Lydia Johnson (Choreographer, Artistic Director)

Originally from Massachusetts, Lydia Johnson studied at SUNY Purchase and on scholarship at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. She continued her studies in New York at many studios working most extensively with Finis Jhung, Rosalind Newman and Sara Rudner. She has received a Monticello Foundation award sponsored by The National Association of Regional Ballet as well as a recent Harkness Dance Center Space Grant from the 92nd Street Y. She was the Founder and a Co-Director of One Night Stand, a series of co-operative showcases which presented over one hundred new works by emerging and established choreographers in New York. Lydia Johnson Dance is now the Dance Company in Residence at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC).

In New Jersey, Ms. Johnson has initiated programs to bring performances and choreography workshops to communities where contemporary dance is rarely presented. Ms. Johnson and her company teach repertory workshops in New York for both professional dancers and students.

Artists Performing with Lydia Johnson Dance:

Originally from California, Ferrell Alexander trained under her mother, Patti Ashby, a member of the Royal Academy of Dance. She has performed with the Kern Classical Ballet Company, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and New York Dance Theatre. Ferrell teaches Ballet for Real Kids for Lydia Johnson Dance and is in her final year at the New School.

Khiara M. Bridges has studied with Miami City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. She has performed with Brooklyn Ballet, New York Dance Theatre, and Morgan Scott Ballet, among others. She has also modeled for Capezio Dancewear and at the Elan Awards (2005). She has a J.D. from Columbia Law School and is currently working on her Ph.D. from Columbia University Department of Anthropology. This is Ms. Bridges second season with Lydia Johnson Dance.

Born in Bordeaux, France, Jennifer Chicheportiche, trained at the Academie Besso Ballet de Toulouse and completed her studies in Paris. At the age of 19, she joined the Jeune Ballet International de Rosella Hightower in Cannes. As a member of Balletto Teatro Di Torino for two years, she toured Europe and performed at the International Ballet Festival of Miami. In 2004, she moved to Scotland to dance with The Ensemble Group, performing contemporary works from international choreographers. Ms Chicheportiche continued her career in the UK with Opera North, doing their national tour of the musical One Touch of Venus. In New York City she has performed with Chamber Dance, International Ballet Theater, and Rebecca Davis Dance Company. She is very excited to join Lydia Johnson Dance.

Laura DiOrio began her training at New Jersey's Mill Ballet School with Mark and Melissa Roxey. She also attended summer programs at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and spent one year in the Joffrey/New School University BFA program. Laura also dances with the Staten Island Ballet, Albano Ballet, and as worked with choreographers Marilyn Russo and Jay Pather. Last May, she received her B.A. in journalism from Fordham University and is a contributing writer for Pointe Magazine. This is Laura's second season with Lydia Johnson Dance.

Lisa Iannacito is a graduate of Purchase College where she performed works by Jose Limon, Mark Morris, Paul Taylor and Pascal Rioult. She spent summers training at the Boston Ballet, the Juilliard School and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. She has danced for the Albany Berkshire Ballet, Saba Dance Theater, Beth Soll and Dancers, and Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theater. She continues to perform with Riedel Dance Theater and in MCDT's The Nutcracker.

Orlando Martinez was born in Houston, Texas. He began his dance training under Jessie Woodcock and continued at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He then attended and graduated from Southern Methodist University with A B.F.A. in dance performance where hehad the privilege to perform in works by Jose Limon, Alvin Ailey, and Lester Horton among others. Mr. Martinez has performed professionally with Mudslide Dance Co., Extended Dance Theatre, and Alethea Adsitt and Co. He is currently a company member with Dzul Dance, and Patrick Corbin's CorbinDances.

