Guest Artists:

Tina Yarborough - a native of North Carolina, received her BFA in Dance from UNC Greensboro and a MFA in Arts Administration from Virginia Tech. Currently Ms. Yarborough is an Adjunct Professor at NC A&T State University and Winston-Salem State University. She has taught at UNC Greensboro, Wake Forest University and North Carolina School of the Arts. She has choreographed such musicals as Ain’t Misbehavin', Grease, West Side Story, Once on this Island, and Sweet Charity. Other areas of teaching and choreographing involve working with area dance teams/cheerleaders, dance studios, schools, churches and community/recreation centers.

Diann Sichel artist/educator, joined the WFU Dance faculty in the Department of Theatre and Dance in 2003. She comes to Wake Forest from Princeton University with a professional New York dance career in modern dance; national and international touring with Dan Wagoner and Dancers, Elizabeth Streb and Sara Rudner and Friends; and many years of university teaching throughout the United States and Europe. Her choreographic projects include working in opera, theatre, video, and modern dance as well as collaborations with visual artists, musicians, and puppeteers. Diann holds a BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah with honors in Performance and Choreography, and a MFA in Choreography from Colorado University at Boulder.

Debi Spencer recieved her BFA in dance from Oklahoma City University and her Masters degree in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is currently an adjunct professor here at Wake Forest University and also teaches at Academy of Dance Arts in Winston-Salem. She has been an instructor in many parts of the country for more then ten years. Besides her teaching career, Ms. Spencer has danced professionally here in the US, Europe and Japan. She toured with the Broadway musical 42nd ST., danced in many summer stock houses doing, West Side Story, Sugar Babies, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Annie and Anything Goes just to name a few. Also, Ms. Spencer loves to act and can be seen in the PBS documentary Rebels and Redcoats along with many other commercials.  

Trish Casey graduated from NCSA and New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where she received her BFA and MFA, respectively. While in New York, she danced with the companies of Pauline Koner and Don Redlich. Her teaching credits span universities, companies and dance organizations in Australia and the United States. She has directed several creativity-based workshops for teachers, choreographers and dancers in New Mexico, Texas, and North Carolina. Ms. Casey initiated "A Dance Gathering" in Dallas, Texas, an annual event hosting professionals' work from around the country. Ms. Casey was the recipient of an Award for Teaching Excellence at the North Carolina School of the Arts. She has studied Body-Mind Centering with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen and Iyengar Yoga, and has a wide variety of interests in the healing arts and energy-based work.

Cris Cristofaro designer and a graduate of the Chicago Art Institute lives in New York City. His set for A String of Wednesdays is from one of five new paper sculptural pieces recently seen at his October 2003 exhibit, Cris Cristofaro New Sculptures at Broadway Windows, NY. He teaches at LaGuardia College, CUNY and Yeshiva University, NY and is on the Board of Directors of City Without Walls, Newark, NJ. Cristofaro’s work is in private and public collections and his awards include the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation and the Pollack-Krasner Foundation. In 2004 his drawings will be published in “Provisions: Lost Prose of William Matthews, edited by Sebastian Matthews; a Fine Art Letter Book by Sutton Hoo Press. Cristofaro’s is also showing new work at the 2004 Small Sculpture Exhibition, Artlink Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN.

Karla Finger Coghill - Artistic Director/Choreographer for Sidelong Dance Company. She received her M.A. in Dance from American University where she was later appointed as an adjunct lecturer. While at American Karla was honored with a graduate teaching fellowship as well as the Evelyn Swarthout Hayes award for her outstanding contribution to the arts. Karla's choreography has been performed at the North Carolina Dance Festival and the American College Dance Festival as well as throughout the Washington, D.C. area. Her work can be seen in the repertory of Project: Motion in Memphis, TN and Sister's Trousers Dance Company in Sterling, VA. Karla has also set pieces on Dance and Company in Harrisonburg, VA and the Suitland High School Visual and Performing Arts Center in Maryland. She has performed at the Maryland Publick Playhouse, Thomas Jefferson Community Center, the National Cathedral and the Kennedy Center with Washington D.C. companies Shadowdance and D.C. Dance Theater. Karla is currently teaching at the Academy of Dance Arts in Winston-Salem.

