Jazz Choreography Enterprises, Inc., believes in giving jazz choreographers at various stages of their development the opportunity to show their work. Both professional and inexperienced choreographers are able to develop their technical skills and creativity by having their dances performed before live audiences. The choreographers who participate in our performances do not pay a fee to have their work shown, and they are able to purchase a DVD of their dances without paying the much larger cost of filming. If you are a choreographer and wish to be considered for one of our shows, please e-mail us at info @ jazzchoreographyenterprises.org.

About the Choreographers:

Robert Audy
Robert Audy has worked in every aspect of show business as director-choreographer for Broadway, television, movies, and summer theatres across the country. He has coached or taught numerous stars, including Shirley MacLaine, John Travolta, Cybill Sheppard, Joel Grey, and Ben Vereen, and has trained several generations of international tap dancers. He wrote two best sellers published by Random House, Teach Yourself How to Tap and Jazz Dancing, and has taught for every major dance organization in the United States, as well as in Paris, France, and Helsinki, Finland.

Robert was delighted to accept the Dance Masters of America President’s Award for 2001. He was honored for his contributions to tap dance at Tap City 2003. In 2007, the New York Committee to Celebrate National Tap Dance Day presented him with the Flo-Bert Life Achievement Award. In May 2009, Jazz Choreography Enterprises honored Robert for his contributions to the art of jazz dance as a distinguished teacher and choreographer. And in November 2009, Robert will be presented with the Tradition In Tap Award for "Outstanding Achievements & Significant Contribution To The Tradition And Art Of Tap Dance." info (at) jazzchoreographyenterprises.org

Christine Bancroft
Christine Bancroft participated in the first performance of the New York Jazz Choreography Project in May 2007 as a dancer in Marian Hyun's piece, Women in Mind Blues. Christine moved to New York from Montreal in November of 2005 at which time she began working as a teaching artist for American Ballroom Theater's Dancing Classrooms program. Her choreography/directorial credits include Kitchen Cantata and Other Follies (Winnipeg Fringe Festival), and Not the Same Old Song and Dance! (Montreal Fringe Festival). Christine has also worked with elementary school children in producing song and dance numbers as well as a musical, Lurking on the Railroad. As a dancer, Christine has had the opportunity to dance in a variety of exciting projects reviving the music and dance from the time of Louis XIV. She has also danced with Bravado Cabaret Productions (Winnipeg) and for the Manitoba Opera Company (Carmen). Christine has sung with the Montreal Opera and other professional ensembles in Quebec, including Les Violons du Roy. Here in NYC, she sings with Opera on Tap. info (at) jazzchoreographyenterprises.org

Elise Caldwell
Elise Caldwell earned her BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University and studied for her MFA at The Boston Conservatory. After moving to NYC, she studied with Luigi, an innovator of American Jazz Dance, and taught jazz dance. She choreographed for the New York Jazz Choreography Project in 2007. Elise currently lives in Virginia, where she teaches jazz and musical theater dance. eec5678 (at) yahoo.com

Ginger Cox
A dancer, choreographer and teacher, Ginger's multifaceted career has taken her all over the world. The Artistic Director of LiNK! the Movement, Ginger is on faculty at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, and choreographs for film, industrials, stage and sports. She's choreographed for NIKE Shox, the Independent film Reflections, the NJ Nets Dancers, DRA Remember Projects, and was one of 10 chosen to present work in the Elan Awards, honoring Mr. Lar Lubavich. Ginger holds a BFA, in Dance, from Temple University and has taught internationally in Europe, Latin America and Japan. Her dynamic company, LiNK, presents an electrifying repertoire without borders, and has performed to sold out audiences across the country. Learn more about LiNK at: linkdancecompany.org.

