GUEST TAP ARTIST
Orlando Hernández (he/him) is a tap dancer based in Rhode Island, on the tribal lands of the Narragansett and Wampanoag. He has presented his work at On the Boards, SPACE Gallery, the Provincetown Dance Festival, the Granoff Center at Brown University, Movement Research at the Judson Church, DANCE NOW at Joe’s Pub, and La Casa de Cultura Ruth Hernández Torres. He was the 2019 recipient of the Fellowship in Choreography from the RI State Council on the Arts, a 2019 recipient of the Rebecca Blunk Fund Award from the New England Foundation for the Arts, and a 2020 recipient of a Community Development Grant from the Brown Arts Initiative. He teaches widely at schools, non-profits, and studios. You can find him at www.orlyhernandez.com or on IG @pineappleju_icefrog.
DANCE EDUCATOR AND TAP ARTIST
Barry Blumenfeld, MA, RDE, is on the faculty of Friends Seminary, New York University and the Dance Education Lab of The 92nd Street Y. He holds a BA in Psychology and a MA in Dance from American University; is a certified Level 1 Teacher of Language of Dance®; a certified yoga instructor; and a Registered Dance Educator. Barry is President of the New York State Dance Education Association and was the artistic director of TAPFUSION, a dance company combining modern dance and tap. Barry wrote the technology “Ask the Experts” column for Dance Teacher Magazine, and is the co-creator of the DEL Dance Maker App.
Tap Dance | Master Class Artist
Sean Kaminski grew up in Lombard, IL, where he trained primarily under Donna Johnson, Ashley Goletz, and Jay Fagan. He was able to study with and share the stage with masters Jimmy Slyde, Jason Samuels Smith, Derick Grant, and Sam Weber as a Chicago Human Rhythm Project scholarship recipient from 2004-2010. In the Chicago area, Sean has performed at legendary venues such as the Jazz Showcase, Navy Pier, the Studebaker Theater, and the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, where he was joined by the Grant Park Orchestra. At the age of 16, Sean started choreographing and teaching for Steppin’ Out Dance Company. Quickly, he knew exactly what he would commit his life to. In 2011, Sean moved to Iowa to finish his Bachelors in Finance while taking on the role of Tap Director at Nolte Academy, Iowa’s largest dance studio. He taught students aged 6-75, in addition to being the Co-Director of AFFECT Dance Company. Outside of Iowa, Sean has taught or performed at Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Motor City Tap Fest in Detroit, Tap University in Atlanta and Raleigh, Rhythmic Souls in Dallas, Nick Young’s Tap10 in Los Angeles, American Tap Festival of Long Beach, Phoenix Tap Festival, and Little Rock Tap Festival. For the last couple of years, he has been a primary performing member of Nico Rubio’s 333 and currently teaches around the country as a part of Adrenaline Dance and Immerse Artist Experience. Kaminiski is a 2017 graduate of The School at Jacob’s Pillow under the direction of Michelle Dorrance and Dormeshia.
Contemporary Ballet | Master Class Artist
Daphne Lee, originally from Rahway, NJ, began her dance training at the Rahway Dance Theatre under the direction of her mother, Ms. Jay Skeete-Lee. She graduated with Honors from the Alvin Ailey/Fordham BFA program in dance and currently holds an MFA from Hollins University. Lee remains an active ambassador of negotiating what it means to be an artist in the twenty-first century, as an advocate for Multiple Myeloma Cancer research and diversity inclusion initiatives with various companies. She involves her business with Beautycounter® and partnerships with Gaynor Minden ballet shoes and Nude Barre Tights, to keep in line with that mission. Lee has danced with Alvin Ailey II, The Black Iris Project, Collage Dance Collective, and Oakland Ballet Company. Among the many artists Lee has worked with includes Beyonce, and she is currently with the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City.
