Choreographer - JAMAICA JANOWICZ
Composer - RANDALL SEQUEIRA 

JAMAICA JANOWICZ was born and raised in California. She received her early dance training with the Royal Academy of Dance and at the Marin Ballet. She attended State University of New York at Purchase, majoring in dance. Now she is back in the Bay Area, performing with numerous groups and choreographers including Annie Rosenthal, Aimee McConnelough, Amber McCall, Michael Parra and Nomad Dance Company, Rose Pasquarello and Vertigo Dance Company, Cynthia Anne Krempetz and Offspring Dance Company. Jamaica is a founding member of the Marin Choroegraphers’ Collective. With their support she has finally had the pleasure of exploring her own movement and beginning her own journey as a choreographer.

RANDALL SEQUEIRA recently returned from a recording session with George Benson and is a member of the band, THE COHORTS, who are based in the wine country of California, north of San Francisco. The band is made up of friends who play highly danceable, soulful, original, bluesy, world rock. They have shared stages with such artists as; Joe Louis Walker, Roy Rodgers, Johnny Otis, Pride and Joy, Ron Thompson, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Nick Gravenites, Kotoja, Harvey Mandel, Box Set, John Mayall, and most recently the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Choreographer - ERICA ROSE JEFFREY
Composer - ALEXANDER DEVARON

ERICA ROSE JEFFREY - Originally from Missoula, Montana, Erica Rose Jeffrey studied dance at the Pittsburgh Ballet School, graduating as valedictorian before joining Ballet Internationale. After dancing professionally for several years, she attended Indiana University on full academic and artistic scholarships as a Wells Scholar. Pursuing a joint degree in Ballet, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, she graduated in August 2002 and recently moved to California. She has trained and worked with: Violette Verdy, Patricia Wilde, Oleg Briansky, Susan Jones, Julie Kent, Charlene Campbell, Lara Teeter, Lynn Taylor Corbett and Mark Godden.
An avid explorer and interested in the connections between dance and culture, she recently studied dance and performed in India and Niger, West Africa. As a choreographer she has created multiple works for children and adults. Erica continues to combine her interests through the expansion of her conflict resolution education program through dance, Moving Toward Peace.

ALEXANDER DEVARON holds degrees from Connecticut Wesleyan University and Indiana University, where his teachers included Alvin Lucier, Richard Winslow, Eugene Brien, and David Dzubay. His works have been performed In Canada, Europe and throughout the United States. His music has been featured by such ensembles as the Tufts New Music Ensemble, the Seattle New Music Ensemble and the New England Conservatory Cammerata.
Over the last twenty years, Mr. DeVaron has combined his study of music with the study of Buddhism and meditation. Over the course of these years, he has worked closely with the composer Peter Lieberson to explore the meeting place of these two traditions. Currently he is pursuing a doctoral degree at Temple University, where he studies with Maurice Wright and Mathew Greenbaum.

Choreographer - CYNTHIA ANNE KREMPETZ
Composer - STEVE MUNGER

CYNTHIA ANNE KREMPETZ received early training with The Stapleton School of Performing Arts, San Francisco Ballet, and San Francisco Academy of Ballet. She received a dance scholarship at Southern Methodist University's Meadows School of the Arts where she earned leading roles in works of Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Helen Tamaris and Lynn Taylor Corbitt and was the recipient of "The Dancer of Excellence" award. For the last four years Cynthia has lived in New York on full scholarship at The Martha Graham School of Dance and teaches through their out reach program.
During these last two year Cynthia founded the production company "The Young Laughing Gods". As producer and director, Cynthia created a short film which received the young Artists Grant from The Dallas Museum of Modern Art. In the company's first two years the company has produced Three dance concerts, two original plays, and has nearly completed it's second film.

STEVE MUNGER A music lover like most people, Steve Munger didn't actually pick up an instrument until his late twenties, and is largely self taught. No scholarships or awards, but plenty of diverse, oddball experience, ranging from "busking" in the London Underground, performing at the Glastonbury Festival with Count Spacie, jamming with Don Cherry, playing "raves" in the UK, working with San Francisco DJs, and touring Europe with Orchestra Murphy. Steve has also done solo saxophone work with Flamenco, Belly and Butoh dancers. Several years ago he achieved a lifetime ambition when he was invited to sit in with a London circus band. For the last three years, Steve has played saxophone with Bay Area artist Jethro Jeremiah.

