2023 Choreographers | Directors
Starting at age 15, Chris Andrews began dancing in his high school's dance company and attended a studio for more training, during his senior year. After graduating high school, he became a battle dancer with Deadly Venom Crew(DVC)/ Kombine Stylez Crew(KSC) and also started to teach at studios along the east coast. He joined a contemporary company named Alternative Dance Project(ADP) in Baltimore, Maryland. Also went off to Los Angeles to be involved in immersive theater shows with Zoe Joe's Theater, Performative Pop-Up, and
Mutate(L.A.). Then went on to work with music artist like Lonr, Taylor Swift, Paula Abdul, Imagine Dragons, Jonas Brothers, Aluna, Foster the People, Khalid, FKA Twigs and Ruff Endz, being Top 30 on two seasons of 'So You Think You Can Dance'. Has appeared on the film "In the Heights", Chris also is appearing Disney's, 'Hip-Hop Nutcracker' and The 30th Anniversary of Beauty and the Beast [LIVE].
Mutate(L.A.). Then went on to work with music artist like Lonr, Taylor Swift, Paula Abdul, Imagine Dragons, Jonas Brothers, Aluna, Foster the People, Khalid, FKA Twigs and Ruff Endz, being Top 30 on two seasons of 'So You Think You Can Dance'. Has appeared on the film "In the Heights", Chris also is appearing Disney's, 'Hip-Hop Nutcracker' and The 30th Anniversary of Beauty and the Beast [LIVE].
Matthew Crittenden is a preprofessional dancer who began training at age five. He trained and performed with a number of dance companies and professionals locally and nationally, including The Washington Ballet, Star Makers Academy of Dance, Dance Dimensions, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Abby Lee Miller of Dance Moms, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Dancing Dolls, Washington Wizards Dance Team, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. He made his first stage appearances in The
Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Debbie Allen’s DC-based play, Brothers of the Knight. He also performed for the Special Olympics ceremonies in Los Angeles. Later Matthew appeared in Broadway Across America’s A Christmas Story, AIDA and MC Hammer’s House Party Concert. In 2020, Matthew performed a self-choreographed solo and presented an online documentary for the Washington Performing Arts. In 2021, he gave a special performance for the Crown Prince of Norway at Union Station’s Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, DC. In 2022, Matthew was a teaching artist and performer for Black History Month’s Blacktastic! televised show, named Senior Mr. Dance America for his title-winning solo, “Phases”, and was a second line performer for the 2022 DC Jazz Festival Gala. In September, he was awarded the DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Performing Arts.
Matthew is a 17-year-old dance major and honor student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC. He is a member of both the National Honor Society and National Honor Society for Dance Arts.
Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Debbie Allen’s DC-based play, Brothers of the Knight. He also performed for the Special Olympics ceremonies in Los Angeles. Later Matthew appeared in Broadway Across America’s A Christmas Story, AIDA and MC Hammer’s House Party Concert. In 2020, Matthew performed a self-choreographed solo and presented an online documentary for the Washington Performing Arts. In 2021, he gave a special performance for the Crown Prince of Norway at Union Station’s Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, DC. In 2022, Matthew was a teaching artist and performer for Black History Month’s Blacktastic! televised show, named Senior Mr. Dance America for his title-winning solo, “Phases”, and was a second line performer for the 2022 DC Jazz Festival Gala. In September, he was awarded the DC Mayor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Performing Arts.
Matthew is a 17-year-old dance major and honor student at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC. He is a member of both the National Honor Society and National Honor Society for Dance Arts.
Amber Daniels received her BFA in Dance from Jacksonville University and her MFA at the University of Maryland at College Park. During her six seasons performing with Jacksonville Dance Theatre, she served as the Community Outreach Coordinator. Amber has served as a panelist of the Maryland Arts Council, guest artist of the Maryland Thespian Festival, Associate Company Manager of Bard SummerScape 2021, and the Program Coordinator for the DeVos Institute of Arts Management. She is the founder and Executive Director of Beer and Ballet, an adult community outreach program in Baltimore. Amber is currently teaching, independently choreographing, and serving on Jacksonville Dance Theatre's Board of Directors.
