2 performances presented by The Next Stage Project (TNSP)
Finding Light
Works by:
Marijke Eliasberg
Miho Ryu
& special guests
Mignon Van Beusekom
sarAika movement collective (4/4 performance)
March 28, 2025
April 4, 2025
New York City
The Next Stage Project dancers:
Hannah Albin, Maximilian Bieber, China Braekman, Meralyn Brummel, Emma Conrad,
Julian Garita, Delia Wada-Gill, Sarah Golzari, Hyun Ji Jeon, Falls Kennedy, Hwajin Kim,
Margaret Knowles, Tomomi Kuroda, Sara LaPadula, Aaron Mancus, Ileann Moncivais,
Millie Muljat, Chauncey Pauley, Sophia Pielet, Sara Pizzi, Abby Register, Rosa Silva,
Will Valles, Caroline Vanstrom, Tristan Walsh, Janina Amber Young
& Special Guest Artist Miguel Zapico
www.thenextstageproject.com
Miho Ryu dancers:
Kim Hancock, Adelita Hinojosa-Martin, Sara LaPadula, Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Ririko Ono,
Sophia Pielet, Sara Pizzi, Aika Takeshima, Stine Walde, Miho Ryu
www.ryumiho.com
Photography & Videography: @beccavision
This performance would not be possible without the support of:
Miguel Zapico, Sam Yee, Dusan Perovic, Jana Hicks, Peridance Center & New York Live Arts
✨ THE NEXT STAGE PROJECT is a fiscally sponsored member of New York Live Arts, Inc., a non-profit tax-exempt organization. If you want to make a tax deductible financial donation go to our website https://www.thenextstageproject.com or: https://newyorklivearts.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n3q00000WXTjsAAH ✨
Finding Light Show Order:
Pre-show:
Concept & Direction: Marijke Eliasberg in collaboration with the dancers & Miguel Zapico
Dancers: Hannah Albin, Emma Conrad, Delia Wada-Gill, Falls Kennedy, Sara LaPadula, Aaron Mancus, Chauncey Pauley, Caroline Vanstrom, Tristan Walsh, Janina Amber Young, Miguel Zapico
Technical Director & Creative Art: Miguel Zapico
Opening:
Marijke Eliasberg & Miho Ryu
Lights, a dragon and a sad princess
Concept, Choreography & Direction: Marijke Eliasberg in collaboration with the dancers
Choreographic advise, expertise & moral support: Jana Hicks
Spoken Word: Miguel Zapico
Poem: SONATINA From Poesías profanas (1896) by Rubén Darío
Dancers: Emma Conrad, Delia Wada-Gill, Falls Kennedy, Aaron Mancus, Chauncey Pauley, Caroline Vanstrom, Tristan Walsh, Janina Amber Young, Miguel Zapico
When is enough?
Company: SarAika movement collective
Choreography & dance: Sara Pizzi, Aika Takeshima
Music: When - Manoid
Yin Yang
Choreography: Marijke Eliasberg
Choreographic advise, expertise & moral support: Jana Hicks
Rehearsal Assistants: Sara Pizzi, Rosa Silva
Music: Queen, Phaeleh, David Darling
Dancers: Maximilian Bieber, China Braekman, Meralyn Brummel, Julian Garita, Sarah Golzari, Hyun Ji Jeon, Margaret Knowles, Tomomi Kuroda, Ileann Moncivais, Millie Muljat
SAFE
Concept, choreography & Direction: Marijke Eliasberg in collaboration with the dancers
Choreographic advise, expertise & moral support: Jana Hicks
Music: Cliff Martinez, Liquid EQ, Max Richter, Mel Wesson, Marcel Dettmann, Shantel, Tori Amos
Dancers: Hannah Albin (3/28), Delia Wada-Gill, Hwajin Kim, Sara LaPadula, Chauncey Pauley, Sophia Pielet, Sara Pizzi, Abby Register, Rosa Silva (4/4), Tristan Walsh
The Light Dragon
Art creation: Miguel Zapico
Improvisation dancers: Falls Kennedy, Tristan Walsh, Janina Amber Young
Unfinished Emotions
Choreography: Mignon van Beusekom
Music: Lorin Maazel · Sergei Prokofiev / Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 / The Cleveland Orchestra
Dancers: Abby Register (3/28), Rosa Silva (4/4), Will Valles
Lighthouse
Choreography and Improvisational Direction: Miho Ryu
Music: “Light Song - Ethiopia Sketch #2, 2013” by Masakatsu Takagi, ” Greensleeves” and
“セイキロスの墓碑銘“ by Nao Iizuka, “ストーンアウト” and “Ashibi” by TETSU Saito, and
“霹靂” by Kodo
Costume support: The Next Stage Project
Physical Artists: Aika Takeshima, Kim Hancock, Adelita Hinojosa-Martin, Sara LaPadula,
Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Ririko Ono, Sophia Pielet, Sara Pizzi, Stine Walde and Miho Ryu
* I would like to express my gratitude to Jana Hicks, Marijke Eliasberg and Peridance
Center for making this performance possible and their continued support of my artistic journey.
_________
✨ The Next Stage Project:
Founded in 2002 by Artistic Directors MARIJKE ELIASBERG and JANA HICKS, The Next Stage Project (TNSP) is a global dance company creating performance opportunities and experiences to help dancers further their careers and realize their dreams. By forming partnerships between selected artists from around the globe, creating and seeking national and international venues to perform our works, TNSP aims to push artists to their next level and to challenge and encourage creative artistic growth through dance, choreography, performance, education and exchange programs.
Company dancers are selected for their commitment, passion, talent and genuine interest in collaborating with the Artistic Directors.The Next Stage Project is known for it’s organic movement style and exposing the space beyond one's kin-sphere in a satisfying combination of full body movement and small obscure interactions, portrayed by talented, strong and expressive dancers. Creating and working fast and furious, the work thrives on passion for dance - always in the moment and letting inspiration lead the way.
THE NEXT STAGE PROJECT is a fiscally sponsored member of New York Live Arts, Inc., a non-profit tax-exempt organization. If you want to make a tax deductible financial donation go to our website https://www.thenextstageproject.com
or: https://newyorklivearts.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n3q00000WXTjsAAH
✨The Next Stage Project Directors:
Marijke Eliasberg, native of the Netherlands, Founder and Co-Artistic Director of The Next Stage Project (TNSP), has been dancing, teaching and choreographing for the past 24 years in New York City. In 2001 Marijke founded the global dance collective: The Next Stage Project (TNSP), which she co-directs with Jana Hicks. With TNSP, she travels around the world, teaching, creating, mentoring and making exchange and performance projects possible. In NYC, Marijke currently teaches modern contemporary classes at Peridance Center and has taught at Gibney, Ballet Arts, Now Yoga, Steps on Broadway, Dance Space, Dance New Amsterdam, Dancewave, Broadway Dance Center, FSU in NYC Master Program, and Improvisation & Composition classes at the Joffrey Ballet School. She has taught and created works in the USA, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Italy, France, Japan, and India. As a performer, she has worked with numerous companies and choreographers including Jana Hicks, Pauline Levick, Nita Liem/Don’t Hit Mama, Guido Tuveri, SunHwa Chung, Jenni Hong, Max Stone, and Kevin Wynn among others. Marijke holds a BFA in physical education with a specialization in dance. She continued her modern dance studies at the Rotterdam Dance Academy (Codarts) in The Netherlands and Dance Space Inc in NYC. Her continuing education, which includes studying extensively with 90 year old Chinese Grandmaster William C. C. Chen in NYC refining his short form, long form, sword form and push-hands. https://www.thenextstageproject.com
Jana Hicks, a native of Texas, holds a BFA in dance from SMU and performed with a variety of companies and choreographers in Texas and New York throughout her career. She is currently Co-Artistic Director of The Next Stage Project and has taught and choreographed for over 35 years in the US and abroad. Jana currently teaches contemporary dance at Peridance Capezio Center, and teaches yoga at Now Yoga, Peridance Capezio Center, and is a mentor and teacher for Y4C (Yoga for Cancer). Jana holds multiple yoga certifications, including through Om Yoga (Cyndi Lee), Now Yoga at The Shala (Edward Jones, Frank Mauro, and Joe Miller), and y4c (Tari Prinster). https://www.janahicks.com
✨ Miho Ryu - Choreographer
Miho Ryu is a New York based Dancer, Choreographer, and Teaching Artist, originally from Tokyo, Japan. She holds BA in Drama from Waseda University and received Best Dance Choreography Award from Oniros Film Awards® in 2018. After 20 years of professional experience based on Japan, she moved back to New York in 2024, the land where she studied dance from 1999-2004. She has choreographed and performed more than 100 works including of live performances, films, music videos, and interactive installations, across the continents: Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and the US. In the New York area, her work has been presented at Chez Bushwick, Danspace Project at Marks Church, Movement Research/AOCC, Brooklyn Art Exchange, Chain Theatre, Red Pavilion, Dixon Place and etc. She is currently teaching contemporary classes at Peridance Center and Steps on Broadway. For more information: https://www.ryumiho.com
✨ Meet our special guest artists:
Mignon van Beusekom, a native of the Netherlands, has been dancing and teaching for more than 25 years, and traveling back and forth between New York and The Hague to feed her dance passion. She currently teaches and leads the dance and movement program at The American School in The Hague, where she has choreographed for numerous musicals and shows.
