Video credit: Z Collective
BIOGRAPHIES
CHELSEA AINSWORTH
Chelsea Ainsworth, originally from North Carolina, is a graduate of the Dance Department at The Juilliard School. Her dance training has included Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballroom, and Modern dance as well as attending the North Carolina School of the Arts as a high school ballet major. After graduating from The Juilliard School she worked with David Parker & The Bang Group in New York and Johannes Wieland/Staadtstheater Kassel in Germany. Currently, she is teaching at Collaborative Arts Project 21/ New York University and dancing with ZviDance. She's been performing with Flexicurve since 2013.
ALEXIS BORTH
Alexis Borth graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the Conservatory of Music & Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which propelled her into her performances with Kansas City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Quixotic, and performances of George Balanchine’s Serenade at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. She has also performed in many works by: Dwight Rhoden, Aszure Barton, Ray Mercer, and Cindy Salgado of Kidd Pivot. In addition to ballet, Alexis has a diverse training in a broad range of styles like contemporary, jazz, African, urban/hip hop, ballroom, acting, and vocal work.
Alexis is currently bicoastal and recently started working for Dance Theatre of San Francisco. Career highlights include dancing with Complexions Contemporary Ballet for their season performances in Los Angeles at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and performing at The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City for Alexei Ratmansky’s The Golden Cockerel. She started working with Flexicurve choreographer Rekoert at New York Fashion Week 2017.
TAMRIN GOLDBERG
Born in Seattle, Washington, Tamrin Goldberg started dancing at the age of 3. After moving to Atlanta for high school, she trained in Atlanta Ballet’s pre-professional division, performing in several works with the company. Tamrin is a graduate of Barnard College, where she received a B.A. in dance and philosophy, and worked with choreographers Sidra Bell, Larry Keigwin, Kyle Abraham, Jill Johnson, Brian Brooks, and Colleen Thomas. She has attended intensives at Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Lauri Stallings’ GloATL, and USF’s Dance in Paris program. Tamrin is thrilled to be living as an artist in New York City and has worked with Pascal Rekoert/ Flexicurve since 2013.
CAROLINE KEHOE
Originally from Princeton, New Jersey, Caroline received her early dance training from American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School under the direction of Maria Youskevitch and Douglas Martin, and intensive training from Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, The Ailey School, NYU, and Complexions Ballet. Caroline graduated from Ailey/Fordham in 2010 with a BFA in dance, where she had the privilege of performing works by Alvin Ailey, Lar Lubovitch, Larry Keigwin, Paul Taylor, Ronald K. Brown, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Max Luna III, Pedro Ruiz, and Jennifer Muller. She was a guest artist in “Memoria” with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2009-10 and during their 50th Anniversary season in 2008-09. Caroline's additional performing credits include American Repertory Ballet. Her broadcast and print credits include the PBS series "IN THE LIFE/'Voices of Pride' Pedro Ruiz" in the segment, “Pas de Deux”, and a photo series called “Beautiful Dancers on the Town”, in additions to the photography book Dance Magic, both by Richard Calmes. Caroline was a member of Jennifer Muller/ The Works from 2014 to 2016, and has been a member of Flexicurve since 2010.
TEMPLE KEMEZIS
Temple Kemezis hails from good ol’ Tennessee. At age 15 she started her classical ballet training at the School of Nashville Ballet. From 2005-2007 she danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as a trainee. She has spent summers at the Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (NYC), and in 2007 participated in the Northwest Professional Dance Project in Portland, Oregon. Temple has danced in New York City since the Fall of 2007 and worked with choreographers like Kate Thomas, John Prinz, Yesid Lopez and Connecticut Ballet. Temple has been a contributor for Pointe Magazine and is an avid salsa dancer. She joined Flexicurve in 2016.
ELISE KING
Elise King graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University. While a Mellon Mayes Undergraduate Fellow, she studied dance at Barnard and The Alvin Ailey School. She has performed at Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out Festival; Joyce SoHo, WestFest Dance Festival, and many other dance venues. Currently, Elise performs with Jennifer Muller/ The Works, Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company, JD Sessions in Dance, BEings Dance, and many other choreographic projects. Elise also models for Body Wrappers and 51 Inc. athletic wear. When not dancing, Elise enjoys working at DoGoodBuyUs, serving as President of the charity, nycTIES, and being on the Career Gear Associates Board.
ELIJAH LAURANT
Elijah Laurant was born and raised in southern California, and began his training at Zeneith Performing Arts Center in Long Beach under the Director Nyiki Swain And Janette McGhee. He attended El Camino College to become a dance Major, and joined Pony Box Dance Theater as Co Director and dancer in 2011. Elijah also danced with Diane Lauridsen in South Bay Ballet as a company member and student .He moved to New York City to further his dance career at The Ailey school on full scholarship 2014-2016. Elijah Laurant has worked with numerous choreographers Kim Borogra , FDA, Matthew Rushing, Wendi Baity, Award Winning Tiffany Billings, Christopher Rudd, Roberto Villanueva. Elijah is currently working with Joshua Beamish, Helen Simoneau, Jennifer Muller/ The Works, and Stephen Petronio.