Franki Graham (she/her) is a Baltimore-based dancer, choreographer, and educator who believes in the transformative power of movement. Graham has danced locally, regionally, and internationally in many traditional and non- traditional spaces, with various artists and companies, including a European tour with Transitions Dance Company. Graham’s creative practice is rooted in the company she co-founded and directs, LucidBeings Dance, which has been described as “..straddling the line between sensible and visceral” (BMore Art, 2018). Her work has been presented widely across the DMV and has been commissioned for professional and student companies. As a dance educator, Graham has worked within the public school system, in private institutions, and in higher education. Her certification as a Functional Awareness Movement Educator informs her teaching practice. Graham holds a Masters in Dance Performance from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England, funded as a Leverhulme Scholar, and a Bachelors in Dance with an Education Certificate from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, funded as a Linehan Artist Scholar. Graham is currently Adjunct Faculty at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Coordinator for Contemporary Dance at the Peabody Preparatory Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, on the board of the Maryland Dance Education Association, and a teaching artist for the Maryland State Department of Education Centers for Creative Classroom
Tracy R. Kofford (Director of Dance/Artistic Director SBCC Dance Co.) holds a BFA in Dance from University of California of Santa Barbara and a MFA from New York University, TISCH School of the Arts. Tracy has performed and choreographed nationally and internationally with his own work and Jennifer Muller/The Works, whom he danced with for over 10 years in NYC. He has studied and worked with some of the world's most influential choreographers (such as Bill T. Jones, Paul Taylor and Mark Dendy to name a few), performers and dance companies. He also performed with Disney Cruise line, featured as Tarzan. Mr. Kofford was featured in Lois Greenfield: Still Moving. His work, Intersecting Fugue, was awarded a McCallum Choreography Award in 2016 and Cascading Failures won ACDA Gala recognition in 2018. His work Silent Splendor won the Audience Choice award at the Red Rock Dance Festival 2019, his duet Linger won the Judges Choice Award at the Red Rock Dance Festival in 2022 and his work Scorched Earth and Silent Splendor were commissioned for remount at Peabody Conservatory of John Hopkins University. His choreography has been presented at Lincoln Center in NYC, Switzerland and has toured nationally and international. He is currently Director of Dance at Santa Barbara City College and Artistic Director of the SBCC Dance Company. He is certified as Functional Awareness teacher.
Peter Pattengill is an alternative movement artist from San Diego California. After training with the Houston Ballet, Pattengill shifted focus to training in several modern and contemporary techniques while at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University as a member of their inaugural BFA in Dance Performance class. Pattengill graduated top of their class, being granted the Evergreen Scholarship Award. Pattengill now attends the University of Maryland College Park as a Graduate Fellow and MFA Candidate.
Pattengill’s work explores the worlds of camp, horror, and queer expression. Pattengill prides themself on a dynamic and varied moveset that emphasizes weight and gesture. Pattengill has presented work at Gibney Dance in NYC, the Impulstanz Festival in Vienna, performed a leading role with the Baltimore Concert Opera, and assistant directed the dance film, “scattered.place.”, which was accepted for the International Fine Arts Festival 2022. Pattengill is also an active board Member with Kaleid Dance Collective.
Pattengill’s work explores the worlds of camp, horror, and queer expression. Pattengill prides themself on a dynamic and varied moveset that emphasizes weight and gesture. Pattengill has presented work at Gibney Dance in NYC, the Impulstanz Festival in Vienna, performed a leading role with the Baltimore Concert Opera, and assistant directed the dance film, “scattered.place.”, which was accepted for the International Fine Arts Festival 2022. Pattengill is also an active board Member with Kaleid Dance Collective.
STEPHANIE POWELL is Artistic Director of the Stephanie Powell DanseEnsemble, Glory to God Arts Ministry, Restoration Community Dance Ministry, In The Spirit Dance Ministry, and director of Baltimore DanceTech, Inc. Ms. Powell is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University with a Masters Degree in Liberal Arts. Her undergraduate degree in Dance Education with Certification and Performance/Choreography was obtained from Goucher College. She is a graduate of the Baltimore School of the Bible where she received a diploma in church ministries. She was on the faculty of the Baltimore School for the Arts for twenty-one years and is currently teaching at Carver Center for the Arts and Technology. Ms. Powell has also served as the ballet and modern dance instructor for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Cirque du Soleil, The Lion King, and The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre.
