company bios
HEIDI LATSKY (Artistic Director) Click to see full biography.
JEFFREY FREEZE (Associate Director) began his career as a muppet, touring with Sesame Street Live. Since moving to New York in 1996 Freeze has worked with Michael Mao Dance, Phi Dance Theater, Sense Dance and Bruce Webber's 'No Chance Ensemble'. He served as both choreographer and principal dancer for Infinity Dance Theater and played Snow Boy and Big Deal in Robert La Fosse's 'West Side Story' tour. His Broadway debut was with Matthew Bourne's 'Swan Lake' and his film debut was in 'Dirty Dancing'. Freeze now serves as Principal Dancer and Associate Director for Heidi Latsky Dance.
PAOLA STYRON (Co-Director of IF) was a leading performer and collaborator for over twenty years with choreographer /director Martha Clarke. Productions with Ms. Clarke include: Off Broadway: "The Garden of Earthly Delights", "Vienna: Lusthaus", and "Vienna: Lusthaus (Revisited)", "The Hunger Artist", "Miracolo d'Amore","Vers La Flamme" (Lincoln Center Great Performers Series);The operas "Marco Polo", and "Orfeo ed Euridce" (New York City Opera)"Hans Christian Andersen" (American Conservatory Theater)"A Midsummer Night's Dream" (American Repertory Theatre)"Belle Epoque" (Lincoln Center Theater). With renowned Canadian soloist Margie Gillis, Paola is a frequent guest artist and choreographer for both stage and film.She was Associate Artistic Director of Faustwork Mask Theater from 1990 - 2000. An aerialst and equestrian, she recently worked with choreographer Paula Josa-Jones on an evening of Equestrian Dance Theater. Paola is also a certified instructor of THERAPEUTIC RIDING, a form of therapy using horses and horseback riding, to enhance and promote the physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being of people with disabilities.
BETH NAVON (Board President) has been an administrator in the non-profit sector for over twenty-five years. Recognized for her expertise in the mental health field she has traveled all over the country to be on panels, lead workshops and moderate national conferences. In her most recent capacity as Executive Director of an organization focusing on juvenile justice, she created a nationally recognized service delivery model for youth re-entering the community after incarceration and has published several articles and a book chapter describing how to replicate the model. One of the strongest elements of the programming model was to incorporate yoga, dance, and the creative arts
A life long passion for the arts, particularly modern dance, led Ms. Navon in 1994 to establish her own dance company with the assistance of Heidi Latsky. The company, named "3/45" was for women forty-five years old and up.
Ms. Navon graduated from Simmons College School of Social Work with a Masters degree in Social Work in 1973. In 2003 Ms. Navon was certified in Executive Management from Columbia University's School of Business.
LEZLIE FRYE is an activist, performance artist, poet and scholar. She is a member of SINS Invalid, a San Francisco–based artists collective exploring intersections of sexuality and dis/ability and of GIMP, a interdisciplinary dance project of Heidi Latsky Dance, based in New York. Frye aims to address intersecting forms of oppression and to locate critical resistance in the foxy bodies of cripples everywhere. She is currently a doctoral student in the American Studies Program, Department of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University. Frye's academic work explores intersections of dis/ability, race, gender, sexuality and nation, with particular interest in art and aesthetics, citizenship and the politics of life and death. For info on performances, workshops, lectures and artist residencies, e-mail lezliefrye@gmail.com; or visit gimpsgotgame.com
LAWRENCE CARTER-LONG has performed with Heidi Latsky Dance in GIMP since 2007. He works as the Executive Director for the Disabilities Network of NYC and is the founder and curator of the groundbreaking disTHIS! Film Series: disability through a whole new lens, which has been featured in The New York Times Sunday Style section. As a commentator, Lawrence has appeared on the BBC, CNN, NBC's Today Show and NPR, among other regional, national and international outlets. He is also a producer on WBAI's Largest Minority radio show. A popular public speaker on a wide array of topics ranging from disability issues to animal advocacy to media literacy, Lawrence regularly facilitates workshops at colleges and conferences across the nation. Lawrence was honored to receive the Frieda Zames Advocacy Award from NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg on August 12, 2009. In March 2010, he will be presented with the Paul G. Hearne Award, an annual honor presented by the American Association of People with Disabilities to recognize emerging leaders within the national cross-disability civil rights movement.
