Dances For A Variable Population (DVP) Founded in 2005 by dancer / choreographer Naomi Goldberg Haas, DVP creates theatrical dance with diverse communities and professional dancers. DVP is recognized as a company that erases the border between dancer and non-dancer. In 2010, Friends of the High Line presented DVP’s Autumn Crossing, which joined the company with neighborhood residents and was the first commissioned dance performance on the High Line.

DVP has been critically and popularly received at NYC venues including the Joyce SoHo and the 92 Y, outdoor festivals at Chase Plaza and Governors Island and site-specific performances such as the Staten Island Ferry Terminal for the Sitelines/River to River Festival.  Recent touring residencies have included PS 21 in Chatham NY, the International Contemporary Dance Festival in Poland and the Chutzpah Festival 2011 Festival in Vancouver BC.   Upcoming in 2012, the company has been selected by the Times Square Alliance for a series of site specific performances to be presented in the heart of Times Square.

DVP has also developed a distinctive class and workshop program Movement Speaks, for community collaborative residencies designed for a range of populations and Dances For Seniors - an interactive performance/workshops program.  On an ongoing basis, DVP’s Variable Pop Method  Expressive Dance and Fitness classes are currently held at University Settlement, the Rod Rodgers Dance Studio, NYU and the Harkness Dance Center at the 92nd Street Y.

DVP’s current season programming is made possible is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, and funded in part by Council Member Inez Dickens, 9th Council District, Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council, the Harlem Arts Alliance.

Naomi Goldberg Haas has worked in concert dance, theatre, opera and film. Highlights include collaborations with The Klezmatics, composer Michael Nyman, playwright Tony Kushner, directors Brian Kulick and Oskar Eustis and Disney animation. Her work with the Silesian Dance Theater and persons with disabilities was presented in 2010 at the International Contemporary Dance Festival in Poland and in 2011 at Chutzpah Festival in Vancouver, B.C.  Recent projects include Golem with the Czech American Marionette Theater for the 50th anniversary of La Mama etc.  She formerly danced with Pacific Northwest Ballet and holds an MFA from Tisch Dance at NYU. She has taught dance at Cal State, Long Beach and Loyola Marymount University and currently teaches at NYU, the Harkness Dance Center at the 92 Y and in DVP’s programs.

CORE COMPANY

Penelope Dannenberg (Dancer) retired Director of Programs at the New York Foundation for the Arts, Lighting Designer and Production Stage Manager for the Pilobolus Dance Theatre and Martha Clarke’s Crowsnest Dance Theatre, OBIE award 1982. MFA in dance from UCLA, taught at Sarah Lawrence College from 1981-2001, President of the Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery, from 1989-1996. 

Artist Jackie Ferrara (Dancer) has received many public art commissions including the platform wall mosaics at the Grand Central Station shuttle train to Times Square, the 150 seat amphitheater at Los Angeles County Museum, the 43 foot high copper tower at the University of Connecticut in Storrs and the 60 foot long fountain at the University of Houston. Visit her website at www.jackieferrara.com

Jamie Graham (Dancer/Rehearsal Director/Workshop Leader) Nashville native Jamie Graham received a B.F.A. in Dance and a B.A. in English Literature from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. She completed one year of post-graduate study at the Rotterdamse Dansacademie, Holland. Along with working with DVP since 2009, she currently performs with Ready to (Blank) under the direction of Amy Larimer and Rocha Dance Theater.

Ani Javian (Dancer/Rehearsal Director/Workshop Leader) graduated from Connecticut College in Dance and English.  She is a founding member of Propel-her Dance Collective.  Ani has danced for Molly Lieber, Lisa Race, Natalie Desch, and David Dorfman's underground project.  She was a member of Dance/NYC’s Youth Advisory Committee (2007-9) and was awarded a 2008 Dance/USA Access Scholarship.

Alison Manning (Dancer) is Associate Director and General Manager of The Yard on Martha’s Vineyard. She graduated with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Art History from Marymount Manhattan College. She dances with The Peggy Spina Tap Company, Xodus Dance Collective, and Kinodance Company, works as a freelance publicist and i guest teaches at STEPS, The Yard, The Performing Arts Center of CT, and N. Country School of Dance.

Kaitlin Morse (Dancer) earned a BA in Dance and Gender and Women's Studies from Connecticut College in 2008. Since then she has had the honor of working with Boston-based Kinodance Company, BE Dance Collective, and Zenas Hutcheson Dance and is currently working with Lonely Goat Dance Company and Lisa Race’s Race Dance.

After receiving her BA in Dance Performance/Choreography in 2010, Katherine Moore (Dancer) attended the American Dance Festival and then completed a marketing internship at The Joyce Theater.  Katherine recently performed with Jenny Rocha Dance Theater, and she has also choreographed and performed her own work at venues throughout New York.

Maggie Ronan (Dancer) graduated a University Honors Scholar with her BFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has worked with Stacy Spence, Gerald Casel, and Summation Dance Company under the direction of Sumi Clements. Along with working with Dances for a Variable Population, Maggie teaches yoga and dance.