Sean Sullivan - B.A. in Dance, California State University at Long Beach. Performed as a soloist with the Limón Dance Company and has taught at the Limón Institute. Visiting lecturer at the University of Illinois, teaching modern technique, kinesiology, composition, and Limón/Humphrey repertory. Mr. Sullivan is currently on the contemporary faculty of North Carolina School of the Arts Dance Department.

Carol Johnson received her early training in N.Y., both in theatre and dance; where she grew up performing in theatre and dance company productions throughout High School, college and into her professional career. She holds a BS degree in Dance from Radford University and also studied with the Eglevsky School of Ballet on Long Island, N.Y. as well as Point Park College in Pittsburgh, PA. Carol has choreographed numerous musicals and industrials for theatre companies, schools, and businesses in North Carolina and Virginia. Of special mention were “Lil Abner,” “Brigadoon,” “Sound of Music”, “Pippin”, “Banjerman” (for Appalachian Summer Festival), and “Fiddlers Trick” with the N.C. Symphony (which appeared on N.C. Public Television). She was commissioned in 1995 to choreograph an original ballet for the Wake Forest University Fall Dance Concert. NCSA has asked her to be a guest teacher for their Winter Dance Festival since 1997 and for their Summer School for two years. Carol moved to Winston-Salem, N.C. in 1983 where she joined the faculty of The Academy of Dance Arts where she teaches Ballet and Jazz for the Academy and the Adult Dance Programs and currently serves as Faculty Coordinator.

Dianne Markham received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Oregon. She trained with Hanya Holm, Alwin Nikolais, Murray Lewis and Phyllis Lamhut, and performed with the Murray Louis Dance Company, and Nureyev and Friends. Her choreography has been performed by National and International companies. She joined the dance faculty at the North Carolina School of the Arts in 1980 and is currently the Assistant Dean of the Dance Department. Her choreography at the School of the Arts includes “Cowgirls”, “Silent Places/The Looking Glass” (the basis of a PBS documentary on the choreographic process), and “The Little Prince,” among others. Ms. Markham is also the 2001 recipient of the Governor’s Teaching in Excellence Award.

Susan McCullough graduated from the high school program of the North Carolina School of the Arts in 1969. She attended the School of American Ballet before returning to Winston-Salem as a charter member of the North Carolina Dance Theatre in 1970. Ms. McCullough joined the Harkness Ballet in 1971and, at the invitation of Jiri Kylian in 1975, joined the Nederlands Dans Theatre. She performed with Nederland Dans Theatre from 1975-84, adding the roles of ballet mistress (regiseur) and company teacher from 1980-84. She has staged Kylian repertoire for the Joffrey Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She directed the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School from 1986-88 and in 1988, after a nationwide search, was appointed dean of the School of Dance of the North Carolina School of the Arts. Ms. McCullough has choreographed works for the North Carolina School of the Arts, the North Carolina Dance Theatre, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (funded through a Pennsylvania Arts Council Choreographer Grant) and at SUNY-Purchase. Sherone Price is an instructor in the dance department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He has been a long time instructor for the American Dance Festival, and a former dancer and organizer of the African dance ensemble Otesha. Mr. Price received his BFA in dance from UNCG and trained with the African American Dance Ensemble artistic director Chuck Davis, Mohammed DaCosta and the Djembe Institute in Greensboro. Mr. Price has performed on local, regional and national levels with Jan Van Dyke, Chuck Davis, Otesha, Talley Beatty and the NC Black Repertory Company. Currently he is teaching intermediate jazz at Wake Forest University and African and Modern dance at UNCG. Lesley Hunt Ms. Hunt made her Broadway debut with Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in the Visit. While in New York she performed with numerous productions including: Oliver; The Waters of Babylon; Eh!; Philadelphia Here I Come; The Loves of Cass McGuire; A Man for all Seasons. Regional and Touring productions include: Duel of Angels; Dracula; The Women; A Question of Murder. Ms. Hunt has performed locally with The Charlotte Repertory Co; most recently in “Wit”; also with Playworks; The Mint Museum; The N.C. Shakespeare Co; The Collective Theatre Co; The Actors Ensemble in various productions including: Artemisia and the Dowager Queen; The Rivals; Steel Magnolias; The Importance of Being Earnest; If We Are Women; Machinal: The Chairs: My Mother Said I Never Should; Endgame. A Christmas Carol. Ms. Hunt was on the faculty of the N.C. School of the Arts, and guest faculty at UNG-G.