sarAika movement collective Founded by immigrants and queer women Aika Takeshima (Japan) and Sara Pizzi (Italy), sarAika movement collective is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the dance ecosystem. The collective is known for creating multidisciplinary collaborative performances that highlight topical issues and personal insights. Founded in 2021, sarAika movement collective had a significant impact in 2022 with over 50 performances, including our debut evening-length show, "Stella, Come Home," commissioned by Et Alia Theater, and a performance at The Museum of NYC.In 2023, sarAika was honored with a Spoke The Hub award, which gave them the opportunity to create our first solo production, received a RedTail residency at JCAL, and toured Japan. Recently, they were commissioned by IATI Theater to create an evening-length show and were selected as resident artists for 2025 by University Settlement.
✨ Meet the performance artists:
Special Guest Artist - Sara Pizzi is an Italian dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher in New York City. She graduated from Steps on Broadway and Periance Certificate programs in 2020. Sara performs with several esteemed dance companies, including The Next Stage Project, Kaleid, Six Degrees, FLDP and more. She is also the co-founder of the sarAika Movement Collective. Sara has graced notable stages such as Lincoln Center, City Center, Mark Morris, and NYLA, and has been featured on the Times Square billboard. Her work was first commissioned in 2021, culminating in her debut evening-length performance, a European-Japan tour in 2023, and she received her first choreographic residency in 2024. As a dedicated educator, Sara teaches at Dalton School and for the "Hands are for Holding" program by Gibney. Additionally, she works as an associate photographer and videographer for BECCAVISION.
Special Guest Artist - Aika Takeshima (she/her), originally from Japan, is a dance artist, DEI practitioner, yoga teacher, and a co-founder of the sarAika movement collective with Sara Pizzi. She specializes in contemporary dance, with substantial floor work and dynamic and fluid movements made possible by effectively using joints and utilizing different skills from various dance styles. Her ultimate goal is to help people find more freedom and possibilities in themselves through her arts and DEI knowledge. Her work, within sarAika has been presented at: Lincoln Center, Judson Church, New York City Center and more in New York, along with Sweden, Italy and Japan. In addition to her work with sarAika, Aika is currently a company dancer for Danse Theatre Surreality, and a guest dancer for Accented Projects and Miho Ryu.
Special Guest Artist - Miguel Zapico Gallego was born and raised in Spain. He came to New York for the best of reasons, Michelle, 20 years ago. He works 9 to 5 in the corporate world, and plays at unscheduled hours in the real world. He strums several strings instruments, which is at odds with his passion for NY handball. These days you can find him entertaining crowds every month with the Gladiators NYC, or joining the Xavier players every Sunday evening. He loves performing with The Next Stage Project, every time finding new ways of expression.
Hannah Albin (She/They) is a dance artist based in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a B.F.A. in Dance Choreography and Performance from the University of California, Irvine where she trained under Lar Lubovitch. During her undergraduate degree, she performed solo roles as a trainee with the José Limón Dance Foundation under Dante Puleio and Kathryn Alter and collaborated in projects with Lindsey Matteis and Joshua Manculich. In 2022, Hannah joined the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company in Albany, NY until moving to Brooklyn, NY in 2024 where she now performs with Trainor Dance, Megan Flynn Dance Company, Jamie Drye and Francesca Marinaro Dance Company, and The Next Stage Project, as well as choreographers Wilma Casal and Matty Mahoski. To create new work, Hannah is inspired by the intersection of dance, philosophy, and the human condition.
Maximilian Bieber is a 23 year old dancer and actor from Germany who has a background in Standard and Latin ballroom, but took the step to expand his horizons by doing the Independent Program at Peridance and is now taking classes in Contemporary, Hip-Hop, House and Ballet. Maximilian attended the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts from the fall of 2021 until the spring of 2023 and is currently attending Peridance since September 1st, 2024.
China Braekman is from Paris, France, where she grew up dancing ballet. After moving to New York in 2014, she started learning contemporary and club dances. She is currently performing with Umami Playground, a house / contemporary company in NYC. China has had the chance to share and grow with beautiful dancers throughout her time in New York, in and outside of the studio.
Meralyn Brummel grew up in the Netherlands. She is now doing the independent study program at Peridance center for a year, here in New York City. She also trained a lot in London. She is all-round trained and graduated in 2023. in the Netherlands at the Rijnijssel show all-round dancer education. She has been trained by many people including: Andrés Pérez López, Tommie Janssens and Malou Linders. She has a big love for dance. Love it to work hard and do not avoid any challenge. The motivation is certainly there and giving up does not exist in her dictionary.
Emma Conrad is a movement artist based in New York where she has performed with the Lydia Johnson Dance Company in New York City and in Connecticut, and with Julia Ramirez in the Westfest Dance Festival, the Sparks Theatre Festival, and in New Jersey. As a graduate of the University of Washington, Emma holds a dual degree with a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Psychology. In 2021, she received the Evelyn H. Green Endowed Scholarship for artistic promise from the Department of Dance. While at the UW Emma performed in choreography by Alana Isiguen, Rachael Lincoln, Gary Champi, and Alia Swersky, and with the Chamber Dance Company in City of Rain by Camille A. Brown under the direction of Hannah Wiley.
Julian Garita is a multidisciplinary artist born in San José, Costa Rica in 1993. Julián is a Bachelor in Photography specializing in portraiture and fashion. He started training dance as an adult around the age of 25. Before, he was a daily yoga practitioner and a professional singer. Now living in New York City he is in a constant expansion of his practice and always deepening his passion for artistic expression and styles. He is in a profesional journey of understanding the body through the voice, dance, strength training, yoga and pilates as an approach to personal holistic health, creativity, expression and performance.
Delia Wada-Gill, originally from MA, began her training at the Boston Ballet School. As a student in the pre-professional program, she studied ballet, modern, and character, and performed works by Mikko Nissinen, Balanchine, Bournonville, Nureyev, Petipa, among others. She continued her training at José Mateo Ballet Theatre as a member of YouthWorks, performing original works by José Mateo in numerous showcases, including the Dance for World Community Festival. At Boston University, Delia gained exposure to contemporary dance through Dance Theater Group. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (IS and OB), she moved to NYC to pursue a career as a financial risk consultant, while continuing to explore her passion for dance. Delia is incredibly grateful to Marijke for the opportunity to perform with TNSP alongside so many inspiring dancers.
