Inaugural Choreographers

Stephanie Martinez, Artistic Director

Over eleven years of award-winning works, Chicago-based choreographer Stephanie Martinez moves her audiences along a journey guided by the physicality of her movement and honest storytelling. With original creations for Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Luna Negra Dance Theater,  Charlotte Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Eugene Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Kansas City Ballet, and National Choreographers Initiative among others, Martinez’s versatility expands the boundaries of contemporary ballet movement through her passion for marrying dance and theater as a means to construct intricate visual experiences. Martinez has created over 60 ballets on companies and collegiate programs across the country. In 2010, Martinez assisted Broadway legend Ann Reinking in setting the Fosse Trilogy, and in 2015 was awarded Joffrey Ballet’s “Winning Works: Choreographers of Color” commission and the Chicago 3Arts Award in recognition for her work as a female artist of color. More recently, Martinez was awarded an NEA grant for her premiere Bliss! at Joffrey Ballet. Designated “a chameleon” of choreography by the Chicago Tribune, Martinez’s psychologically revelatory works challenge the viewer’s notion of what’s possible.

Visit Stephanie’s choreographic website here.

Jennifer Archibald

Jennifer Archibald is the founder and Artistic Director of the Arch Dance Company and Program Director of ArchCore40 Dance Intensives. Archibald has choreographed for the Atlanta Ballet, Ailey II, Ballet Memphis, Kansas City Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, and worked commercially for Tommy Hilfiger, NIKE and MAC Cosmetics as well as chart-listed singers and actors. She was appointed as the first female Resident Choreographer in Cincinnati Ballet’s 40-year history. This season she has created works for Cincinnati Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, Amy Seiwert's Imagery, Ballet West, Sacramento Ballet and Stockholm's Balletakademien and will create new works for Oregon Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, BalletX and National Ballet of Canada in 2021. She was the acting Movement Director for Michael Kahn's The Oresteia at the Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Archibald’s works have been performed at venues including New York's City Center, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Aaron Davis Hall, Jacob's Pillow Inside|Out Stage and Central Park's Summerstage Mainstage. Jennifer was awarded a Choreographic Fellow for Ailey’s New Directions Choreography Lab under the direction of Robert Battle. She is a Choreographic Winnings recipient by the Joffrey Ballet. Jennifer choreographed “Seven”, a biographical work about Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, which was commissioned by St. Louis based MADCO Dance Company. Arch Dance Company's "Chasing Shadows" was remounted for Dallas Black Dance Theater for their 2018/19 season. She was also the 2018-19 recipient's for the CUNY Dance Initiative Residency.

Jennifer is currently an Acting Lecturer at the Yale School of Drama and was appointed as Guest Faculty Lecturer to develop the Hip Hop dance curriculum at Columbia/Barnard College. Jennifer is also a guest artist at several universities including Fordham/Ailey, Purchase College, Princeton, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of South Florida, Goucher College, Columbia College Chicago, Miami New World School of the Arts, South Carolina's Governor's School of the Arts, Ailey Fordham, Boston Conservatory, and Point Park.

Lucas Crandall

Lucas Crandall joined the Milwaukee Ballet in 1979 and the Ballet du Grand-Theatre de Geneve in 1980. From 1985-1987, Crandall danced with Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT). He has performed in works by Oscar Araiz, Christopher Bruce, Nacho Duato, Mats Ek, Rui Horta, Kylián, Amanda Miller, and Ohad Naharin. In 2000, Crandall joined Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as Associate Artistic Director and taught at the Lou Conte Dance Studio. He has also worked as a guest teacher for Ballet du Grand-Theatre de Geneve, guest Ballet Master for Ballet Jazz de Montréal, Rehearsal Director for NW Dance Project, and Ballet Master for Hubbard Street. Crandall currently serves as the Coordinator and Repetitor for NDT and has choreographed for Hubbard Street, NW Dance Project, Thodos Dance Chicago, Ballet Junior de Geneve.

Founding Ensemble

Alicia Delgadillo

Alicia is from Charlotte, NC where she trained in ballet, jazz, tap, and modern. She graduated with honors from the Ailey School and Fordham University’s BFA program in New York City in 2012, while a member of Hubbard Street 2, and was promoted to the main company in 2014. She has taught regularly for Hubbard Street summer programs and in 2017 and 2019 served as the Artistic Coordinator for the Hubbard Street Advanced Level Summer Intensive. Alicia was a volunteer with JUNTOS Collective during college and joined the team as Local Director from 2016-2017. She is currently a freelance artist based in Chicago.

