SDP 2023 Fall Concert Program
Video Channel Name
Sedona Dance Project
Evening Concert
May 13, 2023
6:30 House opens for seating. Enjoy beautiful music by Christina Knighten.
7:00 Performance begins (To respect dancers, entry will only be permitted between performances)
1st Half
"Out of the Shadows"
Choreographer: Danielle McNeal/Sedona Dance Project
Music/composer: Heart Cry & Skeletons/ Drehz
Performed by: Eohlya Azuris, Nathan Rey Amado, Sabina Malinalli, Keelan Mercer, Eliza Merrall
"Black Widow"
Choreographer: Danielle McNeal/Sedona Dance Project
Music/Compser: Brotsjor/ Olafur Arnalds
Performed by: Jessica Phillips
"Step Boom Bop"
(Step’s Junk Funk, 2006)
Choreographer/Composer: Step Raptis
Performed by: Lisa R. Chow and Step Raptis
"Birthed/Unbirthed"
Choreographer: Danielle McNeal/Sedona Dance Project
Music/Composer: Existence: Life/Hafez Nazeri
Performed by: Sorelle Cunliffe, Keelan Mercer, Jessica Phillips
"Human"
Choreographer / Composer: Damiyr Shuford
Performed by: Damiyr Shuford
*Intermission*(10 Minutes)
2nd Half
"Muse of Light"
Choreographer: Danielle McNeal/Sedona Dance Project
Music/Composer: Life Cycles/Astral Travel Sanctuary Lone Machice/Yotto
Performed by: Keveda Aud, Laura Eller, Anisa Joffe, Sabina Malinalli, Danielle McNeal
*Spoken word written and performed by Sabina Malinalli
Altar created by Sabina Malinalli
"Kitri"
Choreographer: Jessica Phillips/ Sedona Dance Academy
Music/Composer
Performed by: Sofia Wolf
"Let Her In"
Choreographer/Performer: Sorelle Cunliffe
Music/Composer: Big God/Florence + The Machine
"Thread That Binds Souls"
Choreographer: Danielle McNeal/Sedona Dance Project
Music/Composer: Dhalem/Emel, Ya Laure Hobouki/Rosemary Standley
Performed by: Varshana Davis, Theraysa Holiman, Maneesha McClure, Danielle McNeal
Students of Sedona Dance Academy: Anisa Joffe, Sofia Wolf, Evagelia Anastasiadis, Yianna Anastasiadis, Chloe Manley
*Movement inspired by Isadora Duncan
"DOROTEA 39" (2023)
Choreographer/Performer: Ignacio Jara
Music/Composer: A place by Nils Frahm / Path 5 by Grace Davidson & Max Richter
Nobody knows what goes on inside you. Your thoughts, your reflections, your emotions...life puts us in different places and we make our decisions. The eternal impact of impacting us mutually and infinitely until we wake up. Gracias Dorothy. Gracias Frida.
"Dance with Me" (Afro Caribbean Finale)
Choreographer: Danielle McNeal/Sedona Dance Project
Music/Composer: Sila/Kareem Raihani
Performed by: Megan Berry, Cheye Bollmann, Theraysa Holiman, Danielle McNeal
Acknowledgements
So much gratitude to those who have believed in the project.
Board of Directors
Laura Eller (associate director)
Keveda Aud (associate director)
Marianne Langridge (Secretary)
Brandon Strabala (Treasurer)
Keelan Mercer (Board Member)
Sabina Malinalli (Board Member)
Rachel Grant (Advisory Board Member)
Thank you to our Sponsors! Without their support this performance and future performances would not be possible.
Village Yoga
Sun Moon Studio
Langston Family Foundation
Nicole Nez
Desert Dance Theatre (Fiscal Sponsor)
Damiyr Shuford (Heart and Soul)
Teresa Noni Jennings (2 Bleeding Hearts)
Tina Alle (Red Rose Thrift Store)
Stephen Henderson (The Art of Beauty Photography)
Winnie Muench (Sedona Ballet)
Camilla Ross (Sedona Arts Academy)
Cast
Alphabetical Order
Evagelia Anastasiadis
Evagelia finds profound joy in dancing. The freedom and elegance of movement brings her immense satisfaction in her heart mind and spirit. She is a student of Sedona Dance Academy and was selected to be in this performance for Sedona Dance Project.
Yianna Anastasiadis
Yianna is a dancer from the heart. She is a student from Sedona Dance Academy. Dancing through life, the beautiful and the difficult. She is honored to be selected to dance for this performance with Sedona Dance Project and hopefully future performances with "The Project".
