Alexandra Stavrou-Wilson is a dancer, choreographer, and musician who has developed a contemporary repertory that is deepened by the use of her Greek heritage and Haitian dance experience. She holds a degree in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. After being part of the innovative dance performance scene in the 60s and 70s, Ms. Stavrou-Wilson was an artist in residence in Papua, New Guinea under the auspices of the National Cultural Council, and was a working artist in New Zealand in the early 1990s. Upon her return to N.J., she discovered CMDE, and has since been teaching and performing for the Center.

Sarah Savoye studied dance on scholarship at CMDE from age 3 to 18, and joined the staff at 20. She earned a degree in Theater and Education from Ramapo College in 2001, and has been performing and choreographing for local theater productions.

Lisa Skates began dancing as a child with ballet and modern.  As a young adult, she studied several modern techniques in New York, including Martha Graham, Hawkins and Limon. Lisa worked as a licensed masseuse and graduated from Hunter College with a degree in physical therapy. She began work with social dancing and trained with private coaches and partners to develop the skills of partner dancing. Lisa worked as a dance instructor in several studios in New York - Dance Charisma, Dancesport and Dance Manhattan. Currently, she teaches privately in New Jersey and at the CMDE.

Janelle S. Smith-Reed teaches dance full-time in the Newark Public Schools. She attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts (FAME) and was a Fellowship student at The Ailey School. Janelle is trained in Horton, Graham, Dunham and Ballet techniques. She earned a BFA in Dance from Montclair State University and received her Masters in Arts Administration from Seton Hall University. She was a recipient of 2007’s The Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program and a recipient of the Marion A. Bolden Award for Professional Development Initiatives within the Performing Arts. She has served as director of the Center for Modern Dance Education’s Senior Repertory Company. Janelle is a member of the International Dance Council and was a co-writer for Arts High’s dance curriculum. She has been the coordinator for Newark Public School’s district-wide dance events and had developed Newark’s Dance Educator’s Resource Handbook.  She has also developed Newark Public School’s Dance eBoard, which is a resource to dance educators around the district. Janelle has performed with the Denishawn Repertory Company, Maxine Steinman and Dancers, Six Degree’s Dance Company and is currently dancing with the Seventh Principle Performance Company.

Roger Turner started dancing at age 12 as a CMDE scholarship student. After studying theater, dance, and sociology at Rowan University, he retuned as a faculty member to CMDE. He has appeared in Repertory Theater with a Hip Hop group in Philadelphia, and sang in a duo as part of the 2000 Winter Olympic activities. Mr. Turner is currently a member of 7th Principal Performance Company and part of an emerging modern dance group in Montclair, NJ.

ADVISORY BOARD
(Selected Members)

Miriam (Mimi) Cole danced with the Martha Graham Company from 1951–1963, and taught at the Graham school for almost 20 years. She was a member of the dance faculty at Vassar College, and has taught at Juilliard, Alvin Ailey School, Bat-Dor Dance Company in Israel, and Bel Canto Opera Company in NYC, has appeared in the films “A Dancer’s World" and “Appalachian Spring,” and danced on Broadway. She was one of the first professional dancers hired to teach at CMDE, where she continues to be a resource of extraordinary knowledge and educated insight.

Dian Dong, co-founder and Associate Director of Ht Dance Company/Chen & Dancers in NYC, began her dance training at CMDE and earned her BFA from the Juilliard School. She has performed with Anna Sokolow’s Player’s Project, Kathryn Posins, and Kazuko Hiraboyashi, and at Lincoln Center Institute and the American Dance Festival. Ms. Dong has taught at New York University, Montclair State College, CMDE, and the Arts Gate Center in Chinatown. In 2002, the HT Dance Company received the New York State Governor's Award for the Arts. Her two daughters both commuted to study at CMDE, and one of them is currently a member of CMDE’s Junior Repertory Company.

Susan Thomasson, a dancer / choreographer, holds a BFA from the University of Utah, where she apprenticed with Repertory Dance Theatre. She has performed with Kathryn Posin, Raymond Johnson, Bill T. Jones, and Bill Evans, and as a soloist with Anna Sokolow’s Players Project. Ms. Thomasson also tours a solo/duet concert of Pilobolus original works that was created for the Lincoln Center Institute. A teaching artist for the Institute since 1980, she has been involved in the development of the Institute's national affiliates. Other teaching experience includes Rutgers University, Farleigh Dickinson University, many independent residencies, and she is an artist in residence for the New York Foundation for the Arts and the 92nd Street YMWHA. She has been involved with CMDE as a guest artist, advisor, workshop leader, and critic, and has a daughter who is a member of the CMDE Repertory Company.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Bonnie Hyslop, Arts Administrator, joined CMDE in 2002, with over twenty years of experience as a manager in the performing arts field. She is also currently employed by Howard Shore, composer of the "Lord of the Rings" movies as account manager. Bonnie has previously held the positions of General Manager of Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company in NJ; Garden State Ballet in NJ; Managing Director of Pan Asian Repertory Theater in NYC, and Business Manager of Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.

Janice Rollo, Development Coordinator, has been with CMDE since 1994. She has worked in the Development Department of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), for the HT Dance Company, and at the Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Civil Society at the City University of New York.

Lisa Repasky-Sandhusen, Marketing Consultant. As a performing artist with an extensive marketing background, Lisa brings a unique understanding and breadth of experience to promoting the arts. She has worked in film, television news, television promotions, marketing and advertising. She has successfully used her experience and skills to build the community reputation and audience of nonprofit arts organizations like the Center for Modern Dance Education. She is particularly proud of her work with the Rogue Performance Festival of Fresno, California, which she helped to build from a startup to a respected community institution in just two years. She is honored to be part of the CMDE team to help expand awareness of the many years of good work that the Center for Modern Dance Education has provided to the community.