MIA LI

Min-Tzu Li (Mia Li), a native of Taiwan, enjoyed her education at The Boston Conservatory with a full scholarship double majoring in ballet and modern dance. During her time in school, she was fortunate to play the leading solo performance in a Martha Graham production and was hailed as “sprightly an articulate” in The Boston Global. Ms. Li has also been fortunate to perform works by such masters as José Limón and Murray Louis.

Her debut performance with Ballet Hispanico in 2007 blew the audience away and she was featured in the NY Times and described as “moving seamlessly from nightclub apache dancing to a tender ballet duet.” In the article, “Who Will Fill Natalia’s Shoes?,” Ms. Li is featured as one of Ballet Hispanico’s young talents who has the potential to rise to the top of the dance world. Throughout her time with the company, Ms. Li has performed in many parts of the world and played leading roles in many of the company’s productions and has been honored to be featured in Ballet-Dance Magazine in 2009, on the front cover of Dance Magazine in 2010, and then again in a personal interview in 2012.

Outside of the company, Ms. Li has also been very active in various dance arenas, focusing her attention towards teaching and training new talent. Since 2003, she has been appointed guest faculty for the Chinese Folk Art Workshop in Boston, as well as teaching at the Ballet Hispanico School and many other local studios in New York. She has also been invited to instruct at schools throughout the world including, Barbados, Japan, and the famous Cloud Gate Dance School in Taiwan. Her students include a wide variety of levels from beginner, intermediate, advance, to professional dancers. Ms. Li currently is performing at The Metropolitan Opera.

MAJOR NESBEY

A multidisciplinary creative, Major started his career as a dance artist performing in New York City and on global stages. A graduate of Point Park University, he has also had the opportunity of acting and appearing in several web series, commercials, and movies. Along with dancing and acting, Major is currently working as a producer, content creator, host, and correspondent with outlets such as GLAAD, Google, and HBO. He's interviewed prominent leaders in entertainment including Lee Daniels, Amara La Negra, Jessie Woo, Laura Gómez, and Pulitzer Prize winners Jericho Brown and Michael R. Jackson. Mr. Nesby continues to teach and choreograph all over the world.

STEFANIE TAKEI-TAYLOR

A dance professional and creative entrepreneur, born in Pasadena, California where she trained at Pasadena Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, and Austin Ballet. She was a semi-finalist in the Los Angeles Music Center “Spotlight Awards” and went on to received a BFA in dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts as a Trustee Scholar under the direction of Linda Tarnay. She later received a Masters in Tourism Marketing from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus. Stefanie has worked with choreographers Laurence Blake, Cherylyn Lavagnino, Doug Nielsen, Stephen Petronio, T. Lang, Brook Notary, Kyle Abraham, and Johannes Wieland before moving to Barbados. She is a founding member of Diesel Fusion Dance Theatre with Ihaia Miller and currently teaches at all the major dance academies, at Barbados Community College and UWI Cave Hill Campus and performs with many of them as requested. She had the honor to represent BDP at the Coco Dance Festival in Trinidad and at Jamaica Dance Umbrella the past few years dancing works created by Jamal Callender, Nigel Campbell, and Tara-Jane Herbert. She most recently represented herself at JDU in March 2020 performing the solo Strange Fruit (1943) choreographed by Pearl Primus and restaged by Mary Waithe. An experienced social media marketing consultant and director at Barbados Dance Project since April 2017, Takei-Taylor has taken a hands-on approach to the development of professional dance in Barbados sharing her knowledge and passion with the Barbadian dance community.

