Contemporary | Guest Choreographer

June 30 – July 6

Peter Chu (he/him) is a multi-faceted movement artist, embodying roles from director, choreographer, stager, mentor, educator, and performer. His ongoing curiosity informs his voracious appetite for learning across contexts, and his compassion leads him to generously share his wide range of experiences and knowledge with others. Peter’s passion for the arts and entertainment drives his vivid imagination and creativity throughout his work.

Born in the Bronx and raised in Cocoa Beach, Peter’s interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine was a gateway to a deeper understanding of his Chinese identity. Since then, his fascination with the subject has influenced his values as a human and creator. Being raised by his mother, a music therapist, profoundly shaped his rhythmic and musical approach to creating. Peter’s healing approach to the creative process guides his movement experiences and spaces.

Peter began his dance training as a competitive gymnast and nurtured his artistry at Dussich Dance Studio. As a BFA student at The Juilliard School, he further developed his skills as a technical mover and embarked on a journey into choreography. Upon graduation, Peter was awarded the Hector Zaraspe Prize for Choreography. 

Peter’s career spans three decades nationally and internationally across both the concert and commercial dance industries. He has performed with renowned dance companies such as Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Crystal Pite’s Kidd Pivot, EZdanza, Aszure Barton and Artists, and Celine Dion’s A New Day. Peter has also choreographed for Ballet Augsburg, Backhaus Dance, Charlotte Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Cirque du Soleil, DART Dance Company, Gibney Dance Company, Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) Summer Intensive, Orlando Ballet Theatre, and Paul Taylor Dance Company, among others. In 2008, Peter formed his project-based company, chuthis., which combines innovative lighting and sound with live contemporary movement. He takes great pride in chuthis., where he explores the deepest parts of his identity and artistry as a director, choreographer, and educator.

Peter’s accolades include receiving the 2010 A.C.E. Capezio Award and being selected as the 2008 Choreographer for the Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival. In 2018, he received the Harvard Blodgett Award as a Distinguished Artist for his creative process and piece at the Theater, Dance, and Media Department at Harvard University. Peter has also served as the Rehearsal Director for NDT 2 and as Guest Rehearsal Director for NDT 1. Peter enjoyed being a company in residence at Orsolina 28 for FOCUS ON CREATION this past summer and at Perry Mansfield in 2018, 2023, and 2024.

Currently based in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Peter travels frequently for freelance choreographic commissions and teaching experiences. His dynamic artistry and dedication to pushing the physical bounds of dance make him a highly respected and sought-after artist in the industry.

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Contemporary Ballet | Guest Choreographer

June 22 – June 29

Durante Verzola, a Filipino-American dance maker, has choreographed works for the Miami City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet II, Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company, Collage Dance Collective, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and Ballet22, among others. Durante is a winner of Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Works and has been selected for the New York Choreographic Institute, where he choreographed on dancers of the New York City Ballet. His work has been featured at Guggenheim’s Works & Process, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Miami, Florida in collaboration with Angela Lyn, and the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University. He has led Miami City Ballet School’s Choreographic Intensive since its inception.

Durante’s work has been described as “sharp and witty…so vibrant it is almost like a celebration of classicism and vitality with non-derivative balletic language…he continues to present classical ballet vocabulary in thrilling ways,” by Philadelphia Dance. Explore Dance has praised him saying, “For a 20-something year old choreographer, Verzola startled with his inventiveness via straightforward balletics. This piece is challenged with silky troupe configurations, unfussy classical artistry, and the fluency of phrase variations.”

Durante is from Lansing, Kansas, and most recently was a dancer with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet. He began his training with Marisa Paull, before receiving his formal ballet training from the Kansas City Ballet School and Kansas School of Classical Ballet. At the age of 16, Durante left home to train with the Miami City Ballet School on full scholarship and supplemented his training by attending summer intensives at institutions such as the School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. In 2014, he was invited to join Pennsylvania Ballet II, before joining The Suzanne Farrell Ballet in 2016. His repertoire includes works by Balanchine, Robbins, Wheeldon, Keigwin, and Petipa.

Currently, Durante is a full time faculty member and resident choreographer for Miami City Ballet School. For more information, please visit verzolaballet.com.

