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Erica MoshmanDirector of Development & Donor Relations; Youth Repertory Director; Ballet, Modern
Erica Moshman is a dance artist, performer and facilitator. Erica's focus is in inclusive dance practice and community work. She is a co-founder of Parable Dance & Artistic Director of Parable NY, and has performed with Becky Radway Dance Projects, Heidi Latsky Dance Company, Evolve Dance Inc. Suse Tietjen/ Tanzorchester Suse Tietjen, Bahar Fattahi, and Jill Moshman, among others. Erica is also the Managing Editor of The Dancer-Citizen online journal. She holds a BA in dance and anthropology from Connecticut College (USA) and an MA in dance anthropology from the University of Roehampton (UK). |
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Gianna BartoliniBallet
Gianna Vasquez Bartolini began her training at Berrend Dance Center in Olney, MD, before pursuing her BFA in Concert Dance at SUNY Purchase, Conservatory of Dance. She also studied during this time at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet school in Carlisle, PA. After ballet freelancing and performing in guest artist roles, Gianna shifted artistic paths, and received a scholarship to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, where she received a certificate in Integrated Music Theatre. She is currently working as a musical theatre artist in the NYC Metro Area. Gianna has also been teaching in the Tristate and DC Metro Areas for 10 years, mostly ballet, jazz, and contemporary styles. Her teaching philosophy is to teach dance in a way that inspires students to grow as people and artists, and to inspire perseverance, self-discipline, and respect for themselves and others alongside technique and artistry. She emphasizes a healthy approach to technique, and is eager to teach anyone ready to learn! |
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Sidney ChoothesaHip Hop
Sidney Choothesa is a dance instructor, choreographer, and performer originally from Bridgeport, CT. She grew up training at CT Dance Conservatory where she studied ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, modern, and hip hop. Sidney continued her dance training in Sacred Heart University’s Dance Company’s Professional Track. While in the dance program at SHU, Sidney was able to work closely with professionals such as Mike Esperanza, along with BARE dance company, Phil Orsano, Jesse Obremski, Matthew Westerby, Tiffanie Carson, and McClaine Timmerman. Through the SHU dance program she was also able to travel to Italy to dance and perform for the World Dance Movement where she won two scholarships from Michele Assaf and Desmond Richardson. Sidney also gained the opportunity to be a featured dancer in two musicals put on by SHU’s Theater Arts Program which are, “In the Heights” and “Hair”. After college, she taught at Sacred Heart University for the dance program and choreographed numerous pieces. Sidney is currently a dance instructor and choreographer for CT Dance Conservatory and a company member for “Matthew Westerby Company” where she continues to perform in numerous shows based in New York City. |
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Whitney JanisJazz
Whitney Janis (New York, NY) is a dancer, instructor and arts enthusiast. She received her professional training from The Ailey School in 2018 and completed summer intensives at Ailey, San Francisco Conservatory and Elisa Monte Dance (now EMERGE125). She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University. Whitney has performed with American Liberty Ballet, ARIM Dance, Artists By Any Other Name, Avoir Motion, Bugge Ballet, Dance Visions NY, NYC Dance Arts, Dance Entropy and VashtiDance Theater in venues throughout New York City and in Virginia, North Carolina and Australia. She has worked with choreographers Souleymane Badolo, Bassam Abou Diab, Valerie Mae Browne, Michael Buoni, Ari Mayzick, Nicole Bugge and Beth Jucovy among others. Her choreography has been presented in venues throughout NYC and in Australia. In addition to working with Rivertown Dance Academy, Whitney is on faculty at the Brooklyn- based Purelements school and is an Ailey Arts-in-Education Teaching Artist. Whitney is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum, and completed Ailey’s Horton Teacher Training Workshop in all levels. |
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Luiza KarnasTap, Early Childhood Dance
Luiza Karnas is a dance artist and educator in the NYC and Westchester area. Originally from Brazil, she received her M.F.A in Performance and Choreography from SUNY The College at Brockport, NY, and graduated from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul – UFRGS (Brazil) with a degree in Dance Education. An advocate of dance education, Karnas has 10+ years of experience as a Teaching Artist with a focus on early childhood education, tap dance, hip hop, and creative movement. Karnas is thrilled to be part of the RDA team and to continue sharing her passion for dance. |
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Jill MoshmanEarly Childhood Dance
Jill Moshman is a choreographer, performer, and interdisciplinary artist. She holds a BA from Middlebury College in Vermont, USA and an MA from Bath Spa University in Bath, UK. Her work is primarily grounded in movement, while seeking to explore the intersections between dance, film, text, and visual media, and the diverse ways in which movement can be captured for an audience. www.jillmoshman.com |
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Rachel ShaverJazz, Contemporary
Rachel hails from Chesterfield, Virginia. Her performance career began at King's Dominion Theme Park, while she was studying Dance at Thomas Dale High School Specialty Center for Performing Arts. She obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Conservatory at Shenandoah University. Upon graduating, she joined Christopher K. Morgan and Artists (CKM&A) as Company Apprentice, and later Company Dancer. Her solo work, Antlers, was commissioned by VelocityDC Dance Festival, the 34th Annual Choreographer's Showcase, and by CKM&A to be performed at Brighton Dance Festival, as well as other D.C. dance festivals. Since moving to New York she has worked with local choreographers in showcases such as APAP, and One Condition, and has recently added virtual performances to her repertoire. Outside of RDA, her love for movement keeps her busy as a certified personal trainer, and a cycling instructor. She enjoys listening to Taylor Swift, and taking her dog Willow to the park. |
