North Carolina Dance Festival


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Valerie Midgett
Natalie Marrone

Valerie Midgett
Kim Jones
Photo © Craig Ramsey

Sidelong Dance Company
Natalie Marrone
Photo © Stephanie Matthews

Sidelong Dance Company
Signature Dance Ensemble

Valerie Midgett
Joan Nicholas Walker
Photo © Carmon Rinehart

Valerie Midgett
Kinetic Works Dance
Photo © Gregory Cable

Valerie Midgett
Cyrus Art Production
Photo © Dan Merlo

Artists

The touring roster of the 2009-2010 North Carolina Dance Festival includes work by nine dance artists from across the state:

Natalie Marrone received her MFA in choreography from The Ohio State University in 1998, the same year she founded The Dance Cure and began her field research on southern Italian folk dance in honor of her Italian American heritage. Currently, Ms. Marrone is an adjunct assistant professor at Elon University and is a principal college dance consultant through her consulting company Dance Decisions.

Courtney Greer graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Contemporary Dance and holds a certification in Pilates. She teaches at Enloe High School (Raleigh, NC); other teaching credits include NC Governor's School, NC State University and the UNC School of the Arts. Her work has been produced at dance festivals both regionally and internationally.

Even Exchange Dance Theater, a collaborative modern dance company, has been an artistic presence in Raleigh, NC since 1997. Founding members have collectively danced for over 160 years and have degrees from NYU, VCU, ECU, and Meredith College. Their work is informed by training in art, design, modern dance, yoga, Body, Mind Centering, tai chi, contact improvisation, music, engineering and a sense of humor.

After receiving degrees in dance from George Mason University (B.F.A.) and The Ohio State University (M.F.A.), Joan Nicholas-Walker has worked as a performer, choreographer, instructor and arts administrator in several states. Currently, she choreographs, teaches part-time at Meredith College, and provides administrative assistance to a local dance company. She resides in Raleigh with her husband and two daughters.

Kim Jones received her MFA from Florida State University and her BFA from Marymount Manhattan College. She has danced with the Martha Graham Dance Company (2002-2006), the Metropolitan Opera Ballet (1998-2003) and performed in the US Tour of the King and I as a principal dancer (2005). Kim is a full time Lecturer at UNC Charlotte; other teaching credits include the Martha Graham School, The Ailey School, and The Place in London, UK.

Martha Connerton, Director of Kinetic Works Dance, has toured with the North Carolina Dance Festival in four seasons over the past ten years. Choreography credits include NY Theater Ballet, American Ballet Theater II, Louisville Ballet, and NC Dance Theatre. Kinetic Works’ education programs are in demand throughout the Carolinas in the form of KINETYX Dance Ensemble, Active Learning Performances, and KINETIKids Artist in Schools.

DUANE CYRUS, Director of Cyrus Art Production , is Assistant Professor at UNCG. He holds a BFA from the Juilliard School and an MFA from University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. He has performed with the Martha Graham Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in the original London production of The Lion King. Visit www.cyrusartproduction.com for more information.

Signature Dance Ensemble, resident company at The Imperial Center in Rocky Mount, NC, was established in 2006. Artistic Director Cindy Mancini trains the dancers and choreographs for this emerging troupe. Classical technique provides the foundation for innovation in style and aesthetic partnering blended into an unexpected theatrical experience. Please visit www.signaturedance.net. for further information.

Eleanor Smith received her BFA in dance from Florida State University and her MFA from UNCG. She has performed with the John Gamble Dance Theater and B2 Tribe from Greensboro, and she is proud to be a current member of the Rainbow Dance Company in Raleigh. She has been invited to be an Artistic Associate with Even Exchange Dance Theater for the 2009-2010 season.

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