Vic DiMonda
After graduating from Long Island University, Vic DiMonda moved to Manhattan and has been an East Village resident for 17 years. He is currently the Associate Artistic Director for the John W. Engeman Theater at Northport, Long Island’s only year-round Equity Theater, where he directed and choreographed the inaugural production of Smokey Joe’s Café. He is also a faculty member of The Ailey School, The Ailey Extension and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Vic founded and served as artistic director for the Harkness Dance Center’s Tap Team and was an artist in residence for the Metropolitan Opera Guild where he taught their Creating Original Opera program. As director/choreographer he has created original productions of My Fair Lady, Carousel, High Society, Always…Patsy Cline, Dames at Sea, Forever Plaid, The Fantasticks, Blues in the Night, The All Night Strut, The Taffetas and Joseph…Dreamcoat. As choreographer his original works include Miss Saigon, West Side Story, A Wonderful Life, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, How to Succeed…, Kiss Me, Kate, Mame, Funny Girl, Cinderella, Annie, and Do I Hear a Waltz? vicoftheworld (at) aol.com

Geoffrey Doig-Marx
Geoffrey Doig-Marx is the Artistic Director and Founder of "The Mantis Project" Dance Company, and Creator/Artistic Director of "The Elan Awards." Geoffrey received a Certificate of Excellence in Cultural Achievement from C. Virginia Fields Manhattan Borough President office of The Mayor of New York City for his work with The Elan Awards. Currently, he is working with Tracie Stanfield and The Soho Agency on The 2009 Elan Awards. In the summer of 2008, along with Tricia Arenson, Geoffrey launched a New Summer Dance Festival that premiered in Provincetown, Mass. Geoffrey was a Creative Associate on Broadway Bares 17 and 18 at The Roseland Ballroom in NYC. (Assistant Choreographer to Director Denis Jones for Broadway Bares 16. Creator/Executive Producer Jerry Mitchell). Visit www.themantisproject.org for more information.

Marian Hyun
Marian Hyun has taught dance to people of all ages, from two-year-old pre-ballerinas to senior citizen jazz buffs in various New York studios and community centers. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, she was a freelance writer and a writing instructor at the New School before enrolling in the Dance Education Lab (DEL) at the 92nd Street Y. Her first venture as a producer resulted in the sold-out performance of the New York Jazz Choreography Project in May 2007. Marian is a founder and president of Jazz Choreography Enterprises, Inc., which now produces the New York Jazz Choreography Project. marian (at) jazzchoreographyenterprises.org

Christopher Liddell
As a young dancer, Christopher Liddell was trained by Olga Carreas of Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet.From her classroom he joined Riverside Ballet Arts, The Edge in L.A., and learned from instructors at University of California, Riverside. He soon began performing in regional theatre throughout Southern California, featured in shows such as 42nd St., A Chorus Line, Anything Goes, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In 2005 Christopher moved to New York City to further his training. He was a 2nd tenor in the inaugural season of the New York City Master Chorale, which opened at Lincoln Center. Afterwards he joined the dance company, NYC's Dance Makers. Later he was seen as a principal dancer in the DSMR project, which is a collaboration between Prince and Jay T. Jenkins, well known teacher and choreographer.

Most recently he served as Associate Choreographer for Matt Williams's "Ward 9" at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, which enjoyed sold out performances and the award for Excellence in Choreography from NYMF's awards committee. He has choreographed frequently with the New York Jazz Choreography Project. He will be performing at a fundraising benefit in May, and presenting new work with them in November. He has also been on the choreographer selection jury for JCE. In addition, he has choreographed and performed several times at Steps on Broadway and received rave reviews! Christopher is also Co-Founder of LiRoss & Co., a production group, a published Fashion Stylist, and a devout Yogi. www.cliddellchoreography.com

Jen Littlefield
Jen Littlefield is currently an Adjunct Professor in Dance for the Musical Theater department at Pace University. Recent choreography projects include: the new musical Eat, Drink, and be Merry (NY Fringe Festival), South Pacific (Maine), Carousel and Our Urban Jungle: A Benefit for ASTEP (Pace University), and the spring Jazz Choreography Enterprises benefit show. Associate and assistant choreography to Rhonda Miller: All Shook Up (Pace), Austentatious, Gemini: the Musical, and Common Grounds (NYMF), Nothing Like a Dame and Broadway Bares ’07 & ’08 (BC/EFA).