Andre’ Tyson, a native of Greenville, North Carolina is a former principal dancer and company teacher with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Mr. Tyson has choreographed ballets for Alfred Gallman’s Newark Dance Theater, DanceCompass, Alvin Ailey Repetory Ensemble, Signatures Contemporary Dance Theatre, de Thearterschool Jazz Dance Company and the Milwaukee Ballet Trainee Company. He was the recipient of a 1982 fellowship grant for choreography from the state of New Jersey. Mr. Tyson has also received grants from the Alvine Ailey Dancer’s Resource Fund and the Faculty Development Fund from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Mr. Tyson is a founding member of the “We Care” which was formed in 1991 to assist those affected by catastrophic illness within the “ Alvin” family and has produced and directed several fund raising benefits. For the past several years, he has been teaching in such places as: Canada, Brazil, Holland, Italy, Japan, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and India. He has been a guest teacher at de Theaterschool Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Wake Forest University, North Carolina School of the Arts, Smith College, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Presently, Mr. Tyson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Theatre/Dance Department and he continues to tour, teach, and choreograph both nationally and internationally.

B.J. Sullivan is orginally from Ontario, NY. She received her BFA from the Julliard School and her MFA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she was also faculty from 1996-1998. B.J. performed in the companies of Michael Mao, Lorn MacDougal Dance and Film, Sue Bernhard, Colin Connor, Joe Goode, Ralph Lemon, Stanley Love, Rene’e Waldleigh, and Bill Young. As a guest artist, she has taught and choreographed extensively at universities and peformance schools throughout the country. In 1998, B.J. joined the guest faculty list at Dance Space Center in NYC and looks forward to doing exciting residencies in the next year at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, Le Centre Des Arts Vivants in Paris, and the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. B.J. has been adjunct faculty at Wake Forest University for the past year and has loved working with the students and being part of a fantastic dance program.

Nina Danilova Graduate of the Vaganova Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia and danced the Kirov Ballet Company. A 1978 graduate of the Lunatcharski University of the Arts in Moscow, Russia. Doctoral candidate at the State Institute of Theatrical Arts, specializing in teaching, staging classical ballets and choreography. At the same time she performed with the Moscow State Ballet Theater as a Principal dancer. Since 1983 she taught and staged classical ballets around the world, Russia, Poland, Italy, and the United States. She was one of the editors for the magazine “Soviet Ballet” and the book “Thirty Variations from Classical Ballet Repertoire”. Ms. Danilova was faculty member at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Washington from 1991 to 1996 until joining the North Carolina School of the Arts. Ms. Danilova, in addition to teaching, has staged classical ballets for NCSA and created several original choreographic pieces.

Katharine Boyes is a faculty member of Wake Forest University, Salem College, and North Carolina School of the Arts. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati, and has performed throughout the U.S.A. and Great Britain as soloist and chamber musician. "Four Seasonal Sketches" by Betty Jackson King is featured on Katharine's recently recorded CD entitled "Piano Portraits of the Seasons by Women Composers" which is due for release in Spring 2001.

