Gibney Firm Welcomes Six New Dancers

Gibney Firm, the resident firm of Gibney, the New York Metropolis-based dance and social justice group, welcomes six new Firm members, often called Creative Associates. In these roles, they may advance the Firm’s artistry via efficiency and deepen its neighborhood engagement via advocacy for points within the dance discipline and the neighborhood at giant, equivalent to range and fairness, psychological well being, and financial empowerment.

The brand new members are: Alexander Anderson, who joins Gibney from Nederlands Dans Theater; Rena Butler, previously of Hubbard Road Dance Chicago; Kevin Pajarillaga, most not too long ago a member of Portland’s NW Dance Challenge; Marla Phelan, whose NYC efficiency profession spans Sleep No Extra to Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway; Jie-Hung Connie Shiau, previously of Hubbard Road Dance Chicago; and Jake Tribus, who not too long ago graduated with a BFA in Dance from the College of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman College of Dance. They be part of present Gibney Firm Creative Associates Zui Gomez, Jesse Obremski, Jacob Thoman and Leal Zielińska. Established in 1991 and primarily based in decrease Manhattan, Gibney Firm is led by Creative Director Gina Gibney with Administrators Nigel Campbell and Amy Miller.

Final January, the Gibney group introduced a serious present from Andrew A. Davis, a Trustee of the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, for the transformation of Gibney Firm, together with growing the dimensions of the Firm. Within the 12 months forward, Gibney Firm additionally plans to fee new works from a wide range of choreographers in anticipation of its debut season at The Joyce Theater in November 2021.

Gina Gibney, Founder, Creative Director & CEO of Gibney, stated, “Final winter, we couldn’t have foreseen the impression of the COVID-19 pandemic on our group, and our discipline. We’re grateful to have the ability to carry via on our plans to welcome these new members to Gibney Firm, understanding that their creative and advocacy contributions will increase and improve our work collectively as we proceed to navigate this unsure atmosphere. At each degree of the Gibney group, we’re dedicated to taking steps ahead to assist rebuild and strengthen the dance neighborhood in New York Metropolis and past, and we stay up for returning to the stage and welcoming again audiences when it’s protected to take action.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Alex, Rena, Kevin, Marla, Connie, and Jake to Gibney Firm,” stated Firm Administrators Nigel Campbell and Amy Miller. “Every brings not solely their distinctive creative presents and lived experiences, but additionally a dedication to broaden their inventive energies towards a ‘fierceness of service’ throughout the dance neighborhood and past. Becoming a member of the returning Creative Associates, this numerous collective is unified by a shared deal with generosity, each out and in of the studio. The brand new Gibney Firm needs to generate, reply to, and navigate the now, whereas co-creating the longer term.”

Gibney Facilities stay closed, and Gibney Firm has cancelled all performances via December 2020. Plans for 2021 will likely be introduced at a later date.

Gibney Firm Bios and Advocacy Tasks

Alexander Anderson

Creative Affiliate since 2020
Alexander Anderson, a South Florida native, attended the Alexander W. Dreyfoos College of the Arts and went on to proceed his coaching at The Juilliard College, the place he acquired his Bachelor of Fantastic Arts Diploma in Dance in 2014. Whereas at Juilliard, his choreography acquired Choreographic Honors and was featured within the Peter Jay Sharp Theater from 2010-2014. He’s a 2012 recipient of the Dizzy Toes Basis Scholarship Award, a 2013 recipient of the Princess Grace Basis Scholarship Award, in addition to the Alexander Bay Moore Dance Award. He started his skilled profession dancing for Nederlands Dans Theater 2 and later joined Nederlands Dans Theater 1 as an organization artist.

In his Advocacy Fellowship, Anderson goals to deal with psychological well being and mindfulness within the dance neighborhood to allow longevity and sustainability in dancers’ careers. In a time when artists within the discipline are struggling and are extra remoted than ever, Anderson is making a yearly retreat mannequin that may present artists with holistic instruments and aware practices-including meditation, reiki, and sound therapy-to transfer via trauma inside and outdoors of the dance neighborhood at little or no value.

Rena Butler

Creative Affiliate since 2020
Rena Butler comes from Chicago, IL. She has danced in corporations equivalent to Hubbard Road Dance Chicago, Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Movement, Invoice T. Jones/Arnie Zane Firm, David Dorfman Dance, Manuel Vignoulle/M-Motions, and The Kevin Wynn Assortment. Butler skilled at The Chicago Academy for the Arts. She studied abroad at Taipei Nationwide College of the Arts in Taiwan and acquired her BFA from SUNY Buy Conservatory of Dance. As a choreographer, Butler has offered her work at Hubbard Road Dance Chicago, The New Orleans Museum of Fashionable Artwork in collaboration with Academy Award-Successful composer Terrence Blanchard, CHTV Tales in Switzerland, and extra. Butler served on the consortium for Chicago Dancemakers Discussion board, and in 2019 was the recipient of the Princess Grace Award for Choreography.