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Contemporary Ballet | Artist Faculty

June 17 – June 19, June 28

Russell Janzen is a former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, where he initially joined as an Apprentice in 2007 and would go on to dance with the company for 16 years before retiring in September 2023. Throughout his time with the New York City Ballet, Russell performed featured roles in upwards of 60 ballets choreographed by George Balanchine, Justin Peck, Jerome Robbins, Pam Tanowitz, and Christopher Wheeldon, among others. Russell originated roles in 17 world premieres including Pam Tanowitz’s Solo for Russell: Sites 1-5 and Law of Mosaics,  Justin Peck’s Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes, Everywhere We Go, and Bright, and Troy Schumacher’s Common Ground. In addition to performing, Russell worked closely with the New York City Ballet’s Education Department, leading workshops for children, teens, adult beginners, dancers with disabilities, and dance instructors.

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Contemporary Ballet | Artist Faculty

June 22 – June 29

Jodie Gates is an artistic director, choreographer, producer, arts educator, stager, and dancer. She was a principal dancer with Joffrey Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet, as well as an international guest artist. Most recently, she was the Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Ballet. Currently, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of Laguna Dance, a non-profit organization based in Laguna Beach, CA, and Founding Director of the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance in Los Angeles, CA. 

Jodie is an accomplished choreographer with commissions from companies such as Staatsballett Berlin, Ballet West, BalletX, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and the Vail International Dance Festival. Additionally, she choreographs for television commercials and site-specific events, notably including work with singer/songwriter John Legend, and choreography for a global ad campaign for Los Angeles Tourism. She is an artistic collaborator alongside William Forsythe, staging and teaching ballets for Forsythe Productions internationally with companies such as the Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, Het National Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Teatro alla Scala Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Zurich Ballet, among others. 

Jodie’s performing career began with the Joffery Ballet in New York City, where she originated many roles and worked with a large roster of renowned choreographers. She is featured in several publications and has appeared in numerous television programs and dance festivals. Guest appearances include galas hosted by The Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg Russia, dancing Odette/Odile alongside Fernando Bujones in Swan Lake with Ballet de Monterrey Mexico, and dancing the role of Juliet in John Cranko’s Romeo & Juliet at the Lincoln Center in New York City, The Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and The Music Center in Los Angeles. Her dance festival credits include Spoleto, Italy, The Edinburgh Festival, The Nijinsky Festival in Hamburg, Germany, and The Melbourne Festival in Australia. She has danced at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Bockenheimer Depot in Frankfurt, Germany, Theatre du Chatelet and Theatre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, and established venues in the United States.

Jodie received a Psychology of Leadership Certificate from Cornell University SC Johnson College of Business and studied with the Higher Education Leadership Program for Women at Bryn Mawr College. Jodie was a tenured Professor at the University of Southern California and University of California, Irvine. Her honors include recognition for Arts Leadership by the American Association of University Women, Altria/ABT Fellowship from the American Ballet Theatre, and is a recipient of the esteemed Jerome Robbins New Essential Works Program. Most recently, she was awarded the distinguished 2022 Residency Fellowship from The Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University. Her Fellowship and research addressed systemic inequities inherent within the culture of ballet and focused on empowering dancers to approach the form with individuality and autonomy while fostering inclusivity.

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Tap Dance | Artist Faculty

August 10 – August 17

Dominique Kelley, originally from Bridgeport, CT, is proving himself to be a powerhouse choreographer in the world of musical theater, television, live performance, and beyond. An avid tap dancer and percussionist, Dominique tries to fuse rhythm patterns with classical movement to create a visual and aural experience.

At the age of 13, Dominique toured with Broadway’s Black and Blue, before touring with Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk at the age of 15, and since then has upheld a strong passion for performing, choreographing, and movement coaching. At the age of 16, Dominique co-choreographed his first musical entitled Wild Women Blues in Germany, starring Linda Hopkins. More recently, Dominique’s choreographic credits include The Great Gatsby on Broadway, Oklahoma! (DCPA), the world premiere of Rattlesnake Kate (DCPA), Indecent (DCPA), Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (ZACH), Singin’ in The Rain (ZACH), 5 Guys Named Moe (ERT), and Sophisticated Ladies (ZACH), all of which he was nominated for choreography awards.

Combining his love of musical theatre and commercial dance, Dominique has also created movement for movies such as Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, Jump The Broom, and Gone With the Bullets, China’s first ever 3D blockbuster film. Additional credits include Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special, So You Think You Can Dance, Perry Mason, High Potential, Come Dance With Me, Alter Ego, I Can See Your Voice, Flirty Dancing, The Masked Singer, Dancing With The Stars, American Music Awards, and Bar Rescue to name a few. 

