Sidra Bell
Artistic Director/Founder
Sidra Bell, Artistic Director of Sidra Bell Dance New York, graduated from Yale University with a BA in History and received an MFA in choreography from Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. Since its inception in 2001, the company has presented three seasons featuring live jazz and dance at the Joseph P. Kennedy Center in Harlem, NY. The company has been presented at Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Yale University, Harvard University, the Schomburg Museum, Purchase College, Stella Adler Studio of Acting MAD AIR series, DancenOw/NYC at Dance Theater, Workshop, Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, Montreal's Danses Buisssoniéres at Tangente and Joyce SoHo Presents. The company performed a program of its repertory at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival Inside/Out Series. Sidra Bell’s works have been performed in Spain, Aruba, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto. Recent commissions include Alvin Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, Marygrove College (Detroit), Ballet Divertimento (Montreal), Arts Umbrella (Vancouver), Canadian Children's Dance Theater (Toronto), Purchase College, Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School, LaGuardia High School and Sacramento Ballet (2008). In 2005 and 2006, Sidra was selected to work as a young choreographer at Springboard Danse Montreal and created works that were performed at Moyse Hall and Place des Arts. Ms. Bell was a recipient of the Patricia Kerr Ross Award for choreographic achievement, sponsored by New York Foundation for the Arts, was a Tribeca Performing Arts Center Artist-in-Residence, and was awarded a Bessie Schönberg Choreographers Residency at The Yard in 2007.
Ms. Bell has guest taught technique and composition at The Ailey School, Purchase College Conservatory of Dance, Canadian Children’s Dance Theater, Arts Umbrella, Perry Mansfield School for Performing Arts, Marygrove College, Ballet Divertimento, Greenwich Academy, Peridance Center, Dance Space Center, Yale University, Long Island University, High School of New Rochelle and New Haven Ballet. She has taught a modern dance course for non-majors at Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. She is on faculty at Stella Adler Studio of Acting where she teaches movement techniques. She also teaches young children at Riverbank Cultural Center and the Joseph P. Kennedy Center in Harlem, NY where she has developed a performing arts program for young girls.
Jacquie Dumas
Dancer
Jacquie Dumas is from Indialantic, FL and received her B.A. in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. Prior to moving to NYC in 2001, she spent 8 months performing at Tokyo Disneyland in Japan and also enjoyed teaching and choreographing throughout Brevard County, FL. Jacquie has had the pleasure of performing nationally and internationally, teaching and setting works for Sidra Bell Dance New York since 2004, nathantrice/RITUALS since 2001, and the Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company since 2002.
Roderick George
Dancer
A native of Houston, TX, Roderick George studied at The Houston Ballet, The Ailey School, Miami City Ballet School, LINES, Springboard Danse Montreal and Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. While training he performed the works of Kevin Wynn, Gerald Arpino, Merce Cunningham, Ben Stevensen, Paul Taylor, Alan Barnes, Benoit Swan-Pouffer and Troy O’Neill Powell. He has been a member of Sandra Organ Dance Company, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and is currently a dancer with Ballet Basel. Professionally he has performed the works of Edwaard Liang, Jodie Gates, Emily Molnar, Nicolo Fonte, Benoit Swan-Pouffer, Jiri Kylian, Richard Wherlock and Mauro Bigonzetti. He was a Level 1 Finalist in Ballet in the ARTS Competition (NFAA) and Presidentical Scholar in the Arts. He won a bronze medalist and special award for Best Contemporary Variation at Youth American Grand Prix.
Troy Ogilvie
Dancer
New Jersey native Troy Ogilvie formally began dancing at Miss Carol's School of Dance. She then joined the New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble, under the artistic direction of Nancy Turano, while continuing her daily training at Princeton Ballet School's Professional Training Program. After high school, Troy attended The Juilliard School (BFA '07) where she danced in works by Aszure Barton, William Forsythe, Alan Hineline, Susan Marshall, and Twyla Tharp.
Amber Lee Parker
Dancer
Amber Lee Parker is a senior at Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. She graduated from LaGuardia High School and was also a fellowship student at The Ailey School. She has performed works by Igal Perry, Nathan Trice and Kevin Wynn. She has been assistant to the choreographer for many projects with Sidra Bell including the restaging and creation of works in Montreal and at The Ailey School. In 2003 she was a Level I ARTS awardee for choreography from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Her choreography, "PASS No. 10 Movement 2", was toured throughout Spain in 2006. She is a recent graduate from Purchase College Conservatory of Dance.
Shamel Pitts
Dancer
Shamel Pitts began his dance training at LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts under the direction of Michelle Mathesius and the mentorship of Penny Frank and Elisa King. He then continued his training at The Ailey School where he studied as a scholarship student. Upon graduation from LaGuardia, Shamel was awarded a Level I ARTS prize and named a semi-finalist I n the Presidential Scholarship by the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). In 2007, he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Juilliard School and was awarded the Martha Hill Prize for excellence and leadership in the field of dance. At Juilliard, Shamel has had the opportunity to perform the works of Aszure Barton, Susan Marshall, Paul Taylor, Jose Limon, Jiri Kylian, and Ohad Naharin. He is currently a member of [bjm_danse].
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