Tap Dance | Master Class Artist
Christina Carminucci, born and raised in New Jersey, is a New York City based tap dancer. She trained with the American Tap Dance Foundation’s Tap City Youth Ensemble, while studying extensively under the mentorship of Derick K. Grant. Carminucci is a Cum Laude graduate from Pace University in 2016 with a BBA in Arts and Entertainment Management and can be seen performing, choreographing, and teaching throughout NYC. A proud 2014 alumna of The School at Jacob’s Pillow Tap Program, she has appeared in works by many of today’s greats, including Dormeshia, Derick K. Grant, and Brenda Bufalino. Additionally, she has danced with notable companies including Michelle Dorrance’s Dorrance Dance and Sarah Reich’s Tap Music Project. Over the past few years, Christina has performed throughout the NYC area in acclaimed venues, including The Joyce Theater, The Duke on 42nd Street, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New Victory Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and on reputable award show stages, including the New York City Capezio A.C.E Awards and the 2016 Bessie Awards. “Nucci” has worked internationally as an ensemble member of Christopher Erk’s Tap Factor performing two original shows on the #1 rated cruise ship in the world, MS Europa 2 of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Interested in creating her own work, Christina co-produced On That Note, a full-length evening of tap dance and a live jazz performance in New York City at Feinstein’s/54 Below in 2018, Teatro Sea in 2017, and Don’t Tell Mama cabaret club in 2016. Most recently, at the Mare Nostrum Elements 2019, as an emerging choreographer, she debuted her first original one-woman show, When the Smoke Clears, at the Triad Theater in NYC. Passionate about sharing her love and knowledge of the art form, she teaches regularly at Steps on Broadway in NYC and has been hosted by workshops all around the country and world.
Tap Dance | Master Class Artist
Elizabeth Burke is the Co-Dance Captain of Dorrance Dance, the acclaimed company of 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance. Burke has been a performer with the company for 10 years. Prior to her work with Dorrance Dance, Elizabeth spent 11 years under the direction of her mentor, Gene Medler, in the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble. She is a proud alumna of The School at Jacob’s Pillow 2014 Tap Program and Marymount Manhattan College in 2014. Aside from teaching and personal choreographic pursuits, her other performance credits include work with Bessie Award winner Nicholas Van Young’s SoundMovement and the American Dance Festival alongside Luke Hickey. She has been described as “sinuous and sizzling” and a “deft and impassioned” dancer in Indy Week and The New York Times.
Contemporary | Master Class Artist
Bradley Shelver of South Africa is a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and author. He has danced with Ailey II, Elisa Monte Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, The Francesca Harper Project, Limón Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theater of the UK, and in projects with Bill T. Jones Dance Co., Lar Lubovich Dance, Universal Ballet, Radio City Music Hall, and in productions with the Mark Morris Dance Group. He currently dances as a principal with the The Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Mr Shelver is an internationally touring solo artist and has choreographed works for companies in Denmark, Israel, Italy, Sweden, and the United States, including Ailey II, Richmond Ballet, Ballet Austin, Lustig Dance Theater, Compania Rio Danca, Cape Dance Company, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet II, Sobers & Godley Dance, as well as creating works for the Royal Danish Ballet School, Royal Swedish Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, The Ailey School, Boston Conservatory, and Long Island University. He is the founder of Bradley Shelver Contemporary Dance Theater. From 2013 to 2016, he was the Artistic Director of STEPS Repertory Ensemble. He is currently the Artistic Director of the Brooklyn Dance Festival Company. He is an American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum certified ballet teacher and an Adjunct Ballet Professor at Montclair State University. His book, Performance Through the Dance Technique of Lester Horton, is available worldwide.
Contemporary | Master Class Artist
Paige Fraser is originally from The Bronx, in New York City. She graduated from the Ailey/Fordham Bachelor of Fine Arts Program. Fraser has danced professionally with Ailey II, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. In 2016, Fraser was featured in an INTEL commercial titled Experience Amazing. She is a Princess Grace Award recipient in 2016 and was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2017. Fraser’s theatre accomplishments include West Side Story at Lyric Opera and The Lion King national tour production. She is co- founder of The Paige Fraser Foundation, which aims to create a safe space for dancers with or without disabilities.