CATHERINE LONG is a Performance Artist. Central to her work is the individual and collective body, the subjective and objective experience with a focus on observation and perception. Her work explores and addresses issues of objectification, absence and presence, restriction and freedom, control, embodiment and symmetry. A key aim of her work is for people to gain insight into how perceptions of ourselves are shaped by our perceptions of others. Recent performances include Tate Modern, London (2007), Chisenhale Dance Space, London (2006), NottDance (2004), Community/Performance Conference in Rhode Island (2004), and Jerwood Space (2004). Catherine has been working with Heidi Latsky Dance in GIMP since April 2008. She has a BA (Hons) in Arts Therapies.
CHRISTINA BRIGGS has been dancing with Heidi Latsky since 2000, performing lead roles in Flat Line and Club Riot. She was born in Virginia, where she danced with the Richmond Ballet and earned a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. Since moving to New York in 1996, she has danced for many choreographers, including Carrie Ahern, Pat Cremins, and Susan Osberg. Christina performs for children nationwide with the Hudson Vagabond Puppets, where she is also the Rehearsal Director. Christina is the Co-Director and Choreographer of Incidents Physical Theater, a company producing collaborative dance theater pieces. She has staged her choreography at the University of Florida, Gainesville and the College of Lake County and taught master classes at many universities, including Colorado State University, Frostburg State University, Montclair State University, Penn State University and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Christina is also a Pilates instructor, teaching privately and at Groundfloor Exercise since 1999. Christina is additionally an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Drama and Dance at Hofstra University.
JENNIFER BRICKER (Co-choreographer for Aerial Piece/Performer) always had a passion for tumbling and gymnastics, despite being born without legs. Throughout her life she competed in power tumbling, volleyball, and softball… all against able-bodied athletes. Jen's athletic achievements were featured on Extra, Arabella (Germany's renown talk show), performances around the world under the direction of Heidi Latsky, and the Britney Spears World Tour. Jen moved from her small community in southern Illinois to Orlando, Florida to work for Walt Disney World. This is where Jen and Nate met and shared a dream of performing together to inspire and motivate. Performing with Nate has obliterated any limit Jen ever thought she had.
NATE CRAWFORD (Co-choreographer for Aerial Piece/Performer) was originally groomed as a gymnast. He competed for the University of Illinois at Chicago graduating with a Bachelors of Business Administration. After four years of working in a traditional management role, he decided to try performing for just one year. That was over ten years ago and Nate is still performing all around the world. Highlights have included a solo for the King of Malaysia, TODAY Show, and Neighborhood Presidential Ball with Anti-Gravity. Opening cast of Mystic Rhythms at Tokyo Disney Sea, and world tour with Britney Spears. With over a decade of experience, Nate is most excited about performing with Jen. Her passion and determination is enough to invigorate even the most experienced veteran.
JILLIAN LEIGH HOLLIS (Performer) began her dance training in Syracuse NY. She attended Point Park University, graduating with a degree in dance. Jillian performs regularly with Rocha Dance Theater, which are resident artists at Galapagos Arts Space in Dumbo. She also is a member of Carrie Ahern Dance. In the past Jillian has had the pleasure to work with numerous choreographers including Heather Harrington and Incidents Physical Theater. Jillian can be seen on stage with Lady Rizo and the Assettes all over NYC stages. She been dancing for Heidi Latsky since 2002.
TOBY MACNUTT (Performer) Toby MacNutt is a quadrupedal queer crip, anthropological scholar, activist, and dancer. Academically, Toby's focus has been on community creation, identity development, and communication, studies directly supporting work as an activist, advocate, ally trainer, and bridge-builder between and across identities. Past experience includes speaking, writing, and leading workshops for a variety of groups in educational, professional, and conference settings. Early in life, Toby had access to training in multiple dance disciplines, and now, after a long hiatus, is very excited to be a dancer once more - especially in a context that coordinates so powerfully with a radical body politics.
AKEMI NISHIDA is an activist, educator, student, and cultural worker for social justice. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Social Personality Psychology, she is also an adjunct professor in Disability Studies and Psychology at the City University of New York. Akemi has been working with Heidi Latsky Dance in GIMP since 2009. Originally from Itsuko Nishida's egg and Akira Nishida's sperm, she was born and raised in Japan and came to the States in 2002, where much of her politicization occurs. Centering on the topics of disability and diversity and their intersectionality, her work focuses on the political development of disabled people and the pedagogy of privilege and alliance.