Jessica Sand is a native of Iowa and alum of Texas Christian University, where she graduated with honors with a BFA in ballet and modern dance and was featured in works by Fernando Bujones, Mary Cochran, Gail Gilbert, and Paul Taylor. She also studied at the Kirov Academy, Colorado Ballet, the American Dance Festival, and on scholarship at The Taylor School. Miss Sand has performed with Eglevsky Ballet, tompricedance, and Von Howard Project, among others, and has been pleased to be a member of Lydia Johnson Dance since 2004.

Erica Schweer earned her BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University. She received her earlier training at City Ballet of Houston, BalletForte, and Arizona State University. Since graduating in 2002, she has performed with tompricedance, Eva Dean Dance, Tania Perez Salas Compania de Danza, Rachel Thorne Germond Dance, Dawn Lau Dance Company, and Pergine Spettacolo Aperto. She has had the opportunity to work with notable choreographers such as Fernando Bujones, Sean Curran, Gail Gilbert, and Li-Chou Cheng. She is also a yoga teacher, receiving her certification with Laughing Lotus Yoga Center.

Nathaniel Shaw was last seen on stage with the Paul Taylor Dance Company. After three wonderful years with Paul, Nathaniel is returning to his Theater and Musical Theater roots. He has been seen regionally as the Emcee in Cabaret, Ren in Footloose, Riff in West Side Story, Younger Brother in Ragtime, Jesus in Godspell, Cable in South Pacific, and Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing. His choreography can be seen in Perception, a Deadalus Films Production. He is the co-artistic director of Kameronfly Productions, which debuted this summer with Lanford Wilson's Burn This, featuring Nathaniel in the role of Pale. Love and gratitude to Mom, Dad, Bro, and Kicky.

Jeremy Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from Florida State University, after attending New World School of the Arts High School in Miami, Florida. At Florida State, he performed, choreographed, and taught extensively with Dance Repertory Theatre. His many teachers include Lynda Davis, Jane Wood-Smith, Daniel Lewis, Peter London, Gerard Ebitz, Paula Cunningham, Kim Brokaw, and Debbi Dee. He has performed choreography by Clay Taliaferro, Martha Graham, George Balanchine, Alonzo King, Alex Ketley, Sara Pearson/Patrik Widrig, and Brent Schneider, and has appeared as a guest artist with Ballet West and The Tallahassee Ballet Company. In the fall of 2004, he danced with Ben Munisteri Dance Projects during their season at the Joyce SoHo. Jeremy joined the Parsons Dance Company in 2004. This is Jeremys first season with Lydia Johnson Dance. He appears courtesy of The Parsons Dance Company.

Kerry Shea, originally from Virginia, began early training at Pennsylvania Ballet, Boston Ballet and Houston Ballet. Shea continued training on scholarship at The University of Utah. Graduating with high honors she received her BFA. Company credits include The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Ballet West, and The Sacramento Ballet. She has enjoyed working with choreographers Alonzo King, Donald McKayle, Septime Webre, Stephen Mills, and Thaddeus Davis. Recently, she has returned from the North West Professional Dance Project in Portland, Oregon. Shea had the honor of working with Lucas Crandall, of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and performing a solo Crandall created on her. Currently, Shea can be seen dancing in New York City with The Eglevsky Ballet Company, Brooklyn Ballet, and Aseid. This is her third season dancing with Lydia Johnson.

Emma Stein was born in New York City and received her BA in art history from Columbia University in 2003. She trained at the Martha Graham School, where she received a Coca-Cola Scholarship for Artistic Excellence in 1998 and again in 1999. She has been a member of the Buglisi/Foreman Dance Co., Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Liz Gerring Dance, and The Love Show. She has also performed in Noemie Lafrance's Bessie Award winning Descent and other productions, and with the Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre. Emma joined Lydia Johnson Dance in January 2006.

Eric Vlach, originally from Portland, Oregon, graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 2005 with a B.F.A. in dance. While in Tisch, he danced with the Second Avenue Dance Company, for which he also choreographed some of his own work. This past year he has been dancing locally, freelancing in small productions and festivals. Visit his website at www.ericvlach.com.