Keveda Aud
Associate Director / Sedona Dance Project
A multidisciplinary artist, intrigued in the science and health benefits of crystals. Dance is a new and old art as one of the many creative outlets she partakes in. A traveler, healer, jack of many trades. Her closeness to this piece “Muse of Light” is one of reverence for the divine feminine to emerge in its’ totality. She dances for the whole of humanity to awaken to their true Dharma through this piece.
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Nathan Rey Amado
Nathan Rudd traveled to Sedona from New Zealand, on a quest to find community. This community was found through dance, and Sedona Dance Project allowed the evolution of dance to grow even greater. Dance has allowed Nathan to find greater embodiment, as well as his partner in love, Sabina.
Eohlya Azuris
Eohlya is a Cambodian-Chinese native that has been raised in France and has been living in beautiful Sedona for 16 years.
She loves dancing and is happy to participate in an ensemble of the Sedona Dance Project.
Eohlya is providing CellWell (Holographic Chamber) Therapy and is excited to be guiding people on their health journey.
She is also starting a new clothing and jewelry line, which can be seen at UFO & Health conferences.
In her spare time, she finds joy in meditating, hiking, cooking, reading, traveling, learning about diverse subjects, enjoying meeting new people, & having fun with her friends and family. One of her recent interests is to learn how to ride an electric unicycle.
Megan Berry
Hi, I’m Mēgan and am rather new to dancing! Learning this new form of expression has been such a joy as I love all things creative. Most days you can find me sewing and creating with my hands, cooking, riding my mountain bike and spending cherished time with my family. I grew up in Sedona and feel so lucky to have returned here to raise my daughter in this sweet town.
Cheye Bollmann
Cheye Bollmann is a dance enthusiast who enjoyed tasking classes of all kinds growing up including ballet, modern, jazz, bellydance and ballroom. Since then, movement has become a source of meditation and healing for her and coming full circle, she is now excited to return to performing feeling grounded. She has a background in psychology and is currently completing her masters thesis in anthropology on The Embodiment of Home Birth while assisting a midwife and becoming a doula. In her free time she enjoys dancing, creating and appreciating art, being in nature and spending quality time with friends and family.
Lisa R. Chow
Originally from Greenville, Mississippi, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Arizona State University in 1988. She also obtained dance training from the University of Mississippi, California State University/Long Beach and at various dance studios in New York and California. In 1990, she received ASU’s Outstanding Alumna award for “A Tribute to Ethnic Women in the Arts and Sciences.” She has studied many modern dance techniques such as Graham, Horton, Nikolais, Cunningham, Hawkins, Limón and more.
Chow joined Desert Dance Theatre in 1982, and has toured with the company throughout Arizona, Mexico, Texas, New York, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Oregon and Vermont. She serves as the artistic director, company manager, choreographer, performer and educator. Lisa has choreographed for the company’s repertory and major multi-disciplinary theme-related works as well as for children’s programs in collaboration with String Sounds (String Quartet).
She is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Crossroads Performance Group along with her husband, Step Raptis, performing interdisciplinary music and dance projects throughout Arizona, Mexico and regionally since 1989. She is also a manager, performer and collaborator in Step’s Junk Funk, an interdisciplinary percussion and movement arts group that utilizes found and recycled objects that have tonal qualities for musical orchestration.
She was the First Vice-President on the board of the Arizona Dance Arts Alliance from 2002 through 2005. In June of 2005, Lisa was one of the founders of the Arizona Dance Coalition (ADC), a web-based non-profit organization that supports dancers and provides dance resources throughout Arizona. She has been the President of ADC since July 2007.
Sorelle Cunliffe
Born and raised in Seattle, I started dancing when I was 10 years old and did classical ballet training for 9 years. As well as ballet I did modern dance, and modern ballet. I attended summer schools in NYC for 2 consecutive summers for intensive training. After my ballet training i joined a Seattle Modern Dance based company for a year and slowly got more involved into modern dancing. Now I love to do my own practices of improv dancing and intuitive dancing. Dance will always be apart or my life and I appreciate that I can still perform for others and show my talents. It means so much to me to express myself in this way. Dance has taught me life lessons I won’t forget and still does to this day.
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Varshana Davis
Varshana’s love of dance started at the age of five and has never stopped. Trained in Balltet, Jazz, Modern, and Classical Indian dance, Varshana’s unique blending of all these dance styles brings a sacred sensual flavor to the way she moves. Varshans’s love of movement creates a deep richness in her life that is expressed in all her daily activities.