Sarah Golzari is from Charleston, South Carolina where she began training classical ballet at Dance Conservatory of Charleston. She earned her degree in French Language with a minor in Dance from Winthrop University in 2020. She then spent a year teaching English in France, where she also trained with Ballet Prejocaj in contemporary and ballet styles. Sarah moved to New York in 2021 and enjoys taking classes at Peridance, Steps on Broadway, and Ballet Arts Center. Outside of her dance career, Sarah is a guitarist and vocalist for the indie rock band Onfilm.
Kim Hancock (they/them) is a nonbinary/transmasculine dance artist based in NYC. They began training in dance in 2022, and since moving to New York in 2023, it has become their main form of artistic expression. Kim has danced for various small companies in New York and hopes to continue working with different dance artists as well as perform more of their own work. Kim also works in cyber security, but their hope is to transition into a career that is more oriented in health and wellness.
Hyun Ji Jeon was born and raised in South Korea. She is a dancer and choreographer who draws inspiration from her cultural background. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Chung-Ang University. Driven by a desire to expand her artistic horizons, she pursued an MA in Dance at Temple University as well as a two year certificate program at Peridance. In the past two years, she has worked with Yuka Kawazu, Vivake Khamsingsavath, Thea Bautista, Ali Makaela Pfleger, and Quilan Cue Arnold. Currently, she works as a freelance dancer, collaborating with Breaking Borders and The Next Stage Project (TNSP).
Rebecca Lloyd-Jones is a dancer, choreographer, and video artist based in NY. She has worked with artists and companies such as Marianela Boan, Leah Stein Dance Company, Yelena Gluzman’s Science Project, Kilowatt Dance Theater, VOID Theater Company, Merian Soto, Abigail Levine, PISO Proyecto and others, and has performed in various cities in US, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Greece, Puerto Rico, and Bolivia. Her choreography has been shown at International theater festival in Santa Cruz Bolivia, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, La Mama Experimental Theater, Dixon Place, Movement Research at Judson Church, Wild Project, Here Arts Center, Performance Mix Festival, BAAD!, Green Space, Triskelion Arts, Dance New Amsterdam and others. She received her BFA in dance from Temple University. For more info, www.rebeccalloydjones.com
Falls Kennedy is one lucky, long-legged lady who grew up in Savannah, GA, attended Barnard College, and now lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is grateful to Marijke and the cast for welcoming her into her first piece with The Next Stage Project! Falls loves creating dances of her own and performing the work of others. For more information, please visit fallskennedy.com.
Hwajin Kim is from South Korea and moved to New York in 2015. She worked with ZIT dance company, Lee.K dance company, Jo Seong-eun, Megumi Horiochi, and TNSP (The Next Stage Project). Recently, she is interested in the connection between her body and mind and is still loving dancing.
Margaret Knowles was born in Nashville, TN and came to New York to go to college at New York University, where she studied Contemporary Art and Critical Theory. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old and is grateful every day for the joy that dance brings her. She began taking class with Jana Hicks and Marijke Eliasberg at a recommendation from one of her dance teachers, and she immediately fell in love with their styles. She is thrilled and honored to be performing with The Next Stage Project.
Tomomi Kuroda from Japan, is a first year Peridance Center Certificate Program student in the Ballet/Contemporary track. She began training in classical ballet at Hiroko Ugajin Ballet Studio at the age of seven, and jazz dance at eighteen. After graduating from high school, Tomomi enrolled in the Performing Arts Academy in Ikebukuro, where she studied various dance genres, as well as singing, acting, and Kyogen (a traditional Japanese performing art). In 2019, she spent a year performing in numerous shows and parades at Universal Studios in Osaka. After returning to Tokyo, she began training in contemporary dance and was hired for the contemporary dance company “TokyoBuza” in 2022. Since then, she has performed in company productions, NHK stage performances, and commercials (LOEWE etc…) In April 2024, Tomomi received a scholarship for the Peridance Center Certificate Program and embarked on her first experience living and dancing abroad. In November she presented her first solo piece in New York at “Full Moon”, an event hosted by Vive.
Sara LaPadula is a dance artist and educator from Westchester, New York. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Minor in Education. During her time there, she performed works by renowned choreographers, including Camille A. Brown, Uri Sands, and a soloist role in José Limón’s A Choreographic Offering. After college, Sara joined the Limón Dance Company as a trainee and was invited to be a member of their second company the following year. Through this experience, she performed works by José Limón, Ashley Lindsey, and Devin Richey, as well as with the Limón Dance Company at City College in May 2023. Currently, Sara is a full-time dance educator, teaching students ages 3–18 across New York City and Westchester County. This past year, she studied under Marijke Eliasberg and Miho Ryu at Peridance Center, an experience that led to the honor of performing new work by Miho Ryu and becoming a member of The Next Stage Dance Project, directed by Marijke Eliasberg and Jana Hicks. In addition to her work as a professional dancer, Sara became a Certified Personal Trainer in 2018. She enjoys integrating her dance background into her work with fitness clients and incorporating strength training principles into her dance instruction. Sara is honored to collaborate with such inspiring artists and is grateful for the opportunity to learn from Marijke and Miho.
Aaron Mancus is a dancer from Scranton, PA. He holds a B.A. in International Affairs and Dance from the George Washington University and has trained in both classical ballet and contemporary dance for over 14 years. He is a former member of the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, has performed at notable venues such as The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, and has had his choreography showcased in the Brazilian National Dance Festival. Aaron now lives in Brooklyn, where he enjoys playing the piano, exploring local art galleries, attending live performances, and practicing yoga and meditation.
Adelita Hinojosa-Martin: Adelita is thrilled to perform with Miho. Adelita is co-founder of Larga Vista Dance, merging performing arts with women's healthcare education and experience. A Denton, Texas native, she embraces her Mexican American heritage and balances her roles as a mother, wife, nurse, and dancer. She has been dancing since age five and has trained with top instructors in New York City since 2005. As a freelance dancer, Adelita has performed with Cirque du Soleil, Sekou McMiller Dance, Organic Magnetics, nathan trice rituals, The Next Stage Project, and many others. Her choreography has been featured in NYC, Penang, and Dallas/Fort Worth. She's performed and collaborated with Tony Award-winning choreographer Maija Garcia, Emmy-nominee Brian Thomas, and Grammy artist Meshell Ndegeocello. A passionate educator, Adelita has taught at institutions like Joffrey Contemporary Summer Intensive, Peridance, and Steps on Broadway. Holding a B.S. in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University, she’s a registered nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with an Oncology Nurse Certification. Her unique blend of nursing and dance deepens her appreciation for the performing arts.
Ileann Moncivais is a Mexican-American actor/dancer with a musical theater background, she's so happy and grateful to be performing tonight with The Next Stage Project. ✨🤍🌈🍄
Millie Muljat is an Argentinian dancer and choreographer based in New York. She began her training in Ballet before expanding into Hip Hop and street styles upon moving to the city in 2021. She is currently training at Peridance’s Independent Study Program, where she develops her versatility in both technical and urban styles. As a teacher, she has taught at the renowned Brickhouse studio, where she has also trained for years. Millie is the founder of The Red Line Co, a dance collective dedicated to artists who refuse to be confined by labels—blending technical and urban styles in a space that thrives on creativity, freedom, and community.
Ririko Ono was born and raised in Japan. She has been performing as a musical actor since she was a child. Now she is studying singing and acting at NYU as an international exchange student. She has studied jazz and theater jazz basically, but also has enthusiastically learned other style including contemporary, tap, or hip hop. She’s so grateful and thrilled to be a part of these great dancers.