Brenda Daniels was born in New Jersey, received early training at New Jersey School of Ballet, and went on to earn a BFA in Dance from the College at Purchase. After many years as a free-lance performer, teacher and choreographer she accepted a position at North Carolina School of the Arts in 1995. Previous works for the Wake Forest University dancers include Four Starts and A Finish (1996) and Heaven (1997).

Karola Lüttringhaus was born and grew up in Berlin, Germany. She received her BFA in modern dance from the North Carolina School of the Arts, NC, USA in 1999. She has performed with such companies as Robert Wilson, The Wheel Theatre Group, Benoit Maubrey's 'Audio Ballerinas' and others.
Ms Lüttringhaus founded alban elved dance company in 1997, showing her choreographies in the USA, UK and Germany. Ms Lüttringhaus creates athletic contemporary dance performances often interweaving dance with live music, visual art, film/video, theatre, aerial work and technologies. She is now the artistic and executive director of alban elved dance company, which consists of a core of 9 dancers, 7 musicians/engineers/scientists, 2 lighting designers and a filmmaker.

Cynthia Penn-Henderson has been teaching and choreographing throughout France, Switzerland, South America, Africa and the United States for over 20 years. She began her professional training at age 14 at the North Carolina School of the Arts where she currently teaches Modern Dance in the Drama Program and Jazz Dance in the Summer Session. Her early mentors and inspirations include Alvin Ailey, Duncan Noble, Pauline Koner, Jacques d’Amboise, and Jennifer Muller. Her performance credits include Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bella Lewitzky Dance Company, Dancahoy and the Joffery Ballet. With much joy she dedicates her efforts to her sisters, Joann, Victoria and Selena and would like to thank Nina Lucas for inspiring her to “Walk the Talk”.

Cedric Flynt began his professional training at the North Carolina School of the Arts. He is a 1992 graduate of this institution. He received scholarships from Jacob's Pillow American Dance Festival and the Canon Young Artist Fellowship. Additionally, he has worked with the Tony Award winning Denver Center Theater Company in Derek Walcott's "Dream on Monkey Mountain”. He has performed on three continents including North America, Europe and Africa. He is a lead dancer with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble of Denver Colorado. Mr. Flynt was a member of the National Black Theater Festival's "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope".

Rick McCulloughRick McCullough, currently a Professor of Dance at Florida State University, is a performer, master teacher and choreographer.  He received his high school diploma and Bachelor of Fine Arts from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Mr. McCullough received a Master of Fine Arts from University of North Carolina - Greensboro.  His performing career included soloist roles with the Harkness Ballet of New York and principal roles with the Netherlands Dance Theater.  He has been on the faculty of Southern Methodist University, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, North Carolina School of the Arts, and the American Dance Festival.  His work has been performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Chautauqua Ballet, Ballet Pacifica, North Carolina School of the Arts and School of American Ballet.  His production of "Hansel and Gretel" premiered at the Kennedy Center for the Washington Ballet in 1994.

Patti Wilcox recently conceived, directed and choreographed A Swell Party, The Cole Porter Songbook for the Kennedy Center. The show is now on the road as a national tour starring Melba Moore. Other credits include Blues in the Night for the New York revival as well as the national and international companies (Drama Logue Award and also NAACP Image Award nomination), Die Fledermaus for Arkansas Opera, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for both Artpark and the prestigious Moscow Arts Center, Little Shop of Horrors for Arizona Theater Company (Zoni nomination), Beehive for StageWest, Oedipus Private Eye for Musical Theater Works, and the premiere of A Magic Night for the Berns Theater in Stockholm Sweden. Direction and staging for symphonies include Totally Cole for Houston Symphony, Horray for Hollywood for the Minnesota Orchestra, and An Arizona Christmas for Phoenix Symphony. Her work has also been seen at Seattle Repertory Theater, The Old Globe Theater, New York Shakespeare Festival, Pasadena Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, Indiana Repertory Theater, Thames Television in London, and Canole S in Italy. Her next project is staging, Scapan for Arizona Theater Company. Ms. Wilcox also teaches dance at the renowned Steps Studio in New York City, and travels worldwide to give master classes in Theater and Dance.