LI CHIAO-PING (Choreographer/Performer/Artistic Director LCPD) was named by Dance Magazine as one of the 25 to watch. She formed LI CHIAO-PING DANCE (LCPD) in 1990 and co-directed DZIGA VERTOV PERFORMANCE GROUP from 1992-94. Renowned for her solo work, she is equally well-known for her multimedia and/or intergenerational productions. Her collaborations with Douglas Rosenberg include dance films such as DE L'EAU, RESIDUES, PERIPHERY, GRACE, and a new suite of dances made for the camera which were co-funded by Wisconsin Public Television and Bravo! FACT of Canada. A prolific choreographer of well over 80 works for stage and screen, Ms. Li's dances have been shown throughout the world and at many festivals. Ms. Li has received numerous awards, grants and honors, and has received choreographic fellowships from the Wisconsin Arts Board and Scripps/ADF Humphrey-Weidman-Limon. She was the American representative in ADF's International Choreographer's Program, and has been commissioned by many including Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church and Virginia Ballet. Ms. Li earned her Master of Arts degree from UCLA and has been on the dance faculty at Hollins University, Mills College, and UW-Madison where she continues to teach.
MEREDITH FAGES (Performer) has performed with Alexandra Beller/Dances, Armitage Gone! Dance, Wally Cardona, Heidi Latsky Dance, XYZeta Projects/Jimena Paz, Laura Peterson Choreography, Becky Radway Dance Projects, Steeledance, Palissimo/Pavel Zustiak, Eidolon Ballet, Todd Rosenlieb Dance, and Virginia Ballet Theatre. She has been featured in the ballets of Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Lew Christensen, and Antony Tudor. Meredith has served as rehearsal assistant for Heidi Latsky, Laura Peterson, Oliver Steele, and Ginger Thatcher, and she was a member of the faculty for the 2009 Peridance Summer Teen Intensive. Upcoming projects include dance films by Deborah Lohse and Donnell Oakley, and a new work by Elisabeth Motley/DOORKNOB COMPANY. She was born in Charleston, SC and graduated from Columbia University with a Pre-Medical Concentration in English.
GREGORY YOUDAN, JR. (Performer) holds a BA in Dance from Hofstra University. He currently dances for HT Chen and Dancers and Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble. Other company credits have included the New York Baroque Ballet Dance Company, Gail Corbin and Dancers, Catherine Gallant/DANCE, Kelley Donovan and Dancers, Gloria Mclean and Dancers and others. In 2007, Gregory's choreography was selected to close the Gala for the American College Dance Festival and has since been presented throughout the city including a commission for the FAITH Project to benefit the American Lung Association.
DAVID HARRELL (Performer) is an actor, dancer, writer, speaker and disability advocate. He served as Accessibility and Outreach Director for the Raleigh Ensemble Players Theatre Company (REP) from 2002-2004 and was awarded the Triangle Access Award from the Alliance of Disability Advocates in 2004 for his work at REP. He presented with REP at the VSA International Festival in 2005 and served on the Board of Directors for Arts Access in Raleigh, NC. He is currently working as the Disability and Programming Associate for the Alliance for the Inclusion in the Arts. He holds a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and a M.F.A. in Theatre Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. David moved to New York in 2008 to continue his acting and advocacy work. In 2009 he was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Solo Performance in his one man show A Little Potato and Hard to Peel. He is excited to be working with Heidi Latsky Dance and is grateful for the wonderful opportunity to be a part of this ensemble.
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IDIL BRAY (Understudy) began her dance training at the age of 4 at Ballet Arts, the professional school of Ballet Tucson, under the direction of Mary Beth Cabana. At age 12 she became a resident artist at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts where she spent the next 6 years studying with Arthur Mitchell's Dance Theatre of Harlem performing works by Arthur Mitchell, Lowell Smith, Laveen Naidu, and Robert Garland. Throughout her career she has studied with DTH, Maryland Youth Ballet, Susan Farrell, and The Royal Danish Ballet. She has a passion for theatre and has studied comedic improv under the direction of Jen Nails and the Meisner technique under the direction of James Price. She is currently a student at the Ailey School and thanks Heidi Latsky for a second chance at dance and her Mom Dad and loving boyfriend Andre for their constant unwavering support.
STEPHANIE BUSIA (Performer) holds a BA in both Dance and Psychology from Beloit College in Wisconsin, with departmental honors in Dance. She currently works for Heidi Latsky Dance as Management Associate and is a cast member in her work "IF." Throughout her years in college, she choreographed and danced in the Senior Showings, December Workshops, and her choreography was selected every year to be performed at the Annual Chelonia Dance Concert. In 2009, Steph's choreography was chosen to be performed at the American College Dance Festival.