No stranger to stage and live performance, Dominique has collaborated with recording artists such as Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, P!nk, Camila Cabello, Gwen Stefani, Chris Martin, Queen Latifah, Taylor Swift, FKA Twigs, Miley Cyrus, Frank Ocean, Nelly, Cee Lo Green, B.o.B, and Flo Rida. And including sports entertainment, he has been one of the main choreographers for such sports teams as the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, LA Clippers, and many teams around the country. Dominique’s goal and endeavor is to bring movement and dance artistry to every facet of the entertainment industry.

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Contemporary | Associate Program Director

June 30 – July 20

Francisco Martinez (he/him), previously a dancer with Compania Nacional de Danza (Spain) and Ballet Royal de Wallonie (Belgium), received his training at the National Ballet School in Spain, the Maria de Avila School of Dance, and with Victor Ullate. Mr. Martinez obtained a ballet degree from the Royal Conservatory of Dance in Madrid and also graduated from the Dance Education Laboratory at the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center in New York City. He holds a BA of Arts by ESC, summa cum laude, and is also certified as a Hatha Yoga Instructor and a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Instructor.

Mr. Martinez was a Guest Rehearsal Director for Ballet Hispanico of New York from 1996 to 2000 and has been a guest instructor for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, BJM Danse-Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Compañía Nacional de Danza, Ballet British Columbia, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Lyon Opera Ballet, and Netherlands Dans Theater, among others. He has been a ballet faculty member of Sarah Lawrence College, Arts Umbrella, Boston Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, Marymount Manhattan College, and Ballet Academy East. Since fall 2009, he has been a full-time faculty member of The Juilliard School. Mr. Martinez has been with The School at Jacob’s Pillow as the Contemporary Program Associate Director since 2022 and is excited to be returning for Festival 2025!

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Creating in Jazz | Program Director

July 21 – July 27

Bessie Award winner and New York Times critically acclaimed Breakout Star of 2021, LaTasha Barnes is a multi-hyphenate Tradition-bearer of Black American Social Dance from Richmond, VA. A dynamic educator, performer, and choreographer, Barnes is globally celebrated for her musicality, athleticism, and infectiously joyful presence throughout the cultural traditions she bears: House, Hip Hop, Waacking, Authentic Jazz, and Lindy Hop, among them. Her expansive artistic, competitive, and performative skills have made her a frequent collaborator to Dorrance Dance, Timbre Arts Group (Singapore), Ephrat Asherie Dance, and many more. Her leadership and business acumen have placed her in positions of service as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Ladies of Hip-Hop FestivalⓇ, Vice President of Marketing & Outreach for the International Lindy Hop ChampionshipⓇ, Co-Director of the Black Lindy Hoppers Fund and HellaBlackLindyHop Performance Troupe, Board Member of the Frankie Manning Foundation, and a contributing member to the NEFER Global Movement Collective.

Expanding the scope of impact for the communities she serves, LaTasha completed her self-designed Master’s Degree in Ethnochoreology, Black Studies, and Performance Studies at New York University Gallatin School in 2019. Her thesis and continuing dance research are working to bridge the gap between communities of practice and academic cultural dance research, performance, preservation, and pedagogy, as well as expand the reach of dance as a healing tool for US military veterans like herself. In concert with these efforts, she is deeply honored to be a part of the Brain Trust developing the ground-breaking stage production SW!NGOUT, bringing the passion and power of Lindy Hop and its community to the concert stage. She is honored to be the visionary and Artistic Director of the intergenerational and intercommunal cultural arts experience, The Jazz Continuum, supported by Guggenheim Works & Process and Jacob’s Pillow in 2021. This two time Bessie Award winning exploration has recently been presented by the Joyce Theater (2022), Celebrity Series Boston (2023), Bates Dance Festival (2023), and was awarded a NEFA National Dance Project Grant. In support of the dialogue surrounding cultural art forms, LaTasha is a contributing author to the 2022 National Dance Education Organization Ruth Lovell Murray Book Award winning text Rooted Jazz Dance: Africanist Aesthetics and Equity in the Twenty-First Century (2021). Ensuring future artists and dance scholars maintain authentic cultural context as they move through the world bearing forth Black dance traditions, LaTasha is honored to serve on the faculty of Arizona State University School of Music, Dance & Theater as Assistant Professor of Dance.

Across all her efforts, LaTasha’s eternal purpose is to inspire fellow artists and arts enthusiasts to champion æffective artivism through cultivating an authentic sense of self and intention in their creative expressions and daily lives.