Chauncey Pauley graduated from Elon University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance & Choreography. Since living in New York she has worked & performed with Salvatore LaRussa Dance Theatre, Ariel Rivka Dance, ToUch Events (Elizabeth McGuire), Alison Cook Beatty Dance & in the Lincoln Center Summer Festival’s production of Paradise Interrupted. She is currently dancing for, The Next Stage Project (Jana Hicks & Marijke Eliasberg), Danse En L'air (Yuka Kawazu) as well as with Disagreeable Creatures (Danita Shaheen).
Sophia Pielet is a queer dance artist and collaborator from El Paso, Texas where she grew up studying classical ballet and modern. She followed her love for movement to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she graduated in May 2023 with her BFA in Contemporary Dance and a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. Upon graduating, Sophia received the Kenan Fellowship at Lincoln Center Education where she is currently an Education Coordinator and assistant to the manager of Teaching Artists. During her time as a Kenan Fellow, Sophia collaborated with her artistic and life partner, Aly Candland, on a duet that was performed twice in 2024. Sophia found Marijke’s class in 2016 and knew immediately it would not be the last time she would share the space with her. When she moved to NYC in July of 2023, she began apprenticing, and then shortly after dancing with all of the amazing dancers of the Next Stage Project. Sophia is extremely grateful and humbled to be a part of a long legacy of exceptional dancers who love to collaborate and have the biggest hearts with TNSP. Special thanks to Marijke for believing in me, and all the dancers for being my chosen family.
Abby Register is a Marietta, GA native. In Georgia, she performed roles such as Aurora, Mercedes, and Sugar Plum Fairy, and pieces by Tom Pazik, Kassandra Taylor Newberry, and Balanchine as a company member with the Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theater. Abby received her BFA from the University of NC School of the Arts and continued her career with the Oklahoma City Ballet under Robert Mills and Penny Askew. Since moving to NY, she has performed with numerous companies such as Ajkun Ballet, Athena Music Foundation, Hope Community NYC, and The Next Stage Project. She is a proud member of the AEA and hopes to be on Broadway soon. When not performing, Abby streams video games on Twitch, creates gaming content on YouTube, snuggles her pups, and bakes!
Rosa Silva originally from La Paz - Bolivia, moved to NYC 11 years ago to study at Steps On Broadway. Since then she has danced for Max Stone, Julia Ehrstrand, Eveline Kleinjans, Jessica Lewis, Richard Pierlon, Plu Sayampol, Katherine McClintic, and became a member of The Next Stage Project family, which she has performed with multiple times over the past few years.
Will Valles is from Rhode Island where he studied at Rosemary’s School of Dance, Festival Ballet Providence, Trinity Repertory Company, the Jacqueline M Walsh School for the Performing & Visual Arts (diploma in dance, NHSDA member), & Heritage Ballet. Valles is an Anthony Quinn Foundation scholarship recipient, & studied drama at the North Carolina school of the arts. He has danced with Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre, Ballet Nepantla, Mary Seidman & Dancers, Alessandra Corona Performing Works, Westchester Ballet Company, Safe Haven Ballet, & The Next Stage Project! He was a featured dancer in promotional videos for Esperanza Spalding’s 12 Little Spells, is on faculty in the school at the Mark Morris Dance Center, and has performed some of Lynn Schwab’s tap repertory through the American Tap Dance Foundation.
Caroline Vanstrom is originally from Roswell, GA where she grew up dancing with the studio Roswell City Dance competing both regionally and nationally from age 5-18, including professional performances at the Capezio ACE Awards in NY, the Joyce Theater in NY and 7 Stages in Atlanta all with choreographer Cherrise Wakeham. While attending USC, she continued directing, choreographing and dancing with the USC contemporary company Xpressions and following college she taught contemporary dance and improv at DancelineLA and at Atlanta based workshops hosted by Cherrise Wakeham. After moving to NY in late 2021, she was thrilled to find Marijke's class and is excited to be dancing with this incredible group of people.
Stine Walde is from Hamburg, Germany and came to New York in 2024. In 2023 she graduated college with a degree in dance pedagogy and has since worked with children and adults at dance studios and in afterschool programs.
Tristan Walsh (He/Him) is a New York-based dance performer and choreographer originally from North Carolina. He began his dance education at 16 and later pursued a career in dance, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2023. Upon moving to New York, Tristan joined the Sonia Plumb Dance Company for their summer performance series in the north east. Now, he is currently in his second season with the Next Stage Project. Tristan has performed works by renowned choreographers such as Gerri Houlihan, Janet Lily, B.J. Sullivan, George Staib, Marijke Eliasberg, Sonia Plumb, and Helen Simoneau. He has also honed his craft in site-specific performance, touring the Amalfi Coast in Italy and participating in the Staib Dances Summer Dance Intensive in Sorrento. His latest project, *Intermittent Presence*, was commissioned by the GreenHill Art Gallery in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Janina Amber Young is a Brooklyn-based freelance dancer, choreographer, and interdisciplinary artist from Frankfurt, Germany. Initially trained in classical ballet, she expanded her expertise to modern and contemporary dance techniques. After earning a BSc in Business Sciences from Goethe University and working in portfolio management, she relocated to Brooklyn in 2022 and founded AFFEKT Dance Company in 2023. As Artistic Director of AFFEKT, Janina emphasizes community engagement and artistic vulnerability through free professional-level contemporary classes, ChoreoLAB sessions, and inclusive workshops across New York City. Her work intersects costume, fashion, and performance art, exploring how attire influences identity and narrative, enriching storytelling through stage, video, and photography projects.
Finding Light
Works by:
Marijke Eliasberg
Miho Ryu
& special guests
Mignon Van Beusekom
sarAika movement collective (4/4 performance)
March 28, 2025
April 4, 2025
New York City
The Next Stage Project dancers:
Hannah Albin, Maximilian Bieber, China Braekman, Meralyn Brummel, Emma Conrad,
Julian Garita, Delia Wada-Gill, Sarah Golzari, Hyun Ji Jeon, Falls Kennedy, Hwajin Kim,
Margaret Knowles, Tomomi Kuroda, Sara LaPadula, Aaron Mancus, Ileann Moncivais,
Millie Muljat, Chauncey Pauley, Sophia Pielet, Sara Pizzi, Abby Register, Rosa Silva,
Will Valles, Caroline Vanstrom, Tristan Walsh, Janina Amber Young
& Special Guest Artist Miguel Zapico
www.thenextstageproject.com
Miho Ryu dancers:
Kim Hancock, Adelita Hinojosa-Martin, Sara LaPadula, Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Ririko Ono,
Sophia Pielet, Sara Pizzi, Aika Takeshima, Stine Walde, Miho Ryu
www.ryumiho.com
Photography & Videography: @beccavision
This performance would not be possible without the support of:
Miguel Zapico, Sam Yee, Dusan Perovic, Jana Hicks, Peridance Center & New York Live Arts
✨ THE NEXT STAGE PROJECT is a fiscally sponsored member of New York Live Arts, Inc., a non-profit tax-exempt organization. If you want to make a tax deductible financial donation go to our website https://www.thenextstageproject.com or: https://newyorklivearts.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n3q00000WXTjsAAH ✨
Finding Light Show Order:
Pre-show:
Concept & Direction: Marijke Eliasberg in collaboration with the dancers & Miguel Zapico
Dancers: Hannah Albin, Emma Conrad, Delia Wada-Gill, Falls Kennedy, Sara LaPadula, Aaron Mancus, Chauncey Pauley, Caroline Vanstrom, Tristan Walsh, Janina Amber Young, Miguel Zapico
Technical Director & Creative Art: Miguel Zapico
Opening:
Marijke Eliasberg & Miho Ryu
Lights, a dragon and a sad princess
Concept, Choreography & Direction: Marijke Eliasberg in collaboration with the dancers
Choreographic advise, expertise & moral support: Jana Hicks
Spoken Word: Miguel Zapico
Poem: SONATINA From Poesías profanas (1896) by Rubén Darío
Dancers: Emma Conrad, Delia Wada-Gill, Falls Kennedy, Aaron Mancus, Chauncey Pauley, Caroline Vanstrom, Tristan Walsh, Janina Amber Young, Miguel Zapico
When is enough?