Guest Choreographer - AYAKO KURAKAKE
Composer - KEITH MOORE

AYAKO KURAKAKE was born in Osaka, Japan and received her B.F.A. in dance from Osaka University of Arts. From 1991 to 1998 she danced with K. Chamber Dance Company and won the Modern Dance Choreographic Competition of Japan in 1993 and 1994.
Since 1998 she has been studying composition with Kazuko Hirabayashi and received her M.F.A. in Choreography from SUNY Purchase in 2001. During that time she worked as a rehearsal assistant for Mr. Hirabayashi and has set his dances at the Alvin Ailey School and at SUNY Purchase.
The past 2 years Ayako has choreographed 8 dances that have been performed in Spain, Japan, in NYC by the American Dance Guild and Joyce Soho Presents.

KEITH MOORE is a Novato-based composer, screenwriter and music teacher. Keith graduated UC Santa Barbara’s Film Studies program in 1994. His musical contribution to this year’s program includes selections from his new CD, The Fluorescent Shaded Teddy Bear Murders, a musical score to his story about an island of supermodels overrun with giant, killer teddy bears. When he’s not blasting fireballs from his guitar with local rock trio, The Most, he can be found tinkering with his web page, Keith-Moore.net, and is optioning his first screenplay.

Choreographer - JOE LANDINI
Company - BIG MOVES
Composers - ANNICK CRAWFORD & ELIZA PERKINS

JOE LANDINI is the founder of Landini Dance Company. He received his B.A. in Choreography from the University of California, Irvine, under the tutelage of reknowned choreographer, Donald McKayle. Joe danced for Bill T. Jones' production of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at U.C.L.A. and was Mr. Jones' intern in New York. Upon returning to the Bay Area, Joe helped direct the choreography program at the San Francisco Institute of Choreography (now named the SF Dance Centre) and co-founded the Pacific Dance Collective (1992-1996). He formed the Landini Dance Company in 1996. Mr. Landini's work has been presented in Laguna Beach, Marin, Monterey, Sacramento, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, NM and Mexico City, MEX. In 2001, he was selected to attend graduate school at the prestigious Laban Center in London, UK. This is his fourth contribution to Marin's 21st Century Dance Collaboration, having been the only choreographer to participate every year since the festival began in 1999.

BIG MOVES Big Moves was founded by Marina Wolf in 2000 to generate events that she as a larger dancer wanted to participate in. Big Moves sponsors dance classes in a variety of genres and hosts discussions and video screenings that address the issues of size and weight diversity in dance. On the performing side, Big Moves' mission is to bring larger dancers out of the margins of the dance world by commissioning works that utilize their unique strengths, and by producing events that explicitly feature larger dancers.
Big Moves produced its first concert in May 2001 at Holy Names College in Oakland. The evening-length show featured the Kendra Kimbrough Dance Ensemble and Fat Chance Belly Dance, as well as the Canadian modern dance company Big Dance. Press coverage of this event was extensive, and included articles in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Oakland Tribune, and even part of a photo feature in People magazine.
For its second season in April 2002, Big Moves moved to ODC Theater in San Francisco for a two-night run, and took the additional leap of commissioning work from choreographer Joe Landini. The 13-minute piece, “They’ll Eat the Fat Ones First,” featured dancers from Big Moves and from the Joe Landini Company. Local composer Annick Crawford composed and performed the music live to complement a text soundtrack generated by dancers in workshop with Landini.

ANNICK CRAWFORD (composer) has studied music composition at UC Santa Barbara, Berklee College of Music in Boston and is currently working towards a Masters degree in Composition at San Jose State University. Annick is also working with choreographer Todd Courage and is avidly pursuing her interest in film scoring.
ELIZA PERKINS (sound design) is a performer, sound designer and director. Her work has appeared at many venues around the Bay Area including the SF Fringe Festival, Venue 9, the Marsh, ODC, Dancers' Group/Footwork, and others. She most recently directed the Walk of Life Project in Marin, creating an experimental theater/dance piece with local senior citizens - and completed an extensive soundscape for There Be Monsters, which played at the West Beth Theater in NYC. Eliza has received an Individual Artist Choreography grant from the Marin Arts Council as well as a CASH grant award from Theatre Bay Area.