KEVIN FAY (Performer) began dancing at The Joy of Motion Dance Center in Bethesda, Maryland. After moving to Chicago to attend Northwestern University, Kevin continued dancing at both Northwestern and The Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance, where he performed with Larry Long & Dolores Lipinski's Civic Ballet of Chicago. Over summers, Kevin trained with The Ailey School, ABT, The Taylor School, and The Hubbard Street Dance Center, where he spent a year on scholarship after his college graduation. Since leaving Chicago, Kevin has danced with Dayton Ballet in Ohio, Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company in Washington, D.C., and Daniele Desnoyers at springboard danse montreal. Now, he rehearses and performs in and around New York City with Jin Ju Song-Begin, Douglas Dunn & Dancers, and Michael Mao Dance Company. He is thrilled to be working with Heidi Latsky Dance now and will always be grateful to her, his family, his friends, and his teachers.
AMBAR GONZALEZ (Performer) is a Dominican born New York native. She is a graduate of the Hunter College BA programs in Dance & Theatre. There she had the pleasure of creating her own choreography as well as working with choreographer Keely Garfield. She is also a veteran and former United States Army Reservist. She served in Iraq where she took on the additional duty of a recreational Latin dance instructor to soldiers and civilians. Since returning in 2007 Ambar has taken on the new role of stage manager. She has learned to use her theatre base and the technical aspects of performing arts in hopes of expanding on creativity involving her own choreography.
JULIA HAHN-GALLEGO (Free Lance Set Designer, Production Designer, and Scenic Artist) She holds a Master's Degree in Fine Arts from the Academy Minerva in the Netherlands. She has worked on venues throughout Europe and America, ranging from small theatres to large opera houses. She has designed award winning scenery for theatre, film and television for over 10 years. Julia is an active board member for Wheels of Progress, a 501C3 nonprofit organization that is devoted to creating accessible and supportive housing for persons with disabilities. Julia is also an avid marathon runner and triathlete. She is thrilled to be a part of Heidi Latsky Dance Company and to appear with her husband George.
GEORGE GALLEGO (Performer) is the Founder & CEO of Wheels of Progress: an organization focused on creating affordable & accessible supportive housing for persons with disabilities. He is also the president of the NY Chapter of the Spinal Cord Injury Association. George survived a spinal cord injury in 1992. After years of coming to grips with his disability, he became a mentor and advocate for persons with disabilities. His B.S. is in Organizational Management. For the past 4 years he has been a world-class athlete competing in triathlons around the world. He is a member of S.A.G. Needless to say, George is thoroughly excited to be working with Heidi Latsky Dance.
TERRENCE HEWITT (Performer) 2007 Performed in "moving portraits" with the AIDS service center in outreach project choreographed by Heidi Latsky. 2009 performed with at Dance New Amsterdam in a piece called 24/7 choreographed by Isabel Gotzkowsky. 2010, Film: Lead role in Tweedy Barnes playing Tweedy Barnes directed by Shawn Soland at N.Y.film, and participated in Project X "Pulse" at the Creative Center.
ELFIE KNECHT (Performer, multilingual licensed NYC Tour Guide and Activist) Elfie plays the accordion and also enjoys playing her piano classical style. In addition, she is a member of "IF" with Heidi Latsky Dance Company. Elfie is an adaptive dis-ability sports enthusiast. This includes, but is not limited to, adaptive water skiing, tennis, archery, kayaking, skydiving, adaptive snow skiing, handcycling, flying trapeze and ziplining. As a certified peer visitor for the Amputee Coalition of America, Elfie shares with and listens to hundreds of new and kindred amputees. She is a dis-ability rights activist. Elfie sends much love and deep gratitude to her beautiful wife for her support, love and generosity of spirit.
DAVID LINTON (Performer) is a Professor of Communication Arts at Marymount Manhattan College where he teaches course in media studies, theory and communication history. He is also President of the new York State conference of the American Association of University Professors and is active in academic politics. He is an avid skater (both roller and ice) and once did the skateography for a production of Alice in Wonderland.
SIMI LINTON (Performer) is the co director/co producer of Invitation to Dance, a forthcoming film about dance and disability. She is the author of Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity, and the memoir My Body Politic. She received a PhD from New York University and taught at the City University of New York from 1985-1998.