Luigi
Luigi is a jazz legend who has influenced generations of dancers and choreographers by creating and teaching the world’s first complete technique for learning jazz dance. Born Eugene Louis Faccuito in Steubenville, Ohio, Luigi spent his childhood performing in local theaters as a singer and dancer. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Luigi moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in movie musicals. Two months later, he was in a near fatal car accident, which left him with a skull fracture and paralysis down one side of his body. While he was in a deep coma, an inner voice told Luigi, “Never stop moving, kid. If you stop, you’re dead.” When he awoke, he was told by doctors he would never walk again, but he was determined to dance.

On his own, Luigi created a series of rehabilitative exercises that helped him discover what he had to do to control his body. After a year of trial and error, he regained enough strength to start dance classes. He eventually went on to dance in the chorus of over 40 classic musical films, such as On the Town, An American in Paris, Annie Get Your Gun, Singin’ in the Rain, The Band Wagon, and White Christmas. While on a movie set, Gene Kelly gave him the professional nickname, Luigi.

Luigi started teaching while working in films, television, and Equity productions. After moving to New York to be in Broadway shows, he eventually opened his school, The First World Jazz Centre. His students have included Liza Minnelli, Susan Stroman, Donna McKechnie, Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, and many other celebrated performers and choreographers. Luigi has taught master classes throughout the world and has served on the faculty of many dance schools and colleges, including the Harkness Ballet School, the High School for the Performing Arts, and New York University. Writers have called him an Ambassador of Jazz, and he has been given many awards for his contributions to dance. He also created the phrase “ah five, six, seven, eight!” But perhaps the greatest tribute to Luigi is the fact his technique is taught today by his students in schools and colleges all over the world. www.luigijazz.com

Cat Manturuk
Cat Manturuk is the founder and artistic director of Dance Cat-alyst, a soul-driven contemporary dance company. She holds a BFA in Dance and BS in Exercise Science from Western Michigan University. Cat hails from Detroit, MI. Upon graduating, she branched out to Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. In Chicago she was on scholarship at Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Center. In LA she performed with LA Modern and Ballet Company, Blue13 Dance, Regina Klenjosky Dance Company, and Collage Dance Theatre. Upon her arrival in NYC she became rehearsal director of Decadancetheatre and a company member to Dance 2XS. Her music video credits lie with BET and MTVIndia.

Cat produced her company's first concert in February 2007. By the second season, Dance Cat-alyst had outreach programs and performances at Albion College, Wellspring Cori Terry & Dancers, NYC’S Chelsea Piers Sports Center and Sky Rink, Portage Schools Education for the Arts, Michigan Dance Project, and Balam Dance Theatre. Now moving into the company’s third season, she is honored to teach students in Nanjing, China, be an assistant choreographer to NYC’s Lethal Weaponz Breakdance Crew, and showcase repertoire at the New York Jazz Choreography Project. Cat was a recipient of the ACDF Excellence in Performance and Choreography Award, a Harkness Scholarship, a National Dance Association Outstanding Scholarship, and Presidential Award. Her choreography has been noted as "creating heat..." by the LA Times. info (at) jazzchoreographyenterprises.org

Arron Racheal Masters
Arron Racheal Masters debuted in the dance scene of NYC as part of a choreographer's showcase at BAX, where her work was praised by the Village Voice as "classic, but passionate and deeply moving." She has since produced and choreographed a full evening of work, entitled Seasons, which enjoyed sold out audiences. Her honors include a Certificate of Choreographic Excellence from ACDF and presenting choreography on the Miss America stage as Miss Missouri. Arron holds a BFA in dance from Missouri State and a Certificate of Completion from the Limon Dance Foundation for the company's Professional Studies Program. arronracheal (at) gmail.com

Bafana S. Matea
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Bafana Matea received classical training before receiving a scholarship to study at the Ailey School. Upon graduation he joined Ballet Hispanico, Elisa Monte Dance Company, Juxtapower, Dance Anonymous, and Battery Dance Company. He has also taught master classes and classes in outreach programs for the Elisa Monte Dance Company, Juxtapower, Battery Dance Company, and Ballet Hispanico. info (at) jazzchoreographyenterprises.org