Brian Martinez

Brian was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, where he started dancing at the age of 14. After receiving his BFA in Contemporary Dance, Brian moved to Chicago to further his training with Hubbard Street's Professional Program (HSPro) under the direction of Alexandra Wells. In the program, he performed and workshopped works by Ryan Mason, William Forsythe, Rena Butler, Robyn Minekos Williams, and Peter Chu; all of whom were able to provide transformative information for Brian's developing performance career.

Chase Buntrock

Chase Buntrock is from Chicago, Illinois. After attending Chicago Academy for the Arts, he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Juilliard School. Following graduation, Chase was a dancer with Ballet BC under the direction of Emily Molnar. He has performed works by Crystal Pite, Sharon Eyal, Merce Cunningham, Roy Assaf, and more.

Ching Ching Wong

Ching Ching Wong was born in Manila, raised in Los Angeles, and currently based in Philadelphia. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine studying under the late Donald Mckayle. From 2010 -2017 she was a dancer for NW Dance Project. In 2015 she was awarded The Princess Grace Award in Dance and named Top 25 to Watch by Dance Magazine in 2017. Since 2017, Ching Ching Wong has been assistant and répétiteur to Swiss based choreographer Ihsan Rustem restaging his work in 7 countries. As a freelance artist, Ching Ching is the founder of her own company Carrots Carrying Water and creator of The Experience Workshop & Project Salamat global outreach program. She has performed with violinist Joe Kye, LED, CARLON, Heidi Duckler Dance Theater, SALT Contemporary Dance, Safety Third Productions, YYDC, WHYTEBERG, and Brendan Duggan. Ching is extremely grateful to be a part of PARA.MAR’s inaugural performance!

Chris Bloom

Chris Bloom is from Fredrick County, VA where he began dancing at the Blue Ridge Studio for the Performing Arts and the Vostrikov Academy of Ballet. Chris graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Ailey/Fordham B. F. A. Progam. Chris has performed with Parsons Dance, The Dash Ensemble, The Black Iris Project, and the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. Chris joined Ballet Hispanico in 2013 and has had the pleasure of originating roles in new works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Fernando Melo, Michelle Manzanales, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Edwaard Liang, and Eduardo Vilaro. In addition he has performed in Nacho Duato’s Jardi Tancat, William Forsythe’s New Sleep and as Don José in Gustavo Ramirez Sansano’s CARMEN.maquia. Chris is performing at the courtesy of Ballet Hispanico.

Gabrielle Sprauve

Gabrielle Sprauve was born in Queens, NY and raised in Savannah,GA where she began her training at The Academy of Dance. She attended Savannah Arts Academy for the Performing Arts, and also studied at the Ailey School and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Gabrielle graduated with her BFA from Marymount Manhattan College in 2017. She has performed works by Larry Keigwin, Alexandra Damiani, Norbert De La Cruz, Paul Taylor, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Adam Barruch, and Jo Strømgren. Gabrielle joined Ballet Hispanico in 2017, where she has had the pleasure of working with choreographers such as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Michelle Manzanales, Bennyroyce Royon, Eduardo Vilaro, Andrea Miller, and Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. Gabrielle is performing at the courtesy of Ballet Hispanico.

Joseph A. Hernandez

Joseph A. Hernandez, from Chicago, IL, first began his movement arts practice with Shotokan Karate. He later discovered dance in high school and pursued his formal training at Western Michigan University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a BFA in Dance. He received supplemental training from programs at Springboard Danse Montréal, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Luna Negra Dance Theater, and Gus Giordano Dance School. Joseph’s professional credits include The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Amy Seiwert’s Imagery, LED Boise, ODC/Dance, Kate Weare Company, Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers, River North Dance Chicago, and the Broadway production of West Side Story. In addition to performing, he is also a passionate educator and choreographer, having worked with numerous pre-professional programs and professional companies across the country. In his free time, Joseph enjoys photography, yoga, cycling, rock climbing, and working under the hood of his car.

Kelsey McFalls

Kelsey McFalls is from Syracuse, NY. She has been fortunate to have worked with Amy Seiwert's Imagery, Sacramento Ballet, Dance Theatre of San Francisco, Milissa Payne Project, Company C, Peninsula Ballet Theater, Kambara + Dancers, San Francisco Symphony, American Contemporary Ballet, and American Repertory Ballet. Kelsey's repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Stephen Mills, Amy Seiwert, Ron Cunningham, Robert Moses, and Liza Gennaro. She spent the last five years co-founding and managing Socos Labs, an artificial intelligence (AI) incubator and media company focused on inventing and researching AI technologies to maximize human potential and inform public policy. Kelsey is dedicated to creating art that has a measurable impact on positive social change.