BAKARI I. LINDSAY

BaKari is a dancer, choreographer, singer, musician, costume designer/ maker and researcher for the past 30 year. Trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre. Bakari holds a craftsman diploma in Style and Design and Masters Degree in Dance Ethnology and Bachelors in Education, from York University, Canada. In completion of his masters thesis BaKari researched and developed "A-Feeree - ThePhysical Language," an innovative training method for dance practitioners working in an Africanist movement aesthetic. He co-founded COBA Collective Of Black Artists in 1993, and danced for the Danny Grossman Dance Company (Canada), Jubilation Dance Co (USA), Toronto Dance Theatre (Canada), Artcho Danse Repertoire (Haiti) BaKari also appeared as an original cast member of Disney's The Lion King from 2000 to 2002. BaKari was nominated for Dora Mavor Award in Best Male Dance Performance in 2017. BaKari has served on the faculty of Ryerson University, York University, HumberCollege, Lester B. Pearson School for the Performing Arts, Along with his many artistic endeavors BaKari teachers full time with the Toronto District School Board and on track to becoming a school principal.

TARA-JANE HERBERT

Trained at Ballet Rambert with the great William Louther. She has performed extensively in the UK and taught and choreographed Nationally and Internationally. Tara headed dance departments including London Contemporary Dance School (The Place), London Studio Centre and Leeds University. Choreographic work includes The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (a cast of 250 young people) and The Unicorn Children’s Theatre. Tara has worked with The David Glass Ensemble Internationally, including Brazil and Indonesia and is the former Artistic Director for Dance United, working with street children in Ethiopia, female prisoners and young people at risk. Her work with BDP has been awarded medals in NIFCA and invited to present work at COCO festival Trinidad 2016 and 2017, Jamaica and the UK. Tara has choreographed at Operation Triple Threat in productions The Wiz, “13”, Into The Woods and Once On this Island. Tara holds a Masters of Arts in Professional Practice In Dance Technique Pedagogy through Middlesex University (UK).

COURTENAY THORNE

Courtenay “Lian” Thorne is in a master’s program at Florida State University due to receive her MFA degree in Dance (Performance and Choreography) in 2021. While attending FSU the School of Dance has given her the opportunity to also teach ballet and contemporary dance forms at the institution. She previously received her bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College in 2012 where she majored in Dance (Performance and Choreography). While she was a student at Skidmore College, she had the opportunity to be tutored by members of The Martha Graham Dance Company, The Limon Dance Company, Battleworks Dance Company, Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company, New York City Ballet and many more. After graduating she taught, choreographed and had involvement with The University of the West Indies (Cavehill, Barbados), Barbados Community College, The Dance Place (Barbados), The National Cultural Foundation (Barbados) and many other schools and artists in Barbados.

In 2015 she was presented with the opportunity to attend Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England, and in 2016 she received her Diploma in Dance Studies. After completing her studies in London she travelled to Japan where she was invited to teach and present her solo work alongside members of the Mikiyo Imai Dance Company and other artists.

Prior to starting her MFA at Florida State University she lived in Trinidad where she performed, taught, choreographed and collaborated. She has worked with The Caribbean School of Dancing, The Metamorphosis Dance Company, The University of Trinidad and Tobago, Elle InfiniTT and other artists and schools. It was at this time that she presented two more of her solo works, once at Jamaica Dance Umbrella and once at the COCO Dance Festival.

Her love of travel and eagerness to keep learning has led her to attend many dance intensives and festivals in North America, Canada, Trinidad, Hungary and Jamaica.

Courtenay searches to further develop and refine herself as an artist as she keeps advancing throughout her career. Her goal is to not only push for growth in herself but to also see growth within those around her and her community. She believes that collaboration and connecting artists and movers from all over the world plays a crucial part in developing oneself and one's community. She’s excited to start her new journey as the Artistic Director Designate of Barbados Dance Project and she is extremely thankful for the guidance, support and training that Jamal has offered her up to this point in her career. She hopes to continue to keep building the legacy that Jamal has started and to see the dance community in Barbados grow and flourish.