Butler’s Advocacy Fellowship venture affords teenagers from varied socioeconomic backgrounds-dancers and non-dancers alike-a platform to craft creative and management abilities, and to analyze creativity from their private identities and backgrounds. The course will incorporate dance, choreographic historical past, and demanding pondering workout routines to encourage youth to specific themselves creatively and really feel that they’ve a stronger voice of their communities.

Nigel Campbell

Gibney Firm Director since 2017
Creative Affiliate 2015-2017
Princess Grace Awardee Nigel Campbell was born and raised in The Bronx, New York. Campbell started his coaching at Inventive Outlet Dance Theater and is a graduate of LaGuardia Arts Excessive College, and of The Juilliard College, beneath the path of Lawrence Rhodes. Campbell has acquired further coaching from The Miami Metropolis Ballet College, The College at Jacob’s Pillow, The Alvin Ailey College, and Springboard Danse Montreal. Whereas at Juilliard, Campbell joined the Metropolitan Opera Ballet as a soloist. Campbell has danced for the Saarlandisches Staatstheater beneath the path of Marguerite Donlon, Luna Negra Dance Theater beneath the path of Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, the GöteborgsOperans Danskompani beneath the path of Adolphe Binder, and has carried out as a visitor artist with Kyle Abraham’s A.I.M.

In 2019, Campbell joined the college of The Juilliard College as an adjunct professor, educating “Necessities of Entrepreneurship within the Arts” for dancers. The identical 12 months he additionally joined the college at SUNY Buy Conservatory of Dance as an adjunct professor educating up to date dance. A sought-after instructor and répétiteur, Campbell has set dances and given workshops all through the USA and overseas at establishments equivalent to The Juilliard College, Princeton College, Ballet Hispánico, SUNY Buy Conservatory of Dance, Springboard Danse Montreal, NYU’s Tisch College of the Arts, Yale College, The Ballet Akademien Göteborg, No)one. Artwork Home, MUDA Africa, & LaGuardia Arts Excessive College. amongst many others. As well as, Campbell has been the recipient of quite a few awards and honors together with a 2019 Martha Hill Mid-Profession Award, a 2011 Princess Grace Award, a Nationwide YoungArts Basis Degree 1 Award and a NAACP ACT-SO Gold Medal. Campbell is a 2004 U.S. Presidential Scholar within the Arts and at 17, was featured on the Nationwide PBS documentary American Expertise.

In 2015, with help from Gibney’s Advocacy Fellowship program, Campbell co-founded MOVE|NYC| together with his accomplice Chanel DaSilva. MOVE|NYC|’s mission is to domesticate better range and fairness within the dance discipline and past. The cornerstone of MOVE|NYC| is its tuition-free, Younger Professionals Program which gives year-round entry to 1-on-1 mentorship & faculty/conservatory prep for a various roster of gifted New York Metropolis youngsters. MOVE|NYC| goals to empower the following technology of leaders in our discipline by celebrating every younger artist’s distinctive cultural id.

Zui Gomez

Creative Affiliate since 2017
Zui Gomez was born within the Dominican Republic and raised in Miami. She acquired her BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory, the place she carried out many classics. Gomez has danced with Ballet Hispánico and Ballet Hispánico Dos, Collage Dance Collective, DanceNOW! Ensemble, ArmitageGone! Dance, RuddUR Dance Firm, in addition to Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre & Zest Collective. She has additionally labored alongside Jamar Roberts in his premiere Veil in Miami. Gomez has appeared in GlamourSpain journal, Dance Spirit Journal, modeled for Good HyouMan, and enthusiastically participated in style week previously. Gomez not too long ago appeared in Occasions Sq. for a marketing campaign with Volunteers of America (#TheWarInside) the place photographs had been taken by Nir Arieli and motion path led by Omri Drumlevich.

Gomez’s Advocacy Fellowship goals to supply dancers with the sources and help to advocate for their very own careers. CONFIDANZ affords dance pictures courses, workshops, and providers to bop professionals and college students. CONFIDANZ workshops create a protected and supportive atmosphere for dance artists to study tangible instruments and construct ‘confidanz’ that may help them in taking part in protected, profitable, and empowering photograph shoots.