Zachary Gonder

At the age of five, Zachary Gonder started dancing at The Dance Connection, a local studio in his hometown of Grayslake, IL. He then trained at the Chicago Academy for the Arts High School under the tutelage of renowned choreographer Randy Duncan. He graduated from Juilliard in 2018 and performed works there by Austin McCormick, José Limón, Aszure Barton, Pam Tanowitz, Richard Alston, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and Crystal Pite. Zachary has worked for BODYTRAFFIC in L.A. as well as the Barton Sisters’ Axis Connect Program. He currently dances with Pam Tanowitz Dance, Brian Brooks Moving Company and Zvi Dance.

Noelle Kayser

Noelle Kayser’s (Atlanta, GA) professional career began in 2011 at Luna Negra Dance Theater with an apprenticeship under the direction of Gustavo Ramirez Sansano - where she performed the company's repertoire domestically and internationally. In 2013, Noelle joined glo, an Atlanta-based collaborative performance platform founded by Lauri Stallings. Other credits include the Proia Dance Project, Erik Thurmond’s Ripple, Gathering Wild, The Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and Scrap Theater Group's one-woman play Leda. Noelle was a member of Visceral Dance Chicago under the direction of Nick Pupillo from 2015 through 2018. While at Visceral, Noelle had the opportunity to perform works by Marguerite Donlon, Danielle Agami, Kevin O’Day, Alice Klock, Stephanie Martinez, and many others. Noelle has also performed with Benjamin Wardell’s The Cambrians and Atlanta’s Fly On A Wall. Noelle has set her own choreography on Chicago’s Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater, Moonwater Dance Project, and Atlanta’s Kit Modus. Her piece for Kit Modus - The Excursion: Realized - was named a 2018 Highlight of the Year by ArtsATL. She has also served as a choreographic assistant to Stephanie Martinez and Wilfredo Rivera. In addition to dance and choreography, Noelle has narrated 16 audiobooks for Listen Up Productions / audible.com, and appeared in industrial advertising for Grey Television, Kitchenaid, and Whirlpool. Noelle has been a member of Northwest Dance Project since February of 2019. Noelle serves as the rehearsal director for PARA.Mar Dance Theatre.

Myles Lavallee

Myles Lavallee was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ, where he trained and competed with various dance studios. He won many awards including JUMP’s Teen National Title and NUVO’s Teen 1st Runner Up, before moving away to NYC to focus his studies at the School of American Ballet. In 2011 Myles joined Ballet Arizona where he danced for four seasons. In 2014, he moved to Canada to join Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and in 2016, Myles joined Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for two seasons. He was commissioned twice to choreograph for Ballet Arizona's Innovations program, and created pieces in both LGBC and HSDC choreographic workshops . Myles now lives in Los Angeles as a freelance artist and choreographer He has recently been seen dancing with Body Traffic, Post Ballet, Ishida Dance, & Heidi Duckler Dance as well as in several music videos and on Netflix and YouTube. He is extremely passionate about teaching, choreographing and sharing his love for dance.

Nathaniel Hunt

Nathaniel “Nate” Hunt (he/him/his) is a dancer, educator, choreographer, model, and creative director. He graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in Dance from Long Island University - Brooklyn under the direction of Dana Hash-Campbell. While achieving his undergraduate degree, Nathaniel furthered his training with Joffrey Ballet, Cedarlake Contemporary Ballet, Jacob’s Pillow, and Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts all with partial or full scholarship. 

Nathaniel has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Ailey II, Ballet Hispanico, Company XIV, Zvi Dance, Diversity of Dance, and Adaptations Dance Theater; and has had the honor to perform alongside the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Tony Award Winner Derek Hough, and world-renown singer/songwriter, Stevie Wonder. He was the first Black Nutcracker Prince in Company XIV’s infamous winter production of Nutcracker Rouge, and in 2016, he performed Alvin Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations for President Barack Obama in the opening ceremony of the Hannover Messe in Germany. He has performed works by notorious choreographers Alvin Ailey, Dwight Rhoden, Ronald K. Brown, Lorin Latarro, Alexei Ratmansky, Alexandra Damiani, Matthew Rushing, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. Nathaniel is represented by McDonald Selznick Associates talent agency and is featured in LEXXE’s music video “Drink Me” as well as Cold Arizona’s music video “Open Highway Head Start.” He can be seen as the villainous Macavity in the Cats On Tour 2020 TV Commercial. 