Judith Chazen Walsh (Dancer) is a retiree, neighborhood activist and lifelong learner. The freedom of retirement has allowed her to pursue her interest in dance, exercise and music. She has a deep interest in world music and dance. She subscribes totally to the theory that dance and movement in community with others add years to your life and life to your years.

Betty Williams (Dancer) Graduate, Parsons School of Design. Studied dance with Mary Anthony. Started and ran overnight shelter for homeless men and women at 15th Street Quaker meeting. AIDS activism and advocacy for HIV+ immigrants for whom deportation might = death. With Quaker friends, developed residence for 50 people living with AIDS. Raised four foster sons, now a happy grandmother of two. Have kept my peace witness for most of these years.

Meg Goldman (Costume Design) is a New York based fashion stylist, costume designer and photographer specializing in performance and portraits. She has collaborated extensively with Dances for a Variable Population both as a designer and photographer and especially loves photographing their movement workshops at senior centers around the city.www.meggoldman.com. meggoldmanphotography.com

Jimmy Lawlor (Lighting Design) Jimmy's New York work includes Theatre Row, HERE Arts Center, NYU, Columbia University, among others. Regional work includes The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, and in both spaces of The Shakespeare Theatre. He received his MFA from NYU. Upcoming projects include a production of Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone in Harrisonburg, VA, and Kaufman & Hart's The Man Who Came to Dinner with Peccadillo Theatre Co. in NYC. www.lawlordesign.com

Nick Hung (Production Manager/Lighting Design) Originally from Taiwan, came to New York 2003 to pursue his dream in theater. He received his MFA in lighting design from Brooklyn College/CUNY 2005. After graduated from school, he stepped right into the industries and started his own lighting design studio, SPOT3 INC.

For the last 5 years Nick has created works for Theater, Dance, Live Concert & Corporate Events in NYC, which includes recent projects with THPAC, Errol Grimes Dance Group, and Lighting consulting for Columbia University Theater Department, Merce Cunningham Studio, Eugene Lang College of New School.

Carley Manion (Stage Manager) grew up in the small town of Silverton, Oregon where she first started to dance.  She continued in dance throughout her undergraduate years at the University of Oregon.  She received the Outstanding Service Award from her work stage-managing for the University of Oregon Repertory Dance Company.  Carley was the Associate Production Manager of the Doris Duke Theatre at Jacob’s Pillow from 2009 to 2011.

Jascha Narveson (Composer/Sound Designer) was raised in a concert hall and put to sleep as a child with an old vinyl copy of the Bell Laboratories mainframe computer singing "Bicycle Built for Two."  He now makes music for people, machines, and interesting combinations of people and machines. To hear more of his work, go to: http://www.jaschanarveson.com

COMPANY AFFILIATES

Sandy Broyard (Dancer) attended Juilliard as a dance major and continued her training with Martha Graham, Mary Wigman, Alfred Corvino and Marcus Schulkind.  She was a member of Kathryn Kollar Dance Company in Connecticut and has also performed in Paris, Berlin and New York City.  She is on the Advisory Board of The Yard and director of the improvisational performance dance group, What’s Written Within.

Geraldine Bartlett (Dancer/Teacher began performing at the age of twelve, playing guitar and singing in the folk duo The Bartlett Pair.  She studied literature and psychology at San Diego State University.  She has appeared on stage as well as in film and television.  As an ACE certified fitness trainer, she teaches in DVP’s programs as well as privately throughout Manhattan.

Carol Chave has degrees in Japanese studies, teaching, and law from Midwestern universities and four children.  After careers as a Wall Street lawyer and international arbitrator, she has returned to her first loves:  weaving, dancing, and theater (wovenwinds.googlepages.com).

Sharon Flanagan (Dancer) In teenage years Sharon danced at the 92 Street Y in Fred Berk’s Israeli folk dance classes.  Then she attended the New Dance Group Studio in the west 50’s. Sharon competed in ballroom dance, Pro/Am, American Smooth style, with her teacher Tony Scheppler. Recently, she danced with DVP on the Highline and in Washington Square Park and now participates in DVP’s Dances For Seniors program.

Carolyn Jarvis (Dancer/Workshop Evaluator) has over 25 years of experience in educational research and evaluation.  Her current research interests include early childhood and arts in education.  Ms. Jarvis and her husband, Herve Mehu, opened the Mehu Gallery specializing in Haitian Art on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in 1983.  She is a founding member of DVP.

Molly Lieber (Dancer) graduated from Connecticut College.  She dances for Naomi Goldberg Haas, Heidi Henderson, Juliette Mapp, Melinda Ring, and Katie Workum.  She taught at P371K, Harlem Children’s Zone, Laughing Lotus, the Cooke Center and now with East Village Dance Project.  Molly and Eleanor Smith make work to together, and have been presented at Catch, Fridays at Noon 92 Y, La Mama Moves, Movement Research at Judson Church, New Works at the Tank and Triskelion Arts.

