MOVEMENT of the PEOPLE

Joya Powell

FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER

A native Harlemite, Joya Powell is a Choreographer and Educator passionate about community, activism, and dances of the African Diaspora. Joya is the recipient of The 2016 Outstanding Emerging Choreographer Bessie Award. Hailed by The New York Times as a “radiant performer;” throughout her career she has danced with choreographers such as Paloma McGregor, Katiti King, Neta Pulvermacher, Nicole Stanton, Marsha Parrilla, Donlin Foreman and Paco Gomes. Her choreography has appeared at venues such as: BAM Opera House, Meet the Artist Saturday's at Lincoln Center, SummerStage, The Bronx Museum of the Arts, FLICfest 2016 (commission), York College in Toronto, Casita Maria (AIR 2014-15), The Performance Project @ University Settlement (AIR 2012-13), Dance on the Greenway (commission), chashama (Resident Artist at Anita's Way), The FLEA, The Outlet Dance Project in NJ, Riverside Theatre, Dance New Amsterdam, Casa del Prado Theatre in San Diego, Montgomery College Theater in Maryland, The Hammerstein Ballroom, Dixon Place, and BAAD!. She has also choreographed such Off-Broadway and out of state plays as: JOB by Thomas Bradshaw (The Flea Theater), The Brothers Size by Tarell A. McCraney (Luna Stage, NJ), Fit for a Queen by Betty Shamieh (The Classical Theatre of Harlem), True Bible Tales by Robert Askins (Jewish Plays Project/E. 14th St. Y), and The Minstrel Show by Amina Henry (13th St. Theatre), Ducklings by Amina Henry (The National Black Theater), and Gilgamesh and The Mosquito by Sam Chanse and Bob Kelly (47th St. Theater). Joya has created commissioned works for ZCO/Dance Project and Ambitions Dance Company. Additional awards and recognition include: Women in Motion Commissioned Artist 2017-18, Dancing While Black Fellow 2016-17, Stage Directors and Choreographers 2016-17 Observership Fellow. She has taught and studied dance in Brazil, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Israel. She has also been an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance at Hunter College, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Old Westbury; a Guest Artist at Penn State, Hobart William Smith Colleges, Columbia University's Teacher's College, Queens College, Brooklyn College, Kean University; and substitute at Barnard College. She has presented at such national and international conferences as: The American College Dance Festival, The National Dance Education Organization (2008, 2012-2017), Society of Dance History Scholars, New York State Dance Education Association, Critically Kinaesthetic: Performing Bodies of Political Engagement in Toronto, and O Encontro Tribo Joven in Brazil. Joya is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Dance at Wesleyan University, a part of the Artistic Resource Group for The FLEA Theater, a collaborating member of Dance Caribbean Collective, choreographic collaborator of Table Theater + Radical Evolution. She received her M.A. in Dance Education from New York University, and her B.A. in Latin American Studies and Creative Writing from Columbia University. As Artistic Director/Choreographer of Movement of the People Dance Company Joya is dedicated to connecting cultures, creating socially conscious choreography and community engagement.

Tyrone Bevans

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Tyrone Bevans was born and raised in the Bronx. He is a dancer, choreographer, and visual artist. He began his journey in dance while studying at the Mark Morris Dance Group and Martha Graham School for Contemporary Dance. He is currently dancing for Christal Brown’s Inspirit Dance and Joya Powell’s Movement of the people. In the past Tyrone has performed for choreographers and artist such as Vessels, Amalgamate Dance Company, Maya Orchin, Enforced Arch Dance Company, International Affair, Sons of Kick, Neil Schwartz, and Karla Garcia.

Kelsey Burns

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Kelsey is a New York City-based dancer and choreographer, and a company member of MOPDC since spring of 2018. Trained in flamenco, musical theatre, modern, jazz, ballet, contemporary, ballroom and salsa, Kelsey was a finalist in American Rhythm ballroom and ranked 9th in the world in salsa On-1. She has performed in venues such as the Hammerstein Ballroom, Central Park Summerstage, Martha Graham Studio Theatre, the Capezio Theater, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Judson Memorial Church, and the Park Avenue Armory, and has worked with Cirque du Soleil, NYC Dance Week, Cecilia Marta Dance Company, and Revolución Latina. Kelsey graduated from NYU’s Gallatin School, and she has held residencies at NYU, Mare Nostrum Elements (NY), Princeton Day School (NJ), Taipei American School (Taiwan), and Esthètes à Klak (France). Follow her at www.burnsworks.squarespace.com and @kelsinmotion.

Melissa Escano

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Melissa Escano, a Colombian native, earned her Bachelors of Social Work and minored in Dance at Lehman College, studying with Anabella Lenzu, Amy Larimer and Michael Manswell. During high school Melissa trained at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Her Colombian/Latin American roots, migration story(ies), and fire for social justice inspire Melissa’s work. Melissa has performed with Anabella Lenzu Dance/Drama and REDi Dance Company of Bevely Lopez. She is currently dancing with Bombazo Dance Company of Milteri Tucker and Herbert H. Dance Company under Brittany Wilson. Melissa is currently obtaining her Masters of Social Work at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College.

