DanceBreak 2006

The choreographers: Ann Marie De Angelo, Ron de Jesus, Nick Kenkel, Kitty Mc Namee, Rommy Sandhu, Lisa Stevens.

Filmed at the Alvin Ailey Studios, The Joan Weill Center for Dance in NYC, on March 26 and 27, 2006.

All photographs by Ben Strothmann

DanceBreak 2006 video

Video shot by Richie Westlein

Ann Marie DeAngelo

has worked as an artistic director, choreographer, teacher and producer. She was a principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet; the founder of her own experimental troupe - Ballet D’Angelo, which toured extensively in Europe; founding Artistic Director of Ballet de Monterrey, the first privately funded arts organization in Mexico; and served as Associate Director of the Joffrey Ballet for four years, during its inception in Chicago. Ms. DeAngelo has created nearly 50 works. Under Projectdance, Inc. she creates and develops original dance shows, and has been the producer/director of Career Transition for Dancers Gala benefits and other “dance events for a cause”. For more info. visit: her web site

Performed by:Kurt Domoney, Jennifer Dunne, Eddie Bennett, Jacob Jason, Jessica Howard, Melissa Morrissey, Marlena Wolfe, Eddie Bennett, Deborah Leamy, Davis Robertson.

: Interview with Ann Marie

Ron De Jesus

An Artistic Ambassador of Notheastern Illinois University; performed with Ensemble Espanol and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago before joining Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel’s hit Broadway show Movin’ Out. Mr de Jesus has choreographed for BC/EFA”s 19th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition (First Place), DRA – Fire Island Dance festival11, “Gypsy Competition 2005”, HSBC 1&2, Park Point University, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Aetna, Philips, Lexus and Italian Trade Commission; received the Ruth Page Award for “Outstanding Male Dancer”, “National Choreographers Initiative 2006”; Choreographic Assistant on A League of Their Own, appeared in Road to Perdition, Stay, Across the Universe, Verizon & PBS specials.

Performed by:Scott Wise, Benjamin G. Bowman, Denny Paschall, Troy Edward Bowles, Dante Adela, Andrew Benton, Stephanie Martinez, Pascale Faye, Carolyn Doherty, Brian Letendre.

: Interview with Ron

Nick Kenkel

is originally from South Bend, Indiana. He graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Accounting. Nick began studying dance on the side while working as a C.P.A. in Chicago. The NY art scene (and a mammoth corporate accounting scandal) pushed him into pursuing dance fulltime. Nick attributes his love for choreography and performing to the pop music pioneers of the 80’s who revolutionized the music video as an art form. The NY stage has subsequently provided his biggest source of inspiration for story telling through the vehicle of dance. Nick has choreographed for television commercials/promos, recording artists, and musical/stage shows but is most proud to serve as a choreographer for Broadway Bares, an annual burlesque/dance concert that raises over half a million dollars for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Performed by:: Aaron Hamilton, Anika Ellis, Dawn Noel Pignuola, Ericka Yang, Grasan Kingsberry, Keith Kuhl, Marielys Molina, Nina LaFarga, Rhett George, Ricky Tripp.

: Interview with Nick

Kitty McNamee

is the founder of Hysterica Dance Co., which presents distinctive dance theater works locally, nationally and internationally. In 2006-07, Kitty will choreograph La Traviata and Don Carlo at Los Angeles Opera and debut at The Lyric Opera of Chicago with Romeo et Juliette. Recently, her choreography has been seen in Sondheim’s 75th (Hollywood Bowl), Romeo et Juliette (LA Opera), Mother Courage (Boston Court Theatre), Songs for a New World (Rubicon Theatre), Wing on Wing (LA Phil/Disney Hall), Pick of the Fringe (BBC), Holiday Celebration (PBS), Happy Birthday Elizabeth Taylor (ABC), Moscow (Best Musical Edinburgh Fringe), Summertime (Boston Court) and Burn This (The Odyssey).For more info. visit: her web site

Performed by:: Jennifer Dunn, Stephanie Landwehr, Michelle Marmolejo, Emily Williams, Joseph Corella, Robert Mulrey, Joe Aaron Reid, Marcus Choi, Matthew Steffens, Shannon Lewis (Sunday), Stephanie D’Abruzzo (Monday).

: Interview with Kitty

Rommy Sandhu

Choreography: Ragtime, Pajama Game, One Life to Live, NYC 2012, Singin' in the Rain, Jack Price, Benetton, Children’s Miracle Network, Miss California State, Gypsy Of The Year, Easter Bonnet. Associate Choreographer: Tom Sawyer (Broadway), Gershwin’s Fascinatin’ Rhythm (Pre-Broadway), and Maury Yeston’s Hans Christian Anderson (MSMT). Broadway Performing: Bombay Dreams, Oklahoma! , Annie Get Your Gun, On The Town, The Life, Sweet Charity-Concert, A Christmas Carol, Sondheim 75. National Tours: Carousel, Kiss Me Kate. Television: 2002 Tonys, several Macy’s Parades. Adjunct Faculty NYU CAP-21, MMC, Broadway Dance Center (NYC), Onstage New York. Thanks to his loving wife Ellery for sharing this Dream.

Performed by: E. Clayton Cornelius, Randy Donaldson, André Garner, Gina Philistine, Enrique Brown, Collin Cunliffe, Jeremy Davis, Sara Lepere, Nicole Winhoffer, Eric Christian.

: Interview with Rommy

Lisa Stevens

Originally from Vancouver,Canada, Lisa lived in London, England eight years before moving to NYC. Choreography: 1st National Tour of Bombay Dreams & Associate Choreographer for its Broadway/West End runs. Off-Broadway: Bingo! Regional: Fiddler On The Roof (Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement), Hello Dolly! (Jessie Richardson nomination), The Music Man, Guys & Dolls, Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar. Television: Bravo’s The Swinging Nutcracker, The Royal Variety Performance for Her Majesty the Queen, Macy’s Passport with Jennifer Lopez. Tops of the Pops (BBC). Performer: Bombay Dreams, Chicago, Joseph (movie), Phantom (movie), N.B.A., Rumble in the Bronx with Jackie Chan and Stay Tuned with John Ritter.

Performed by:James Patric Moran, Sabra Lewis, Bob Gaynor, Eric Hatch, Chris Saunders, Linda Gabler, Tonya Wathen, Anthony Wayne, Tiffany Howard.

For more info. visit: her web site

: Interview with Lisa