Company: SarAika movement collective
Choreography & dance: Sara Pizzi, Aika Takeshima
Music: When - Manoid
Yin Yang
Choreography: Marijke Eliasberg
Choreographic advise, expertise & moral support: Jana Hicks
Rehearsal Assistants: Sara Pizzi, Rosa Silva
Music: Queen, Phaeleh, David Darling
Dancers: Maximilian Bieber, China Braekman, Meralyn Brummel, Julian Garita, Sarah Golzari, Hyun Ji Jeon, Margaret Knowles, Tomomi Kuroda, Ileann Moncivais, Millie Muljat
SAFE
Concept, choreography & Direction: Marijke Eliasberg in collaboration with the dancers
Choreographic advise, expertise & moral support: Jana Hicks
Music: Cliff Martinez, Liquid EQ, Max Richter, Mel Wesson, Marcel Dettmann, Shantel, Tori Amos
Dancers: Hannah Albin (3/28), Delia Wada-Gill, Hwajin Kim, Sara LaPadula, Chauncey Pauley, Sophia Pielet, Sara Pizzi, Abby Register, Rosa Silva (4/4), Tristan Walsh
The Light Dragon
Art creation: Miguel Zapico
Improvisation dancers: Falls Kennedy, Tristan Walsh, Janina Amber Young
Unfinished Emotions
Choreography: Mignon van Beusekom
Music: Lorin Maazel · Sergei Prokofiev / Romeo and Juliet, Op. 64 / The Cleveland Orchestra
Dancers: Abby Register (3/28), Rosa Silva (4/4), Will Valles
Lighthouse
Choreography and Improvisational Direction: Miho Ryu
Music: “Light Song - Ethiopia Sketch #2, 2013” by Masakatsu Takagi, ” Greensleeves” and
“セイキロスの墓碑銘“ by Nao Iizuka, “ストーンアウト” and “Ashibi” by TETSU Saito, and
“霹靂” by Kodo
Costume support: The Next Stage Project
Physical Artists: Aika Takeshima, Kim Hancock, Adelita Hinojosa-Martin, Sara LaPadula,
Rebecca Lloyd-Jones, Ririko Ono, Sophia Pielet, Sara Pizzi, Stine Walde and Miho Ryu
* I would like to express my gratitude to Jana Hicks, Marijke Eliasberg and Peridance
Center for making this performance possible and their continued support of my artistic journey.
_________
✨ The Next Stage Project:
Founded in 2002 by Artistic Directors MARIJKE ELIASBERG and JANA HICKS, The Next Stage Project (TNSP) is a global dance company creating performance opportunities and experiences to help dancers further their careers and realize their dreams. By forming partnerships between selected artists from around the globe, creating and seeking national and international venues to perform our works, TNSP aims to push artists to their next level and to challenge and encourage creative artistic growth through dance, choreography, performance, education and exchange programs.
Company dancers are selected for their commitment, passion, talent and genuine interest in collaborating with the Artistic Directors.The Next Stage Project is known for it’s organic movement style and exposing the space beyond one's kin-sphere in a satisfying combination of full body movement and small obscure interactions, portrayed by talented, strong and expressive dancers. Creating and working fast and furious, the work thrives on passion for dance - always in the moment and letting inspiration lead the way.
THE NEXT STAGE PROJECT is a fiscally sponsored member of New York Live Arts, Inc., a non-profit tax-exempt organization. If you want to make a tax deductible financial donation go to our website https://www.thenextstageproject.com
or: https://newyorklivearts.secure.force.com/donate/?dfId=a0n3q00000WXTjsAAH
✨The Next Stage Project Directors:
Marijke Eliasberg, native of the Netherlands, Founder and Co-Artistic Director of The Next Stage Project (TNSP), has been dancing, teaching and choreographing for the past 24 years in New York City. In 2001 Marijke founded the global dance collective: The Next Stage Project (TNSP), which she co-directs with Jana Hicks. With TNSP, she travels around the world, teaching, creating, mentoring and making exchange and performance projects possible. In NYC, Marijke currently teaches modern contemporary classes at Peridance Center and has taught at Gibney, Ballet Arts, Now Yoga, Steps on Broadway, Dance Space, Dance New Amsterdam, Dancewave, Broadway Dance Center, FSU in NYC Master Program, and Improvisation & Composition classes at the Joffrey Ballet School. She has taught and created works in the USA, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Italy, France, Japan, and India. As a performer, she has worked with numerous companies and choreographers including Jana Hicks, Pauline Levick, Nita Liem/Don’t Hit Mama, Guido Tuveri, SunHwa Chung, Jenni Hong, Max Stone, and Kevin Wynn among others. Marijke holds a BFA in physical education with a specialization in dance. She continued her modern dance studies at the Rotterdam Dance Academy (Codarts) in The Netherlands and Dance Space Inc in NYC. Her continuing education, which includes studying extensively with 90 year old Chinese Grandmaster William C. C. Chen in NYC refining his short form, long form, sword form and push-hands. https://www.thenextstageproject.com
Jana Hicks, a native of Texas, holds a BFA in dance from SMU and performed with a variety of companies and choreographers in Texas and New York throughout her career. She is currently Co-Artistic Director of The Next Stage Project and has taught and choreographed for over 35 years in the US and abroad. Jana currently teaches contemporary dance at Peridance Capezio Center, and teaches yoga at Now Yoga, Peridance Capezio Center, and is a mentor and teacher for Y4C (Yoga for Cancer). Jana holds multiple yoga certifications, including through Om Yoga (Cyndi Lee), Now Yoga at The Shala (Edward Jones, Frank Mauro, and Joe Miller), and y4c (Tari Prinster). https://www.janahicks.com
✨ Miho Ryu - Choreographer
Miho Ryu is a New York based Dancer, Choreographer, and Teaching Artist, originally from Tokyo, Japan. She holds BA in Drama from Waseda University and received Best Dance Choreography Award from Oniros Film Awards® in 2018. After 20 years of professional experience based on Japan, she moved back to New York in 2024, the land where she studied dance from 1999-2004. She has choreographed and performed more than 100 works including of live performances, films, music videos, and interactive installations, across the continents: Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Austria, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and the US. In the New York area, her work has been presented at Chez Bushwick, Danspace Project at Marks Church, Movement Research/AOCC, Brooklyn Art Exchange, Chain Theatre, Red Pavilion, Dixon Place and etc. She is currently teaching contemporary classes at Peridance Center and Steps on Broadway. For more information: https://www.ryumiho.com
✨ Meet our special guest artists:
Mignon van Beusekom, a native of the Netherlands, has been dancing and teaching for more than 25 years, and traveling back and forth between New York and The Hague to feed her dance passion. She currently teaches and leads the dance and movement program at The American School in The Hague, where she has choreographed for numerous musicals and shows.
sarAika movement collective Founded by immigrants and queer women Aika Takeshima (Japan) and Sara Pizzi (Italy), sarAika movement collective is committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the dance ecosystem. The collective is known for creating multidisciplinary collaborative performances that highlight topical issues and personal insights. Founded in 2021, sarAika movement collective had a significant impact in 2022 with over 50 performances, including our debut evening-length show, "Stella, Come Home," commissioned by Et Alia Theater, and a performance at The Museum of NYC.In 2023, sarAika was honored with a Spoke The Hub award, which gave them the opportunity to create our first solo production, received a RedTail residency at JCAL, and toured Japan. Recently, they were commissioned by IATI Theater to create an evening-length show and were selected as resident artists for 2025 by University Settlement.