Brittany Grier

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Brittany Grier began her formal dance training at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Dance Theater. After attending Lehman College for her B.A. in dance, she was invited as a guest choreographer for their production of In The Heights. Performance credits include Lincoln Center, Danspace Project at St. Marks, Dance Africa at B.A.M., Dance New Amsterdam as well as Dixon Place. A member of Ase Dance Theater Collective under Adia Whitaker, she is also part Movement of the People Dance Company under Joya Powell. She is grateful for the opportunities to be part of community through dance.

Solana Hoffmann-Carter

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Born in Hillsborough, NJ, Solana began dancing at the Mill Ballet School studying ballet intensively. Before graduating from the University of the Arts, as a dance major and religion and philosophy minor, she had the opportunity to restage and set new works with various choreographers, such as Sidra Bell, Douglas Becker, Doug Varone and dancers, Katie Swords-Thurman, Curt Haworth, Brian Sanders, Jeffrey Page, No Face performance group, Chelsea & Magda and Jillian Pena. Solana recently joined Ismael Ivo’s project Biblioteca do Corpo, in 2016, which took place in Switzerland and Austria. In addition to dance she has studied capoeira with Mestre Doutor at ASCAB Capoeira. Currently residing in New York City, Solana is thrilled to be working with the MOPDC family.

Megan Minturn

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Megan Minturn is a dancer, choreographer, and educator. She studied dance internationally in Senegal and Cuba. Her company MJM Dance has performed at Ailey's Citigroup Theatre, Dixon Place, BAAD! and WhiteWave. Megan performed the works of Catherine Gallant, Diane Duggin, Mabingo Alfdaniels, Frederick Curry, Carolyn Webb, Dianne Duggan, Deborah Damast, Jacques Heim, Jenny Brown, and Charles Ahovissi's African Culture Connection. She has taught with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Peridance, Little Red Schoolhouse, and Columbia University's Action Arts Camp. Currently, she teaches dance at the Brooklyn International HS. She holds an MA in Dance Education from NYU and her BA in Philosophy from Fordham University.

Kendra J. Ross

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Kendra J. Ross is a dancer, choreographer, and community organizer from Detroit, MI. Kendra has worked with Urban Bush Women, Andrea E. Woods/ Souloworks, Monstah Black, Oyu Oro, MBDance, RAKIA! and Moving Spirits Dance Company. She also completed a European tour dancing with Adira Amram and DJ Kid Koala in Vinyl Vaudville 2.0 and is currently a member of Ase Dance Theater Collective and Movement of the People Dance Company. Kendra was recently an Artist in Residence at Brooklyn Studios for Dance and a BAX Space Grantee. She is also the Founder/Director of a BedStuy based art platform called STooPS. www.kendrajross.com

Belinda A. Sáenz

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Belinda A. Sáenz, is Adjunct Faculty and Assistant Director of Kaleidoscope Dancers at NYU Steinhardt's Dance Education program. At NYU, Belinda earned a Master of Arts in Dance Education with Institute Honors. At Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts she serves as teaching artist. Belinda is native of the El Paso-Juárez border area where she earned a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Texas at El Paso. Besides the USA, she has worked in Mexico, England, Eastern and Central Europe. Besides MOPDC, she is dancing professionally with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company and has performed at NY's finest venues, including Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, Aaron Davis Hall, United Palace Theatre, and Queens Theatre. Belinda has collaborated with MJM Dance, Dance the YARD, El Paso Opera, etc. She performed choreography by Martie Barylick, Sean Curran, Deborah Damast, Diane Duggan, Kim Elliott, and Alfdaniels Mabingo.

Najla Sims

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Najla Amber Sims is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and community organizer. Raised in Montclair, New Jersey, Najla studied musical theater at a young age. She continued her career in Performance Art while studying Drama and Dance at Spelman College. In Atlanta she set new works and restaged pieces with various artists, such as T.Lang, Meredith Moore, Blake Beckham, Omelika Kuumba, Dianne McIntyre, Marjani Forté, and Aku Kadogo. She is now a company member with UMOJA Dance Company, NJ, REDi Dance Company, NY, and Movement of the People Dance Company, NY. As an artist Najla is influenced by dances of the African Diaspora, social justice issues, and connecting the mind and spirit in movement. She hopes to create space in the dance community for more artists of color.

Emily Tellier

COLLABORATING COMPANY MEMBER

Emily Tellier is originally from North Vancouver, Canada, and now resides in Brooklyn as a freelance dance artist. She has performed in various festivals and shows including the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Ladies of Hip Hop Festival, and the Vancouver International Dance Festival. Emily has recently premiered works in both New York and Vancouver with various companies including Stefanie Nelson Dance Group, 277 Dance Project, Heather Laura Gray, Thryn Saxon, and Joya Powell. She can also be seen in Ingrid Michaelsonʼs newest music video, Celebrate, choreographed by Stacey Tookey. Through her work as Community Action Assistant at Gibney, Emily also works with Step It Up NYC, a youth engagement program that focuses on fusing dance and social justice.

For more information and booking: contact(at)movementofthepeopledance.com