Choreographer - JANIE MIKLAUNUS
Composers - SCOTT RAILSBACK & RAY REGAN

JANIE MIKLAUNUS attended the University of London, Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, where she attained a BA in Dance and Drama. She has resided in the USA for the last 20 years continuing her training in New York and the Bay Area, showing great artistic versatility in her choreography for both children and adults.
She has choreographed and performed numerous works at Dance Theatre Seven, Eighth St. Studio, Marin County Festival of Dance and Marin Theatre Company. Her works explore Jazz and Modern Dance, with a Performance Art influence. Other works choreographed include:  Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Pajama Game and she has directed Peter Pan.
An innovative and creative teacher, she has taught classes and choreographed for Marin Theatre Company's Conservatory, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, All's Well That Ends Well, A Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet and A Winter's Tale. Through Youth in Arts she teaches dance in Marin Schools as an Artist in Residence.
Whilst following her love of dance she studied Pilates attaining certification and now teaches in health club facilities as well as a private practice. In her spare time her interests include sailing and learning to play the didjeridu.

SCOTT RAILSBACK, a self trained player of yirdaki (didgeridoo), has been influenced by both modern and traditional playing styles. He participated in the Yidaki Master Class sponsored by the Yothu Yindi Foundation in Arnhemland Northern Territory, Australia where he studied traditional playing style, instrument making, and culture with Djalu Gurruwiwi the most renowned Yidaki maker in the world. His sound and vocals are inspire by earth, sky, wind and the ancient simplicity of an instrument made from a tree hollowed out by termites.
Scott is a member of the Phoenix Springs Ensemble, he has played and recorded with a number of groups ranging from "trance" to "modern improvisation" and is currently involved as a studio musician in a variety of music projects. In line with his involvement in the spirit of music, Scott is a staff member of Sound Movement Integration Center and a partner in the Wicked Sticks, which sources and sells the finest quality authentically crafted didjeridu, www.Didjeridu.com.
RAY REGAN is a multi instrumentalist with a lifetime of playing, performing and composing experience. He started studying piano at an early age and has become proficient on a number of other instruments, including acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, banjo, harmonica, trap drums, and hand drums. In more recent years all manner of electronic instruments, synthesizers and samplers have made there way into his increasingly experimental style. He has composed pieces for commercial and film projects, including animated spots for ZDTV, MCI telecommunications, and web sites.
He is a founding member of the trance ambient group Tone Pharoah, which played many Bay Area dance events, such as the monthly extravaganzas produced by AnonSalon in San Francisco. That group has morphed into the mysterious ambient atmospheres of its' new configuration - Uum. Another current sonic adventure is the cutting edge experimental sound of the Slow Gods. This collaboration with didjeridu master Scott Railsback is a unique venture.

Choreographer - CHARLOTTE MORAGA
Composer - CHITRESH DAS
Guest Musician - SWAPNAMOY BANERJEE

CHARLOTTE MORAGA, a principal dancer with the Chitresh Das Dance Company, began dancing at the age of nine in Miami, FL. With a background in ballet, jazz and musical theater, she began kathak training in 1992 with Pandit Chitresh Das in the guru-shishya tradition (one-on-one, intensive training). Inspired by Chitreshji's passion, integrity and unparalleled depth of artistry Charlotte became devoted to learning the art of kathak at its highest standard. Charlotte's powerful technical base and fiery stage presence has caught the attention of critics in the U.S. and India alike.
She has been a featured performer in Das' major dance dramas such as Darbar and Ramayana and this year she will be presented in her first major solo concert as well as a soloist in Mr. Das' world premiere choreographic work Pancha Jati to be premiered in October in San Francisco. She has toured extensively with CDDC in the US, India and internationally.
Her performances with CDDC have also been featured on Indian Television. In April of this year, Ms. Moraga shared the stage, as a soloist and principal member of CDDC, with India's most illustrious artists, including her Guru, at Ali Akbar Khan's 80th Birthday Gala in San Rafael. Charlotte has been instrumental in developing and implementing kathak programs for Bay Area school children and youth.