Chad Lindsey (Dancer) has danced with modern dance companies, been in a boy-band (don't ask), and held other strange and lovely jobs. Most recently, he played Sascha in Pig Iron Theatre's Obie award-winning Chekhov Lizardbrain. He appeared in Liz Swados' Kaspar Hauser at the Flea Theater in NYC. His most recent television work includes Unforgettable (CBS), Blue Bloods (CBS), and Royal Pains (USA).

Margrecia (dancer) is the first teacher to be certified by the New York City Board of Adult Education in middle-eastern (belly) dance.  She taught and performed extensively in adult education programs throughout the city.  She is also known for her aerobics, hustle and ballroom, tap and country-western line dance classes.  Currently, Margrecia specializes in senior dance and fitness in centers in Manhattan.   And she is overjoyed to be working with Naomi!

Dina Paisner (Dancer), professional actress, AEA, SAG, AFTRA, Broadway, Off Broadway, regional, film. Highlights: The Three Penny Opera, Blood Wedding, Medea, The Orestia, The Cave at Machpelah. TV: Sex in the City, The Saint (starring opposite Roger Moore). Model: (cover) New York Magazine, New York Sunday Times. Dance: Meredith Monk (BAM), Isadora Duncan Dance Company. dinapaisner@aol.com

A native North Carolinian, Alex Megan Schell (Dancer) recently received her BFA in Dance at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.  Post-grad, she has had the pleasure of performing works at The Joyce SoHo, LaMaMa Experimental Theatre, The Highline, and Skirball Center of the Performing. http://www.wix.com/ams801/alexmschell

Diana Simkin (Dancer) is currently a personal trainer and Lamaze childbirth instructor. She danced professionally from the early 1970's to 1980 and is elated to be back on stage after thirty years. Special thanks to my husband, friends and family for their enthusiastic support and to Naomi for the opportunity to join Dances for a Variable Population.

M. Lindsay Smith (Dancer) began dancing in Virginia Beach under the direction of Darlene Kelly and Mara Smith.  She attended the Virginia Governor's School for the Arts while dancing for the Virginia Ballet Theatre before moving to NY to study at NYU's Tisch School for Dance.  Since graduating in 2003 Lindsay has shown work in spaces throughout Manhattan including the Clark Theatre at Lincoln Center and Dance New Amsterdam.  She has also branched out of concert modern dance with choreography for Haitian music video "Belkongo" and most recently Catharine Malandrino's show at The Rainbow Room for New York City's Fashion Week 2009.

Maxine Steinhaus (Dancer) began studying dance as an undergraduate at Bard College and The New School for Social Research as part of a Liberal Arts degree.   After a 20-year hiatus, she took class with Naomi and became a member of DVP in 2006.  She also performs with Sari Nordman.  Since 1981, she has been teaching ESL at NYU's American Language Institute.

Linda Tarnay (Dancer) recently retired from N.Y.U. Tisch School of the Arts where she taught for 35 years.  She directed her own Company, Linda Tarnay and Dancers, and received choreography grants from NEA, NYSCA, and CAPS. She received citations for Distinguished Teaching from N.Y.U. and the American Dance Festival.

Lucy Wilson (Dancer) started her dance training in Los Angeles, California and graduated cum laude in May 2010 with a B.F.A. in Dance from the conservatory at Purchase College, SUNY. While at Purchase, she was able to work with choreographers such as Bill T. Jones, Monica Bill Barnes, Pam Tanowitz, Catherine Cabeen, Kevin Wynn, Gerald Casel, and countless others. She studied for one term at the London Contemporary Dance School. Lucy is a founding member of The Hoover Dam Collective and has performed, choreographed, directed and produced several performances including Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out.  She is also currently a member of Brooke Broussard Touch.

Lydia (Huei Lee) Wei (Dancer), graduated from the National Taiwan Academy of Arts where she studied ballet, modern, Chinese folk dance. She performed with the Taipei Folk Dance Theater and toured throughout Taiwan, Germany, Israel and the United States. Lydia moved to New York in 1998 and has studied modern dance at Mary Anthony Dance Theatre, Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and Dance New Amsterdam. She has performed with Zhongmei Dance Company, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Kun-Yang Lin (Taiwanese Festival in Union Square), Sharing the Legacy Concert (Alwin Nikolais), Diane McCarthy and the Seed Dance Company with Wen-Jen Huang. Lydia has taught dance to various age groups throughout Taiwan and New York. She has a BA in Dance and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Hunter College of CUNY. She is currently teaching children with special needs in New York City.

Rebecca Elizabeth Woll (Dancer) is a founding member and Director of Operations for isadoraNOW, a contemporary dance company and a dancer with BE Dance Collective. She holds a BA in Dance and English from Connecticut College where she was fortunate to study under and perform works by David Dorfman, Dan Wagoner, Lisa Race, Heidi Henderson, Jeremy Nelson, Alexandra Beller and Doug Elkins and has toured internationally to Prague, Budapest, Hawaii and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.