Megghan Michael

Megghan Michael is a lover of the arts from the fine age of 3 years old starting dance at her Nursery School. She then joined Dancin’ Africa at the age of 7 years old where she learned all of her formal training in Dance. (Afro Caribbean, Traditional West African Dance, Jazz and Modern). 
She then opened up her creative skills playing the clarinet from 7-17 scoring Grade 1-5 Royal School Of Music practical and theory. 
Megghan also has a love for the stage and she expressed that talent through pageantry with titles Miss Holetown Queen of the Festival 2015, Face of Cave Shepherd 2015 representing Barbados in Antigua, St. Kitts in2016 , Nevis on the big stage, 2nd Runner Up Miss Universe Barbados 2018.

You’ve probably seen her on the national stage at Nifca as a dancer or a choreographer, where she has 3 Silver Awards, most promising choreographer for her piece called ‘The Migrants’ and Scotia Bank award for ‘Taking the Baton’ in 2016.

Megghan now teaches classes each and every Sunday called ‘Vibe 25’ @vybe25 for all levels of Dance. Vibe 25 are Afro Caribbean classes are all levels of dancers to ‘lose their minds and comes to your senses’ through dance.

Renee I. McDonald

Jamaican-born choreographer and dancer, Renee I. McDonald began her dance training at the Tony Wilson School of Modern Dance in Kingston, Jamaica. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Law with first-class honors from the University of the West Indies, Mona. Ms. McDonald was a member of The Company Dance Theatre (CDT) in Kingston, where she also served as rehearsal mistress. As a choreographer, she has created works for many companies including The CDT, The National Dance Theatre Company, L'Acadco, Deh Jah Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre Xaymaca, The Quilt Performing Arts Company, and The Emma Willard School in New York. She has also choreographed award-winning pieces for the American International School of Kingston, Campion College, and the St. Andrew High School for Girls. Ms. McDonald is also engaged with The Desiree Dance Center, University Dance Society, and Campion College Dance Society, training students in modern and jazz technique. Currently, Ms. McDonald is a final year student at the Norman Manley Law School in Kingston, Jamaica.

JULIA HEADELY

Julia Headley was born and raised on the island of Barbados, where she began her dance training at Louise Woodvine Dance Academy. Currently dancing with Ballett National Theater Mannheim and a graduate of the Juilliard School, Julia has had the opportunity to perform works by George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Jose Limon, Darrell Moultrie, Paul Taylor, Robert Glumbek, and Dominique Dumais. Julia is the creator of Sebaga Creations, An accessories line of handmade bags and jewelry.

NIGEL CAMPBELL

Born and raised in the Bronx, New York and is a graduate of LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts (2004), and of The Juilliard School (2008). Upon graduation moved to Saarbruecken, Germany to join the Saarlandisches Staatstheater. In 2010 he joined Luna Negra Dance Theater, under the direction of Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. There Nigel was the proud recipient of the prestigious Princess Grace Award 2011. In 2013 he joined the world renowned GöteborgsOperans DansKompani. He is a 2004 Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Currently, Nigel is the co-artistic director of Gibney Dance Company and the co-founder and co-artistic director of MOVE(NYC).

CHANEL DASILVA

A native of Brooklyn, NY, studied at The Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center Creative Outlet Dance Theater of Brooklyn. Her training includes LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, The Ailey School and Springboard Danse Montreal. She received a BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School. Chanel is a Level 1 YoungArts Awardee, a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and also a 2011 Princess Grace Dance Honorarium Awardee. From 2008-2014 Chanel was a member of Trey McIntyre Project. She has choreographed works for The Juilliard Summer Intensive, Idaho Dance Theater and Harvard Ballet Company among others. Co-founder and co-artistic director of MOVE(NYC), she currently teaches at LaGuardia High School.

VANESSA VALECILLOS

Joined Ballet Nacional de Caracas under the renowned director Vicente Nebrada at age fifteen. Vanessa danced with Luna Negra Dance Theater where she was a founding member. She also danced with Ballet Hispanico under Eduardo Vilaro. Currently, Vanessa teaches at North Western University in Chicago.