Ronen Koresh - Born in Israel, Koresh began his dance studies as a young child. Initially, he trained with his mother --folk dancer in the Yemenite tradition. He continued his studies with a Tel Aviv folk dance company, and later, moved on to more extensive study with the world-famous Bat Sheva Company. Emigrating to the United States in 1983 at the age of 21, Koresh brought with him not only a deep -rooted and rich heritage, but a mind eager to grow and learn. Following a year of professional classes at the Alvin Ailey Studio in New York, Koresh joined the Waves Dance Company in Philadelphia. Currently, Koresh is a member of the faculty at the University of the Arts and teaches daily at the Koresh Dance Center.

Robert Simpson is the owner, director of Biltmore Dance Studio; located in High Point, N. C. and specializes in teaching ballroom, Latin, shag and country and western. His background includes ballet, tap and jazz. His professional ballroom career began while in college.

Donna Nussman is an independent dance instructor known as the Dance Doctor and resides in Charlotte, N. C. She started in ice skating and ballet and now specializes in the line dancing, ballroom , shag and country western. Ms. Nussman along with Robert Simpson dance competitively and continue to place with top honors at all events, most recently winning the Carolina Dance Blast an 2nd overall champions at the Southeastern Regionals in Knoxville, Tennessee. Donna and Robert are also known for their choreography for competitive students and began judging this year.

Shawn Bowman - Hicks received her BA in dance from Columbia College, SC and her MFA in dance from The Ohio State University where she was awarded a graduate teaching associateship. Shawn has studied with artists such as Dan Wagoner, Woody McGriff, Pat Grany, Steve Koester, Randy James, and Christine Wright. She comes to Winston-Salem most recently from Las Cruces, New Mexico where she taught dance technique and theory courses at New Mexico State University. She also performed extensively with the International Dance Theatre Repertory Company, in El Paso, TX. Shawn has been a guest artist and teacher at Guangxi Arts College (P.R. of China), Columbia College, Towson State University, Goucher College, and in the North Carolina Public schools as a Dance Specialist. Ms. Bowman-Hicks has had numerous dance works produced including "Shukrani" for the Ohio Dance Festival which was based on her personal experiences while living in Kenya, East Africa. Currently, Shawn is performing for both Jan Van Dyke, and AHA! Dance.

Martha Bassett received a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the University of Kentucky, and is a candidate for the Master of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. As part of her work at UNC-G, Martha has done extensive research in the area of Shaker music, and is a frequent lecturer/recitalist on this topic. In addition, Martha specializes in Pre-K and elementary music education, and consults with various school systems in Georgia, training teachers to use music in the classroom. Holding certifications in Kindermusik and Orff, Martha teaches music to children at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, Congregational United Church of Christ in Greensboro, and Gymboree Play Center in Greensboro. Currently, Martha is a soloist at Centenary United Methodist and a member of the Bel Canto Company.

Christina Tsoules Soriano is a choreographer, dancer, and dance educator based in Providence, RI.  She received her MFA in Dance from Smith College and her BA in Theater and Dance from Trinity College, CT. Christina is delighted to be a guest artist at Wake Forest University later this year.  She is currently on the dance faculty at Providence College, Salve Regina University, Providence Ballet and Festival Ballet, Providence.  Christina's teaching and choreographic engagements have also included Rhode Island College, Trinity College and Amherst College and the Five College Dance Department.  In addition to making her own work, Christina is also a member of Heidi Henderson's company, elephant jane.