✨ Meet the performance artists:
Special Guest Artist - Sara Pizzi is an Italian dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher in New York City. She graduated from Steps on Broadway and Periance Certificate programs in 2020. Sara performs with several esteemed dance companies, including The Next Stage Project, Kaleid, Six Degrees, FLDP and more. She is also the co-founder of the sarAika Movement Collective. Sara has graced notable stages such as Lincoln Center, City Center, Mark Morris, and NYLA, and has been featured on the Times Square billboard. Her work was first commissioned in 2021, culminating in her debut evening-length performance, a European-Japan tour in 2023, and she received her first choreographic residency in 2024. As a dedicated educator, Sara teaches at Dalton School and for the "Hands are for Holding" program by Gibney. Additionally, she works as an associate photographer and videographer for BECCAVISION.
Special Guest Artist - Aika Takeshima (she/her), originally from Japan, is a dance artist, DEI practitioner, yoga teacher, and a co-founder of the sarAika movement collective with Sara Pizzi. She specializes in contemporary dance, with substantial floor work and dynamic and fluid movements made possible by effectively using joints and utilizing different skills from various dance styles. Her ultimate goal is to help people find more freedom and possibilities in themselves through her arts and DEI knowledge. Her work, within sarAika has been presented at: Lincoln Center, Judson Church, New York City Center and more in New York, along with Sweden, Italy and Japan. In addition to her work with sarAika, Aika is currently a company dancer for Danse Theatre Surreality, and a guest dancer for Accented Projects and Miho Ryu.
Special Guest Artist - Miguel Zapico Gallego was born and raised in Spain. He came to New York for the best of reasons, Michelle, 20 years ago. He works 9 to 5 in the corporate world, and plays at unscheduled hours in the real world. He strums several strings instruments, which is at odds with his passion for NY handball. These days you can find him entertaining crowds every month with the Gladiators NYC, or joining the Xavier players every Sunday evening. He loves performing with The Next Stage Project, every time finding new ways of expression.
Hannah Albin (She/They) is a dance artist based in Brooklyn, NY. She holds a B.F.A. in Dance Choreography and Performance from the University of California, Irvine where she trained under Lar Lubovitch. During her undergraduate degree, she performed solo roles as a trainee with the José Limón Dance Foundation under Dante Puleio and Kathryn Alter and collaborated in projects with Lindsey Matteis and Joshua Manculich. In 2022, Hannah joined the Ellen Sinopoli Dance Company in Albany, NY until moving to Brooklyn, NY in 2024 where she now performs with Trainor Dance, Megan Flynn Dance Company, Jamie Drye and Francesca Marinaro Dance Company, and The Next Stage Project, as well as choreographers Wilma Casal and Matty Mahoski. To create new work, Hannah is inspired by the intersection of dance, philosophy, and the human condition.
Maximilian Bieber is a 23 year old dancer and actor from Germany who has a background in Standard and Latin ballroom, but took the step to expand his horizons by doing the Independent Program at Peridance and is now taking classes in Contemporary, Hip-Hop, House and Ballet. Maximilian attended the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts from the fall of 2021 until the spring of 2023 and is currently attending Peridance since September 1st, 2024.
China Braekman is from Paris, France, where she grew up dancing ballet. After moving to New York in 2014, she started learning contemporary and club dances. She is currently performing with Umami Playground, a house / contemporary company in NYC. China has had the chance to share and grow with beautiful dancers throughout her time in New York, in and outside of the studio.
Meralyn Brummel grew up in the Netherlands. She is now doing the independent study program at Peridance center for a year, here in New York City. She also trained a lot in London. She is all-round trained and graduated in 2023. in the Netherlands at the Rijnijssel show all-round dancer education. She has been trained by many people including: Andrés Pérez López, Tommie Janssens and Malou Linders. She has a big love for dance. Love it to work hard and do not avoid any challenge. The motivation is certainly there and giving up does not exist in her dictionary.
Emma Conrad is a movement artist based in New York where she has performed with the Lydia Johnson Dance Company in New York City and in Connecticut, and with Julia Ramirez in the Westfest Dance Festival, the Sparks Theatre Festival, and in New Jersey. As a graduate of the University of Washington, Emma holds a dual degree with a B.A. in Dance and a B.S. in Psychology. In 2021, she received the Evelyn H. Green Endowed Scholarship for artistic promise from the Department of Dance. While at the UW Emma performed in choreography by Alana Isiguen, Rachael Lincoln, Gary Champi, and Alia Swersky, and with the Chamber Dance Company in City of Rain by Camille A. Brown under the direction of Hannah Wiley.
Julian Garita is a multidisciplinary artist born in San José, Costa Rica in 1993. Julián is a Bachelor in Photography specializing in portraiture and fashion. He started training dance as an adult around the age of 25. Before, he was a daily yoga practitioner and a professional singer. Now living in New York City he is in a constant expansion of his practice and always deepening his passion for artistic expression and styles. He is in a profesional journey of understanding the body through the voice, dance, strength training, yoga and pilates as an approach to personal holistic health, creativity, expression and performance.
Delia Wada-Gill, originally from MA, began her training at the Boston Ballet School. As a student in the pre-professional program, she studied ballet, modern, and character, and performed works by Mikko Nissinen, Balanchine, Bournonville, Nureyev, Petipa, among others. She continued her training at José Mateo Ballet Theatre as a member of YouthWorks, performing original works by José Mateo in numerous showcases, including the Dance for World Community Festival. At Boston University, Delia gained exposure to contemporary dance through Dance Theater Group. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (IS and OB), she moved to NYC to pursue a career as a financial risk consultant, while continuing to explore her passion for dance. Delia is incredibly grateful to Marijke for the opportunity to perform with TNSP alongside so many inspiring dancers.
Sarah Golzari is from Charleston, South Carolina where she began training classical ballet at Dance Conservatory of Charleston. She earned her degree in French Language with a minor in Dance from Winthrop University in 2020. She then spent a year teaching English in France, where she also trained with Ballet Prejocaj in contemporary and ballet styles. Sarah moved to New York in 2021 and enjoys taking classes at Peridance, Steps on Broadway, and Ballet Arts Center. Outside of her dance career, Sarah is a guitarist and vocalist for the indie rock band Onfilm.
Kim Hancock (they/them) is a nonbinary/transmasculine dance artist based in NYC. They began training in dance in 2022, and since moving to New York in 2023, it has become their main form of artistic expression. Kim has danced for various small companies in New York and hopes to continue working with different dance artists as well as perform more of their own work. Kim also works in cyber security, but their hope is to transition into a career that is more oriented in health and wellness.
Hyun Ji Jeon was born and raised in South Korea. She is a dancer and choreographer who draws inspiration from her cultural background. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Chung-Ang University. Driven by a desire to expand her artistic horizons, she pursued an MA in Dance at Temple University as well as a two year certificate program at Peridance. In the past two years, she has worked with Yuka Kawazu, Vivake Khamsingsavath, Thea Bautista, Ali Makaela Pfleger, and Quilan Cue Arnold. Currently, she works as a freelance dancer, collaborating with Breaking Borders and The Next Stage Project (TNSP).
Rebecca Lloyd-Jones is a dancer, choreographer, and video artist based in NY. She has worked with artists and companies such as Marianela Boan, Leah Stein Dance Company, Yelena Gluzman’s Science Project, Kilowatt Dance Theater, VOID Theater Company, Merian Soto, Abigail Levine, PISO Proyecto and others, and has performed in various cities in US, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Greece, Puerto Rico, and Bolivia. Her choreography has been shown at International theater festival in Santa Cruz Bolivia, Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, La Mama Experimental Theater, Dixon Place, Movement Research at Judson Church, Wild Project, Here Arts Center, Performance Mix Festival, BAAD!, Green Space, Triskelion Arts, Dance New Amsterdam and others. She received her BFA in dance from Temple University. For more info, www.rebeccalloydjones.com
Falls Kennedy is one lucky, long-legged lady who grew up in Savannah, GA, attended Barnard College, and now lives in Brooklyn, NY. She is grateful to Marijke and the cast for welcoming her into her first piece with The Next Stage Project! Falls loves creating dances of her own and performing the work of others. For more information, please visit fallskennedy.com.