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Tap Dance | Artist Faculty

August 10 – August 17

An internationally acclaimed and much sought-after educator, choreographer, and performer, Josette Wiggan, has dedicated her life to the perpetuation of African American Vernacular Jazz Dance. Josette began her dance journey with Paul and Arlene Kennedy in Los Angeles, CA. Her love for performing was fostered by the Kennedys and then refined as an adult performing with the Jazz Tap Ensemble until 2007.

A graduate of UCLA, Josette’s career highlights include the 2001 Spotlight Award (Non-Classical Dance Category), the first National Broadway Tour of 42nd Street, a 2008 Bessie Award Nominee for Outstanding Performance in the Baker & Tarpaga Project, movies such as Idlewild and Princess and the Frog, and studying with Germaine Acogny at L’ecole les Sables in Senegal, Africa. Alongside her brother, Joseph Wiggan, she was a part of two original casts of Cirque du Soleil’s Banana Shpeel and Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour from 2009-2013. The duo performed in Tireless, a show curated by Michelle Dorrance that debuted at Jacob’s Pillow in 2017. Josette was part of Dorrance’s all woman quartet that created works Until the Real Comes Along and All Good Things Must Come and End. In 2019, she was a co-creator with Dorrance and Hannah Heller for the Christmas work, …The Nutcracker Suite…, which made its tour debut at the Kennedy Center and performed at the White House in 2023 at the invitation of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

In 2021, Josette created her first evening length work, Praise: The Inevitable Fruit of Gratitude, in collaboration with Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold and the cast of Dorrance Dance. This work debuted at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and the Queens Theatre in the Park. In 2023, Josette began her own tap company, Josette Wiggan Presents, and developed new works entitled On Solid Ground: A Celebration of Black Joy and Freedom In Our America, featuring improvisation by the dancers and musicians, and her first solo work, Threshing Floor: A Place of Meditation and Melody for the American Dance Platform at the Joyce Theater.

Josette is currently on faculty at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, where she teaches vernacular jazz and tap dance.

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Choreography Fellowship Program | Program Director

August 18 – August 28

Risa Steinberg is active in many facets of the dance community as a performer, teacher, re-constructor of the works of José Limón, rehearsal coach, and mentor to young, emerging, and established choreographers. A native New Yorker, Risa attended the High School of Performing Arts. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Juilliard School, where she has served as full-time faculty since 2004 and held the position of Associate Director of Dance from 2008-2016. Risa has been a guest teacher worldwide and at many summer intensives, including Arts Umbrella and Impulstanz, since 2001. In 2022, she received the Dance Teacher Magazine Award of Distinction.

As a performer, Risa was a principal dancer with the José Limón Dance Company, Bill Cratty Dance Theater, Annabelle Gamson, Anna Sokolow’s Player’s Project, Colin Connor, and American Repertory Dance Company of Los Angeles. She has also appeared as a guest artist with choreographers including Wally Cardona, Sean Curran, Kate Weare, and DanzaHoy of Caracas, Venezuela, and as a cast member of Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More from 2015-2020. Her critically acclaimed solo concert, A Celebration of Dance, featured a repertory from Isadora Duncan to contemporary choreographers. 

As a re-constructor of the works of Mr. Limón, Risa has worked with companies and dancers, including Nureyev and Friends, Frank Augustyn, and Karen Kain.

As a choreographic advisor, she has the honor of mentoring many emerging choreographers, as well as established choreographers, including Brian Brooks, Kyle Abraham, Kate Weare, Michelle Dorrance, and choreographers from the New York Choreographic Institute. Risa is the co-director of The Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship Program at Jacob’s Pillow.

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Tap Dance | Program Director

July 28 – August 17

Derick K. Grant is a native of Boston, MA, where he trained with his aunt, Andrea Herbert Major, at The Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts before furthering his training under tap legends Dianne Walker and Jimmy Slyde. At the age of 18, Derick joined the Jazz Tap Ensemble, directed by Lynn Dally, where he won the Princess Grace Award for Outstanding Young Performer. He was an original member of Bring In ‘Da Noise, Bring In ‘Da Funk, created and directed by George C. Wolfe and choreographed by Savion Glover, where he became dance captain and later the lead for the first national tour. Additionally, Derick is the Creator, Director, and Choreographer of Imagine Tap!, a show that featured the world’s best tap dancers, co-creator of The Blues Project, winner of a Bessie Award alongside Dormeshia, Michelle Dorrance, and Toshi Reagan, and the choreographer and featured performer of And Still You Must Swing, featured at Jacob’s Pillow and The Joyce Theatre. Derick is a highly sought after teacher who taught at Steps on Broadway for 18 years and continues to teach at festivals and workshops worldwide.

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