Laura Eller
Associate Director / Sedona Dance Project
Laura has spent most of her adult life as a supporter of the arts and as a dance mom to two amazingly talented daughters Keelan and Makenna. Joining Sedona Dance Project as an Associate Director has allowed her to fulfill a lifelong dream of performing on the stage while continuing to support the arts from behind the scenes. Laura is the founder of the Upcycled Candle Company, a Sedona based sustainability company dedicated to keeping glass out of landfills and protecting the water of the Verde Valley and Sedona. She is also and accomplished glass and mixed media artist who enjoys spending her free time running on trails or with her family, including her grandson Zona.
Theraysa Holiman
is a passionate and versatile dancer who currently dances with two community dance companies: the Isha Ferraz Dance Company based in Ojai, CA, and the Sedona Dance Project out of Sedona, AZ.
While she has been dancing various styles her entire life, her love for movement and performance led her to specialize in Bollywood, a vibrant and energetic dance style that blends traditional Indian dance with modern pop music. Her performances with the Isha Ferraz Dance Company have gained widespread recognition and admiration, with several videos going viral on social media.
In addition to her experience in Bollywood, Theraysa has expanded her repertoire to include modern and Afro-Caribbean pieces, demonstrating her versatility and willingness to explore new styles. Her passion for dance extends beyond performance, as she enjoys teaching and sharing her knowledge with others. She has taught dance workshops and classes for people of all ages and skill levels, inspiring and empowering them to express themselves through movement
Ignacio Jara
Originally from Chile, Ignacio began his formal studies at the Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano with a major in Modern Dance in 2012. In parallel since 2013, he has specialized independently in the study of various forms of Urban Dance and Performance. He has performed for several modern and contemporary choreographers in Chile, in companies such as INVICTUS (2010), DANZA JAM (2013), VOLAR (2013), POLAR (2016), CÍa Experimental (2021), among others, participating in various national and international festivals. As a professor with extensive experience, Ignacio has been able to teach classes to athletes and dancers in Chile, Mexico and USA. As a choreographer, he has presented pieces in Chile, Perú, Argentina and USA.
Anisa Jaffe
Hi my name’s Anisa, I’m seventeen years old and have been dancing since I was nine. I grew up in California and moved to Sedona last year. I love all forms of dance and plan to continue as a dancer into my adult life.
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Christina Knighten
Christina Knighten is a singer-songwriter, who enjoys the healing effects of music, sharing songs that soothe and uplift.
Her album, "Love Liberates," weaves stories of love, change, and reflections on
life and beyond, taking you on transformative journeys.
Sabina Malinalli
Sabina Malinalli is trained by the Dancing Freedom living lineage. She is a certified embodied dance teacher and a psychopiritual integration.
She is committed to serve the Muse of dance by offering herself as a vessel that invites healing art in motion.
She is also a proud member of the Sedona Dance Project board of directors.
You can find her curating altars or weaving rituals as soulful artistic expressions.
Chloe Manley
I am from Sedona and have lived here pretty much my whole life. I have done dance for the past four years. Things I like to do are dance, violin and art.
Maneesha McClure
Maneesha McClure has been working as a Dance therapist and teacher since 1986. She developed Dance Alchemy, a body based therapy with a life affirmative attitude of celebration and love. It is a unique way of using dance and the alchemy in our own bodies to transform negative emotions, find self-love and acceptance, understand and connect more deeply with one’s true nature, and enter meditation.
Since 1988 she has taught courses, groups and trainings in Dance Alchemy, in India, Europe and the U.S. She is the director of the Osho Institute for Dancing, and lives in Sedona, Arizona, where she offers Dance Alchemy classes, and individual sessions in Trauma healing/Somatic Experiencing, Couples Work, Resolving the Past, and Emotional Transformation.
Danielle McNeal
Artistic Director /Choreographer/ Sedona Dance Project
Has a well-established background in dance, beginning with her training in New York where she was the recipient of scholarships to study at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance and Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theater. While in New York, Danielle had the honor to train under Jazz dance master Luigi. Danielle also received a scholarship to study dance at ASU and received her BA in dance.
Danielle's works have been showcased in New York, Arizona, Las Vegas, and New Mexico. Using various genres of dance, modern, jazz, contemporary, and musical theater, Danielle enjoys creating works that evoke emotion, thought, as well as entertain.