Merete Muenter
Merete Muenter is originally from Buffalo, New York. Her directing credits include: “They Walk Among Us” (Director/Choreographer), “Sure Thing” and “Variations on the Death of Trotsky” by David Ives, and “The Duck Variations” by David Mamet. Choreography credits include: “Sherlock Holmes – The Early Years” N.Y. Musical Theater Festival, and regional productions of “The King and I” and “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Merete was the Assistant Director of the World AIDS Day Gala in Capetown, South Africa, and the European Tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” both directed by Baayork Lee. Additionally, she was Resident Director of the European Tour of “West Side Story.” merete (at) jazzchoreographyenterprises.org

Francis J. Roach
Francis J. Roach is on the faculty of the Luigi Jazz Centre in New York City. He has taught Luigi’s technique at the Joffrey Ballet School, Manhattan Marymount College, CUNY, Studio Maestro Summer Workshops, Jackson International Ballet Competition, Hoctor Dance Caravan, and numerous conventions and workshops from Alaska to Florida. In addition he has traveled all over the world (over 25 times to Japan) to teach Luigi’s method. In 2004 he received the prestigious Dance Masters of America’s “President’s Award.” As a dancer, Francis has appeared on TV, in AEA and SAG productions, and on Broadway stages. His choreography credits include: Broadway Benefits, MTV videos, operas, commercials, industrial fashion shows, a magazine layout for Charlotte D’Amboise, and various dance companies. Recently he assisted Luigi and Liza Minnelli on the dances for one of her tours. Francis co-authored Luigi’s Jazz Warm-Up with Luigi and Lorraine Person Kriegel. www.luigijazz.com

Svea Schneider
Svea Schneider was born and raised in Landau, Germany and moved to NYC in 2003 to pursue her dancing career. She has taught and performed throughout Germany, the UK, the US, Canada, Dubai and India. Svea has worked with artists such as Chris Cornell, Timbaland, Nitty and Lumidee and has danced for MTV TRL, BET, ABC Networks “The View”, Eska Music Video Awards and MTV India. She extensively toured the US and the UK with the all female hip hop company Decadancetheatre, in which she danced and co-choreographed from 2006 until 2008. Svea performed at such renowned stages as the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the South Bank Center in London, Liverpool Playhouse, B Supreme Festival and Jacobs Pillow. Her own choreography has been performed at “Cut Loose” at the Merce Cunningham Studio, the International Music Festival in Berlin, Choreographers Canvas, Carnivals Choreographers Ball and at the Daryl Roth Theatre in NYC. She has worked with dance companies such as Vissi Dance Theater, Hydroflo Movement and Sybarite Productions. Her recent credits include the national Hasbro I-dog commercial and the International UFO Advertising campaign. In 2008 she founded her own dance and dance production company “creARTive NYC” and most recently finished creating, choreographing and producing the Off-Off Broadway Show “Crazy Sexy Disco“, a tribute to the 70´s and Disco Era. Svea teaches at Peridance, Equinox and Groove with me.

Lori Spada
Lori Spada, born in Wilmington, Delaware, began dancing at the age of four. By the time she reached her early teens she was part of two companies, The Wilmington Ballet and the Brandywine Contemporary Dance Company, and studied at the prestigious Boston Ballet Summer Intensives. She continued her training at Towson University, where she received a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and worked with choreographers such as Alonzo King, Peter Pucci and David Parsons. After graduating, she joined one of Washington D.C.’s most respected contemporary dance companies, under the direction of Juan Carlos Rincones. Currently residing in New York, Lori is an active teacher, performer and choreographer. She was most recently a principal dancer in the off-off Broadway show They Walk Among Us as well as a choreographer for the opening tribute. She has been involved in The New York Jazz Choreography Project since May 2007. spada4444 (at) yahoo.com