Amy Miller

Gibney Firm Director since 2013
Creative Affiliate 2011-2013
Amy Miller is a NYC-based dancer, choreographer, educator and advocate. Previously with the Ohio Ballet, she was additionally a founding member and creative affiliate of Cleveland-based GroundWorks DanceTheater. Now a Gibney Firm Director alongside Nigel Campbell, and a performing member of Gibney Firm, Miller has facilitated quite a few educating residencies at Oberlin School, Brown College, NYU’s Tisch College of the Arts, and Bates Dance Pageant amongst many others. She was honored to obtain an Arts & Artists in Progress “Pay it Ahead” Award from Brooklyn Arts Trade. Miller holds a BFA in Dance and is a recipient of an Ohio Arts Council Particular person Excellence Award for her choreography.

Miller focuses on Gibney’s Group Motion initiatives via facilitating motion workshops with survivors of trauma, conducting each native and worldwide trainings for artists interested by partaking in social motion, growing wholesome relationship workshops for younger individuals and elevating consciousness in regards to the position of the humanities in violence prevention. She has carried out Gibney’s International Group Motion Residencies at Mimar Sinan College and Koc College (Istanbul), College of Cape City (South Africa), DOCH: College of Dance and Circus (Stockholm), MUDA Africa (Tanzania) and most not too long ago in Gisenyi, Rwanda.

Jesse Obremski

Creative Affiliate since 2019
Jesse Obremski, a local New Yorker, graduated from LaGuardia Excessive College and The Juilliard College, beneath the path of Lawrence Rhodes, and has skilled at The College at Jacob’s Pillow, The Ailey College, Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, and Springboard Danse Montréal. Obremski, an Eagle Scout Rank recipient and Asian American Arts Alliance Jadin Wong Dance Awardee (2016) has carried out with Range of Dance, Brian Brooks Shifting Firm, Peter Stathas Dance, Kate Weare Firm, as an organization member with Lar Lubovitch Dance Firm (2014-2016), Buglisi Dance Theatre (2016-present), WHITE WAVE (2017-present), and has carried out ensemble, soloist, and principal roles with The Limón Dance Firm (2016-2019). Obremski was honored to carry out for the Obama household on the inaugural White Home Dance Collection and on the FINA World Event 2019 in South Korea.

Obremski has taught at Montclair State College, The College of Hawaii at Manoa, The College of Wyoming, Brigham Younger College, Chosun College, amongst others, and is on college for The Limón Basis and Range of Dance. Obremski has assisted within the staging of José Limón’s Missa Brevis at The Juilliard College and staged Limón’s solo Chaconne on MOVE(NYC) and The College of Wyoming. Obremski based his firm, Obremski/Works, in 2018. His choreography has been offered at venues equivalent to The New Prague Dance Pageant, Battery Dance Pageant, DUMBO Dance Pageant (because the recipient of the DDF 2019 Choreographic Award), The Juilliard College’s Choreographic Honors Showcase, Gibney, and at The Ailey Citigroup Theater. He has acquired commissions for brand new creations by The College of Wyoming, Fort Hamilton Joffrey Academy, and repeatedly by Range of Dance, Sacred Coronary heart College, and Brigham Younger College. In 2019, his dance movie No Phrases was chosen and offered by HBO at Lincoln Heart via The Dance Movies Associations. Obremski additionally proudly serves on the Board of Range of Dance.

Obremski’s Advocacy Fellowship venture OUR PATHS is an internet platform for video, written interviews, and podcasts, celebrating and cultivating a world the place WHY is on the forefront of how we see one another, ourselves, and our world neighborhood. OUR PATHS creates area for dialogue, highlighting dance professionals from throughout the sector and exploring artists’ particular person motivations and concepts in an effort to foster communal empathy.

Kevin Pajarillaga

Creative Affiliate since 2020
Kevin Pajarillaga is a Filipino American, born and raised in Silver Spring, MD. Pajarillaga skilled at Citydance Conservatory, Level Park College and Springboard Danse Montréal. Professionally he has labored with corporations together with NW Dance Challenge, Yin Yue’s YY Dance Firm, Sonya Tayeh Dance, Bruce Wooden Dance, PRIOREDANCE, and I.C motion venture. He has visitor carried out with Parsons Dance Firm, Dayton Up to date Dance Firm, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and originated roles with choreographers Felix Landerer, Ihsan Rustem, Yin Yue, Patrick Delcroix, Andrea Pena, Sarah Slipper, Maleek Washington, and extra.