Nathaniel’s choreographic and teaching highlights include Ailey II, Bucknell University, Adaptations Dance Theater, Long Island University, FLOCK, and Santa Fe College among many others. As an undergrad, Nathaniel's choreography was selected to be performed at the Kennedy Center at the National College Dance Festival in 2012. His choreography has been showcased at the Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, STEPS on Broadway, Brooklyn Music School, and the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. 

In 2020, Nathaniel co-founded the NOIR 20/20 Experience with Azure Antoinette, an initiative fighting for racial equality centered on Black experience, Black movement, and Black revolution through art, poetry, and action.

Anthony Pucci

Anthony, born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, began his dance training at Studio Dance under Michele Burke. Anthony danced with the NW Dance Project where he was privileged to create new works with renowned choreographers such as Ihsan Rustem, Sarah Slipper, Patrick Delcroix, Wen Wei Wang, Cayetano Soto, Danielle Agami, Luca Vegetti, and James Canfield. Recently, he has danced with Ballare Carmel, Cantankerous Creatures, Tori Lawrence & Co., Open Space, and Post Ballet. Anthony is thrilled to be joining PARA.MAR Dance Theatre and to be on stage in his home state. He attended the University of Iowa, where he received a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography. Anthony is also a 200-hour certified yoga instructor through the Yoga Alliance.

Melissa Verdecia

Melissa Verdecia is from Miami, FL and received her early training from Mencia-Pikieris School of Dance and New World School of the Arts where she graduated summa cum laude in 2008. In 2012, Melissa went on to earn her BFA in dance from The Juilliard School under the direction of Larry Rhodes. While attending The Juilliard School Melissa performed works by Sidra Bell, Alex Ekman, Nacho Duato and Jerome Robbins among others. In 2008, Melissa was selected as a modern dance Finalist in the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) YoungARTS competition. She was also featured in the HBO series “Master Class.” In 2012 Melissa joined Ballet Hispanico of New York City and had the joy of being presented along with her Ballet Hispanico colleagues in Lincoln Center at the Movies Great American Dance Series in 2016 where she performed lead roles in works by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and Pedro Ruiz. During her 9 seasons with Ballet Hispánico she has toured nationally and internationally performing works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Eduardo Vilaro and Michelle Manzanales among others.

 Melissa has also choreographed for and served as the rehearsal director for the Peter London Global Dance Company in Miami, FL and Dimensions Dance Theater of Miami. Currently, Melissa has completed her 9th season with Ballet Hispanico and has returned to her hometown of Miami where she will continue to perform and serve as a dance educator in the community as well as enjoy raising her son alongside her husband and fellow artist. 

Melissa Verdecia is from Miami, FL and received her early training from Mencia-Pikieris School of Dance and New World School of the Arts where she graduated summa cum laude in 2008. In 2012, Melissa went on to earn her BFA in dance from The Juilliard School under the direction of Larry Rhodes. While attending The Juilliard School Melissa performed works by Sidra Bell, Alex Ekman, Nacho Duato and Jerome Robbins among others. In 2008, Melissa was selected as a modern dance Finalist in the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) YoungARTS competition. She was also featured in the HBO series “Master Class.” In 2012 Melissa joined Ballet Hispanico of New York City where she performed works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Eduardo Vilaro and Michelle Manzanales among others.

Melissa has also choreographed for and served as the rehearsal director for the Peter London Global Dance Company in Miami, FL and Dimensions Dance Theater of Miami. Currently, Melissa has completed her 9th season with Ballet Hispanico and has returned to her hometown of Miami where she will continue to perform and serve as a dance educator in the community as well as enjoy raising her son alongside her husband and fellow artist.

Lyvan Verdecia

Lyvan Verdecia was born in Havana, Cuba. He graduated from the National Ballet School of Cuba in 2013 and joined the National Ballet Of Cuba through December 2014, where he developed as a dancer and choreographer. Along with performing and choreographing Lyvan enjoys sharing the knowledge of his craft by teaching at various companies, schools and summer programs. Among them are the National Ballet of Cuba, Kingsport Ballet, the New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble, Art Vida Academy and the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance. In 2015 Lyvan joined Ballet Hispanico in New York City where he had the opportunity to impact countless audiences in works by choreographers such as Annabelle Lopez Ochoa ,Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and Pedro Ruiz to name a few. Along with performing Lyvan gained invaluable experience as a teaching artist with Ballet Hispanico by teaching workshops around the country and abroad as part of the company’s outreach initiative. In 2017 Lyvan was awarded the prestigious Princess Grace award and in 2021 he completed his 7th season with Ballet Hispanico. Currently, Lyvan is enjoying his new freelance career in Miami, Florida where he lives with his wife and son.

