VVWDANCE
A bi-coastal collective of contemporary artists led by Vanessa Van Wormer.
Merging the exactitude and artistry of ballet with contemporary sensibilities and innovation, Van Wormer’s work delves into the nuance of the body in communication. Exploring the many facet of collaboration, the company presents a diverse range of repertory, including multi-media works with live music and visual artists. VVWdance was formed in 2011 as a project-based company and works with a rotating roster of artists nationally and internationally.
COLLABORATORS
ANGELA GORMAN
DANCER
Angela Gorman, originally from Ossining, New York, graduated from the College at Brockport in 2011with a BA in Dance and a Minor in Psychology. She currently dances with VVWdance, Gushue Moving Arts, and collaborates with multi-city dance collective; Remote Dance Project, which has inspired her to begin to create her own work. Work with mishiDance as well as guest appearances for the Westchester Ballet Company keep her grounded in the ballet upbringing that continually influences her movement. When she isn't dancing for one of these choreographers, Angela shares her love of dance with the younger generation at Logrea Dance Academy.
MORGAN
HASSON
DANCER
Morgan Hasson, originally from Queens, New York graduated with a BFA in Dance from The College at Brockport in 2014. Since graduation, Morgan has performed with various choreographers such as Bill Evans Dance Company, James Hansen/Assemblage Dance and freelance artists throughout New York City. Alongside her dancing career, she has a love for teaching dance to young children.
CAITLIN THURGOOD
DANCER
Caitlin R. Thurgood is a dancer, performer, and dance maker living in Brooklyn, NY. Growing up she had the rare chance to train with the grand niece of Michel Fokine, Donna I. Decker, and continued her dance training with a focus on modern dance techniques at the College at Brockport with mentors such as Bill Evans and Mariah Maloney. Since, she has performed at various venues including The Yard, Gibney Dance Center, MoMA PS 1, The Knockdown Center and Dixon Place. Caitlin has been with VVWdance since 2012, and enjoys being a part of Van Wormer's inspired works that allow the voice of the individual to live inside delicately shaped worlds.
JULIANA
UTZ
DANCER
Juliana Utz holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree from The College at Brockport in New York and a Dance Education degree from Radford University in Virginia. She lives in Boston where she is artistic director of Turning Key Dance, performing and presenting her choreography nationally and internationally. Juliana is the director of the contemporary ballet program at Acton School of Ballet and is a guest choreographer for Commonwealth Ballet Company in Boston. She has been performing with VVWdance since 2011.
ANDREW ALDEN
COMPOSER & FILMMAKER
Andrew Alden is a filmmaker and composer from New England. He studied film scoring and composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he received a bachelor’s degree in composition. He is the director and composer for the Andrew Alden Ensemble, which is dedicated to new music in the tradition of Bang on a Can All-Stars, Alloy Orchestra, Kronos Quartet and Alarm Will Sound. Andrew Alden creates multimedia exhibitions with Vanessa Van Wormer for The Memory Project and is the co-owner of Nedla Studio based in Detroit.
TERESA
ALDEN
DIGITAL MEDIA ARTIST
Teresa Alden is a digital media artist, graphic designer and filmmaker from Rochester, NY with a BS in Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College. In 2015, a short film produced with Andrew Alden, was premiered at the Greentopia Film Festival, and is the co-owner of the digital production company Nedla Studio. Teresa Alden currently lives in Detroit and is the Digital Communications Manager for the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
JENNIFER
DAYTON
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Jennifer Dayton is originally from upstate New York and is a graduate from the State University of New York College at Brockport where she studied Business Administration and Dance. Jennifer has worked with the Arts and Cultural Council of Greater Rochester and was an Artist Services Representative at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. In 2014 she joined the Education staff at the Mark Morris Dance Group as the Education Programs Manager; managing and growing 28 community partnerships. Jennifer joined the Center for Education Outreach in 2017 as the Schools Partnership Program Manager providing arts-based programs to nearly 3,000 students in New York City public schools. Aside from her arts administrative work, she has worked as a dance teaching artist and has danced with Bill Evans Dance Company, Nicole Kaplan|Mapping, and Justin Bass Dance. Jennifer also currently serves as Development Manager for Vanessa VanWormer Dance, a bi-coastal contemporary dance company presenting a diverse range of repertory, including multi-media works with live music and visual artists.
EMMA SCHOLL
COSTUME DESIGNER
Emma Scholl, costume designer and technician for theatre, dance, and film, is the costumer for the Department of Dance at the College at Brockport, State University of New York. She has recently presented work in the STRUTT Wearable Art Show and designed costumes for an adaptation of The Bacchae at SUNY Oswego. Much of her design work has been seen at the Rochester Fringe Festival, including her wearable art collection. Since moving to Rochester she has collaborated with Bill Evans Dance, Nicole Kaplan, Mariah Maloney Dance, Stevie Oakes, Red Dirt Dance (Karl Rogers) and VVWdance (Vanessa Van Wormer). Previously she has designed costumes for Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, Hangar Theatre, the Milburn Stone Theatre, and Steel River Playhouse. She has also worked with faculty, student, and guest choreographers designing dance and theatrical costumes at Bloomsburg University, Bucknell University, and Florida State University. Recent theatrical design credits include: The Bacchae, Little Shop Of Horrors, The 39 Steps, 4000 Miles, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Full Gallop, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and Julius Caesar. She holds an MFA in Costume Design from Florida State University.