Contemporary Ballet | Master Class Artist
Courtney Hellebuyck is a 2005 alumnus of The School at Jacob’s Pillow Ballet Program and began her professional ballet training at The San Francisco Ballet School. She progressed through all levels and was then asked to be part of the inaugural year of San Francisco Ballet’s Trainee Program. She then went on to dance professionally with Pennsylvania Ballet, dancing in many works including Balanchine’s Western Symphony, and Who Cares, Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake, which also toured for the International Dance Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. She then joined Smuin Ballet, under the Direction of Michael Smuin, where she danced in several World Premieres created by Smuin including Christmas Ballet and Obrigado Brazil, as well as dancing in Kirk Peterson’s Reignin’ in the Hurricane and Amy Seiwert’s Revealing The Bridge. From there, Ms. Hellebuyck went on to join Cincinnati Ballet and danced many leading roles including Bomb Squad Girl in Twyla Tharp’s Upper Room, Marie in Val Caniparoli’s Nutcracker, Demi-Soloist in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, Principal in Victor Plotnikov’s G.U.I. Solutions, Bluebird in Devon Carney’s The Sleeping Beauty, and Demi-Soloist role of Zulma in Giselle. Hellebuyck began her Professional Teaching Career as Full-Time Academy Faculty and Adult Programming at the Otto M. Budig Academy at Cincinnati Ballet. She has been certified to teach in Group Fitness from the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, partnered through National Academy of Sports Fitness, and has taught Barre Fitness for several years. Courtney created two exclusive Barre Fitness Programs for Cincinnati Ballet during her time there, while also teaching Ballet in the Children’s Division, Main Division, Professional Training Division, Adult Division, Company Class, and also in Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer Intensives. She also was a Rehearsal Assistant for Nutcracker, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and the World Premiere of Victoria Morgan’s Dancing to Oz. Hellebuyck has choreographed contemporary solos for Youth America Grand Prix and created an Upper Division Ballet piece for Joffrey South Summer Intensive, as well as creating new works for various outreach events at Cincinnati Ballet and with the Cincinnati Ballet Professional Training Division. Ms. Hellebuyck is currently the Associate Artistic Director of Eastern Connecticut Ballet.
Contemporary | Master Class Artist
A native New Yorker from the Bronx, Maleek Washington is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist. He began his dance training at Harlem School of the Arts, Broadway Dance Center, and LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. After graduating, he attended The Boston Conservatory on a full scholarship before beginning his professional career with CityDance Ensemble in Washington DC. While there, he worked with Paul Taylor, Kate Weare, and Alex Noeral. Honored to gain tutelage at The School of Jacob’s Pillow in 2009 and 2010, Washington worked with Milton Meyers, Helen Pickett, and others before attending SpringBoard Danse in Montreal, where he joined José Navas/ Compagnie Flak. Upon his return to New York City, Washington collaborated with McArthur Genius Award winner Kyle Abraham, and his company Abraham.In.Motion (A.I.M). He danced four seasons, prior to becoming the first African American male to perform in the critically acclaimed and immersive show PunchDrunk’s Sleep No More. He has also performed for musical sensations Sia, Phish, ASAP Rocky, and with Rihanna’s ANTI diaRy campaign. Washington’s performance and commercial choreographic talent has been recognized nationally at prestigious venues including The White House, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Jacob’s Pillow. He has performed internationally in Australia, Jordan, Mexico, and Sweden. In addition to his performance career, Washington is a sought after national and international teaching artist at the Joffrey Ballet School, LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Broadway Dance Center, and Brent Street in Australia. In 2017, Washington’s multidisciplinary, experiential performance works investigated the people, practices, and spaces that have shaped Washington’s black identity. His art was proudly presented at the Boston Dance Festival, Pepatian and BAAD!, Periapsis Dance, Music Noesis, and at the legendary Movement Research at Judson Church in Spring 2018. Washington is a 2017-18 Dancing While Black Top 10 choreographic finalists. In 2019, Washington was granted an evening length show at Gibney Dance. Alongside his creative work, Washington has entered his second season with Camille A. Brown & Dancers in collaboration for her work Ink, which premiered at the Kennedy Center in December 2017, went international to NYU Abu Dhabi and at The Joyce Theater in 2019. He was part of the ensemble of NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar, starring John Legend. He performed in Camille A.Brown’s New Second Line at the 2018 Ted Talk Conference in Vancouver, B.C.. Recently, Washington has been assisting Camille A. Brown with the staging of Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera, Francesca Harper and her projects with USC Kaufman, BalletX, and New York University during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a guest teaching artist at Bard College for 2020 through a collaboration with Gibney Dance.