Hwajin Kim is from South Korea and moved to New York in 2015. She worked with ZIT dance company, Lee.K dance company, Jo Seong-eun, Megumi Horiochi, and TNSP (The Next Stage Project). Recently, she is interested in the connection between her body and mind and is still loving dancing.
Margaret Knowles was born in Nashville, TN and came to New York to go to college at New York University, where she studied Contemporary Art and Critical Theory. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old and is grateful every day for the joy that dance brings her. She began taking class with Jana Hicks and Marijke Eliasberg at a recommendation from one of her dance teachers, and she immediately fell in love with their styles. She is thrilled and honored to be performing with The Next Stage Project.
Tomomi Kuroda from Japan, is a first year Peridance Center Certificate Program student in the Ballet/Contemporary track. She began training in classical ballet at Hiroko Ugajin Ballet Studio at the age of seven, and jazz dance at eighteen. After graduating from high school, Tomomi enrolled in the Performing Arts Academy in Ikebukuro, where she studied various dance genres, as well as singing, acting, and Kyogen (a traditional Japanese performing art). In 2019, she spent a year performing in numerous shows and parades at Universal Studios in Osaka. After returning to Tokyo, she began training in contemporary dance and was hired for the contemporary dance company “TokyoBuza” in 2022. Since then, she has performed in company productions, NHK stage performances, and commercials (LOEWE etc…) In April 2024, Tomomi received a scholarship for the Peridance Center Certificate Program and embarked on her first experience living and dancing abroad. In November she presented her first solo piece in New York at “Full Moon”, an event hosted by Vive.
Sara LaPadula is a dance artist and educator from Westchester, New York. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2021 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Minor in Education. During her time there, she performed works by renowned choreographers, including Camille A. Brown, Uri Sands, and a soloist role in José Limón’s A Choreographic Offering. After college, Sara joined the Limón Dance Company as a trainee and was invited to be a member of their second company the following year. Through this experience, she performed works by José Limón, Ashley Lindsey, and Devin Richey, as well as with the Limón Dance Company at City College in May 2023. Currently, Sara is a full-time dance educator, teaching students ages 3–18 across New York City and Westchester County. This past year, she studied under Marijke Eliasberg and Miho Ryu at Peridance Center, an experience that led to the honor of performing new work by Miho Ryu and becoming a member of The Next Stage Dance Project, directed by Marijke Eliasberg and Jana Hicks. In addition to her work as a professional dancer, Sara became a Certified Personal Trainer in 2018. She enjoys integrating her dance background into her work with fitness clients and incorporating strength training principles into her dance instruction. Sara is honored to collaborate with such inspiring artists and is grateful for the opportunity to learn from Marijke and Miho.
Aaron Mancus is a dancer from Scranton, PA. He holds a B.A. in International Affairs and Dance from the George Washington University and has trained in both classical ballet and contemporary dance for over 14 years. He is a former member of the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, has performed at notable venues such as The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage and the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, and has had his choreography showcased in the Brazilian National Dance Festival. Aaron now lives in Brooklyn, where he enjoys playing the piano, exploring local art galleries, attending live performances, and practicing yoga and meditation.
Adelita Hinojosa-Martin: Adelita is thrilled to perform with Miho. Adelita is co-founder of Larga Vista Dance, merging performing arts with women's healthcare education and experience. A Denton, Texas native, she embraces her Mexican American heritage and balances her roles as a mother, wife, nurse, and dancer. She has been dancing since age five and has trained with top instructors in New York City since 2005. As a freelance dancer, Adelita has performed with Cirque du Soleil, Sekou McMiller Dance, Organic Magnetics, nathan trice rituals, The Next Stage Project, and many others. Her choreography has been featured in NYC, Penang, and Dallas/Fort Worth. She's performed and collaborated with Tony Award-winning choreographer Maija Garcia, Emmy-nominee Brian Thomas, and Grammy artist Meshell Ndegeocello. A passionate educator, Adelita has taught at institutions like Joffrey Contemporary Summer Intensive, Peridance, and Steps on Broadway. Holding a B.S. in Nursing from Texas Woman’s University, she’s a registered nurse at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with an Oncology Nurse Certification. Her unique blend of nursing and dance deepens her appreciation for the performing arts.
Ileann Moncivais is a Mexican-American actor/dancer with a musical theater background, she's so happy and grateful to be performing tonight with The Next Stage Project. ✨🤍🌈🍄
Millie Muljat is an Argentinian dancer and choreographer based in New York. She began her training in Ballet before expanding into Hip Hop and street styles upon moving to the city in 2021. She is currently training at Peridance’s Independent Study Program, where she develops her versatility in both technical and urban styles. As a teacher, she has taught at the renowned Brickhouse studio, where she has also trained for years. Millie is the founder of The Red Line Co, a dance collective dedicated to artists who refuse to be confined by labels—blending technical and urban styles in a space that thrives on creativity, freedom, and community.
Ririko Ono was born and raised in Japan. She has been performing as a musical actor since she was a child. Now she is studying singing and acting at NYU as an international exchange student. She has studied jazz and theater jazz basically, but also has enthusiastically learned other style including contemporary, tap, or hip hop. She’s so grateful and thrilled to be a part of these great dancers.
Chauncey Pauley graduated from Elon University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance & Choreography. Since living in New York she has worked & performed with Salvatore LaRussa Dance Theatre, Ariel Rivka Dance, ToUch Events (Elizabeth McGuire), Alison Cook Beatty Dance & in the Lincoln Center Summer Festival’s production of Paradise Interrupted. She is currently dancing for, The Next Stage Project (Jana Hicks & Marijke Eliasberg), Danse En L'air (Yuka Kawazu) as well as with Disagreeable Creatures (Danita Shaheen).
Sophia Pielet is a queer dance artist and collaborator from El Paso, Texas where she grew up studying classical ballet and modern. She followed her love for movement to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she graduated in May 2023 with her BFA in Contemporary Dance and a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. Upon graduating, Sophia received the Kenan Fellowship at Lincoln Center Education where she is currently an Education Coordinator and assistant to the manager of Teaching Artists. During her time as a Kenan Fellow, Sophia collaborated with her artistic and life partner, Aly Candland, on a duet that was performed twice in 2024. Sophia found Marijke’s class in 2016 and knew immediately it would not be the last time she would share the space with her. When she moved to NYC in July of 2023, she began apprenticing, and then shortly after dancing with all of the amazing dancers of the Next Stage Project. Sophia is extremely grateful and humbled to be a part of a long legacy of exceptional dancers who love to collaborate and have the biggest hearts with TNSP. Special thanks to Marijke for believing in me, and all the dancers for being my chosen family.
Abby Register is a Marietta, GA native. In Georgia, she performed roles such as Aurora, Mercedes, and Sugar Plum Fairy, and pieces by Tom Pazik, Kassandra Taylor Newberry, and Balanchine as a company member with the Georgia Metropolitan Dance Theater. Abby received her BFA from the University of NC School of the Arts and continued her career with the Oklahoma City Ballet under Robert Mills and Penny Askew. Since moving to NY, she has performed with numerous companies such as Ajkun Ballet, Athena Music Foundation, Hope Community NYC, and The Next Stage Project. She is a proud member of the AEA and hopes to be on Broadway soon. When not performing, Abby streams video games on Twitch, creates gaming content on YouTube, snuggles her pups, and bakes!