Pajarillaga co-founded Shifting Ahead Dallas, a non-profit devoted to nurturing the thriving younger artists in Dallas. He has appeared in GAP’s 2018 spring marketing campaign “Experiment in Shade” and in Apolla Efficiency Shocks’ marketing campaign in 2017. He’s the motion coach and choreographer for artist “BIG WILD”, Jackson. He has choreographed for NW Dance Challenge’s “In Good Firm”, The Juilliard College’s senior showcase, the DREAMscape Gala, Booker T. Washington Ensemble, and Wanderlust dance venture. Pajarillaga is the recipient of the “All County Performing Arts Awards” by the MCPS Arts Superintendent and the “All States Dance Award” on the Goucher School Dance Pageant in 2011 and 2012.

Pajarillaga’s Advocacy Fellowship venture is a platform for numerous creators to supply socially related and impactful new works on movie. In response to the shortage of in particular person efficiency alternatives throughout this time, this venture may even function an internet archive and database of creative movies that will likely be open and accessible to the general public. Curated movies will problem artists to replicate on their sense of function in a unified and collaborative area.

Marla Phelan

Creative Affiliate since 2020
Maria Phelan’s profession spans Up to date Dance, Broadway, Immersive Theater, FIlm, TV, Industrial Campaigns, and Vogue. Marla acquired her BFA in dance from The Juilliard College. Phelan has labored with Akram Khan, Hofesh Shechter, and Maxine Doyle. She made her Broadway debut in Bartlett Sher’s Fiddler on the Roof and is at present the Affiliate Choreographer/ Assistant Director for the Nationwide Tour. Phelan joined acclaimed immersive theater firm Punchdrunk in 2011 for his or her Off-Broadway debut of Sleep No Extra and their Nationwide Theater of London manufacturing of The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable. Lately, Phelan carried out in Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise as a part of The Shed’s inaugural season and within the opera Ellen West for The Prototype Pageant. On digital camera, Marla has danced in music movies Armor (Sara Bareilles) and Night time by Night time (Chromeo), in Comedy Central’s Alternatino, CBS’s The Late Present, specials for NBC and Netflix, the function movie The Kitchen, and in style campaigns for Desigual (dir. Jean Paul Goude/ choreo. Ryan Heffington) and H & M Studio. Phelan starred in and choreographed the brief movie Move (SXSW), Cousin John (SXSW) and Lucid. Phelan has choreographed and directed motion for Fischerspooner’s Prime Brazil, Mazda’s CRX industrial, and campaigns for GAP, Reebok, Stuart Weitzman, Refinery29, New York Journal and The New York Occasions.

Feeling the necessity to create extra alternatives for dancers later of their efficiency careers, Phelan goals to help mid-career and established artists in constructing on their creative portfolios. By widening contributors’ skillsets throughout the discipline, the venture’s final purpose is to advertise sustainable longevity in dance. The venture will present dancers with instruments, sources, and steerage from leaders within the discipline to help their journeys in growing multifaceted profession alternatives whereas nonetheless performing.

Jie-Hung Connie Shiau

Creative Affiliate since 2020
Jie-Hung Connie Shiau was born in Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A., and raised in Tainan, Taiwan. She moved to the States to additional her dance schooling and pursue knowledgeable dance profession on the age of 18. She acquired her BFA in dance from SUNY Buy Conservatory of Dance. Shiau has labored as a collaborator with an array of corporations together with Hubbard Road Dance Chicago, Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Movement, Gallim Dance, Helen Simoneau Danse, MeenMoves, Adam Barruch Dance, and The Kevin Wynn Assortment. She has carried out works by Crystal Pite, Ohad Naharin, Lou Conte, Brian Brooks, Peter Chu, Robyn Mineko Williams, Alejandro Cerrudo, Helen Simoneau, Sameena Mitta, Rena Butler, Alice Klock, Osnel Delgado, and Adam Barruch. Throughout her time with Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Movement, she assisted Abraham on the Untitled America creation course of on Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she additionally restaged Abraham’s works on quite a few faculties equivalent to SUNY Buy Conservatory of Dance, Level Park College, Cornish School, Rutgers College, Princeton College, Queensborough Group School, and Booker T Washington Visible and Performing Arts Excessive College.

As well as, Shiau was a recipient of Chicago Dancemaker Discussion board Greenhouse Artist in 2019, New Choreographer Challenge in Taipei, Taiwan in 2019, Dance Journal’s “25 To Watch” in 2018, Honorable Point out for Jadin Wong Award for Rising Asian American Dancer in 2014, and Reverb Dance Pageant Dancer Award in 2014.

Shiau’s Advocacy Fellowship intends to deal with the difficulty of body-shaming via story-telling and ongoing conversations. Pulling from her personal experiences, the venture will provide dancers sources to create optimistic and wholesome relationships with one’s physique. Shiau goals to dismantle cultural stigmas round physique picture and to reignite an inclusive “physique love language.”