Anesia Sandifer is a native of Augusta, Georgia. At the age of four, she
began taking dance classes and soon after joined a competitive dance
company traveling around the United States. She attended the
University of Georgia where she received a BBA in Finance and a minor
in Dance training in all genres. Anesia was a full scholarship recipient at
the 2015 Debbie Allen Summer Intensive in Los Angeles, CA. There
she performed on ESPN for the Special Olympics 2015 World Games as
a dancer for O.A.R. and Siedah Garrett. Anesia joined Step Afrika!, the
first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, in 2015
where she was able to perform Off-Broadway twice (2017 & 2020) and
tour the world as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador. She's taught and
perfomed in Croatia, Benin, South Africa, Chile, Ukraine and many more. She has also danced in several music videos for African artists including the incomparable Nigerian entertainer, Teni. Anesia thoroughly enjoys sharing her passion for dance and hopes it's used as a tool to bring people together and spread love.
began taking dance classes and soon after joined a competitive dance
company traveling around the United States. She attended the
University of Georgia where she received a BBA in Finance and a minor
in Dance training in all genres. Anesia was a full scholarship recipient at
the 2015 Debbie Allen Summer Intensive in Los Angeles, CA. There
she performed on ESPN for the Special Olympics 2015 World Games as
a dancer for O.A.R. and Siedah Garrett. Anesia joined Step Afrika!, the
first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, in 2015
where she was able to perform Off-Broadway twice (2017 & 2020) and
tour the world as a U.S. Cultural Ambassador. She's taught and
perfomed in Croatia, Benin, South Africa, Chile, Ukraine and many more. She has also danced in several music videos for African artists including the incomparable Nigerian entertainer, Teni. Anesia thoroughly enjoys sharing her passion for dance and hopes it's used as a tool to bring people together and spread love.
Darion Smith is a dance artist and educator. He started his dance training at Santa Barbara City College with Kay Fulton. He continued his dance studies at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany and the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow, Russia. Smith earned his MFA in dance from the University of Oregon. Smith’s professional career credits include the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, and Buglisi Dance Theatre to name a few. In 2007, Smith cofounded Janusphere Dance Company and became artistic director. Smith serves as Assistant Professor of Dance at HCC and as a dance faculty member at the Peabody Preparatory Program in Baltimore, MD. Smith has taught at the University of Oregon, UC Santa Barbara, Pacific Lutheran University, American College Dance Association, Santa Barbara City College, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Washington School of Ballet, and Eugene Ballet Academy. Darion’s choreography has been presented throughout the US, in Mexico and Spain.
A graduate of LaGuardia High School of the Arts 88’, and Howard University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology 95’, Amanda F. Standard serves as Founder, ED/AD for both Divine Dance Institute, Inc. (DDI) and SoundXpressed Dance Company (Washington DC). Through each, she’s provided novice, pre-professional, and professional dancers the opportunity to study and perform all over the D.C. Metropolitan area, nationally, and abroad. - After over 20 years of owning and running DDI, the Maryland Dance Education Association presented Amanda with the “Dance Educator of the Year for Private Studios” award, in 2018., FAME “ Educator of the Year” in 2019, and the National Dance Education Educator of the Year award (Private Sector) 2020. She has taught K-12 while tackling multiple subjects at various levels , and currently serves at Benjamin D. Foulois Creative and Performing Arts Academy, a K-8 specialized program. Through DDI, she has launched the Emerging Artists Showcase, the Pneuma Dance Project Summer Intensive, Seedz Summer Dance Lab, PG Powerdanz Project and the Divine DESIGN Summer Enrichment programs.
