DANCER AND TEACHER BIOGRAPHIES

Nichole Piacenza has danced with Dance Visions since 2005, and is a graduate from Long Island University, CW Post, BFA in dance, minor in Theatre. She has wide experience in various techniques of dance including ballet, jazz, pointe, modern, tap and African Dance. She participated in several intensives including The Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive, and worked with choreographers Arthur Aviles, Helen Myers and Darnetha M'Baye.  Nichole performed in Jose Limon reconstructions of Winged, Psalm and A Choreographic Offering. She also performs with Georgette Labrech and Company; a Musical Theater group based in Rhode Island. Nichole teaches ballet to young children

 

Johnny DeArden   has been a dancer with Dance Visions since Feb. 2007. He is a graduate of the José Limón Dance Institute, and has performed with several New York area dance companies, including: HaitiDansCo, Inner Landscapes Dance Theater and The Sens Productions. Johnny appeared in the dance film “Requiem for the Sea” choreographed by Hyonok Kim for the Lincoln Center Dance on Film project and was featured in the Documentary “Dance in NY”, Director Yana Schnitzer. Johnny also conducts private as well as group dance technique and repertory coaching.  email contact: jddance@gmail.com
Jessie Tomanek,  received her BA in Dance Performance from the University of Hartford, The Hartt School. Jessie was adopted from Seoul South Korea and began studying dance at the Nutmeg Ballet in Torrington, Connecticut. She was a member of the Olga Dunn Dance Company from 2000-2006 where she studied ballet, modern, jazz, hip- hop, and African Dance.  While dancing with Olga Dunn she had the opportunity to choreograph and teach her own works at the Mahaiwe Theater. Jessie particated in the Briansky Saratoga Ballet and the Paul Taylor Summer Intensives. She has worked with Peggy Lyman, Hilda Morlas, Annmaria Mazzini, Robert Kleienedorst, Milton Myers, Amy Marshall, Chad Levy, Moses Peddleton, Scott Rink, and Kurt Peterson. Ms. Jessie has also been a member of the Yosakoi Dance Company.

Chelsea Koenig,  began with the company in early 2009. After receiving her BS in Arts Administration with a minor in Dance from Butler University, Chelsea made her professional debut with Uptown Dance Company.  There she danced solo roles in choreography by Max Stone, Ray Dones, and Beth Gullege-Brown.  Chelsea has also trained with the Chautauqua Institute, Parsons Dance, American Ballet Theater, and Deb Calabrese.  She also dances with Vessel Dance in addition to doing guest work in Ohio.  Chelsea is the education assistant for New York City Center.

Michelle Maleh, is a native of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. she has a BFA in dance from the University of Florida, where she danced in classical works, on digital screens, in fountain parks & museums, in the air, upside down and everything in between. She has had the honor of performing various works by Neta Pulvermacher, Shapiro and Smith, Adele Meyers, Mohammed DaCosta, and has performed with the Florida MOD Project, Shadow Dance Theatre, and more recently with Vessel Dance, Danzare International, and Dance Visions.

  

 

Jessica Marino,  native of Zionsville, Pa. She has been a member of Dance Visions since 2005 performing in Long Island as well as NYC.  She is also involved with Serendipity Dance Ensemble, performing at festivals in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.  In the past three years, she has worked with Kathleen Bibalo Dance, Muhlenberg College Community Dance and also Monarch Dance Company (Philadelphia). Jessica has taught classes for Muhlenberg Community Dance Center, directed by Kathleen Bibalo; as well as Kathleen Magyar-Lutte School of Dance. She has taken Ballet workshops with masters such as Fabrice Lemire and Jeanne Solan, as well as modern dance and repertory workshops with; the Doug Elkins Dance Company, Sean Curran, SABA, and the Joyce Trisler Danscompany. Some of her NYC studies have included Zvi Gotheimner, Max Stone, Igal Perry, David Marquez, Sean Stewart, Kenny Larson, and the Paul Taylor School. She is currently on leave with the company and studying at Point Park college  for her BFA in dance.