Jacob Thoman

Creative Affiliate since 2019
Jacob Thoman, a local of Cincinnati, Ohio attended The College for Inventive and Performing arts and skilled and carried out with Exhale Dance Tribe beneath Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard with further coaching at Cincinnati Ballet. Thoman graduated from The Juilliard College, beneath the path of Larry Rhodes and Alicia Graf Mack. He has had the pleasure of working with Benoit Swan Pouffer, Eric Beauchesne, and Ami Schulman at Cedar Lake 360 Intensive in addition to Springboard Danse Montreal beneath Alexandra Wells. Lately Thoman carried out within the manufacturing of Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise at The Shed, choreographed by Akram Khan.

As a member of the ever-expanding LGBTQIA+ household, Thoman’s Advocacy Fellowship is a multi-prong biannual journal that includes intergenerational artists throughout mediums. This publication will likely be devoted to neighborhood care and self-practices that spotlight senses of validation and grounding calmness.

Jake Tribus

Creative Affiliate since 2020
Jake Tribus acquired a BFA in Dance with a deal with Enterprise and Movie from the College of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman College of Dance. Tribus has additionally skilled at CC & Firm Dance Complicated in Raleigh, North Carolina, beneath the path of Christy Curtis; as an apprentice at Subsequent Technology Ballet in Tampa, Florida, beneath the path of Peter Stark; and in intensives with Nederlands Dans Theater, Batsheva Gaga Approach, The Juilliard College, and Complexions Up to date Ballet. Tribus has labored with Aszure Barton, William Forsythe, Travis Wall, Tessandra Chavez, Sonya Tayeh, Martha Nichols, Mandy Moore, Jason Parsons, Lauren Adams, and Jess Hendricks. Further stage performances embody Kirsten Russell’s Fell Solely As soon as, “Newsies” tribute on the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, Capezio’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, Youth America Grand Prix Gala, and the 2017 Emmy Awards. He has labored with artists together with Janet Jackson and Lorde. Display screen performances embody: The Late Late Present with James Corden, the Soiled Dancing tv remake, the Uncover Los Angeles industrial for the LA Tourism and Conference Board, Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do music video, and the Backstreet Boys’ Possibilities music video. Throughout his time at USC Kaufman, Tribus directed his personal conceptual dance video titled Like to Change, collaborating with and using the talents of movie college students on the USC College of Cinematic Arts. Tribus continues to discover his ardour for philanthropy, manufacturing, creation, and management via dance.

Recognizing the struggles of freelance artists in a time of restricted alternative and the inherent profession hierarchy of the dance world, Tribus’ Advocacy Fellowship goals to uplift rising choreographic voices throughout numerous aesthetics and traditions via producing an eventual casual efficiency collection. Along with growing performing alternatives for rising artists, the venture may even redistribute sources to younger dancers who’ve been uniquely professionally impacted by COVID-19.

Leal Zielińska

Creative Affiliate since 2018
Leal Zielińska was born and raised in Gdansk, Poland. She started her coaching with personal ballet teaching from Bogna Ostapiuk, studied at Codarts Rotterdam Dance Academy and graduated from the Impartial Program at The Ailey College in New York Metropolis. Zielińska labored with Sidra Bell Dance New York, throughout which she was featured on the duvet of Dance Journal. Zielińska attended Springboard Danse Montréal in 2016 the place she labored with Bobbi Jene Smith, Alexandra Wells and carried out works by Ohad Naharin and Elia Mrak. Off stage she has had the pleasure of being concerned in a number of movement-based movie and video tasks working with administrators and choreographers equivalent to Celia Rowlson-Corridor and Jovan Todorovic. Represented by industrial expertise company blocNYC Leal has carried out alongside Ariana Grande for her latest MTV VMA efficiency, and appeared in a nationwide marketing campaign for GAP.

Zielińska’s OKAY, LET’S UNPACK THIS goals to normalize the dialog on psychological well being within the dance neighborhood. Since March, when the pandemic induced the cancellation of reveals, excursions, and rehearsals the OKAY, LET’S UNPACK THIS collective shortly realized that many artists who depend on psychological well being providers would wrestle to entry essential help programs as a consequence of important lack of revenue. Over the previous a number of months OKAY has cultivated a neighborhood of therapists and counselors who’re providing free providers to dancers throughout this unprecedented disaster. Their providers are listed on OKAY’s web site, www.okayokayokay.org, alongside different psychological well being sources. The web site additionally shares dance artists’ personal psychological well being tales in written and video type and affords complete useful resource lists for anybody who would possibly want further help.

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