Misty Yackshaw began dancing as a toddler in Myrtle Beach, SC and attended the Ballet Summer Intensive at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. She was a member of the University of South Carolina Dance Company and the USC West African Drum and Dance Ensemble as well as the i independent company, Djoliba Don. From 2006-2009 she danced and choreographed with Full Circle Dance Company. After a long dance hiatus, she returned in 2016 and has been dancing with Full Circle to the present. Choreography for Full Circle has includes such works as Alternate Paradigm, Daydreams, The Ceiling and Comic Interlude. Her latest work is DISSONANCE, a dance film project debuting in April 2020. Misty enjoys creating character-centric pieces that explore the nuances of individuals and she loves to incorporate humor in dance when called for.
Photo credit: Brion McCarthy
Photo credit: Brion McCarthy
Camille Weanquoi is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, & co-founder and Managing Director of the Baltimore Black Dance Collective. She received most of her dance training at Harlem School of the Arts where she was a scholarship recipient of the HSA college preparatory/pre-professional dance program. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance & Winston Salem State University with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on psychology and education.
Camille has also had the privilege to study under many influential dance artists such as Kim Grier-Martinez, Imani Faye, B.J. Sullivan, and Rod Rodgers. Camille is currently a MFA candidate at Wilson College, a 3rd year candidate for Dunham Technique teacher certification & currently teaches African diaspora dance forms along with other styles of dance in the Baltimore area.
Camille has also had the privilege to study under many influential dance artists such as Kim Grier-Martinez, Imani Faye, B.J. Sullivan, and Rod Rodgers. Camille is currently a MFA candidate at Wilson College, a 3rd year candidate for Dunham Technique teacher certification & currently teaches African diaspora dance forms along with other styles of dance in the Baltimore area.
FULL CIRCLE DANCE COMPANY
Full Circle Dance Company was founded in 2000 by Donna L. Jacobs. From its inception, Full Circle has been committed to presenting diverse stories, tackling real-world issues, and creating technically excellent work that engages and moves a broad audience.
In addition to performing frequently throughout Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, Full Circle has performed by invitation in Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Arizona, and Tennessee. Venues have included Baltimore Artscape Festival, Baltimore Museum of Art, Tempe Center for the Arts (AZ), Broadway Dance Center (NY), Ohio University, Wesleyan University (CT), Dance Place (Wash DC), and many others.
Since 2004, Full Circle has developed a signature method for creating and presenting work. Selecting one issue to explore deeply each year, the company commissions up to seven choreographers, inviting each to explore the issue from any angle. The resulting works—thematically united but reflecting diverse approaches and perspectives—are presented together, inviting audiences to engage with difficult challenges in new ways. Tackling such complicated issues as race, religion, body image, gender, and more, Full Circle’s yearlong choreography projects have received both local and national attention.
Full Circle Dance Company was founded in 2000 by Donna L. Jacobs. From its inception, Full Circle has been committed to presenting diverse stories, tackling real-world issues, and creating technically excellent work that engages and moves a broad audience.
In addition to performing frequently throughout Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, Full Circle has performed by invitation in Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Arizona, and Tennessee. Venues have included Baltimore Artscape Festival, Baltimore Museum of Art, Tempe Center for the Arts (AZ), Broadway Dance Center (NY), Ohio University, Wesleyan University (CT), Dance Place (Wash DC), and many others.
Since 2004, Full Circle has developed a signature method for creating and presenting work. Selecting one issue to explore deeply each year, the company commissions up to seven choreographers, inviting each to explore the issue from any angle. The resulting works—thematically united but reflecting diverse approaches and perspectives—are presented together, inviting audiences to engage with difficult challenges in new ways. Tackling such complicated issues as race, religion, body image, gender, and more, Full Circle’s yearlong choreography projects have received both local and national attention.
Under the leadership of Franki Graham and an outstanding faculty, Peabody Preparatory Dance is keeping in step with the progression of American dance into the 21st century and remains committed to: offering high quality dance training for students of all levels age 3 to adult; presenting imaginative professional-level performances; offering pre-professional ballet and modern dance summer intensives; partnering with our community through master classes, seminars, workshops, and other dance events – most offered free of charge; and training and supporting male dancers through the ground-breaking Estelle Dennis/Peabody Dance Training Program for Boys.