Alan Spaulding
Alan Spaulding has performed Off-Broadway at Playhouse 91, La Mama E.T.C., and at F.I.T., most recently in the annual Tap Dance Extravaganza. He has provided choreography for Disco Divas at Town Hall, starring Vicky Sue Robinson and Gloria Gaynor, Anything Goes in Upper Manhattan for the Delphi Theater, and The New York Jazz Choreography Project. Alan teaches ballet, tap, and jazz. He also teaches partnering for JCE’s workshops. info (at) jazzchoreographyenterprises.org

Tracie Stanfield
As the Artistic Director of Synthesis Dance Project, Tracie Stanfield's work has been presented at The International Dance Festival, Verismo Opera Company, The Garden State Dance Festival, The Jazz Dance Artist Excellence Awards, Towson University, The Bluegrass State Dance Festival, Los Angeles Dance Invitational and numerous venues throughout New York City. www.TracieStanfield.com

Katherine Titone
Katherine Titone is a long time jazz and tap student of Robert Audy. She has choreographed numerous community theatre musicals including Nunsense, Forever Plaid and Dear World. She has also choreographed a school production of Bye Bye Birdie involving 60 students. gamblinchic (at) optonline.net

Fukuyo Watanabe
Fukuyo Watanabe, after graduating from Osaka Kyoiku University, studied musical theatre dance under Chet Walker in New York. In Japan, she joined Kenji Theatre Dance (Artistic Director, Kenji Nakao) and performed in many shows and TV commercials. Currently, Fukuyo is on faculty at Chacott (Osaka) and The Entente (Kobe) and also works in art management as a coordinator and interpreter. She received a scholarship for the Jazz Dance Program at Jacob’s Pillow in 2006 and the Japanese Government Overseas Studying Programme for Artists in 2007. Fukuyo was thrilled to study Jazz Dance with Luigi in 2007-2008 with support from the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan. fkynyc (at) yahoo.com

Kathryn Wilkening
Kathryn Wilkening, originally from Nashville, TN graduated from New York University with a degree in Dance Education. She currently works at the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center as the Dance Program Manager where she also teaches in the children’s modern program and serves as mentor to the dance merit scholars. After a four year hiatus from dance, Kathryn is thrilled to be performing, teaching, and choreographing again and, in addition to performing her own choreography, has recently performed in numerous festivals and concerts with Yuki Hasegawa/Azul Dance Theatre, Amir Levi/The Poisonous Ladies, and Elizabeth Greene/Mora XXIII in collaboration with members of rock band, The Hold Steady. KWilkening (at) 92y.org

Lara Wilson
Lara Wilson graduated summa cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. program in May 2009. While in school, Ms. Wilson had the opportunity to study composition, improvisation, and various Forsythe modalities with Kazuko Hirabayashi, Joanna Mendl-Shaw, and Helen Pickett, respectively. Under the advisement of mentors Ms. Hirabayashi and Ms. Mendl-Shaw, Ms. Wilson completed a thesis in Choreography which culminated in the evening-length work Figment, first performed in May 2009 at The Ailey Studios. In the summer of 2008, she participated in a Choreographic Residency at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. In the summer of 2007, she presented work at student choreography showcases in Burgos, Spain, during the Dance New York International Summer Program directed by Ms. Hirabayashi. In 2010, Ms. Wilson's work will be performed in Guatemala and Mexico by members of JUNTOS, a social justice and dance collective; in New York City with Jazz Choreography Enterprises; and on Jacob's Pillow's Inside/Out Stage.

Debra Zalkind
Debra Zalkind is a native New Yorker. She is a graduate of the Juilliard School. She has worked with the companies of Pearl Lang, Lar Lubovitch and Twyla Tharp. She is in the United Artist film Hair and an original member of the Broadway production of the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. She is on the faculty of Pace University, New Jersey Ballet School and The New Dance Group. Debra has choreographed for stage, film and television. She is currently teaching jazz at New Dance Group (305 W. 38th St. @ 8th Ave., New York, N.Y.) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30-3:00. Bede353 (at) aol.com