JENNA LIBERATI
Originally from Crystal Lake, Illinois, Jenna Liberati graduated summa cum laude with a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College in 2008. While there she performed works by Stephen Petronio, Jennifer Muller, Twyla Tharp, David Parsons, Francisco Martinez and Geoffrey Doig-Marx. She has performed professionally with Pascal Rekoert/Flexicurve, A.Gise and Dancers, Geoffrey Doig-Marx and Julia Pond Dance. Jenna currently dances with John J. Zullo Dance, Ian Spencer Bell Dance and is an apprentice with Alison Chase Performance and Jennifer Muller/The Works. She is also an instructor of the Refine Method, a Metabolic Resistance Training technique.
LISA PELUSO
Lisa Peluso was born and raised on the other side of the river in Florham Park, NJ. She started performing on several cruise lines and throughout Disney World when she was high school student. Lisa graduated summa cum laude from Montclair State University with a BFA in Dance. As a student, she received the Cento Amici Scholarship and The School of the Arts Scholarship for dance and academics. She was a long time member of Freespace Dance and now is a scholarship student at Jennifer Muller/The Works. Lisa's choreography has been well received at several American College Dance Festivals and received top honors and best choreography at the Hawaii International Dance Festival in Honolulu, HI in 2007. She has taught at Union County College and Montclair State University in NJ. She is currently on the dance faculty at County College of Morris in NJ. She has been a member of Flexicurve since 2007.
STEPHANIE SUTHERLAND
Stephanie Sutherland grew up in Pine Bush, NY and graduated from the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University program where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While in school she was cast in the international tour of West Side Story, traveling throughout Italy, Lebanon, and Japan. She has danced in works by Judith Jamison, Pascal Rioult, Jose Limon, Jennifer Muller, Paul Taylor, Donald McKayle, Anne Reinking, and Kevin Wynn. While living in India, Stephanie danced in numerous Bollywood films and commercials and is currently a dancer/singer/choreographer with the indie rock band, Jigsaw Soul. Her other choreography credits include films, plays, and the concert stage. She is also currently a dancer and collaborator with the Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre in NYC, and is very excited to have been working with Flexicurve since 2005.
KENDRA ISOBEL SAMSON
Kendra Isobel Samson graduated from the Philippine High School for the Arts as a national government scholar before moving to New York City to receive her BFA on full scholarship from The Juilliard School. She has performed works by Sidra Bell, Lane Gifford, Esme Boyce, Harumi Terayama, Ohad Naharin, Lar Lubovitch, Larry Keigwin, Alex Ketley, Anthony Tudor, Susan Marshall and Janis Brenner. Kendra is currently a freelance artist in New York City and is much honored to be dancing for companies such as Janis Brenner + Dancers, Esmé Boyce Dance, Lane & Company, and Pascal Rekoert/Flexicurve.
MELISSA ERIN STRAIN
Melissa Erin Strain is from the Greater New Orleans area of Louisiana. She graduated from University with a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Kinesiology during which time she also studied dance abroad for a year in Jerusalem. She is a member of Dancer Masters of America and has graduated with special recognition from DMA’s Teachers Training School. Melissa works in New York for STEPS on Broadway and Rosie’s Theater Kids. She also currently dances for artists Jeremy Williams and Alisa Fendley. Melissa is grateful for the opportunity to perform and further her craft in this amazing city through her work with Flexicurve.
ASHLEY TURENCHALK
Ashley Turenchalk, originally from Orange County New York, began training at Marya Kennett Dance Center while attending The Rock School for Dance Education in the summer. She continued her training at Goucher College where she received a BA in dance performance, psychology, and dance therapy. After graduation, she performed at Jacob's Pillow with Subtle Changes under the direction of Roger C. Jeffrey. Since being in New York, she has performed with Flexicurve, Kensaku Shinohara, Asterial Dance Project, and Mario Bermudez Gil while she studied as a scholarship student with Jennifer Muller/ The Works. Ashley is currently a company member of DamageDance and Asterial Dance Project. She has worked with Flexicurve since 2011.
ROBERT MICHAEL VALDEZ, JR.
Robert M. Valdez, Jr. affectionately known as “Buddy”, received his dance training at the San Francisco Academy of Ballet and the San Francisco School of the Arts. He also earned a BFA from The Juilliard School. Some of the choreographers Valdez has had the privilege to study and perform works by include: Alex Ketley, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Merce Cunningham, Ohad Naharin, Robert Battle, Alvin Ailey, Mats Ek, Jirí Kylián, José Limón, Doug Varone, Paul Taylor, Eliot Feld, Mark Morris, Mary Anthony, and Nacho Duato. Valdez has performed with Luna Negra Dance Theater, Octavia Cup Dance Theater, 360º Dance Company, Riedel Dance Theater, Jennifer Muller/The Works, and ZviDance. He is very happy to be collaborating with such amazing artists.
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