Danielle's vision for Sedona Dance Project is to create a resident dance company in Sedona, using "movers" from the community to create quality concert dance.
Eliza Merrall
(she/they)
Eliza has danced for over ten years, starting ballet when she was three. They moved to Sedona to create a life filled with nature, spirituality, and sobriety. This is their second performance with Sedona Dance Project.
Keelan Mercer
Keelan Mercer is a classically trained dancer with over 20 years of experience in various dance styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, tap, and hip hop. She has worked with choreographers and professional dance companies from around the world. Keelan was a 3 year member of the dance team at Grand Canyon University. Beyond her impressive resume as a dancer, Keelan has also been a varsity pom coach in the Phoenix area, sharing her knowledge and expertise with young dancers and helping them develop their own skills and passion for dance. Keelan is now a mother and local business owner in the Sedona community and runs a design firm called Vortex Visions which specializes in merchandise and design! With her diverse background and dedication to her craft, Keelan continues to be an inspiration and leader in the dance community as an active board member of Sedona Dance Project.
Jessica Phillips
At the tender age of 18, Jessica embarked on her first career as a professional ballet dancer with Ballet Arizona - despite all odds. For 10 accomplished and challenging years, she graced the stage as a corps de ballet, soloist, and ultimately principal dancer, performing in over 500 shows.
After hanging up her tutu, Jessica decided to impart her passion for dance as an instructor and established Sun & Moon Studio of Sedona and Sedona Dance Academy in 2020.
Jessica's mission is to promote healthy movement by offering dance instruction to people of all ages and skill levels. But it's not just about dance for her - she wants to build a tight-knit community centered around movement and connection. And as a heart-centered businesswoman and dance teacher, she's found her second career to be beyond fulfilling. She's incredibly grateful to be in her current position, sharing her love of dance and spreading joy everywhere she goes.
Step Raptis
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography & Performance from Mary Grove College/University of Detroit in 1976. He also trained and/or performed in Canada and New York with National Ballet of Canada, Le Groupe de la Place Royale, Toronto Dance Theatre, Danny Grossman, Louis Falco, Jennifer Muller and Christopher Hyde. Step worked on the dance faculty at Concordia College in Montreal, Quebec. While in New York, Step worked as a musician at NYU Tisch School of Dance.
Step has been a music accompanist for many dance companies from all over the U.S. and Canada (Detroit, Ottawa, Toronto, New York) since 1975. After moving to Arizona in 1986, Raptis became an accompanist for dance classes in 1987 at South Mountain High School Arts Magnet Program, Ballet Arizona and Dance Theater West. He was a co-founder of Adzido-West African Folkloric Drum and Dance Company (founded in 1987) under the direction of master drummer, Uncle C. K. Ganyo from Ghana, West Africa. And he has performed with many musical groups including: Down Boy, Chant, Zingaro, Caribbean Cruisers, Mixit World Beat, and most notably, Dr. Bombay (Contemporary Jazz), opening for Al Jarreau, Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Rippington’s, Spyro Gyro, Grover Washington Jr. and more. He currently performs with several music ensembles including: Meadowlark (World Music), Mango Chutney (India Western Fusion), Caravan (Flamenco Fusion), and as a duo ensemble with Miguel Rodriguez (Classical and Flamenco Guitarist) and Michael Cho “Miguel de Maria” (Classical and Flamenco Guitarist).
Step is the founder and director of Step’s Junk Funk, a movement and percussion performance group that utilizes nontraditional, recycled and found objects to create percussive and tonal orchestrations. As artistic director and music director for Desert Dance Theatre, Step has composed several music compositions as well as contributing as a choreographer. He is the co-founder and co-director of Crossroads Performance Group, an interdisciplinary music and dance collaboration with Lisa R. Chow that explores the integration and creation of music and dance works that is unique and thought provoking.
Damiyr Shuford
With dance as his first passion, Damiyr spent his days as a preteen dancing in front of a mirror with the attempt of creating moves he’s never seen before. He enjoyed going to local dance battles and trying out some of his new moves. Once he discovered music and theater, Damiyr studied ballet, tap and jazz at Broadway Dance Center in order to have a successful career in musical theater. “Dancing has always been my way of expressing joy. Now I simply dance for Fun”.
Sofia Wolf
My name is Sofia Wolf, I am 14 years old and have been dancing since I could walk. I have lived in Sedona for my entire life and have recently found my passion to want to become a professional dancer. I love doing dance with all my heart and hope to make the most out of it!