Founding Collaborators

Darryl J. Hoffman

Darryl J. Hoffman Is a Bronx, NY native composer, currently based in Chicago. With his life long love for music, he developed a curiosity for sound and began creating at the age of 13. His resume of compositions include works on Kansas City Ballet for choreographer Stephanie Martinez, in collaboration with cellist, Desiree Miller (2016). Danceworks Chicago with choreography by Owen Scarlet (2016). Visceral Dance Chicago's "Synapse", choreographed by Nick Pupillo (2017). Minnesota Dance Theatre, for choreographer, Darwin Black (2017). Three Philadanco works choreographed by Anthony Burrell & Christopher Huggins (2018-2019). Works for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago & Ballet X, Choreographed by Rena Butler (2018-Present). As well as full compositions for both Ebony Williams’ pieces entitled “Title lX” (2018) & “Victoria”, which premiered at Jacob’s Pillow in August of 2019. Expanding his creative horizons in 2020 by serving as Musical director for Regional Dance America’s National Choreography Summer Intensive, Darryl continues to live in his gift as he intends to shape the culture of dance with his sound, while continuing to contribute in other aspects of the arts.

Amanda Gladu

Amanda is a costume designer, illustrator, and painter working in theater, dance, opera, and film. Recent designs include WALK (PARA.MAR Dance Theatre), SIDE EFFECTS (Parsons Dance), DIRECTOR FEST (The Drama League), DANCE NATION (The Wilma Theater), LAND, LOST, FOUND (Gibney Dance), PATH OF MIRACLES (Spoleto Festival USA), LET'S HAVE A SÉANCE (HERE Arts), THE PUSSY GRABBER PLAYS (Joe's Pub), THE ROOMMATE (Kitchen Theatre Company), HOMEBOUND/ALAALA, ESPÍRITUS GEMELOS & 3.CATORCE DIECISÉIS (Ballet Hispánico), PUEBLA, NAVIDAD & BODA MEXICANA (Calpulli Mexican Dance Company), and EQUIVOCATION (Next Act Theatre). Recent associate designs include LE ROI ARTHUS (Bard Summerscape), ANOTHER ROSE (Virgin Voyages), MAKE BELIEVE, DYING CITY, MARY PAGE MARLOWE (Second Stage Theater), SANCTUARY CITY, HURRICANE DIANE (New York Theatre Workshop), THE NAP (Manhattan Theatre Club), DO YOU FEEL ANGER?, HARRY CLARKE (Vineyard Theatre), and AFTER THE BLAST (LCT3). Amanda received the 2017 Michael Merritt Academic Award for Collaborative Design for Northwestern University. She holds an M.F.A. in Stage Design from Northwestern University, and dual B.A. degrees in Dance and Art History from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently Assistant Professor of Costume Design at Ithaca College.

Jackie Fox

Jackie is an artist and designer interested in, above all else, telling stories that explore the vulnerability of the human condition and human behavior in the face of conflict. She believes that the best art is disruptive, subversive, and pushes us to examine the most difficult elements of our psyche. Jackie has designed both regionally and internationally. She recently earned her MFA in Stage Design at Northwestern University where she was awarded the Merritt Academic Prize and the John Woodbridge Award. Selected credits include: Kiss (PARA.MAR Dance Theatre), re: CLICK (American Music Theatre Project), Peter and the Starcatcher and Mamma Mia (Wagon Wheel Theatre), Hundred Days (Kokandy Productions). During her tenure at Northwestern, Jackie designed The Cherry Orchard (Louis Theatre), Ascension (Louis Theatre), The Flick (Wallis Theatre), Machinal (Louis Theatre), Legally Blonde (Barber Theatre), and Turn of The Screw (Ryan Center for the Musical Arts). For more information about Jackie's work go to jackiefoxdesigns.com

Cal & Andrew Boyce

Andrew Boyce (Scenic Design) New York credits include: Dana H (Lyceum Theater – Broadway), Lincoln Center Theater, Roundabout Theater Company, Atlantic Theater Company, New York Theater Workshop, Vineyard Theater, Primary Stages, Playwrights Realm, Lucille Lortel, Barrow Street, Rattlestick. Regional credits with most major regional and LORT theaters across the U.S. Opera credits include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Kentucky Opera, Curtis Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra. Dance credits include Ballet Idaho, PARA.MAR Dance Theatre. MFA: Yale School of Drama. Assistant Professor of Design at Northwestern.  www.andrewboycedesign.com

Calder Marcos Boyce (the babiest) NY credits include: mom (Brooklyn), West Coast (Bay Area): dad. Recipient of the 2021 Prince Harry nomination for golden locks.