CHITRESH DAS - Occasionally an artist appears who introduces a new force into the evolution of an art form. Chitresh Das is such an artist. His performances have been consistently acclaimed for their dynamic, adventurous execution and artistic range. Das' depth of knowledge and intuitive response is exceptional among dancers in any style. Whether expressing the purely classical or the innovative and collaborative, his incredible artistry has made him one of today's foremost exponents of North India's classical Kathak and an influential force on dance internationally.
A prolific performer and creator, Das has performed in countries throughout the world. He has been extensively recognized, receiving numerous awards from the California and American governments and universities and most recently was the recipient of the prestigious Irvine Fellowship in Dance. Das also established the first university accredited Kathak course in the country at San Francisco State University.
A visionary artist and teacher, Chitresh Das is realizing his mission of bringing the excitement and refinement of Kathak to audiences around the world.

SWAPNAMOY BANERJEE (Sarod), of Calcutta, India, was initiated in the art of sarod by renowned sarod master Pandit Radhika Mohan Maitra, after whose death he studied under Ustad Bahadur Khan of the Moihar gharana. Swapnamoy also learned harmonium from the great Pandit Sohanlal Sharma. On harmonium he has accompanied masters such as Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Rajan and Sajan Misra, Smt. Kishori Amonkar, Pandit Samta Prasad and Pandit Kishan Maharaj. He tours regularly with Chitresh Das and CDDC in the US and India.

Choreographer - DANNY NGUYEN
Company - DANNY NGUYEN DANCERS AND MUSICIANS
Composer - JONATHAN SEGEL

DANNY NGUYEN was born in 1964 in Saigon, Vietnam. Eighteen years later in 1982, he escaped from the communist country in an 8-meter boat with 47 other "boat people" to start his journey for freedom.
Once he had relocated to the States the dancing on television and in movies instantly inspired him. In 1983 he was afforded the opportunity to pursue a formal dance education at the San Francisco Ballet School and thereafter, avidly sought out additional instruction at the Berkeley City Ballet and Berkeley Ballet Arts.
After exposure to the diverse dance community of the Bay Area, ballet wasn't his only interest anymore. His quest for a well rounded dance education lead him to Los Angeles and New York City where he had the opportunity to study the techniques of Alvin Ailey, Trisha Brown, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Jose Limon, and Paul Taylor. While in L.A. and N.Y.C., he began to choreograph and perform modern works. His developing choreographic style included: Classical, Jazz, Modern, Post-Modern —all executed with his unique twist of Vietnamese culture and experience.
Mr. Nguyen is the first Vietnamese pioneer modern dancer, teacher, and choreographer in the United States to receive his B.F.A. in Dance, Performance, and Choreography at California Institute of The Arts and his M.F.A. in Dance, Performance, and Choreography at Mills College. In 1999 he had the honor of being invited to Paul Taylor's annual choreographic symposium in San Francisco where Mr. Taylor recognized Danny Nguyen as one of the seven best creative choreographers in the Bay Area. Danny Nguyen Dancers and Musicians (DNDM) was formed in June, 1999.

JONATHAN SEGEL played too many different instruments in Camper Van Beethoven from 1983 until 1989, when they figured that out. Also played with Eugene Chadbourne 1987-1991 in the amazing Eugene Van Beethoven ensemble, and HF 1989-1994. Seen in "Jack and Jill", where he pretty much only played guitar (as per rules) and sang, playing the role of Jack (or Jill), he now tours the great cities of Northern Europe with Mark Linkous' acclaimed Sparklehorse. A recent solo CD "Scissors & Paper" has just come out. Jonathan comes from a mixed genetic background which is illegal to discuss. He is the Puppet Figurehead for Magnetic and as such pretends that he knows what is going on. Visit MagneticMotorWorks.com to understand more about the mind and music of Jonathan.