CLAUDE LOUISSAINT (Performer) has worked with HLD since 2002, and is thrilled to be working in this capacity. CL is also thrilled and proud to be the mom of Asta, 8, and Elianna, 4.
EVE PACKER (Performer) Bronx born poet/performer, appears solo, with music, in dance and theater. Eve has published three (3) poetry books: Skulls Head Samba, Playland poems 1994-2004 and in the Spring of 2011, New Nails (all Fly By Night Press). Eve has four (4) poetry/jazz CDs and the recent First and Last. Eve lives downtown and loves to swim daily.
SULEIMAN RIFAI (Performer) is a dancer, psychotherapist and marathon runner. Suleiman arrived from Tanzania in 1979 in order to receive rehabilitation training at the Lighthouse International, the association for the blind. Through the Lighthouse dance therapy program, Suleiman was chosen to train at the Alvin Ailey New Visions Dance Project. Suleiman was later given a scholarship by Alvin Ailey to mainstream into their professional dance program with sighted dancers. Suleiman also danced with Ann Carlson, performed at the Dance Theater of Harlem, at Jacob's Pillow and other venues in the tri-state area. Sarah Swenson choreographed duets which they performed together. He is currently a full time psychotherapist at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn working with men with substance abuse and mental health issues. He has completed four NYC and two Boston marathons and is the first blind person to complete the Empire State Building Run-Up in February, 2010.
JENNY ROCHA (Performer) is a dancer/performer, choreographer, costume designer and teacher. Along with being a member of Heidi Latsky Dance, she has also recently worked with Sean Curran Company and Kelli Wicke Davis. As choreographer and artistic director of Rocha Dance Theater, Jenny's work has been presented by Danspace Project, Joyce Soho, Lamama ETC, Galapagos Art Space (where she is currently a resident artist with her Painted Ladies Project) and many more. As a teaching artist, she has taught at West Virginia University, ACDFA at Connecticut College, Roger Williams University (2001-2009) and currently NYC's Dance New Amsterdam.
ROBERT SIMPSON (Performer) studied modern dance with Maxine Sheets-Johnstone, Willa Kahn, and Irene Feigenheimer; ballet with Alfredo Corvino, Michael Vernon, and Pamela Pribisco. In NYC he has performed his own work and in those of Claudia Gitelman, Ralph Lee, Irene Feigenheimer, and Barbara Roan. As a result of a Cerebral Vascular Accident in 1998, Robert lost the use of his left side. In 2005 he was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease.
THOMAS VALLETTE (Performer) After a serious car accident, Tom was paralyzed for an entire year. When he regained mobility he started his acting career. He joined the Phila Childrens Repertory company. He worked with the Phila Drama Guild and the Actors Center. Then he moved to Florida where he became artistic director for ART ACT. He directed and acted in many productions. Afterward, he moved to NYC and was cast as Ricky in Forty Deuce. Hot Keys at the Naked Angels. His film career began when he played Speck White in the critically acclaimed independent feature LOW. Then he fell ill and lost his hearing. Now he teaches sign language and is writing a show (a memoir) called, "Learning To Listen."
FRANK PONZIO (Musical Director) has earned wide acclaim and admiration for the integrity, sensitivity, and passion of his playing. A graduate of Indiana University School of Music, Frank has performed and collaborated with numerous distinguished artists such as Ben Vereen, Phil Donahue and Baby Jane Dexter. He performs regularly with Aisha Morris (Stevie Wonder's daughter). As a composer, Frank has written for TV commercials, plays, and film. As an educator, Frank has been especially active in the community. He has enjoyed a fifteen-year association with Jacques d'Amboise and National Dance Institute (NDI), serving as its Music Director from 1991 to 1994. Since 1997, he has been the music teacher and dance accompanist for wheelchair-mobile students at PS 199 in New York.
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collaborators past and present
MARTY BELLER (Composer)
CHRIS BRIERLEY (Composer)
SEAN CURRAN (Guest Choreographer)
LESLEY DILL (Visual Artist)
MATTHEW EGGLETON (Production Manager)
KATJA ESSON (Filmmaker)
MARY FULHAM (Director/Playwright)
KRIS LEFCOE (Filmmaker)
DOUG ROSENBERG (Visual Artist)
SXIP SHIREY (Composer)
STAN STRICKLAND (Composer)
NATHAN TRICE (Dancer/Choreographer)
VALERIA VASILEVSKI (Director)
ROBERT WIERZEL (Lighting Designer)
RANDALL WOOLF (Composer)