Rosa Silva originally from La Paz - Bolivia, moved to NYC 11 years ago to study at Steps On Broadway. Since then she has danced for Max Stone, Julia Ehrstrand, Eveline Kleinjans, Jessica Lewis, Richard Pierlon, Plu Sayampol, Katherine McClintic, and became a member of The Next Stage Project family, which she has performed with multiple times over the past few years.
Will Valles is from Rhode Island where he studied at Rosemary’s School of Dance, Festival Ballet Providence, Trinity Repertory Company, the Jacqueline M Walsh School for the Performing & Visual Arts (diploma in dance, NHSDA member), & Heritage Ballet. Valles is an Anthony Quinn Foundation scholarship recipient, & studied drama at the North Carolina school of the arts. He has danced with Sheep Meadow Dance Theatre, Ballet Nepantla, Mary Seidman & Dancers, Alessandra Corona Performing Works, Westchester Ballet Company, Safe Haven Ballet, & The Next Stage Project! He was a featured dancer in promotional videos for Esperanza Spalding’s 12 Little Spells, is on faculty in the school at the Mark Morris Dance Center, and has performed some of Lynn Schwab’s tap repertory through the American Tap Dance Foundation.
Caroline Vanstrom is originally from Roswell, GA where she grew up dancing with the studio Roswell City Dance competing both regionally and nationally from age 5-18, including professional performances at the Capezio ACE Awards in NY, the Joyce Theater in NY and 7 Stages in Atlanta all with choreographer Cherrise Wakeham. While attending USC, she continued directing, choreographing and dancing with the USC contemporary company Xpressions and following college she taught contemporary dance and improv at DancelineLA and at Atlanta based workshops hosted by Cherrise Wakeham. After moving to NY in late 2021, she was thrilled to find Marijke's class and is excited to be dancing with this incredible group of people.
Stine Walde is from Hamburg, Germany and came to New York in 2024. In 2023 she graduated college with a degree in dance pedagogy and has since worked with children and adults at dance studios and in afterschool programs.
Tristan Walsh (He/Him) is a New York-based dance performer and choreographer originally from North Carolina. He began his dance education at 16 and later pursued a career in dance, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance and Choreography from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2023. Upon moving to New York, Tristan joined the Sonia Plumb Dance Company for their summer performance series in the north east. Now, he is currently in his second season with the Next Stage Project. Tristan has performed works by renowned choreographers such as Gerri Houlihan, Janet Lily, B.J. Sullivan, George Staib, Marijke Eliasberg, Sonia Plumb, and Helen Simoneau. He has also honed his craft in site-specific performance, touring the Amalfi Coast in Italy and participating in the Staib Dances Summer Dance Intensive in Sorrento. His latest project, *Intermittent Presence*, was commissioned by the GreenHill Art Gallery in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Janina Amber Young is a Brooklyn-based freelance dancer, choreographer, and interdisciplinary artist from Frankfurt, Germany. Initially trained in classical ballet, she expanded her expertise to modern and contemporary dance techniques. After earning a BSc in Business Sciences from Goethe University and working in portfolio management, she relocated to Brooklyn in 2022 and founded AFFEKT Dance Company in 2023. As Artistic Director of AFFEKT, Janina emphasizes community engagement and artistic vulnerability through free professional-level contemporary classes, ChoreoLAB sessions, and inclusive workshops across New York City. Her work intersects costume, fashion, and performance art, exploring how attire influences identity and narrative, enriching storytelling through stage, video, and photography projects.
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SONATINA From Poesías profanas (1896)
by Rubén Darío Free Translation The princess is sad . . . from the princess slips such sighs in her words from the strawberry lips. Gone from them laughter and the warm light of day. Pallid she is sat in her golden chair; unsounded the keys of the harpsichord there, and a flower, from a vase, has swooned away. The peacocks in the garden parade their tails. The duenna's chatter is incessant and stales. The pirouetting jester is tricked out in red, yet nothing she cares for and she does not smile but follows a dragonfly that flits the while as vague in the east as is her dream-lost head. Does a prince from China or Golconda approach, does she think of one stepping from his silver coach, bedazzled by her beauty in the sky's soft blues, to court her with islands of fragrant roses, shower bright diamonds as a sovereign disposes, or proud owners of pearls do, out of Ormuz? Ah, the poor princess, with that mouth of roses, thinks of butterfly and swallow, but supposes how easily with wings she would soar up under the bright ladders brought down from the sunlit day. With lillies she would meet the fresh songs of May, and be one with the wind in the ocean's thunder. Listless in the palace spins the spinning wheel; in the magical falcon and jester no appeal. The swans are as one in the lake's azure swoon. From west come the dahlias for the first in court, from east the sad jasmines, south roses of thought, from north the waterlillies, weeping from noon. Her blue eyes see nothing but sad misrule: into gold she is set and beset by tulle. Days are poured out as from a heavy flagon, haughtily they watch now over palace floors; silent with the halberds are a hundred Moors, sleepless the greyhound, and a colossal dragon. Oh, to find freshness of the butterfly's veil: (The princess is sad. The princess is pale.) Be silent as ivory, rose-coloured and gold! Where will he fly to, the prince she had! The princess is pale. The princess is sad, more brilliant than the dawn is, a hundred fold. Be patient, my princess: the horse has wings, for you he is coming, the fairy godmother sings. With a sword in the belt he has a hawk above, and a kiss to ignite you, to vanquish death: never has he seen you, but joyous the breath from the prince who awakes you: you will be his love. |
SONATINA From Poesías profanas (1896)
by Rubén Darío La princesa está triste... ¿Qué tendrá la princesa? Los suspiros se escapan de su boca de fresa, que ha perdido la risa, que ha perdido el color. La princesa está pálida en su silla de oro, está mudo el teclado de su clave sonoro, y en un vaso, olvidada, se desmaya una flor. El jardín puebla el triunfo de los pavos reales. Parlanchina, la dueña dice cosas banales, y vestido de rojo piruetea el bufón. La princesa no ríe, la princesa no siente; la princesa persigue por el cielo de Oriente la libélula vaga de una vaga ilusión. ¿Piensa, acaso, en el príncipe de Golconda o de China, o en el que ha detenido su carroza argentina para ver de sus ojos la dulzura de luz? ¿O en el rey de las islas de las rosas fragantes, o en el que es soberano de los claros diamantes, o en el dueño orgulloso de las perlas de Ormuz? ¡Ay!, la pobre princesa de la boca de rosa quiere ser golondrina, quiere ser mariposa, tener alas ligeras, bajo el cielo volar; ir al sol por la escala luminosa de un rayo, saludar a los lirios con los versos de mayo o perderse en el viento sobre el trueno del mar. Ya no quiere el palacio, ni la rueca de plata, ni el halcón encantado, ni el bufón escarlata, ni los cisnes unánimes en el lago de azur. Y están tristes las flores por la flor de la corte, los jazmines de Oriente, los nelumbos del Norte, de Occidente las dalias y las rosas del Sur. ¡Pobrecita princesa de los ojos azules! Está presa en sus oros, está presa en sus tules, en la jaula de mármol del palacio real; el palacio soberbio que vigilan los guardas, que custodian cien negros con sus cien alabardas, un lebrel que no duerme y un dragón colosal. ¡Oh, quién fuera hipsipila que dejó la crisálida! (La princesa está triste. La princesa está pálida.) ¡Oh visión adorada de oro, rosa y marfil! ¡Quién volara a la tierra donde un príncipe existe, (La princesa está pálida. La princesa está triste.) más brillante que el alba, más hermoso que abril! -«Calla, calla, princesa -dice el hada madrina-; en caballo, con alas, hacia acá se encamina, en el cinto la espada y en la mano el azor, el feliz caballero que te adora sin verte, y que llega de lejos, vencedor de la Muerte, a encenderte los labios con un beso de amor |