Choreographer - LISA RIE
Company - NEW DANCE COMPANY
Composer - GARY SCHEIDING

LISA RIE is a choreographer and Assistant Director for Stockton's New Dance Company. Raised and trained in the East Bay Area, Lisa attended University of the Pacific where she performed with Pacific Dance Ensemble while earning her degree in Spanish and International Studies. In 1989 she joined the newly formed New Dance Company under the co-direction of Bethany King and Kathleen Torian-Taylor.
She has appeared with the Stockton Symphony, Stockton Chorale, at the San Francisco's National AIDS Conference, in Vivi Letsou's film "Skeleton Woman" and numerous local events. Master teachers she has studied with include: Lauretta Livingston, Joe Goode, Liz Burritt, Kathleen Smith and Elaine Orimo-Dart. She works with homeless children, is an instructor for New Dance Company and teaches creative movement for the after school program ARTSworkYES! She is a teacher for the Valley Sierra California Arts Project and a member of the California Dance Educators Association. Lisa is elated to be a participant in M21CD&MC!

NEW DANCE COMPANY founded in 1989 by Bethany King and Kathleen Torian-Taylor is a community based, non-profit organization that features modern dance, promotes healthy attitudes about technique and training for dancers and provides opportunities for local dancers and choreographers to showcase their work. Artistic collaboration is embraced and dancers, musicians, visual artists, vocalists and actors have produced original works together. NDC  recognizes a need to educate children and has offered classes, workshops and lecture demonstrations to children in area schools. NDC also presents an annual production for children which includes 2 days of performance fro elementary school students.

GARY SCHEIDING is currently the Technical Director for Stockton Civic Theater, this last year he composed music and did the sound design for the plays; Stand Up Tragedy and Tennessee William's Orpheus Descending. Gary also designed the set and sound for the Miser and to add to his busy schedule he also acted in Orpheus Descending and the Miser. He just finished designing the set for Delta College's Senior Showcase (where he also plays guitar in the pit band). Recently he composed a new work for New Dance Company's Spring Season Concert. Gary also designed and built The Merry Wives of Windsor and Richard the 3rd sets to be run in repertory at The Stevenot Winery by the Murphy's Creek Theater Company for whom he also was the technical director this summer. Gary is planning on being able to concentrate on mostly playing and composing music after his current obligation are completed.

Choreographer - ERIKA TINGEY
Company - HIGH RELEASE DANCE
Composers - CHRIS COEN, SHARON GONG, YUKI TAKAISHI

ERIKA TINGEY, started studying dance at age six with Grace Butler, and continued through high school. At Pomona College she studied with Libby Nye, where she choreographed many of her own pieces. Erika returned to Claremont in 1993 to set a commissioned work on college dancers, which was performed to spoken word and improvised sounds by local musicians. In 1994 she graduated from Mills College with an MFA in Choreography, and went on to dance with Jennifer Brightbill and the Pneuma Dance Company. She was a performing member of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo from 1997-1998. Erika joined High Release in 1999.

HIGH RELEASE DANCE was founded in 1994 by a group of modern dancers seeking to pursue their own artistic visions and performance opportunities in a supportive, collaborative environment. While primarily based in modern dance, the group explores a range of dance styles, with each member acting as both choreographer of her own works and dancer in other choreographers' pieces. High Release is unique in that the group has no director, but works as a completely democratic organization in which each member has equal voice and contributes her particular talents.

CHRIS COEN studied taiko for five years under Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka of San Francisco Taiko Dojo. He is a founding member of Taiko Ren and is now working on his own musical projects, drums and otherwise.
SHARON GONG studied taiko drumming for three years with San Francisco Taiko Dojo. She is currently studying and performing congolese drumming with the HeartRhythms Drum Choir.
YUKI TAKAISHI studied taiko at San Francisco Taiko Dojo for five years. Currently a member of Taiko Ren, she continues to explore new creative taiko ventures investigating new and progressive rhythms, movement, and sounds.

Marin's 21st Century Dance & Music Collaboration 2002,
a program of Zero Gravity Dance Theater, Inc.,
is partially funded by Marin Community Foundation regranting through the Marin Arts Council, Autodesk, Great Escapes, Inc., a travel destination company, Miracle Mile Veterinary Hospital, Robert Placak & Associates, Insurance Services and Employee Benefits Specialists, and other generous donors.
© 2002. All rights reserved.